Main photo courtesy of Neas
Before the mezzanine has even had its final polish, Honeydripper is quietly its doors in the city, and those in the know have slipped through the curtains for a first taste of what’s set to be Adelaide’s most sonically seductive venue.
Beating right in the city’s heart and pumping with potential, Honeydripper is a full-bodied experience built around exceptional sound, top-tier drinks, and that elusive energy only the special venues ever seem to capture.
The downstairs bar is now open for early risers and late-night lingerers, while the upstairs listening lounge is almost ready to make its debut.
By day, it’ll be bagels, batch brews and free wi-fi. By night, it’s DJs spinning vinyl, cocktails laced with unexpected flavour combos, and a sound system that moves through your bones like bass at one of the best house parties.
Whether you’re perched in a booth with an espresso or posted up at the bar sipping something decadent, Honeydripper will hold space for both the chill and the thrill.
The brains behind the operation? Raf Thomson and a crew of music-obsessed hospo heads who have taken their love of sound and poured it into every surface.
“There’s nowhere else in Adelaide where music and drinks are treated with this much respect,” Raf says.
“We wanted to build a place where the system matters just as much as the spirits on the shelf.”
And oh, the system.
Downstairs, it’s warm and welcoming with a set of Klipsch speakers that wrap the room in a rich, velvety cocoon of sound. Oversized booths invite long catch-ups, while street-facing tables are perfect for people-watching with a pint or Negroni in hand.
But it’s the soon-to-open mezzanine that will really set audiophiles alight.
Designed like something lifted straight from Tokyo’s backstreets or a Brooklyn hi-fi bar, the space will house a walnut DJ island, intimate leather booths, and a 3000-strong vinyl library curated by Chicago house icon Gene Farris. The pièce de résistance is a pair of Klipsch La Scala speakers powered by a McIntosh MC312 amp.
It is audiophile heaven, with martinis.
The drink list echoes the same precision. Think short, sharp wines picked for pure drinkability, and a cocktail list that’s clever without being smug. One standout, The Sansui, blends white chocolate, bergamot, strawberry and tomato for a drink that hits as hard as it intrigues. There’s also a cheeky mango and feta number that’ll awaken your tastebuds.
Renew Adelaide helped secure the space for the team, and Claire Markwick-Smith has shaped the interiors into something that feels high-design without feeling too cool to get comfy. That’s the magic of Honeydripper.
Midweek, it’s single DJs spinning five-hour sets. Come Friday and Saturday, the tempo shifts with local legends like Hans, Sharni Honor, Lenin and Kev G taking turns on the decks.
Adelaide, the word is out. Whether you’re here for the soul or the spritz, the Chardonnay or the Chicago house, Honeydripper is open and it is already rewriting the rules.
Honeydripper Hi-fi
Where: 11 Frome Street, Adelaide
When: Open Friday 8 August
Socials: @honeydripper.hifi
