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The Best Cocktail Bars in Adelaide for a Night Worth Toasting
Whatever the mood calls for, moody and dim or bright and bubbly, these are the Adelaide cocktail bars worth knowing about.
There is something about an expertly made cocktail that hits differently, fruity, sweet, sour or bitter, one of life’s little luxuries created purely to be enjoyed. Adelaide’s best cocktail bars run the full spectrum, from moody speakeasy-style haunts made for a romantic rendezvous to lavish rooftop lounges built for golden-hour sips, with plenty of theatre in between: think drinks lit on fire, rimmed with spice, or shaken up as a classic martini or mojito done right. These are the bars worth building a night around.
In This Guide
The Best Cocktail Bars in Adelaide CBD
Latteria Bar
Latteria Bar is an aperitivo-style cocktail lounge and kitchen bringing a playful Adelaide spin to Italian drinking culture. The cocktail list moves beyond the usual classics, with a rhubarb Sbagliato and honeydew Spritz among the standouts, while stuzzichini makes it easy to settle in for a few rounds. It’s a relaxed spot for an after-work drink, date night or lingering catch-up, with the drinks and food designed to keep the evening moving.
Sitchu Tip: Time your visit for Latteria’s Negroni Party, an annual celebration of Adelaide’s bar community. Recent editions have brought 20 local bars through the venue, with two guest bars taking over every 30 minutes and each serving their own Negroni creation. Add DJs, stuzzichini and a donation to Hutt Street Centre from every Negroni sold, and you’ve got one very good excuse to make a night of it.
Suburb: Adelaide
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Cocktail lovers, group dining, date night
Mr Goodbar
You’ll find Mr. Goodbar tucked away on the corner of Union Street and Ebenezer Place. A deep Southern soulful vibe and stylish interiors lit with a neon glow make this one of the best cocktail bars in Adelaide. A stellar menu awaits, with classic favourites alongside signature specials for the choosing. There’s sweet, sour and bitter to try, all you need to do is sit back, enjoy the tunes and let their award-winning staff shake up a storm.
Suburb: Adelaide
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Late night, cocktail lovers, group dining
Hains & Co
Spirit lovers should make a beeline for Hains & Co, a West End favourite with a serious thing for gin, rum and whisky. The nautical-inspired bar is all dark timber, good drinks and a little old-school charm, with a cocktail list that moves from well-made classics to more inventive serves. Upstairs, Admiral’s Quarters offers a more intimate drinking experience, centred around owner Marcus Motteram’s personal collection of more than 620 whiskies, with slow pours, Martinis and a balcony overlooking Edmund Wright House.
Sitchu Tip: From September 18 to 27, the venue is putting its own spin on Negroni Week, with five special serves pouring across both bars. You can keep it classic, go dark and fruity with the Bloody Negroni, try the lighter Negroni Sbagliato or settle in with the silky, subtly savoury Salted Beeswax Negroni. And because a good drink is even better with a good cause, $2 from every Negroni sold will go to Kickstart for Kids.
Suburb: Adelaide
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Wine lovers, cocktail lovers, group dining
Clever Little Tailor
The Clever Little Tailor is a charming bar in the heart of the CBD. The indoor and outdoor areas are cosy and intimate, with romantic booths to help set the mood for date night. They have an impressive list of cocktails, including classics and unique house recipes such as the Roman Holiday with Limoncello, Bianco vermouth, mint and citrus.
Suburb: Adelaide
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Date night, cocktail lovers
Bar Canopy
Tucked beneath its namesake green canopy on Hindley Street, Bar Canopy brings a polished but easygoing feel to Adelaide’s West End. The wine list leans into boutique local producers and rare international drops, while the cocktail menu takes a more playful approach, with inventive serves such as a coconut-aged Negroni. Add a few bar snacks to the mix and you’ve got all the ingredients for a long evening, whether you’re dropping in for a pre-dinner drink or settling in for the night.
Suburb: Adelaide
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Wine lovers, cocktail lovers, date night
Smokelovers
Discover a world transformed at Smokelovers, once a tobacconist and now a chic cocktail and wine bar on Rundle Street. After 50 years of tobacco history, bartender Hamish Tregeagle revamped it into a cosy and relaxed space for classic cocktails like the smoky margarita and refreshing spritzes. Beers, available by the bottle or can, span a diverse range, and there’s a curated wine list if that’s more your style. Pair your drink with simple bites, and soak in the charm of the timber-and-greens decor.
Suburb: Adelaide
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Wine lovers, cocktail lovers, date night, group dining
Pink Moon Saloon
It may be tiny, but it’s hard to miss this Nordic-inspired gem squeezed within the otherwise traditional streetscape of Leigh Street. Come nightfall, Pink Moon Saloon is all about their unique offering of innovative cocktails perfect for any social feed. Enjoy simple bar snacks before focusing on the real star of the show – the impressive drinks list. With cocktails split into ‘Fruity/Zesty/Bright’ and ‘Classic into Boozy’ there is bound to be a drink for everyone. Our cocktail of choice? The classic Margarita, of course.
Suburb: Adelaide
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Date night, cocktail lovers, quick bite
trap.
Trap sure knows how to make a delicious cocktail, and is a hidden gem in Adelaide that you need to visit as soon as you can. The menu is constantly changing, so you know you’re getting something new every time, but they’re in constant supply of house cocktails, beers and wines. They also play host to singles nights and hip-hop open mics now and then.
Suburb: Adelaide
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Late night, solo dining, locals
Need To Know: Basement level, entry via Cold Chisel Lane
Leigh Street Wine Room
Leigh Street Wine Room is best known for its wall of around 400 minimal-intervention bottles spanning Australia, France and Italy, with the Adelaide Hills leading the charge. But the cocktail program holds its own, with rotating specials like a gin-forward Spring Martini or a festive Negroni twist, and a dedicated Winter Warmer menu that drops new pours through the colder months, each one poured until it’s gone before the next takes its place. If you want a little something in your stomach while you sip, they’ve got you covered with a multi-course tasting menu or a more relaxed spread of small plates, all inside a former dry cleaner’s turned archway-and-terrazzo dining room.
Suburb: Adelaide
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Wine lovers, special occasion, date night
Bar Torino
Perfect for a zesty cocktail to start your night, or a cheeky nightcap to finish it, Bar Torino is the chic little sister to Italian favourite Chianti. Step inside to dark, moody interiors that pull you in, whether you’re snagging a seat at a table or perching at the bar. Feeling peckish but not ready for dinner? Adult Happy Meals have landed, all day, every day, featuring a mini Torino cocktail (take your pick from a dirty martini, orchid spritz or chilled Kentucky coffee), fries and a slider stacked with beef, provolone, Salsa di Sicilia, lettuce, and Cipriani mayo. Walk-ins are welcome, but if you’re planning a full experience, a dinner booking is never a bad idea.
Suburb: Adelaide
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Quick bite, late night
2KW Bar and Restaurant
Step off King William Street and go up, and up again, to reach the rooftop bar 2KW. This elegant bar overlooking Adelaide Oval and the River Torrens is a sophisticated setting with picture-perfect views. Fill a booth with friends or find a cosy corner with your love, spending quality time over a few of their bespoke cocktails.
Suburb: Adelaide
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Special occasion, date night, waterfront, group dining
Nevermind Bar
Tucked behind Leigh Street Luggage is this late-night, low-key hangout. Nevermind Bar is a red-lit spot for a good time and some of the best cocktails in town. The team are mixing things up with their Apricot Delight with rum, apricot, lime and protein, whilst also providing a stellar range of classic drinks that makes picking your poison a difficult (but fun) task.
Suburb: Adelaide
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Late night, cocktail lovers, locals
The Bibliotheca Bar & Book Exchange
Bibliotheca Bar and Book Exchange exudes old-world European charm with its blend of spirits, classic cocktails, and literature. This bar-library hybrid features low lighting, leather furniture, and towering bookcases, creating an inviting atmosphere. The extensive spirit collection behind the bar is the foundation for inventive cocktails named after literary icons like 1984 and split into chapters.
Suburb: Adelaide
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Date night, cocktail lovers, special occasion
Leigh Street Luggage
Leigh Street Luggage is your ticket to a European-inspired cocktail paradise. This stylish bar offers a sophisticated vibe with a meticulously curated selection of wine, amaro, and cocktails. Picture an artisanal wine list, inventive cocktails, and mouthwatering bar-cuterie, making every visit feel like a mini-vacation.
Suburb: Adelaide
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Date night, wine lovers, cocktail lovers
Maybe Mae
Escape the hustle of Peel Street and find the hidden gem that is Maybe Mae. Found through a secret door beneath Bread and Bone, this Art Deco oasis feels like a time machine to a 1920s New York speakeasy, complete with deep green velvet, vintage glassware, and a cocktail menu inspired by South Australian produce. Maybe Mae has clinched the South Australian Cocktail Bar of the Year award several times, proving this place truly lives up to the hype.
Suburb: Adelaide
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Special occasion, date night, cocktail lovers
Need To Know: Entered through a hidden door beneath Bread and Bone
La Buvette Drinkery
La Buvette is a little slice of the backstreets of Paris, right here in Adelaide. Spend warm afternoons and evenings out on Euro-style al fresco seating, and your dark winter nights within La Buvette’s historic old-worldly interiors. Classic French style is served in the tall flute of a Kir Royale, their lychee martini packs a delicate punch, and a spicy margarita can be ordered to add some pep to your step.
Suburb: Adelaide
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Wine bar (flag: same ambiguity as Leigh Street Wine Room — your call)
Best For: Wine lovers, date night, outdoor dining
The Best Cocktail Bars in Adelaide’s Suburbs
Bar Cruz & Bar Mary
Housed within the former Stirling church that’s also home to Restaurant Aptos, Bar Cruz and Bar Mary offer two very different ways to settle in for a drink. On the ground floor, Cruz is the livelier of the pair, with a cocktail list that brings native Australian ingredients into play alongside subtle nods to chef patron Justin James’ American roots. Upstairs, Mary takes a more intimate approach, with a whisky-led menu made for slow pours and lingering conversations. Add a courtyard, wine room and private dining spaces to the mix, and the old church makes an easy case for staying awhile.
Suburb: Stirling
Price Guide: $$$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Date night, cocktail lovers, special occasion, group dining
Dolly
Dolly brings a hit of sass and sophistication in equal measure to Unley. Settle in and graze your way through a menu of bites alongside a lineup of inventive cocktails, from punchy signatures to the classics done right — a Limoncello Spritz or Cosmopolitan never misses here. Midweek gets even better too, with Thursdays bringing a $15 Margy Party (classic, spicy or specials like mango or pomegranate), while Wednesdays reward locals in 5061, 5062, 5063, 5064, 5034, 5035 with 20% off the bill… lucky dolls.
Suburb: Unley
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Group dining, cocktail lovers, budget-friendly, locals
Bar 1854
Tucked above the Cremorne Hotel in Unley, Bar 1854 is Adelaide’s suburban speakeasy escape. Think moody vibes, cocktails that actually impress, and high-end French Champagne — plus, yes, you can build your own margarita. Pick your base, add its perfect pairing, and finish it off with bitters, chilli honey, or agave. Feeling adventurous? Swap the salt for crushed wasabi peas.
Craving an aperitivo? Swing by Thursday to Saturday, 4–6 pm, where $15 gets you one of five signature sips and complimentary popcorn. Hungry for more? Snack on Japanese-fusion hits like torched salmon sushi or crispy chicken karaage while soaking up eclectic wallpaper and quirky art that’s all part of the charm.
Suburb: Unley
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Date night, cocktail lovers, special occasion
Good Gilbert
Good Gilbert is the local neighbourhood bar in Goodwood that’s as cosy and welcoming as it is chic, making it the perfect spot to catch up with friends over cocktails any night of the week. There’s a restaurant to book a table at if you’re after larger fare, but for the times when all you need is a cheeky tipple with the girls, the front bar has you covered with French martinis and spritz creations.
Suburb: Goodwood
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cocktail bar
Best For: Locals, group dining, date night
FAQs
Booking policies vary across Adelaide’s cocktail bars. Bar Torino welcomes walk-ins but recommends a dinner booking for a full experience, while Bar 1854 rewards those who show up between 4pm and 6pm Thursday to Saturday for its $15 aperitivo deal. Smaller venues like Pink Moon Saloon and trap. tend to suit a more spontaneous visit given their size and rotating menus. For special occasions or larger groups, particularly at venues like Maybe Mae or Clever Little Tailor, booking ahead is the safer option to avoid missing out.
Adelaide’s suburbs hold several standout cocktail bars beyond the city centre. Dolly in Unley pairs a strong food menu with inventive cocktails and a midweek $15 Margy Party, while Bar 1854, tucked above the Cremorne Hotel in Unley, combines moody styling with build-your-own margaritas and Japanese-fusion bites. Good Gilbert in Goodwood offers a more relaxed neighbourhood setting with French martinis and spritz options. These suburban venues suit locals after a closer-to-home option without sacrificing quality or atmosphere compared to the CBD’s offerings.
Clever Little Tailor’s cosy, intimate booths are built with date night in mind, while 2KW’s rooftop setting over Adelaide Oval suits a more scenic evening. Maybe Mae’s speakeasy atmosphere beneath Bread and Bone, with its Art Deco styling and South Australian produce-driven menu, offers a more intimate, discovery-led option. Bibliotheca’s blend of classic cocktails and literary theming also makes for a quieter, conversation-friendly setting. Each offers a distinct mood, so the right choice depends on whether you want lively, scenic, or intimate surrounds for the night.
Leigh Street and its surrounds hold some of the CBD’s strongest cocktail offerings, including Leigh Street Wine Room, Leigh Street Luggage, and Pink Moon Saloon, each within easy walking distance of one another. Bar Torino on Hutt Street and Clever Little Tailor on Peel Street are also central options, both suited to an evening out without needing to travel far. For a rooftop alternative, 2KW on King William Street offers elevated views over Adelaide Oval and the River Torrens, making it a strong pick for visitors staying centrally.
Adelaide’s best cocktail bars span the CBD and inner suburbs, from Leigh Street Wine Room’s minimal-intervention wine list to Clever Little Tailor’s romantic booths and classic cocktails. Smokelovers on Rundle Street offers smoky margaritas in a converted tobacconist, while Bar Torino serves zesty cocktails alongside Adult Happy Meals. For something more theatrical, Maybe Mae’s speakeasy hidden beneath Bread and Bone and Bibliotheca’s literary-themed bar-library hybrid stand out. Rooftop views come courtesy of 2KW overlooking Adelaide Oval, making it easy to find a bar to suit almost any mood or occasion.
Loving our pick of the best cocktail bars in Adelaide and looking to continue the good times? Start your weekend with the best boozy brunch spots or spend an afternoon at the newest bars on the block.
