This spring has been a mixed bag for Adelaide’s hospitality scene. While tonnes of fresh new faces have joined the industry with exciting ventures, and a few familiar favourites have said their goodbyes too. There’s been new cafes and iconic bars closing their doors, but there’s also been beloved regional venues being saved by locals. It really has been a season of change. While saying that, it’s definitely not all doom and gloom. We’ve also rounded up five of the best new spots making waves across the city right now. Check out the list!
Venues that Closed
1000 Reasons
After opening in August with a farm-to-fire concept and Bradley Perrot (formerly of Magill Estate) in the kitchen, the Adelaide Hills venue 1000 Reasons announced its sudden closure.
In a heartfelt Facebook post shared on October 29th, the team wrote, “It’s with both heavy hearts and deep gratitude that we share this news — after much reflection, we’ve made the difficult decision to permanently close 1000 Reasons.”
For more information, click here.
Distill Bar
A Rundle Street venue closed its doors this spring, with Distill Bar shutting up shop six years after relaunching in 2019. The venue was known for its cocktails, eclectic vibe, and central location. The landlords have stated that they hope new life can be brought into the building, continuing as a bar or even a restaurant.
For more information, click here.
Port Burger
A McLaren Vale favourite shut up shop this spring, with Port Burger and Shifty Lizard owner, Lee Stone announcing the closure of his two venues. Port Burger was all about serving good food to an even better community by the beach.
“The dream of running a venue by the beach, serving great food and bringing people together was something I truly believed in. But running a small business in the current climate is incredibly tough. Rising costs, coastal challenges and the day-to-day pressure of trying to keep things afloat have made this journey far harder than I ever anticipated,” said Lee.
For more information, click here.
Rita’s Bar & Kitchen
Open for just 18 months, Melbourne Street’s Rita’s Bar & Kitchen have shut their doors this season. This Italian spot was fresh and modern, bringing casual dining to this bustling North Adelaide strip. The owners announced the closure in a post to Instagram, before deleting all their content.
For more information, click here.
Shifty Lizard
While Shifty Lizard closed their doors alongside Port Burger, this a is a venue the locals couldn’t let go of. Now, two months after the closing a Willunga family has stepped in to save their beloved brewery.
New owner Melanie McKibbin and her family had a permanent Friday night booking at Shifty Lizard. “It was getting to the stage where, if you didn’t book two weeks ahead, you couldn’t get in,” said Mel. “We got the heads-up that Shifty was closing, and I suggested to my husband and some friends that I’d be keen to see the numbers. I chatted with my husband and said, ‘I’m really keen to get the numbers’. And he was like, ‘You’re serious?’ I said, Yes. I don’t even drink beer, but this was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up.”
For more information, click here.
Venues that Opened
While there’s definitely been more than five venues open in the past few months, here’s five of our top picks.
Huami
This spring, the doors open on Adelaide’s newest premium dining destination, Huami. Meaning ‘nectar’, Huami calls SkyCity Adelaide home and is celebrating Chinese culinary artistry through the finest local ingredients and contemporary techniques.
Find them at Level 1, SkyCity Adelaide
For more information, click here.
Hunter and Barrel
Hunter & Barrel – the internationally awarded steakhouse celebrated for its fire-grilled feasts and barrel-aged craft spirits – has set Adelaide alight. The luxury dining destination is now officially open, calling the iconic former Fishbank site on the corner of North Terrace and King William Street home.
Find them at Corner of North Terrace and King William Street, Adelaide
For more information, click here.
Icardi’s
For months, O’Connell Street has been guessing. Burgundy tones through the blinds, cryptic glimpses across social media, and whispers of a venue inspired by Greek mythology. The reveal is finally here, and it comes with a family story and a menu rooted in Euro classics.
Icardi’s is the debut restaurant from Jared Chahoud, a son paying tribute to his father, Gaby, a well-known figure on O’Connell Street, with a venue that reads like a love letter in courses.
Find them at 67 O’Connell STreet, North Adelaide
For more information, click here.
Lola’s
It’s not every day you walk into a wine bar and get instantly floored by the fit-out. Up until last month this Norwood address was East End Cellars, but you’d hardly recognise it now. Lola’s opened her doors this October. She’s sexy, feminine, and playful, but the design – with velvet curtains, marble benchtops and more shades of pink than you can count – sets her up as much more than a place for a daytime drink.
Find them at 88 Magill Road, Norwood
For more information, click here.
Yakisan
A highly anticipated addition has hit Adelaide’s dining scene, as the $300 million 88 O’Connell development welcomes its first culinary icon, Yakisan. This luxury rooftop restaurant is celebrating culinary mastery, and with fire at the heart of its ethos, this is an opening that’s a long time coming.
Find them at Level 2, 88 O’Connell Street, North Adelaide
For more information, click here.
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