Romantic Bars in Adelaide for a Swoon-Worthy Date Night
Mood lighting and elegant ambience or impressive first date icebreakers, we’ve got the most romantic bars in Adelaide to visit for a date night done right.
Nervous first date, relaxed date number 50, anniversary cocktails, celebratory drinks or an aperitif before dinner, Adelaide is full of chic wine bars and funky disco diners awaiting your next romantic rendezvous.
From dimly-lit cosy corners and hole-in-the-wall hidden gems to sky-high rooftops with sweeping views, when you find yourself needing some inspiration for date day or night, look no further. Here’s our pick of the most swoon-worthy romantic bars in Adelaide to check out, pronto.
Icarus
Newly opened on Peel Street, the sophisticated and welcoming setting at Icarus is perfect for your next romantic dinner or first-date drink. The impressive wine list extends from a small selection by the glass to a vast range of local and international wines by the bottle, from McLaren Vale Shiraz to Italian Aglianico and French Chablis. Cocktails rotate seasonally in line with the kitchen, using native Australian ingredients where possible – so it’s likely you’ll want to come back for date number two to try the next round of tasty tipples.
23 Peel Street, Adelaide
Good Gilbert
La Louisiane
Step away from Adelaide and into a slice of French moody romance, heading to the basement inside a heritage building to discover a moody brasserie dishing up classic French dishes and some of the best martinis in Adelaide. La Louisiane is tucked within a dimly lit, gorgeous space, where you can unwind with your partner, listening to live jazz til late on weekends and indulging in the likes of gruyere soufflé, steak tartare, snails with garlicky herbed butter, and as much steak and frites with Café de Paris butter as your stomach can permit. The world class wine list doesn't hurt proceedings either. Bon appetit!
89 King William Street, Adelaide
Pastel Wine Bar
“More is less” is the motto at North Adelaide’s latest romantic wine bar, Pastel Bar. The interiors are a mixture of cosy and modern, offering a place to hide away and enjoy their range of wines, seasonal cocktails and vibes at one of the best wine bars in Adelaide. Indulge in a curated food menu of snacks, small plates and larger plates - think skewers of chargrilled octopus with taramasalata and salsa verde, whipped ricotta with honey and thyme, pork dumplings and crispy viet chicken with lime and peanuts for something a little more filling.
47 O'Connell Street, North Adelaide
Luma at The Playford Adelaide
Bar Riot
1000 Island
Leigh Street Wine Room
A former dry cleaner turned one of Adelaide’s most stylish CBD wine bars, Leigh Street Wine Room is a warm and inviting space with a terrazzo bar, arresting archways and mezzanine dining space. To browse through their striking wine wall running the length of the space is to take a trip to every winemaking corner of the world, starting with a lowkey local Chardy and ending with a drop-dead gorgeous Pierre Gonon Saint Joseph Rouge. Leaning into its European allure, you’ll find everything from Blue Swimmer Crab spaghetti to Sicilian green olives and burrata coming out of the kitchen. The space is small and cosy - perfect for your next day night.
9 Leigh Street, Adelaide
Dolly
Hello, Dolly! From the crew behind Bar Lune comes Unley’s cool new kid on the block. Dolly is a bar and eatery oozing sass and sophistication, that’s perfect for date nights, late nights, and great nights. Enjoy a selection of cocktails as you perch at the concrete bar in the middle of the room, with house creations like The Patron, featuring gin, elderflower, chartreuse, apple and lemon, and the Pandanic (pandan-infused white rum, macadamia, pineapple, cucumber, lime, and sesame) just some of the highlights. There’s an approachable, locally skewed wine list and inspired snacks and share plate menu to dive into – much like the mirrored chrome ceiling above – never will your reflection be more arresting! Be sure to sneak in a couple selfie or two.
246 Unley Road, Unley
Leigh Street Luggage
Bar Torino
Perfect for a zesty cocktail to start your date off with a kick or a nightcap to cheers the success of an evening, Bar Torino is the chic and cheeky sister venue to Italian favourites Chianti.
Be swept up in the dark interiors complete with moody lighting entice you in, finding a seat at a table for two or picking a bar-side stool for leaned in conversations and the odd bit of flirting. 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
Pink Moon Saloon
Transport yourself to a Scandinavian alpine lodge in an instant, as you are welcomed to the cosy embrace of Pink Moon Saloon.
Choose to settle down in the intimate bar setting, leafy courtyard or cosy booths as you delight in their excellent bar menu with their Moon Mimosa or a classic Martini, through to wines, beers and whiskeys. This is one bar that will make you both feel a million miles away from Adelaide as the world around you melts away.
21 Leigh Street, Adelaide
Clever Little Tailor
Wander among the hubbub of bars and eateries down Adelaide’s popular Peel Street and find a charming haven in Clever Little Tailor.
Their inside/outside arrangement gives various options for where to place yourself and your love (or potential love, to be optimistic?), the outdoors seating has a lively atmosphere while still managing to feel intimate, and the inside offers booths or tables within their exposed brick cavern surroundings with low lighting to set the mood. Snack on bar food and sip the night away.
19 Peel Street, Adelaide
Udaberri
The effortlessly cool Udaberri oozes industrial chic vibes with cosy spaces to get to know one another scattered throughout its long and narrow build. Head upstairs to settle into a booth and play a game of Jenga while choosing something delicious to sip on from their extensive beverage menu (give the green ant gin a go – you won’t regret it), people watch from their mezzanine balcony seating, or find a spot downstairs in a dark corner to whisper sweet nothings to one another.
11-13 Leigh Street, Adelaide
Mr Goodbar
On the corner of Union Street and the tucked away laneways of Ebenezer Place sits Mr. Goodbar, a cocktail haunt with a deep southern soulful vibe, a stylish interior and most importantly – a stellar cocktail menu showcasing some of the most delicious drinks we’ve tried– if sweet is your thing you must try ‘Strawberry Kisses’ - just take our word for it. Choose from their delicious selection of bevvies and let the glow of neon lighting illuminate your date night as you lose track of time.
12 Union Street, Adelaide
2KW
Feel the anticipation build and embrace the fluttering butterflies in your tummy as you take the elevator up, up and away to the heights of 2KW rooftop bar. When you’re not gazing into each other’s eyes, take a moment to take in the postcard views of the city from your exclusive booth seating, perfect for both day and night, pre-show cocktails, first date ice-breakers or post-dinner tipples.
2 King William Street, Adelaide
Maybe Mae
Sneak down into the hidden gem right in the heart of Adelaide’s cocktail bar central, Peel Street, and spend some time in the art deco dreamland of Maybe Mae.
The dark surroundings, deep green booth seating and vintage style glassware almost trick you into believing you’ve stumbled into a speakeasy in 1920s New York, and don’t even get us started on their delicious selection of cocktails of classic favourites and signature specials.
15 Peel Street, Adelaide
La Buvette Drinkery
Nestled in a laneway between Adelaide’s North Terrace and Hindley Street sits La Buvette - the place for a tasty apéritif or two... or three... to wet your whistle. Stay for a while to soak in their classic cocktail menu or sip on a glass of champagne, enjoy a French-inspired bite to eat like Steak Frites, and gaze out of their wide-open windows to stylish side-street seating - in what can only be the next best thing to Paris right here in SA.
27 Gresham Street, Adelaide
APOTECA
From Paris to New York, Apoteca is a venue with multiple options, depending on what kind of romantic experience you’re after. Stay easy and breezy in their private courtyard, get cosy on a love-seat built for two or admire the unique apothecary-styled main bar. You could even have your wedding here if you wanted to do something really romantic and intimate for the big day.
118 Hindley Street, Adelaide
Bibliotheca Bar and Book Exchange
Fancy hiding away in a dark corner as you get to know one another? Or you could just sit with the rest of the world who filter in to enjoy some fine cocktails. Bibliotheca’s European style bar comes complete with furnishings that look straight out of a library fit for Beauty and the Beast (as long as your date doesn’t end up being a beast, we don’t see a problem with it).
1/27 Gresham Street, Adelaide
NOLA
Quiet and cosy or loud and thriving, there’s vibes for all types here. Take a trip to New Orleans with NOLA and discover a world where Whisky and great tunes go hand in hand. Select something to sip on from their constantly changing menu and make sure you check for upcoming events for a night of music, festivities and fun. The food menu is well worth checking out while you’re there, with American style street food to perfectly match the New Orleans vibe.
28 Vardon Avenue, Adelaide
Proof Bar
Slide into a booth at Proof and while away the hours talking about anything and everything. There’s conversation starters to be found as you take in the gallery wall style décor and quirky coloured glass in the windows, a vast selection of wines and grazing boards to nibble on and a positive, warm vibe throughout this distinctive bar – perfect for a first date!
9 Anster Street, Adelaide
Paloma Bar and Pantry
Not all date spots need to be dark and moody, which is where Paloma Bar and Pantry steps in. This light and airy space is nothing short of beautiful and fun-loving. The award-winning venue is perfect for a quick drink, but the charcuterie boards and delightful small bites will likely have you sticking around for a little longer. If it’s not the food, drinks or aesthetically pleasing interiors, the friendly team and warm atmosphere will surely win you (and your date) over.
20 Peel Street, Adelaide
Hey Jupiter
Another European bar to keep on your radar – as we all know the French are meant to do romance the best, with no holding back. Hey Jupiter may be small but it has a huge impact upon entering its green doors. Walls are covered in gilded mirrors, plants hang from the high ceiling and seating lines the pavement in true Parisian style. Stay warm indoors, or spill out onto the street and be surrounded by the lively happenings at Ebenezer Place as the weather warms up.
11 Ebenezer Place, Adelaide
Jennie Wine Bar
Another Peel Street favourite, Jennie Wine Bar doubles as both a relaxed date spot and a carefully curated wine shop, so you can dine in and enjoy the ambience or grab a drop to go. Both the food and wine menu reflect the seasons, with changes to keep the variety as fresh as possible. You’ll need a minute or two to make your way through the extensive wines available by the glass or the bottle – luckily there is an assortment of bar snacks, from Sicilian olives to fresh focaccia and cheese to nibble on while you do.
7 Peel Street, Adelaide
Feeling the love and want to discover more ways to spend time with your favourite person? Take a look at our romantic getaways in South Australia or simply enjoy each other's company with easy date night recipes to try at home.
