Images supplied
There are plenty of places in Adelaide to find a slice of cake or a scoop of ice cream, but Ghan Dessert Bar is about to introduce Adelaide to something a little different when they open their doors this Friday.
From homemade Afghan Kulfi to Falooda, with ice cream and sweet noodles, the new dessert bar will highlight traditional flavours, alongside familiar favourites and be a welcoming space for everyone to enjoy.
For co-founders Zainab Zaidi, Rahim shah Zaidi and Syed Zaidi, the idea to open the new spot grew from their desire to offer more variety in Adelaide’s dessert scene.
“Personally, I like to go out to dessert shops, have a sit, have a chat with friends … We can see around Adelaide there is not much diversity in terms of dessert bars,” Zainab said.
With a dedicated table filled with card and board games, the new venue is intended to be a place where people can simply chill out while discovering Afghan sweets.
At the heart of the menu is homemade Kulfi, a traditional frozen dessert, similar to ice cream, with a rich and creamy texture. There will also be Falooda, an Afghan favourite combining sweet noodles, ice cream, nuts, rosewater and condensed milk. Zainab describes the Falooda as a “beautiful mix of goodness”, with its different flavours and textures coming together to create something that is difficult to compare to a conventional dessert.
Ghan Dessert Bar is connected to neighbouring Afghan restaurant, Ghan Kebab House, taking over the space previously occupied by Ghan Lounge, a juice bar that had already developed a following for its dessert offerings. While the new concept will introduce a wider selection of sweets, keeping those traditional dishes was particularly important to the team.
“We didn’t want to take that away from the community.”
The menu will also include cake cups in flavours such as red velvet, chocolate, Dubai choco, vanilla and strawberry, alongside a warm and fresh cookie paired with creamy vanilla soft serve. The approach reflects what Zainab enjoys most about dessert outings, having somewhere to sit, chat and share good food, without feeling the need to rush.
For Zainab, the opening is also an opportunity to share part of her culture with a wider audience, while continuing to serve the community that supported the previous lounge.
“It means so much … I’m just so excited to share the space with everyone.”
Ghan Dessert Bar
Grand opening: September 11 2026
Where: 366 Prospect Rd, Kilburn SA 5084
