The Best New Bars in Adelaide For a Drink in 2024

Who doesn't love discovering a brand-new bar on a night out with friends? Fortunately, Adelaide has an array of vibey new spots that can easily take you into the wee hours of the morning.

Because sometimes it feels wrong to head home so quickly after dinner when you know the city is brimming with undiscovered gems - some often hiding in plain sight! 

From ambient record bars serving dumplings to impressive new cocktail haunts in town, the best new bars in Adelaide have it all (we've even thrown in a couple of cool new nightclubs to add to your next mega-night out). 

Rascals Deli & Wine Bar 

Deli by day, wine bar by night - now that's a concept we can get on board with. Rascal's Deli & Wine Bar is currently only open for coffees and sandos, but we are keen to see this spot transform into one of the best new bars in Adelaide.

With the team busy behind the scenes curating the perfect wine list and completing the final fit-out, we eagerly await the chance to pull up a stool and enjoy a drink in the laidback wine bar.

Until then, we'll continue to pop in for tasty sandos, coffee and cheeky banter!

17-19 Bent Street, Adelaide 

Makan

Bringing a dose of Southeast Asia to Adelaide, Makan is the brand new wine bar that takes its inspiration from the streets of Malaysia and Indonesia.

Makan, meaning 'to eat' is all about local, small-batch wines from Adelaide, plus finding the best wines from around the world that you would struggle to find elsewhere.

Food-wise, enjoy shared plates of squid, oysters, mussels, gyoza and bao, and when you're hungry for more, bigger plates of crispy chicken and grilled fish will satisfy any hunger pains.

Level 1, 116 Flinders Street, Adelaide 

Latteria Bar

Meet new kids on the block, 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 - you'll be impressed. 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. It seems you'll have to come back for more as you work your way down the cocktail menu!

185 Hutt Street Adelaide 

Fú Cocktail and Wine Bar

"Fú" means good fortune in Mandarin, and that's certainly what you'll feel when you step into Fú Cocktail and Wine Bar. Dim lights and a cosy vibe help create a perfectly intimate and moody atmosphere ideal for date night.

The drink offering is unique when it comes to cocktails, with a fascinating 'Vegemite on Rye,' involving a thin layer of Vegemite spread across the Manhattan template, The Gospel ‘Straight’ Rye, sweet vermouth and Vegemite tincture.

If you're not feeling so bold, and would rather stick to what you know, the bartenders will happily make you a classic cocktail if they have the ingredients.

129 Melbourne Street, North Adelaide

Velvet Underground

When a dance is in order, head straight to Velvet Underground, the hidden dive bar in a basement that has quickly become one of Adelaide's best spots for late-night fun.

Weekend drink specials get the party started early, while a rotating lineup of DJs, bands and singers keep us going back for more. It's a place where you can lose track of time as you enjoy a couple of cocktails and make a whole heap of friends along the way, we can't get enough!

107 King William Street, Adelaide

trap. 

The bartenders at trap know how to make a cracking cocktail. This hidden gem is an underground bar where you can free yourself from the responsibilities of the everyday, and be led into a drinking experience you won't soon forget. 

The menu changes often, but you'll always find at least 5 house cocktails, three beers and two wines on the drinks list.

Cocktails could include Monkey in a Barrel (dark rum, PX sherry, market sugarcane juice, three-stonefruit puree, and banana liqueur house casted gummies), or a Strawberry Gin concoction that's a little like liquid strawberries and cream (thanks to the additions of Caramilk and chartreuse).

They occasionally host singles nights and hip-hop open mics. For good drinks and good vibes, trap is one of the best new bars in Adelaide. 

Basement, 96 Currie Street (enter via Cold Chisel Lane), Adelaide

Wax Bar 

Mixing vinyl and cocktails with laid-back aplomb, Wax Bar is one of our favourite new bars in Adelaide for a cool night out with friends. 

Wax Bar’s obvious draw card is its awesome vibe (red-pink lighting, great tunes spinning, excellent drinks to sip on) and a regular line-up of unique events worth adding to your social rotation. 

There's a focus on DJs using classic vinyl records, as well as on refreshing cocktails like watermelon Paloma's and mango Daiquiris. 

Sitting above the delectable Southeast Asian eats from Paper Tiger, head there first for a bite before staying up late and tuning in at Wax Bar. 

Level 1, Franks Lane, off Rundle Street, Adelaide

Station Arcade

Buzzing Hindley Street has a new basement nightclub and bar in the form of Station Arcade - and it's getting our great night out seal of approval. 

It's redefining the city’s after-dark scene. Head in for their signature STATION SATURDAYS - the playlist of hottest pop tunes, modern R&B anthems, and a dose of beloved throwbacks will have you dancing into the wee hours. 

Station Arcade is for everyone, but to add some fancy vibes to your experience, the club offers booth seating with table service and exclusive drink specials. 

52 Hindley Street, Adelaide 

78 on Rundle

What once was a charming local cafe in Kent Town, 78 On Rundle has been given the glow-up of the year, transforming the space into a stylish all-day cafe and vibrant wine bar.

Formerly known as G + Gracin, the new owners have given this venue a new vibe and fit-out, complete with a brand new marble bar and cosy courtyard out the back that is calling our name on balmy summer evenings.

With monthly cocktail specials and big and small share plates, this is the perfect place to visit for a casual catch-up without the pretension.

78 Rundle Street, Kent Town

Sugar

This Rundle Street icon was recently reborn for summer - and it's now sweeter than ever. For the young and the young at heart, Sugar is the essential late-night experience in the city. 

It's got chic pink vibes and welcoming vibes at that; one of those places where you can go and you’ll find a real mix of ages. Hip-hop tunes and various DJs will make it impossible not to light up the dancefloor with your friends - or even solo! Work it, Adelaideans!

Unit 1/274 Rundle Street, Adelaide

East End Cellars Norwood

Popular Vardon Avenue establishment East End Cellars recently expanded with a second venue, bringing the essence of their institution to Norwood in the form of East End Cellars Norwood.

It's as much a dining and night-out destination as a wine destination - and with a gorgeous menu in place - it's easy to see why!

Guests are prompted to enjoy a drink or tasting at a communal table within the indoor space, but the primary dining setting is outdoors, accompanied by a rotation of 1960s tunes, jazz and alternative sounds. 

We're calling it the meeting place for overdue catch-ups; a food and wine lovers' delight - and one of the best new restaurant-bars in Adelaide. 

88 Magill Road, Norwood

Dolly

Dolly is the Unley hotspot taking wining and dining to the next level. With its trendy interior and vibrant atmosphere, this bar quickly became a local favourite.

Head here for a glass of wine after work and a catch-up with friends as you sip and swill the night away. They have an impressive list of wines, but you should try the range of cocktails on the menu.

From a pisco fizz to a lychee daiquiri, they have exciting, unique flavours that dance on your tongue. And make sure you get a bunch of their plates to share, too! With weekly specials (think dumpling and pasta nights) there is no reason not to visit, ASAP!

246 Unley Road, Unley 

Now that you know about the best new bars in Adelaide, it's time to find somewhere to have a bite beforehand. Check out our guide to the best Korean BBQ and best seafood restaurants in town.