Adelaide’s best new restaurants and bars to open in 2023 so far
One of the CBD’s most popular hospitality spaces has a new bar and restaurant – just one of 11 great new eateries you have to check out.
Lifestyle
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A dormant heritage site on King William St is about to welcome its newest tenant – French restaurant and jazz bar, La Louisiane.
La Louisiane will be the fourth hospitality business in a decade to inhabit the underground space at 89 King William St, following lounge bar Bull & Bear, restaurant Jack Ruby and American sports bar Wing It.
“It’s a passion project,” said Oliver Brown of Big Easy Group, which is running the six-month tenure alongside Gonzo Group and chef Alexis Besseau of Sydney’s Restaurant Hubert.
Besseau, who is moving to Adelaide, will serve up French classics, while jazz fans enjoy live music Friday and Saturday nights.
La Louisiane is among a smorgasbord of new restaurants and bars to open in Adelaide in 2023. From a revamped Hills favourite with a top SA chef at the helm, to a smashed burger specialist, here are the top 11 openings of 2023 so far – plus a taste of what’s to come:
PATCH
143 Mount Barker Rd, Stirling
Opened February
The humble Adelaide Hills cafe has been stripped back and revamped as a dining destination, with acclaimed chef Andy Davies at the helm.
Davies – a Hills local – made a name for himself at city institutions such as the original Press Food and Wine and Osteria Oggi.
Davies has pulled together some of the greatest hits of his previous venues, with a selection of Oggi-style pasta vying for attention with Press’ burger, steak and even a suckling pig feast to share.
It’s a gorgeous, warm and welcoming space that satisfies both locals and city slickers alike. Read the first review here.
DIAMOND BURGER
3/563 Portrush Rd, Glenunga
Opened February
When Josh Rivers says Adelaide’s not done with burger bars, we believe him.
Rivers, who brought us Brighton coffee haunt C.R. E. A. M and Remy’s Deep Dish Pizza & Bar, opened Diamond Burger earlier this year, specialising in smashed patties.
The Miami Vice-vibe diner also serves up excellent fried chicken, short-order breakfasts and those kind of over-the-top shakes you hope your kids never see.
But it is kid-friendly – right now, Diamond is offering kids can eat free on Tuesdays. Check out their Facebook page for more details.
DOLLY
246 Unley Rd, Unley
Opened January
It’s part bar, part food, part disco, as described by Adelaide restaurateur Sam Worrall Thompson of Bar Lune (Beulah Park) fame.
Dolly is his wine bar across town, in prime real estate opposite the Cremorne Hotel on Unley Rd, with a greater focus on beverages and bites.
Think crab soldiers with grated bottarga and chilli crisp, and a contemporary take on melon with jamon.
MAISON CLEMENT
18 Currie St, Adelaide
Opened January
Clement Labaere always wanted to open an affordable French brasserie.
“Since Covid, life is getting pretty expensive,” he says. “I thought the timing was right”. Maison Clement, which became known for its croissants while it served from a cafe space in the Central Market Arcade, is now a restaurant proper in Currie St.
Pastries and baguettes are still baked daily. Lunch-goers can enjoy one of those baguettes filled for $10, while dinner time sees an affordable a la carte menu – three courses costs less than $50.
THE LIGHT ROOM
Level 1/63 Light Square, Adelaide
Opened January
Situated atop Adelaide restaurant Aurora and part of the venue LightADL, The Light Room is a sophisticated cocktail bar with a cause.
The spacious venue, designed by Georgie Shepherd, is defined by light timbers, exposed concrete and a central plush lounge.
It leads through to the venue’s gallery and studio space, which hosts physical and digital immersive art exhibitions.
All revenue from the bar, which is open Wednesday to Saturday evenings, goes towards creating opportunities for artists.
PAPER TIGER
285 Rundle St, Adelaide
Opened April
Hugo Pedlar and his Penny Hospitality group decided to switch things up at this iconic site, moving out contemporary diner Two Pot Screamer in favour of the South East Asian inspired Paper Tiger.
Inspired by popular Melbourne restaurant Chin Chin, Paper Tiger is led by experienced chef Benjamin Liew and front-of-house manager Karl Tang.
Menu items include Balinese roast pork, Wagyu beef brisket stew, Singapore chilli soft shell crab and Nyonya chicken curry.
STH
27 King William Rd, Unley
Opened March
The inner south has been spoilt in recent months with the addition of such venues as Bandit Pizza & Wine (November 2022), Dolly (as above) and, then, STH cafe and restaurant.
The warm and intimate space seats 45 indoors, and draws inspiration from classic European brassieres.
The dinner a la carte menu includes classic favourites such as a 450g scotch fillet with red wine beef jus, an Asian-inspired pork belly and confit duck with orange glaze.
DANTE’S DELI
3/58 Jetty Rd, Glenelg
Opened April
The tiny Bay sandwich bar is finally open after much anticipation.
Inspired by the sandwiches of Italy, where the owners’ family is from, these are sandwiches of quality and generosity.
Flavour combos include sopressa with tomato, fior di latte, pickled peppers and basil, and a vego peperonata, grilled eggplant, artichoke, fior di latte, provolone and rocket.
KICKIN’INN
107 Wright St, Adelaide
Open June 8
Australian seafood chain Kickin’Inn has opened the first of an anticipated 10 stores in Adelaide.
Known for their “Kajun” seasoning and sauces, the company’s focus is on quantity and flavour.
The fan popular Kickin’ Classic mixed bag includes a combination of whole prawns and peeled prawns, half shell mussels, mud crab halves and potatoes.
Diners don aprons and gloves to eat with their hands.
HIGH SPIRITS BAR
20 Gilbert Place, Adelaide
Opened May
It’s all about the cocktails at Adelaide’s newest bar, perched atop Shotgun Willies on Gilbert Place.
Think tiki inspired cocktails, lots of smoke and spectacle, and hip hop tunes.
BO RARN
46 Exchange Place, Adelaide
Opened February
The Thai restaurant has breathed new life into the former Pranzo Italian site in Exchange Place.
Bo Rarn, which translates to “ancient”, serves dishes its owners say are difficult to find in Adelaide, with specialty dishes inspired by recipes of the 1400s and 1700s.
They include massaman nua with roti – a 72-hour slow-cooked Wagyu beef in Thai spices, served with roti; and hor mok tha lay – steamed barramundi with herbs, lemon and nam jim. Diners will also find more familiar soup, noodle and rice dishes.
COMING SOON …
LA LOUISIANE
89 King William St, Adelaide
Opens July
Adelaide will welcome its newest jazz bar and French restaurant in July.
La Louisiane will take over the underground space at 89 King William St, formerly occupied by Wing It and Jack Ruby.
French chef Alexis Besseau, formerly of Sydney’s Restaurant Hubert, will move to Adelaide for the gig and will create a menu of classic French brasserie dishes such as beef tartare, pate en croûte, snails, steak frites and creme brulee.
There’ll also be a strong focus on cocktails and jazz fans can enjoy live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
SORA
89 Pirie St, Adelaide
Opens August
A new two-tiered city rooftop restaurant, bar and entertainment venue – with an exclusive, high-end dining option curated by an acclaimed chef – will be “something that Adelaide hasn’t seen before”.
Sora, which translates to “sky” in Japanese, will be situated at 89 Pirie St with a multimillion-dollar fit-out and hospitality offering designed by Tarik Nasser-Eddine and Giuseppe Alvaro, in conjunction with executive chef Adam Liston.
The rooftop will incorporate a 100-plus seat modern Asian restaurant – with a greater focus on Japanese – as well as a 12-14 seat premium dining option.
A mezzanine level will feature a high-end bar and cigar lounge.
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