A new bar in the Adelaide CBD, ‘Nearly,’ has launched in the former Vap-o-rama ‘vaping emporium,’ on the western end of Hindley Street.
After half a year of revitalizing the old store into a simple, yet swanky wine bar, the new location is within reach of the University of South Australia’s Student Lounge. So, for art students looking to live the bohemian dream of wine and vinyl records, after a long day of formatting essay citations (as per the style guide), then look no further!
Co-owner Alex Glastonbury explained (whilst making an Old Fashioned) that the crew behind Stem and now, co-owners of Nearly, Lachlan Farmer and Tom Paxton, had been eyeing the venue off for a while.
“Yeah, the choice to have a wine bar on Hindley is a bit different, because we’re not averse from the ‘Hindley friendly’ feel of the nightclubs and stuff, but we wanted it to feel like it’s not that, if that makes sense,” said Alex.
From the chessboard floor to curved tables, the bar has similar vibes to a studio apartment rented by a friend that’s behind on their coursework and wants a night off, but it also resembles a metropolitan coffee shop in a trendy city.
The decorative cardboard cutouts of bottle silhouettes add to the minimalist and humble aesthetic, which is a far cry from the main Hindley Street strip. Crossing that road and walking into Nearly is a stark night-and-day difference for roomy ambience as opposed to claustrophobic neon dazzle.
The long table at the back of the bar and adjacent to the countertop is fitting for a night out after a fusion restaurant or celebrating a milestone in life with co-workers, feeling less like a hangover and more like you’re heading home after a quiet afternoon out.
To check out Nearly and experience the zen tranquility of Hindley’s softer side, visit the @Nearly Insta here.
WHERE: 179 Hindley Street, Adelaide SA
