Top 18 Bars to visit in Adelaide

Since Summer is now well and truly on the way, it’s time to get outside… and into the bar (or, let’s be honest, bars…). Whether your vibe is beers in a small, hidden laneway pub, cocktails on a sunny outdoor rooftop, wines in a snazzy, intimate bar, cider in the best waterfront venue, or whiskey in the top beer garden in Adelaide, you’re well and truly covered with us. To help you get there quicker, we’ve lined up some of Adelaide’s best bars and pubs for your drinking pleasure. You’re welcome.

1. Arkaba

150 Glen Osmond Rd, Fullarton SA 5063

No matter what your vibe, Arkaba – located five minutes from Adelaide’s CBD – can cater to your whims. This bar is the complete package, providing live entertainment, state-of-the-art function facilities, cellars, gaming lounges and an impressive dining menu – all made using the freshest local produce and accompanied by the finest wines.

Whether it’s a drink with friends, a night out, a sumptuous meal – or heck, all three – Arkaba Hotel is definitely among Adelaide’s top must go destinations.

For more information, click here.

2. Cantina Sociale

108 Sturt Street, Adelaide, SA, 5000

Who doesn’t love sipping great wine, nibbling great food and socialising with great mates? Someone with the social graces of Jack the Ripper, perhaps. If that isn’t you, then round up your pals and head down to Cantina Sociale, who’ve sourced a selection of single barrel wines from around the south Australian landscape – from the Barossa Valley to the mouth of the Murray – for you to enjoy while you get royally Sociale.

Listing coming soon…

3. Casablabla

12 Leigh Street, Adelaide, SA, 5000

The moment you enter Casablabla, surrounded by exotic trinkets and treasures from the furthest corners of the globe, you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported to a faraway land. Drawing inspiration from Morocco, Turkey, Bali and Cambodia, the bar offers a sumptuous array of wines, cocktails, beers, and spirits and of course, we can’t forget the tapas. Get well and truly ready to rock the Casablabla…

Listing coming soon…

4. Electra House Hotel

131 King William St, Adelaide SA 5000

The iconic Electra House Hotel spans three levels, each offering a different vibe. Ground floor houses both the Chamber Bar – a communal-style dining hall featuring high-bench and booth seating – as well as the incredible open-air Garden Bar, which is surrounded by raw brickwork and hanging plant life. As you move up the levels, you’ll find dining areas and awesome function venues galore – all available for you to explore (sorry).

There’s food on offer from the bar throughout the day, as well as an extensive wine list, multiple beers on tap, and a fabulous cocktail menu, granted. But, what Electra is really known for is the Espresso Martini. There are an impressive six variations on the much-beloved caffeinated concoction to sample, so what are you waiting for?

For more information, click here.

5. Fowler’s Live

68 North Terrace, Adelaide, SA, 5000

If live music is your jam, then the place to be is – as its name suggests – Fowler’s Live. This bar began life as the D and J Fowler Flour Factory in 1906, then in the 1970’s was renovated to be the home of The Adelaide Fringe Festival until 1998. Finally in July 2003, after a turbulent period of tenancy, it realised its true potential as a Live Music Venue… and Fowler’s Live was born.

Listing coming soon…

6. Highway Hotel

290 Anzac Highway, Plympton, SA, 5038

With the weather going on at the moment, it’s hard to know what to plan for. Fear not! Offering a Lounge Bar, Deck Bar and super cool 60’s inspired Sports Bar, Highway Hotel has you covered – whatever the eventuality.

Crowned Australia’s Best Outdoor Area by the AHA, Highway Hotel offers an extensive range of spirits, liqueurs, wines, cocktails and food options to keep you on your toes.

Listing coming soon…

7. Lava

170 Pulteney St, Adelaide, SA, 5000

Pumping every Saturday night till the early hours of Sunday morning, Lava Nightclub boasts a contemporary beer garden, huge dance-floor, visually stunning silk pod lounge areas and an outdoor deck bar.

With $3 and $5 drink specials, special events and themed nights changing weekly, and the best party tracks from the 90s, 00s and now, Lava is the place to be for a great night out.

For more information, click here.

8. Maybe Mae

15 Peel St, Adelaide, SA, 5000

Maybe Mae may be the coolest little speakeasy in Adelaide, complete with a hidden door camouflaged by wood paneling. Don’t give up if you don’t find it straight away, because the bar is definitely worth the effort. Maybe Mae is wall to wall 50’s chic, and offers an unbeatable list of cocktails to sip while you enjoy the acoustic tunes.

Listing coming soon…

9. P.J. O’Brien’s

14 East Terrace, Adelaide, SA, 5000

Located in the heart of the old East End Market, P.J. O’Brien’s has earned a solid reputation as one of the best and most authentic Irish bars Adelaide has to offer. Serving traditional Irish pub fare 7 days a week – not to mention the traditional Irish Sunday sessions – and boasting regular entertainment, P.J. O’Brien’s is a must-visit. Ditch the Netflix and P.J’s for the evening, and get into a Guinness at P.J’s!

For more information, click here.

10. Proof

9a Anster St, Adelaide, SA, 5000

Adelaide’s laneway sub-culture is growing rapidly, and one of the best is new kid on the block, Proof. This unassuming, quirky little spot offers more than its fair share of local and international wines, as well as a cocktail list to die for. As they say, the Proof is in the pudding – so check it out for yourself.

Listing coming soon…

11. Seven Stars Hotel

187 Angas St, Adelaide, SA, 5000

Summer is on the way – we promise – and when it gets here, the place to be is Seven Stars Hotel. With a huge outdoor area, laid back vibe, a brand new renovated front bar and good tunes, Seven Stars maintains a reputation as a great space to grab a meal, unwind with friends, sip a craft beer after work or watch your favourite sport on one of the big screens.

For more information, click here.

12. The Bibliotheca Bar & Book Exchange

1/27 Gresham St, Adelaide, SA, 5000

Ever hear the old maxim ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’? It’s rubbish. Bibliotheca Bar & Book Exchange is exactly what it says it is – an incredible bar in which you can sample an array of mouth-watering cocktails, set amongst an extravagant collection of books. Signature book inspired cocktails are on offer for the Harry Potter and Lolita fans; or really, for fans of alcoholic beverages. Which we most certainly are.

For more information, click here.

13. The British Hotel

58 Finniss St, North Adelaide, SA, 5006

If the Brits know anything, it’s Pubs. Take The British Hotel – with its nostalgic charm, original rustic appeal, open fires and an enclosed beer garden – as evidence. Located just moments from the Adelaide Oval, this boutique bar is a great place to get a pre-game lunch or dinner feed. Works even better when you can down a pint British-style after watching a proper pantsing of any English team.

For more information, click here.

14. The Elephant British Pub

1 Cinema Place, East End, Adelaide, S.A. 5000

Another welcome import, The Elephant British Pub is just a stone’s throw from the busy Rundle St precinct, in the heart of the Adelaide CBD. Affectionately nicknamed ‘The Elly’, this pub promises to royally quench your thirst; serving up Imperial sized pints from a choice of 24 different beers on tap.

Listing coming soon…

15. The Joiners Arms

9 Manton Street, Hindmarsh, SA, 5007

A perfect meeting of old world to new, the charming colonial façade of the Joiners Arms, with its heritage stained glass, conceals a modern and airy interior. Complete with a sweeping main bar, polished floorboards, revamped dining room and a spacious outdoor area, The Joiners is at the heart of Adelaide’s “entertainment precinct”, making it an ideal place to pop in for a pre- or post- event tipple.

Listing coming soon…

16. The Wellington Hotel

36 Wellington Square, North Adelaide, SA, 5006

The Welly – as she’s been affectionately dubbed – is located a short walk from the Adelaide Oval and as such, is the place to be before and after every game. Boasting 20 beers and ciders on tap, The Welly has a long local history which we think is well and truly deserved.

For more information, click here.

17. Thrift Shop

12 Waymouth Pl, Adelaide, SA, 5000

As Macklemore and Ryan Lewis have famously sung of thrift shops, ‘this is f***ing awesome’. And this one certainly is. Serving exclusively Australian craft spirits, wine and beer, this funky laneway space is decked out in vintage finds sourced from local op-shops and auctions. We promise this venue will bring out the inner hipster in us all.

Listing coming soon…

18. Treasury on King William

144 King William St, Adelaide, SA, 5000

If you fancy yourself a bit of the Royal treatment, then Treasury on King William is here to serve. The cleverly designed venue includes a striking wine and cocktail bar, a luxurious lounge setting, beautiful courtyard and of course, the King William street frontage. Fit for a king!