With its many wine regions, it’s no wonder Adelaide has a bar scene to match – showcasing the season’s finest drops, along with classic cocktails and craft brews.

Whether it’s a lazy Sunday session with friends, a tipple after a show, or after-work drinks that stretch well into the evening, Adelaide’s small bar scene has everyone covered. Use our list of the best bars in Adelaide to discover the dark and moody, to the buzzy and refined.

In short

If you only visit one bar in Adelaide make it Proof for the knowledgeable bartenders, a sophisticated drinks menu and toasties to mop it all up.

1. Jennie Wine Bar

Best for: Eclectic range of wine in one of Adelaide’s famed laneways

Jennie is a cosy wine bar tucked into Peel Street, just a stone’s throw from Leigh Street in Adelaide’s West End. Wine is the undisputed heart of the place, with around 250 carefully selected bottles on offer and 25 available by the glass, striking a balance between local South Australian drops and international picks.

Owner and sommelier Scott Taddeo champions small growers and producers who practise sustainable, organic and biodynamic farming. Inside, a long African mahogany table runs the length of the bar, flanked by matte black stools and fixtures, with a floor-to-ceiling wall of wine bottles providing the backdrop. A regulars’ favourite is the daily mystery wine — always a hit with those after a quick, but sometimes challenging, sip.

Address: 7 Peel St, Adelaide

2. Leigh Street Wine Room

Best for: A sophisticated wine experience

Housed in a former dry cleaner’s – the original shopfront signage still glows outside – Leigh Street Wine Room has been an instant classic since opening in 2019. Inside, a soaring arched ceiling runs the length of the narrow room, with terrazzo floors, retro bar stools and fluted dark timber giving it the feel of a mid-century European drinking den that somehow ended up in Adelaide’s west end.

The wine list spans over 400 bottles – Australian, French and Italian, with a strong Adelaide Hills contingent and the staff know it well enough to make the choice genuinely enjoyable rather than overwhelming. Don’t overlook the food: the kitchen turns out simple, seasonal dishes that more than hold their own, and the chef’s tasting menu is well worth surrendering to.

Address: 9 Leigh Street, Adelaide

3. Nola

Best for: Bourbon, beer and wings

Housed in a converted stable hidden just off Rundle Street in the East End, Nola brings the spirit of New Orleans to Adelaide.

The bar boasts 16 rotating craft beer taps and an incredible selection of bourbon and rye whiskies – around 350 bottles at last count. If choosing between them proves too much, book one of the whisky flights: half a dozen 15ml pours from around the world, or a deep dive into a particular region.

The food leans Creole and Cajun – the fried chicken has its devotees – and the drinks list gives serious attention to American whiskey and craft beer alongside a cocktail menu that leans into the theme without overdoing it. It’s loud, warm and reliably good fun.

Address: 28 Vardon Ave, Adelaide

4. Nearly Bar

A great little wine bar with something for every budget, Nearly Bar is as welcoming as it is well-stocked. Settle into a window seat, perch at one of the small, curved tables, claim a stool at the bar, or spread out at the communal long table – however you land, it’s a fun place to lose a few hours.

Co-owner Alex Gastonbury, formerly of Udaberri, has curated a South Australian-focused drinks list that’s worth exploring glass by glass. Expect reds, whites and rosés from some of the state’s most exciting producers – Travis Tausend, Gentle Folk and Ochota Barrels among them – alongside a thoughtful selection of non-alcoholic options.

The food keeps things simple and satisfying with cured meats and cheeses, plus a handful of homemade snacks that punch above their weight. The white beans in oil with burnt lemon and spice are the kind of thing you’ll find yourself ordering twice.

Address: 179 Hindley St, Adelaide SA 5000

5. alt. Wine Bar

A stylish, intimate neighbourhood wine bar with just 30 seats and the kind of unhurried atmosphere that makes one glass turn into three.

The drinks list at alt is the real drawcard – a continuously rotating selection with a strong lean toward South Australian and independent Australian winemakers, complemented by a range of signature cocktails. Check out their ever-changing wine list which often features organics and Pet Nats.

When the weather plays along, the pavement tables out front are prized real estate for watching the world go by. When it doesn’t, the cosy interior more than makes up for it.

Monday nights belong to the quiz faithful with the bar the first venue in Adelaide to get its hands on the coveted Weekly Fifty quiz questions.

Address: 151 King William Road, Unley

6. The Gallery

Best for: An easy after work drink venue

Situated in the middle of the CBD, The Gallery is spread across three levels of a heritage building on Waymouth Street, combining art exhibitions with a boutique rooftop space that has become one of the city’s favourite after-work destinations.

The rooftop is the main draw – spacious, modern and relaxed, with comfy lounge spots and communal tables surrounded by views over the central CBD. Art and films are projected onto the neighbouring building, making the rooftop something of a gallery in its own right. A retractable roof and heaters keep things going well into winter.

The drinks list covers cocktails, wines and beers, and the food leans toward share plates, bar snacks and pizzas available as $10 lunches from Tuesday to Friday. Lively on Friday evenings, easy-going the rest of the week, and worth a visit for a drink with a view.

Address: 30 Waymouth St, Adelaide

7. Proof

Best for: Cocktails and toasties

Proof holds a special place in Adelaide’s bar history – it was awarded the city’s very first small venue licence when it opened in 2013, and it’s been setting the standard ever since.

The team here are genuinely driven by the guest experience, from the welcome at the door to the final farewell, and that care extends to what’s in the glass. The wine list is concise but considered, spanning interesting local drops and international picks, with innovation sitting comfortably alongside the classics.

It’s easy to stay downstairs at the bar, or head upstairs for table service in one of the booths or out on the terrace. Either way, you’re in good hands. The bartenders are skilled, enthusiastic and more than happy to tackle even the most obscure cocktail request – though the simple classics have not been left behind.

Address: 9a Anster Street, Adelaide

8. 10 Gallon Hat

Best for: A spicy margarita with a side of live music

This dark and moody bar has brought contemporary vibes and live music to the historic St Vincent Street in the heart of Port Adelaide. Co-owners Dylan Nettleton and Stacey Costopoulos did much of the renovation themselves on the 150-year-old building, which has been in the family for years, carefully maintaining its heritage charm while adding distinctive touches.

Nettleton brings serious hospitality credentials to 10 Gallon Hat and it shows in the offering. The bar stocks a solid range of craft beers on tap, South Australian wines and high-end spirits, alongside a tight food menu of salty white anchovies, dips, charcuterie and cheese. The spicy margarita, though, is the drink people keep coming back for.

To get there, simply catch a 20-minute train ride from the CBD to Port Dock or Port Adelaide station.

Address: 58 St Vincent St, Port Adelaide

9. La Louisiane

Best for: French bistro vibes

Part bar, part restaurant and entirely French, La Louisiane is tucked away on an unassuming laneway off the busy stretch of North Terrace. It’s dark, moody and atmospheric, equally suited to a pre-show drink, an after-work glass of wine or a lingering nightcap.

The wine list leans heavily French, complemented by a well-chosen selection of Australian pours, with an impressive cocktail and aperitif menu rounding things out.

The food is equally worth your attention. Classic steak frites and escargots roasted in garlic and parsley butter with bread sit alongside more plates of potato donuts topped with sea urchin and salmon roe and Smoky Bay oysters served with black pepper mignonette.

La Louisiane is a place we find ourselves returning to – for the easy atmosphere, the food, the service, and the very convincing feeling that you’ve somehow ended up in Paris.

Address: 89 King William St, Adelaide

10. Wonderland, Hotel Panorama

Best for: A drink with a view

Sitting prettily above the recently opened $60 million Hotel Panorama development on Goodwood Road, Wonderland is a rooftop bar that earns its name. Sweeping views, stylish surrounds and a playful, immersive atmosphere make it one of Adelaide’s most distinctive spots for a drink.

The menu leans into snacks and share plates rather than full meals, and does so with real ambition. Coffin Bay oysters with KI Wild Gin, and New Zealand Ora King salmon tacos with yuzu mayonnaise and crispy shallots sit alongside stone-fired pizzas.

That cocktail list is worth the attention. The signature Wonder-Spritz is a fruity, refreshing blend of 23rd Street raspberry and finger lime gin, grapefruit bitters, berries, prosecco and soda.

Address: 625 Goodwood Road, Panorama