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The Best Cocktail Bars in Adelaide to Shake Up Your Night
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
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. Think a darker take on a Manhattan with Gospel Solera Rye, Amaro Averna, and cassis, or a Cherry Ripe-inspired creation with dark spiced rum, Oloroso sherry, cherry, and chocolate, with more including a cosy take on a martini still to come.
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.
9 Leigh Street, Adelaide
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.
19 Peel Street, Adelaide
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.
244 Rundle Street, Adelaide
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.
158 Hutt Street, Adelaide
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.
22A Leigh Street, Adelaide
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.
Basement, 96 Currie Street (enter via Cold Chisel Lane), Adelaide
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.
21 Leigh Street, Adelaide
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.
12 Union Street, Adelaide
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.
22A Leigh Street, Adelaide
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.
2 King William Street, Adelaide
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.
27 Gresham Street, Adelaide
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.
Basement, 15 Peel Street, Adelaide
Latteria Bar
Meet new kids on the block at Latteria Bar. This Aperitivo cocktail lounge and kitchen is shaking up an array of Insta-worthy cocktails that are (almost) too pretty to drink. Step away from your classic cocktail order and try something new. Their rhubarb sbagliato is their reimagined take on the drink born in Milan, and is a unique combination of flavours that tastes divine. Or, perhaps you’d like to sip on their version of the Spritz, modernised with honeydew.
185 Hutt Street Adelaide
Hains & Co
Spirit lovers should run, not walk, to Hains & Co. Peruse their gin, rum and whisky-focused menu at your leisure to find your perfect pour. You are in good hands thanks to their team who take pride in serving up a range of high-quality cocktails with a twist. They host regular tastings, spirit masterclasses and larger special events with other Gilbert Place venues with live entertainment, cocktails and unadulterated madness.
23 Gilbert Place, Adelaide
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.
27 Gresham Street, Adelaide
The Best Cocktail Bars in Adelaide: Suburbs
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.
246 Unley Road, Unley
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.
1/207 Unley Road, Unley
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.
135B Goodwood Road, Goodwood
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.
