Image: Bar Sofia/Instagram
Bar Sofia has officially opened its doors to the rowdy crowd of Adelaide’s weekend nightlife, bringing a new ‘try your luck’ experience to Hutt Street.
The new kid on the block comes from the team behind Sofia Bistro, which sits conveniently right alongside the Bar Sofia.
The long, narrow venue feels tucked away but obviously all at the same time, like one of those small European snack bars that you stumble upon without trying too hard.
Before opening, owner and hospitality pro Josh Baker said the idea was never to create a private dining room that simply sat empty between bookings.
“As opposed to just being a private dining room that sits dormant when there’s no event or no booking, we’ve got an opportunity to build a whole new venue,” Josh said.
“It’s sort of like a try-your-luck moment.
“If we don’t have an event in here, then we’re going to be open as a bar, a really cool Mediterranean snack bar.”
The food offering will shift depending on the night, but the bar has already introduced its Nosti Me Me House Mezze, designed for the table, the indecisive and anyone who wants a bit of everything. The menu has influences from Sofia Bistro, but Josh said Bar Sofia will be its own standalone thing, giving the chefs room to play.
“When we’re open as a bar, we want to have the flexibility to have our chefs go crazy and use that as a test kitchen,” Josh said.
“If they want to fly in a tuna and deconstruct a tuna at the bar while you’re sitting there, and then build something around that, then we want to do that as well.”
For the private events, Bar Sofia is aiming well beyond the usual set menu. Guests can work with the chefs to shape the food, choose the wines they want to drink, and build an experience around the occasion.
“You’re the star of the show,” Josh said. “We’re just the set.”
Maybe someone wants a Port Lincoln Tuna or Lebanese twist on caviar, maybe it’s a plate of donuts stacked metre high, it’s a menu designed to be changed.
Image: Jack Fenby
The space also has a late-night pulse built into it. Josh said sound was a major part of the fit-out, with the team installing a “wicked sound system” and designing the kitchen pass to double as a DJ booth once the snacks wind down.
Flow from one Sofia to the other, after all sharing is caring and both Sofias were made to be loved, phraised and enjoyed by all.
Open, closed, private or public, Bar Sofia moves with the flow of the crowd and changes from night to night.
If you’re looking to get in try your luck and watch out for updates on their socials or book your own event and enjoy the space to yourself.
Bar Sofia
When: Thursday 5pm to late and Friday-Sunday 3pm to late
Where: 16 Hutt Street, Adelaide
Private dining: For groups of 20 or more
For more information, click here.
