If you’re cruising through the backstreets of Thebarton, you’ll find a little pocket of walkable roads and tree-lined footpaths winding along the Torrens. Here sits an old tram barn turned elegant, intimate venue, and it’s just been called SA’s favourite cafe.
Bloom on Winwood Street, Thebarton has topped the list as SA’s favourite cafe in Time Out’s Food & Drink Awards for 2026, and it isn’t hard to see why.
From the moment you lay eyes on the rustic white building in the distance, you get a sense of what waits inside. It’s all soulful, hearty meals straight from the open kitchen, where chefs masterfully raise and lower an Asado grill over a wood fire. There’s a big atmosphere no matter what time you stop by, with a fresh, uplifting space bathed in sunlight. Outside, the garden is the perfect spot for when the weather turns it on, surrounded by gums and foliage climbing up the brickwork.
And while Adelaide diners are absolutely taken by Bloom, the recognition feels especially meaningful for the team.
Bloom director Jack Nelligan said, “It’s extremely meaningful being recognised by the public as SA’s favourite cafe for 2026. It’s difficult to consistently provide a quality customer experience in the current climate but it’s something that we really value and have worked tirelessly on for the last 5+ years.”
“I believe people really appreciate the little things that we do consistently well, like the extra effort we put into sourcing high quality SA ingredients or the level of customer service we provide no matter the occasion. Bloom is a big venue with a really nice fit out but at its core Bloom is focused on quality and consistency. We have an exceptional team that believe in what we do and are committed to providing a unique Bloom experience.”
Bloom is available to hire as a wedding and function space, and is open for breakfast and lunch from 8am to 3:30pm on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, and from 8:30am to 4pm on weekends.
Previously, Time Out Australia’s Food & Drink Award has only covered Australia’s two biggest cities, Melbourne and Sydney. 2026 is the first time the awards have ventured into other states and territories, giving SA punters a glimpse of the venues the masses are loving the most.
The publication said this year attracted a record number of votes, with more than 10,000 cast.
There were four people’s choice winners for each state, covering bars, pubs, restaurants and cafes.
Time Out Australia Food & Drink Award 2026 SA People’s Choice winners
- Favourite Restaurant: Ekhidna Kitchen
- Favourite Cafe: Bloom
- Favourite Bar: Latteria
- Favourite Pub: Exeter Hotel
For the full list of people’s choice winners, click here.
