The Best Bars and Pubs in Adelaide
Enjoy a Fun Night Out in South Australia's Biggest City
Aug 25, 2009
Adelaide bustles with a plethora of cafes, restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs, making it difficult to find the right place for the right evening out. This busy city has nightlife to satisfy those who’re adventurous, who like something different, or who just like to chill out.
Golf and Gourmet at The Tap Inn
Upon seeing the line of large faucet-shaped fountains in the entryway of the Tap Inn, visitors could be forgiven for thinking they’re entering a plumber-themed pub. Think golf: carrying the theme beyond a theme, the Tap Inn has its own indoor golf driving range, golf simulation room and 18 hole putting green. And since golf isn’t for everyone, there’s an excellent multi-level beer garden encircling a huge palm tree, with a Tapas menu that includes 58 dishes. There’s a beautiful front bar, Mulligan’s, and a fancy restaurant, Birdies, for those who want something more than pub food. Only five minutes from the city centre at 76 Rundle Street, Kent Town.
Style and Substance at The Apothecary 1878
Surely one of the classiest Bars in Adelaide, the Apothecary might at first come across as pretentious, but the truth is, for lovers of fine food, wine and atmosphere, it’s better described as passionate. The bar, restaurant and courtyard are beautifully rendered to look like an old 1800’s drug store (hence the name) with an extensive list of 1200 wines on offer, along with excellent selection of spirits and beers. Located in Adelaide’s west end at 118 Hindley Street, it’s a great place to cap off a days wine tasting in the Barossa. For a great guide to the major wine regions near Adelaide, visit this article.
Bomhemia Lives Hard at BoHo Bar
Step into the perfectly rendered hallowed halls of Bohemia in Adelaide’s most stylish, shadowy bar. Three floors of Prague-inspired, burlesque-‘esqu’ interior design match the quirky menu in the restaurant and the velvet chairs upstairs. There are three floors to this bar, with live performances in the evenings and every detail cared for, visitors will feel like they’ve stepping back in time to an exotic, opulent wonderland. Located close to the city centre at 27 Unley Road, Parkside.
Beach Views at the Grand Bar (at the Stamford Grand Hotel)
The Grand Bar, located on the ground floor of the classy Stamford Grand Hotel, is in the best location at stunning Glenelg Beach. The Grand Bar faces the beach, on Adelaide’s west coast, where the sun sets in a blend of treacle-gold and ochre red. Plus there’s great bar food and DJ’s most nights, to keep patrons entertained. Located at Mosley Square Glenelg; take a tram from the city for about 25 minutes – it’s the last stop.
Cheap and Cheery at Shotz Bar
Forget the Pop Top 20; Shotz is a genuinely alternative bar, whatever that means. The music played is a little off the radar – the Strokes, White Stripes, Pulp – but the dance floor is always full and lively after midnight. Maybe it’s the cheap drinks that create the ‘atmosphere’, or maybe that’s just a bonus; whatever the reason, Shotz is always pumping with alternative energy long after midnight has passed. Centrally located at 192 Pirie Street in the city; the best place for dancing unselfconsciously.
Wild Times at the Bombay Bicycle Club
Step out of modern-day Adelaide into this bar, which feels like imperialist India, as seen through the eyes of an English hunter. It all sounds very bizarre, but the Bombay Bicycle Club will feel more warm and welcoming than anything else. The beauty and style is in the detail; the huge fireplace with fake animal trophies above, the delicate woodwork and the animal noises in the bathrooms. The bar food is pretty cheap, or there’s a wonderful restaurant that will serve exceptional Indian food. Located at 29 Torrens Road, only 10 minutes drive from the city, this bar is not to be missed.
Something for everyone at the Edinburgh Hotel
One of southern Adelaide’s most renowned meeting places; the Ed has it all. The three bars offer an atmosphere for everyone; there’s the High Street Bar for those who like a quiet drink, the Village Bar for the social butterflies and the Front Bar for those who like a game of billiards. There’s also a large beer garden, a restaurant and one of the most well-stocked retail wine cellars in Australia. In other words, the Ed has something for everyone; from wine connoisseurs to beer lovers to those just wanting to hang out and chat. Located about 25 minutes south of the city centre at 7 High Street, Mitcham.
Great Beer at the Belgian Beer Café
Centrally located at 27 Ebenezer Place, down a side alley from one of Adelaide’s main gourmet thoroughfares Rundle Street, with the Belgian Beer Café, the name says it all. This is a bar dedicated to one of the world’s great gourmet pleasures, Belgian Beer, and the bar successfully replicates the atmosphere of the best Brussels has to offer.
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