There’s something special about walking into a place you’ve known for years and discovering it has an entirely new feel.
That’s the experience at Robe’s former Sails, which has officially reopened as Ardo after months of renovations, planning and plenty of long days for owners Jack and Tayla Edwards.
After welcoming guests for a soft launch and grand opening, the couple finally got to see the space they had been working towards come to life.
“It was pretty special seeing the place full and finally getting to share what we’ve been working on,” they said.
The Victoria Street venue has undergone a significant makeover, replacing its familiar look with a warmer, softer and more contemporary interior.
Floor-to-ceiling sheers soften the room, pendant lights cast a warm glow overhead, and earthy tones and natural textures give the space a refined coastal feel without leaning into the usual seaside clichés.
The result is intimate but relaxed, with an atmosphere that works just as well for a long dinner as it does for a drink at the bar.
“We wanted the room to feel warmer, softer and more intimate,” Tayla told Glam Adelaide.
Sails had been part of Robe’s dining scene for well over a decade, and the couple knew the restaurant held plenty of memories for locals and visitors alike.
“Sails has been part of Robe for a long time, so we never wanted to completely erase what was there before us,” Tayla said.
“The bones of the venue are great, and we wanted the renovation to feel like an evolution of the space rather than stripping away everything people recognised.”
The most significant change is the former wine room, which has been transformed into a dedicated bar and tapas space. It gives guests a new way to experience the venue without necessarily committing to a full sit-down meal.
“You might come in for a cocktail and a couple of small plates, sit at the bar for a glass of wine, or settle in for the whole dining experience,” Tayla said.
On Fridays and Saturdays, Ardo opens from midday and continues through to dinner, with tapas available throughout the afternoon. It means the restaurant can accommodate anything from an afternoon drink to an evening spent working through the menu.
Jack, who has spent more than 15 years working in Robe’s hospitality industry, is leading the kitchen with a produce-driven approach that makes the most of the Limestone Coast’s position as one of South Australia’s great food regions.
The menu is modern Australian, with Mediterranean and Asian influences, Australian native ingredients and a strong focus on South Australian produce. Seafood remains a focal part of the offering, maintaining a connection to the venue’s previous life.
Rather than following a rigid entrée, main and dessert structure, the menu is built around different-sized plates. Guests can share a selection of smaller dishes, order from the grill or build their meal into a full dinner.
Drinks have been given equal consideration, with a wine list that leans heavily towards South Australia while including familiar producers, smaller wineries and more unusual bottles.
“Alongside that we’ll have a proper cocktail program, local beers and a bar that we want people to feel comfortable visiting even if they’re not coming in for dinner,” Tayla said.
For Jack and Tayla, who have owned the local Union Café for the past eight years, Ardo is their most ambitious hospitality project yet.
The new space is designed to be flexible. Somewhere to visit after a day at the beach, meet friends for a Friday afternoon drink or book a special dinner that’s been on the calendar all week.
And after the first weekend, the couple have already had a glimpse of what that next chapter could look like.
“We have a lot of respect for what Sails was and the memories people have of it,” Tayla said.
“ARDO is the next chapter for the building rather than us pretending the previous chapter never existed.”
For those who remember Sails, the familiar Victoria Street address now offers a very different experience, and one that Jack and Tayla hope will become part of Robe’s dining scene for years to come.
Ardo Robe
When: open Tues-Sat from 5:30pm and Friday & Saturday from 12pm
Where: 2 Victoria Street, Robe
For more, click here.
