For a city of just 1.4 million people, Adelaide’s restaurant and bar scene punches well above its weight. And that’s because when you talk about food and drink in Adelaide, you’re not just talking about the city, but the Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale and also the Barossa.
It makes it tough when you have just one night in the South Australian capital.
Here’s an ideal itinerary to an evening in Adelaide – from a place to perch as the sun sets and the perfect pre-dinner bolthole, to one of the hottest meal tickets in town and a honky-tonking hotspot that keeps charging well into the wee hours.
Where to see the sun go down: The Scenic Hotel
There are few better places to be as the sun goes down than this longstanding and recently refurbished pub in the Adelaide Hills. The clue is in the name, and it doesn’t disappoint, with a gorgeous vantage point at golden hour either up on the balcony or down in the beer garden under the glimmering fairy lights. Even if you haven’t been yet, you’ve likely seen the snaps of Scenic sunsets populating your Instagram feed. Pair it with a bottle of local natural wine. If you have a pre-dinner hunger, the Scenic also boasts some of the best pub food around, including a cracking kangaroo schnitzel with mash and pepper sauce – it’s a neat lesson in elevating pub standards.
Pre-dinner drinks: Loc Bottle Bar
This is where you’ll find me whenever I’m in the city – for a pre- or post-meal wine, and on occasion even dinner when I’ve lost track of time and ended up ordering plates of comté cheese, bread and pickles to tide me over. This tiny bar feels like coming home, such is the relaxed and intimate vibe and the minimal layout, which is just a few tables and chairs and a beautiful backdrop of low-intervention wines that line the wall (tell owner Olivia Moore your preferences and let her make the decisions for you). Despite the simple set-up, the vibes here are strong – bright, radiating and warm, like the glow of the signature orange lamp in the window that’ll light up your photos from the evening.
Ideal Dinner Spot: Arkhe
From there, mosey east to Arkhe for one of Adelaide’s most beautiful dining experiences. Nab a spot at the counter ringing the fire-fuelled kitchen, presided over by executive chef Jake Kellie and sous Maria Delangas, who are turning out hit after hit of smoked, charred and flame-licked snacks and larger plates (start with the Insta-worthy hash browns ferrying crème fraiche and caviar, before biting into Kellie’s signature brûléed parfait tartlet, and digging into scoops of gooey roasted bone marrow with parsley and shallots on grilled sourdough – they’re all a guaranteed good time). Back it up with a picture-perfect Arkhe-branded s’more for dessert, then head out to the beautiful courtyard or the slick front bar for an Amanda-rin cocktail with Bizzarro, Okar Tropic, charred mandarin and fizz, or perhaps a Negroni with an Arkhe-branded ice cube.
After dinner drink: Smokelovers
If you want to keep the party going, Uber back into town for a cocktail at new-ish East End bar Smokelovers, which used to be an old smoke mart (though you wouldn’t know it but for the adopted name). Take a seat outside and people-watch the passers-by of Rundle Street, or hole up inside where you’ll find local and visiting DJs playing till late, and clocked off hospitality workers having a nightcap. Order the signature smoky Margarita, or a late-night Fernet-Branca. If you didn’t order enough at dinner (unlikely) there’s bites such as olives, cheese, tinned Cuca anchovies and Soiboii bread.
Final late-night location: Memphis Slim’s House of Blues
Still going? Your stamina is impressive, which means you’ll want the high-octane vibes of basement blues and cocktail bar Memphis Slim’s, downstairs from sister saloon Shotgun Willie’s (there’s a theme here). Inspired by the music scenes of New Orleans and Chicago, the dimly lit bar feels a world away from Adelaide, with rollicking live blues bands, tourists and locals shooting whiskey, and riffs on classic American cocktails (think Mint Juleps and Clover Clubs) made by former Maybe Mae bartender Michael Keogh. Between all that, the neon lighting and the Americana paraphernalia, you’ll head home with plenty of memories.
This story is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Samsung.
