The Best Cocktail Bars in Adelaide to Shake Up Your Night
Sip sip hooray! Here’s an order of the best cocktail bars in Adelaide to suit every taste.
There is something about an expertly made cocktail that hits differently. Fruity, sweet, sour or bitter, they are one of life’s little luxuries created purely to be enjoyed. From the classic martini or a mojito to sips that seem questionable yet exciting as they are lit on fire or rimmed with spice, there is always something to suit every occasion and all vibes.
Covering moody speakeasy-style haunts for a romantic rendezvous and lavish lounges on rooftops, these are the best cocktail bars in Adelaide to check out.
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 - 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.
185 Hutt Street Adelaide
Bar Torino
Perfect for a zesty cocktail to start your night off with a kick or a cheeky nightcap, Bar Torino is the chic little sister venue to Italian favourites Chianti.
Be swept up in the dark interiors with moody lighting to entice you in, finding a seat at a table or picking a bar-side stool. The bar is open for walk-ins, but you can always make a dinner booking if you plan on arriving hungry and want to stay a little longer soaking up the vibe.
158 Hutt Street, Adelaide
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, and, best of all - doggos are welcome!
135B Goodwood Road, Goodwood
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
Dolly
Hello, Dolly! This stylish gem in Unley is a cocktail bar that effortlessly combines sassy sophistication with a chic vibe. Perfect for romantic date nights or late-night revelry, Dolly invites you to settle in at its sleek concrete bar and indulge in a menu of inventive cocktails. For something classic, the Limoncello Spritz and Spicy Marg won’t disappoint.
246 Unley Road, Unley
trap.
Trap sure knows how to make a delicious cocktail, and is a new 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
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
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
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
High Spirits
With neon lighting guiding you upstairs, a cool mood is set throughout High Spirits, with booth seating to fit the whole party and luxurious velvet couches to sink into – perfect for a cosy conversation with hip-hop beats setting the tone. You’ll certainly be in high spirits as their cocktail shakers and movers whip up an extravagant tiki-inspired drink with dry ice pouring out or exciting pyrotechnics with the classic rum-infused Zombie.
20 Gilbert Place, 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. And we haven’t even started on the drinks! A stellar menu awaits, with classic favourites alongside signature specials for the choosing. There's sweet, sour and bitter to try. Just sit back, enjoy the tunes and let their award-winning staff shake up a storm!
12 Union Street, Adelaide
Society Bar
Handcrafted cocktails are the highlight at Society Bar, tucked away in Adelaide’s East End. This chic spot blends class with approachability, making it ideal for a pre-dinner drink or a late-night indulgence. Open late every night, Society lets you choose your poison from a diverse range of base spirits. Enjoy a vodka martini or tequila margarita, each garnished to perfection, or opt for a smoky gin Negroni or whiskey Old Fashioned if you’re in the mood for something intense.
279 Rundle 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
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.
Sitchu tip: A visit to 2KW wouldn’t be complete without experiencing their signature cocktail, The 2KW, with gin, peach, pear and honey.
2 King William 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.
Hains & Co conduct 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
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.
