A new taste of Spanish fusion is coming soon to the city, with ‘Niña’ getting ready to spice up the local culinary scene.
Tucked away behind the Sofitel’s new apartment complex on Rosina Street- a street also known for its multi-storey wall of around 10,000 Matchbox cars- and with the likes of Cry Baby and Sunny’s Pizza as its neighbours, Niña will no doubt be a fun addition to the scene.
The heart and soul of this modern-Spanish restaurant lies with its three creators: front-of-house legend Jessica Purcell, ‘Freaky Feeds’ Adelaide food blogger Brenda Loveday in social media management, and Basque by Leo cheesecake shop owner Leonardo Loureiro in charge of back of house.
Eager diners have just six more weeks to wait, as the powerhouse trio gears up for their mid-October debut.
A menu full of small sharing plates bursting with flavours awaits. Leo says although the food is heavily influenced by Spanish ingredients, they are not limiting themselves to this- with ingredients from Asia and Brazil also in the mix.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Leonardo Loureiro establishment without his renowned cheesecake, which finds its exclusive home at Niña.
The venue name ‘Niña’ is a play on words: Translating to ‘little girl’ in Spanish, it nods to the intimate 73sqm venue size and, sweetly, to Leo’s daughter named Nina.
Renovations are currently underway for Niña.
Contrasting the upscale ambiance of the Sofitel’s upstairs French restaurant Garçon Bleu, Niña will revel in its relaxed and playful atmosphere.
South Australian wine will dominate the drinks menu to complement the food, along with a small cocktail list and beers.
“Because we are going to have so many people coming from interstate and international we will have a focus on South Australian producers,” Jess says.
“We are going to really try and focus on those medium and small producers so we can give them a bit of an insight into the beautiful work that winemakers and spirit producers and doing in South Australia.”
“We will have a bit of international because we do above that Mediterranean theme, however Australia is such a proud wine country so it will be predominantly South Australia.”
Jugs of sangria will be the star of the cocktail list and the team has plans to create twists on the traditional sangria, including seasonal specials.
“A lot of love will be put into the list. We will use lots of local ingredients, suppliers and producers to keep a connection with the people we are working with,” Jess says.
Inside Niña, patrons will be greeted by a moody and cosy ambiance, perfect for sitting in a corner and having a long conversation over food and drinks, perching on a high-table bar seat or conversing with friends in the booth. Guests are encouraged to not rush, but stay a while, relax and enjoy the space.
The décor fuses vintage Spanish charm with contemporary chic. Vivid hues will splash across the interiors to bring the space into the modern era and the walls will proudly showcase local art. Niña will play the line between a traditional Spanish vibe and keeping things modern.
“You can come in for dinner, you can come in for a drink, we want it to be everyone’s local favourite, if we can do that, that is our goal,” Leo says.
“We want people to sit and not worry about the time or anything else because the food and drinks will be flowing naturally. There is no pressure with the service, you will be able to sit down, relax, and enjoy it.”
Visit Niña via their website and follow them on Instagram and Facebook.
WHAT: Niña Restaurant.
WHERE: 38 Rosina Street.
WHEN: Opening mid-October.
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