South Australia’s best bar has been named, and for Hutt Street regulars, you’ll know that this is one you’ll find yourself returning to again and again.
Latteria is now officially South Australia’s favourite bar in the 2026 Time Out Food & Drink Awards. The annual awards celebrate the country’s best restaurants, pubs, cafes and bars, with this year’s People’s Choice categories attracting more than 10,000 public votes nationwide, making it the biggest vote in the awards’ history.
For the team behind Latteria, the recognition feels especially meaningful because awards were never the goal.
“It’s incredibly humbling and rewarding, especially because Latteria was never created to chase awards,” shared Managing Director Nicola Pau. “From day one, the focus has always been on creating a place with soul – somewhere that feels alive every night of the week, where great drinks, great food, great music and genuine hospitality all coexist naturally. To receive recognition from a platform like Time Out is amazing for the whole team because everyone contributes to the atmosphere people experience when they walk through the door.”
Since opening, Latteria has quickly become one of Adelaide’s most talked-about venues, combining the feel of a European cocktail bar and the warmth of a neighbourhood trattoria with an Italian living room from a 70s film. As you head through the doors, you’re met with moody lighting, retro-inspired interiors, DJs spinning late into the night and tables filled with pasta, steak, cocktails and plenty of wine. This layered experience is exactly what sets the bar apart.
“We never wanted the venue to feel precious or overly polished. We want people to feel comfortable dropping in for a quick afternoon drink and snack, or staying for a full lunch or dinner and never really wanting to leave. There’s an energy and looseness to Latteria that feels very natural and social.”
That approach seems to be resonating not just in Adelaide, but nationally too. Time Out’s newly released 2026 Dining Trends Report highlighted a growing shift towards ‘specific authenticity,’ with diners increasingly gravitating towards venues that offer a strong identity and highly curated experience.
Latteria fits neatly into that trend, with a menu heavily inspired by Milanese food culture and cocktails designed around memories, moments and Italian bar traditions. Nicola says everything they do is about balance, blending comfort and nostalgia with refinement and technique. “We want the menu to feel generous, familiar and very craveable, while still having personality, often drawing from the food culture of our less represented city, Milano.”
Signature dishes include the crispy Milanese-style meatballs, Mondeghili, and the rich winter-style Risotto Milanese with ossobuco, while the drinks list leans into approachable cocktails that still feel elevated and transportive.
As for what’s next, Nicola teased upcoming projects, including ‘Locals Only,’ a new monthly series that will bring together chefs from some of Adelaide’s favourite venues for collaborative events and one-off experiences.
For now though, it seems Adelaide is more than happy to keep settling into the lounge, ordering another round, and soaking up the atmosphere at the city’s newly crowned favourite bar.
Find Latteria at 185 Hutt St, Adelaide SA 5000.
Latteria
Where: 185 Hutt St, Adelaide SA 5000
For more information, click here.
