Southern secrets
Wander down three of the CBD’s buzziest side streets to find cocktail joints, a fiery izakaya and even a wine bar that has 15,000 bottles, all hidden in plain sight.
Unlock the laneways and buzzy side streets of Adelaide
Peel Street For a pre-dinner drink
Gold lettering on the window and leather banquettes set against bare stone walls hint at Clever Little Tailor’s (cleverlittletailor.com.au) old-school elegance but it’s the impeccable service and balanced drinks list that keep this hideaway constantly busy. Grab a seat at the bar and start the evening with a butcher (200ml glass) of beer.
For casual dining
Peel St restaurant (peelst. com.au) lives up to its motto of “Fresh. Simple. Delicious.” with generous serves, warm hospitality and a focus on local produce. Flavours from the Middle East and SouthEast Asia, such as chicken and banana blossom salad, mingle as comfortably as the diners do.
For a pick-me-up
By day, La Moka (lamoka. com.au) is a café that would be at home in owner Manuel Francesconi’s native Ravenna. Walk through the canaryyellow door and choose from flaky pastries and zeppole as the namesake coffee pots bubble in the background. After dark, it’s transformed into an aperitivo bar, when you can get your caffeine hit with an Espresso Martini.
Leigh Street For cocktails
The pitched roof and timberfilled interior of the enchanting
Pink Moon Saloon (pinkmoon saloon.com.au) resemble a mountain hut but there’s nothing rustic about the exquisite cocktails served here. Try the Gin and Juice with watermelon, pink peppercorn, apple and a hint of mezcal.
For front-row dining
Fire is everywhere at the modern Japanese Shobosho diner (shobosho.com.au), from the custom-made yakitori pit to plates of flame-roasted leeks with smoked buttermilk dressing. Ask for a spot at the 10-seat bar downstairs for a chat with the chef as you sip a whisky highball and watch the charcoal grill.
Vardon Avenue For coffee
Minimalist café Exchange
Specialty Coffee’s (exchange coffee.com.au) window seating makes it an excellent place for people watching, a hobby that kicks into high gear during the Adelaide Fringe Festival, hosted in nearby parklands (until 21 March). The diner’s meals give you a good reason to linger but it’s the single origin espresso, AeroPress and batch-brew pours that keep the customers coming back for more.
For wine
With access to the collection of some 15,000 bottles at the neighbouring East End Cellars bottle shop (eastend cellars.com.au), The Tasting
Room provides you with the opportunity to venture from the Barossa to Bordeaux and far beyond. Visit between Thursday and Sunday nights during the Fringe Festival and you’ll find the entire street closed off to make space for live music and alfresco dining.