Image Credit: Belle Property
Interior designer Jane K was inspired by Impressionist art and twentieth-century design, and missed her former days slinging cocktails at the popular Eveleigh Hotel in Sydney.
So when a long-time friend proposed they start a bespoke whisky and cocktail bar together, it wasn’t long before the pair scoured the internet searching for the perfect space. There was just one clear condition – Jane would take the creative reins – and the blame – if it flopped.
And so, Jane’s Fault was born, marking the newest addition to the bustling, bar-lined Peel Street.
Located at number 23 – formerly home to Icarus Wine Bar and originally a warehouse – the heritage spot offers the ideal canvas. It’s compact in size, the original masonry remains, and there’s an undercurrent of moodiness and intimacy, concealed behind an almost missable entrance.
Jane’s design for the bar strikes a careful balance between past and present.
“I’m aiming for a 20th-century-inspired style — not overly themed, but with vintage touches and a contemporary feel,” Jane says.
“The colour palette is mostly browns, maroons, and timber finishes. I’ve studied both interior design and art, so I’m really drawn to that impressionist aesthetic. I’ve already got a Monet print, and I’m sourcing more artwork from that era.”
As for the drinks, it’s a classic-leaning list with a strong local focus.
“We’ll definitely have the essentials — Old Fashioned, Negroni, Margarita, Espresso Martini, and lots of martinis,” she adds.
“We’re still finalising the whisky list, but about 90% of the menu will feature local products. We’ll also have a house cocktail — the Gin Rumble— made with gin, blackberry syrup and lemon. It’s sweet, citrusy, and refreshing.”
In true Adelaide fashion, the list includes a stellar lineup of local wines, with features from Clare Valley’s Pikes and Coonawarra’s Zema Estate, alongside classic Barossa Valley reds.
Music-wise, Jane’s is keeping it relaxed. Soft jazz during the day, upping the beat into the evening, but none of the high-decibel doof doof. It’ll be an accessory to the experience, and you’ll still be able to hear yourself speak.
To complement the drinks, the bar will also offer a small “Asian fusion” food menu. The full rollout is still in the works, but it’ll be an expect-the-unexpected type of mix – Jane’s favourites, with a chef’s finesse.
“One of the dishes is a creamy Tom Yum pasta — so you’ve got Thai flavours with Mediterranean comfort. There will also be mussel curry, served with baguette – kind of like a French-Asian mashup,” she adds. “It’s what I like to eat.”
With her Sydney design team set to arrive in August to help complete the fit-out, Jane’s Fault is pencilled in for a mid-September opening, just in time for the return of warm nights, after-work drinks, and the kind of mornings that might be, quite literally, all Jane’s fault.
WHAT: Jane’s Fault
WHEN: Due to open mid-September
WHERE: 23 Peel Street, Adelaide
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