13 Best Bars in Adelaide, South Australia

Adelaide has a fascination with small bars and hole-in-the-wall-style venues, and the Clever Little Tailor was one of the city's first. Named after a German fairy tale, the warmth of this place is undeniable. The bar staff is welcoming and helpful and the venue is cozy and charming with its contemporary interior, exposed red bricks, and hanging ferns. The cocktails are delicious, too, and the boutique wine and beer list is impressive. Plus, the music is soft enough to chat to your heart's content.

For generations the front bar of this classic pub has welcomed everyone from students downing beers to businesspeople taking advantage of the surprisingly good wine list, and when the sun is out it’s nigh impossible to get one of the outside tables. Local DJs and bands still regularly play here and if you’re passing by at lunchtime, the steak sandwich is one of Adelaide’s best value lunches.

From the outside, the historic lead light glass catches your eye, telling you that this is a place that's stood the test of time. The first bar in South Australia to put Coopers beer on tap, the Austral is a local favorite and a great place to drink outdoors. You can down shooters or sip cocktails from a long list while listening to a band play or a DJ spin groovy tunes.

One of the oldest pubs in Adelaide, Botanic Bar has had a resurgence recently but holds onto its history thanks to nice details like branded boxes of matches. There's a well-stocked cocktail bar and an intimate back bar that features local beers. The kitchen of the attached restaurant, Golden Boy, serves high-quality Thai street food.

Here you can enjoy live music ranging from Mexican mariachi bands to Samba drummers, every night at 7:45 and 8:45 pm. The bar is located on trendy Leigh Street, the first of Adelaide's laneways to be rejuvenated. The atmosphere and live entertainment lineup is as unique as the contemporary fusion of South East Asian and Middle Eastern decor. Wednesday night is live Latin night with free salsa lessons. A mild-mannered restaurant by day, it's a pumping club by night.

Here you can taste freshly brewed beer from the local Australian James Squire range, which is brewed on the premises. There is also a short cocktail and wine list. The menu is full of pub snacks and bar food with a good choice of barbecue platters, pizzas, and burgers.

With a selection measuring in the thousands and a climate-controlled “vault” of sought-after unicorn wines, this is one of Adelaide’s best wine shops. The staff are highly knowledgeable and for a A$15 fee will open any of the bottles for you to enjoy on-site. On Friday evening, local winemakers stop by to personally pour some of their bottles and share the stories behind them, and during the annual Fringe Festival the entire laneway turns into a giant party. 

A classic old-school pub, bartenders spout the mantra "no pokies, no TAB, no food"—pokies are the poker machines found in many pubs, and TAB, Australia's version of OTB, lets you place bets on horse races—at this music-lover's watering hole. Entertainment comes in the form of consistently excellent live music including a legendary Monday open mic night that's been running for two decades. The beer garden is one of the city's best, with secluded spots for those wanting a quiet tipple and larger tables for groups to drink en masse and alfresco. In 2017 the pub was inducted into the South Australian Music Hall of Fame, recognizing its unique commitment to live music culture.

French expats and locals alike gather in this relaxed yet sophisticated Parisian-inspired wine bar on a quiet lane off Hindley Street for snacks and a unique bottle of wine, whether French or South Australian. Owned by a French expat, of course, La Buvette Drinkery is the ideal spot for observing the French ritual of aperitif before dinner: enjoy a local sparkling wine or well-made spritz alongside artisanal terrine to start the evening well.

Don’t be embarrassed if you hesitate at the skillfully camouflaged doors to this opulent underground speakeasy; most first-time visitors do. Push through them and you’ll find a fully table-serviced bar serving innovative cocktails with an emphasis on sustainability. 

This is the home of Adelaide comedy, with a rotating lineup of open-mic nights and showcases as well as cabaret performances. Some of Australia's best comedians and high-profile overseas acts have graced the tiny stage, but it’s also a great place to catch emerging talents. During the annual Fringe Festival every available space is turned into a venue as it becomes a bustling comedic hub. Check the website for upcoming performances.

One of the first of Adelaide's growing trend of "small bars," Udaberri is a cozy, intimate setting where some of the city's best wine and beer selection is served alongside delicious Basque-style tapas. The narrow space is reminiscent of a barn, but it's a very chic barn. DJs spin house beats, but the music is never overpowering as interaction and conversation is encouraged. If you're lucky enough to beat the crowds to the loft, you can unwind on the sofas while enjoying the view. In addition to tapas, heartier plates with Mediterranean flair, like straciatella with figs and pistachio, or semi-cured chorizo, are served.

First licensed in 1851, the Wellington is a hop lover's heaven with 16 taps pouring beer and cider from around Australia and the world. Order a "schooner" (small glass) or "pint" (larger glass) of your favorite and take it outside to the seats overlooking a large square surrounded by heritage homes. There's live acoustic music on Sunday afternoon and hearty pub food every day of the week. It's a good place to stop on the way to (or from) the nearby Adelaide Oval and gets crowded when there's a sporting event.