Pictured: Saba Maghsoudi, Dan Vaughan, James Brown and Elijah Makris. Photographer: Elijah Makris.
Once upon a time, a great wine bar in Adelaide simply needed a killer wine list to make an impact. Now, while wine is still the star of the show, many winos are seeking a little more for their next night out. Whether it be via a great menu, ethos or story, Adelaide is definitely stepping up its wine bar game.
Pastel Wine Bar is the newest addition coming to North Adelaide, spearheaded by the creative minds behind some of Adelaide’s favourite small bars and cafes. The new neighbourhood bar and dining room brings together Elijah Makris and Saba Maghsoudi of Pinco Deli, Daniel Vaughan of 1000 Island, and artist and designer James Brown (Africola, Chicco Palms, Valentino’s).
Vaughan says that while Pastel will have a “sizeable wine offering with plenty of variety”, the venue seeks to be “approachable” and appeal to a more casual audience.
“The wine menu isn’t specific to just local or international, we’re just looking for good, slurpable wine that matches well with our food,” says Vaughan.
“Everything about it will be approachable and casual. It’s still a destination, but we want people to come and have a good time rather than travelling to North Adelaide for a special occasion. We want this place to be a staple in people’s rotation.”
The new bar will be moving into the former L’Italy site on O’Connell Street, which is being transformed into indoor/outdoor oasis with warm, earthy features.
Vaughan says that guests will be greeted to a custom-made curtain by the front entrance, before you walk into the dining room, displaying mixed textures of render and exposed brick, contrasting with timber and stainless steel finishes.
While the venue will have a “warm, cosy sort of feeling”, it will also be fully decked out with marble bar tops and large art pieces decorating the walls.
As you travel through the space, passing high tables for casual drinks and a custom lounge area, the bar will open up into an atrium-like room with high skylights, lush greenery, and a DJ booth.
The fit-out can be credited to Sam Weckert of Tiger Build – the local business behind venue renovations such as the Smokelovers, 1000 Island, Sunnys, Part Time Lover, Bottega Bandito, Anchovy Bandit, and most recently, Jennie Wine Bar.
In addition to (what sounds like) a plentiful wine list and stunning venue is a colourful and sentimental food offering.
While Pastel Wine Bar won’t be serving fusion dishes, the menu certainly is a compilation of Daniel Vaughan and James Brown’s favourite cuisines they would eat at home.
“The menu is made up of a few of our favourite cuisines,” says Vaughan. “When we visit each other’s place, this is the kind of thing we like to cook.”
Vaughan continues to say that the menu features a mix of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Asian flavours, heavily inspired by Israeli-born British chef, Yotam Ottolenghi.
“Ottolenghi has some amazing dishes that are incredibly stylish. He’s a big inspiration for us and we wanted to compile a menu based on what food we eat and drink at home – bringing to life our own experiences,” Vaughan shared.
With what appears to be a great menu, ethos and story, Pastel Wine Bar promises to offer a staple venue well worth visiting this spring.
Pastel Wine Bar will open by November at 47 O’Connell Street, North Adelaide.
To updates, follow Pastel Wine Bar on Instagram.
More News
