Food Drink

The Only Adelaide CBD Coffee Guide You’ll Ever Need

To those who pray at the caffeine temple, we’ve scoured the CBD for the very best gourmet brews. Go forth and never be disappointment by a coffee again.

It’s come to our attention that it’s International Coffee Day on 1 October. So we’ve pulled together a guide to the best spots to get your caffeine hit around the city. For convenience purposes, we’ve split this guide into the four quadrants of our CBD – plus a guide for the heart of the city, Victoria Square, and a special section on the East End.

CITY CENTRE
If coffee makes your heart beat, check out the range of cafes we have in the heart of the CBD!

Argo On The Square – Victoria Square
Mon-Fri: 6:30am-5:00pm

The city iteration of the much loved Norwood Parade haunt has cemented it’s place in the heart of the city on the North-West corner of Victoria Square. Boasting some of South Australia’s finest specialty coffee, from local roaster Monastery Coffee, Argo On The Square for the early birds searching for the proverbial worm.

BTS Cafe – 33A Pirie Street
Mon-Fri: 7:30am-5pm
Sat: 9am-3pm

Nestled in a petite nook next to the Epworth Building, BTS cafe’s expert baristas use locally roasted coffee from the state’s South East and top quality milk from the Adelaide Hills – thus it’s the true definition of heaps good coffee. Their coffee pairs perfectly with their artisan cupcakes too, which come in over 45 different flavours.

Fiefy’s Specialty Coffee – 50 Flinders Street
Mon-Thurs: 7:00am-4:00pm
Fri: 7:00am-7:00pm
Sat: 9:30am-2:00pm

The second offering from award winning barista Fiefy is only a stones-throw away from her foundation on Pirie Street (which is just as good!) Adding a little of colour to the relatively quiet and business dominated Flinders Street, Fiefy’s will make you a cup that you’ll barely want to sip because of the great latte art!

Fair Espresso – 1a Central Market Arcade
Mon-Fri: 7:30am-3:00pm
Sat: 7:30am-2:00pm

You’ll be hard pressed to find a lovelier duo than Matt & Rose Lazarus, owners of Fair Espresso. Beginning in a coffee van at events all around Adelaide, they set up shop on James Place, just off Rundle Mall, and quickly established themselves as a friendly local service with great coffee and an enjoyable atmosphere. They’ve now spread their goodness to the Central Markets, where bigger lunches are on offer.

Luigi Delicatessen 151 Flinders Street
Mon-Fri: 6:30am-4pm

Italy’s coffee culture is world renowned, so rest assured Luigi Delicatessen knows their java. Located in the heart of Adelaide, Luigi Delicatessen prides itself on combining freshly roasted beans, the best milk and a reverse osmosis filtration system that keeps the water clean (fancy!). Keep this one on your hit list, as Luigi’s also offers Adelaide’s best breakfast and authentic Italian lunch too.

Market St – 11 Market Street
Mon-Fri: 7:00am-4:00pm
Sat: 7:00am-3:00pm

If it’s literally only coffee you’re looking for, then maybe sidestep Market St, because it’s going to take a heap of self control to not leave with a jar of olives, some sourdough, a few wheels of cheese and maybe a cake, too. Market St is a bakery / cafe / small grocer, and it’s wonderful. With ties to a few stalls in the Adelaide Central Market, you can be sure that a stop in here will be worth your time. Brewing locally roasted D’Angelo Coffee, it’s great for Breakfast too!

Mama Jambo – 12 Eliza Street
Mon-Fri: 7:30am-Late
Saturday: 8:00am-Late

There’s absolutely no way you can miss Mama Jambo if you’re in the area. The warehouse that has been home to many a business is now the spot for modern Australian cooking with African flavours. It’s a cafe by day, wine bar by night and with acoustic music every so often, it’s the place you should right now be asking “why haven’t I been yet?”

Jamface – Stall 28, Adelaide Central Markets
Tuesday, Thursday: 7:00-5:00pm
Friday: 7:00am-9:00pm
Saturday: 7:00am-3:00pm

Poh Ling Yeow’s Jamface is neatly tucked away in the heart of the Central Markets and while the focus is primarily on the scrumptious food & sweet treats, it’s also pouring an excellent cup of coffee – one the few inside the markets. It’s the best location to find the Boutique – and somewhat elusive – SA Coffee Roaster Goat Candy, too.

NORTH WEST
The North-West quadrant is currently home to many of our brightest young University students. The population is about to explode though, with the new RAH set to open in the coming years. Here’s a few of the cafe’s that will help make life up in that end all the more enjoyable.

Peter-Rabbit – 234 Hindley Street
Mon-Thurs: 7:30am-3:30pm
Fri: 7:30am-10:00pm

Picture your Nonno’s backyard. If you’re not Italian, picture your friend’s Nonno’s backyard. Now place that imagination into the heart of Hindley Street; and that’s Peter-Rabbit. Brewing locally roasted 1884 Roasters Coffee – with the son of the roaster at the helm of the machine – Peter-Rabbit even has Rabbits! What more could you want? Editor’s Note: Whatever you want, they most likely will have it.

 

Coffee Branch – 32 Leigh Street
Mon-Fri: 7:00am-4:00pm
Sat: 8am-2pm

One of the icons of Leigh Street, Coffee Branch epitomises the morning rush. If you visit prior to 9am you’ll find a massive line, but don’t stress because the folks here know the game and you will not be waiting very long for that exceptional cup.

La Moka – Peel Street
Mon-Thurs: 7:30am-4:00pm
Fri: 7:30am-2:00am
Sat: 5:30pm-2:00am

Not far away from Coffee Branch is La Moka. The Peel Street hang-out is your quintessential Italian espresso bar. Of course they serve more than just an espresso & they have seats, but it’s as close as we can find to the real deal. A strong, punchy cup that pairs well with a ray of sunshine and biscotti.

NORTH EAST
We’ve split the North East from the East End because there are simply so many options. If you’re West of Frome Road, this is where it’s at. If you’re East, you know what to do.

Mondays Coffee Store – Shop 7/38 Gawler Place
Mon-Thurs: 7:00am-5:00pm
Fri: 7:00am-7:00pm
Sat: 8:00am-3:00pm

You pretty much earn Coffee Kudos just for walking into Mondays. There’s nothing like this haunt around this area of the city, because before it existed, this corridor of Gawler Place was mainly just used as a thoroughfare. You’re given a glass of sparkling water on arrival to cleanse the palate in readiness for some of Melbourne’s finest roasts; Small Batch Coffee. Hours of renovations have been poured into this space by owner Jarrad Sharrock, who along with his coffee, knows his beats – there’s always something funky on the stereo.

Seafaring Fool – 121 Grenfell Street
Mon-Fri: 7:30am-5:00pm

Tucked into the front of Jetty Surf, this small cupboard size take-away space adds a bit of life to the otherwise public transport dominated hub of Grenfell Street. It’s certainly a lot closer if you’ve got a hankering for Port Elliot’s finest roasters; De Groot Coffee.

Larry & Ladd – Shop 36 Regent Arcade
Mon-Fri: 7:00am-4:00pm
Sat: 8:00am-2:00pm

Found yourself in the gorgeous Regent Arcade without a clue of where you’re going or how to get there? We get it and so does Jeremy, proprietor of Larry & Ladd. That’s why he’s set up a bewt little spot, so you don’t have to run of the exit. This arcade is home to some booming businesses and Larry & Ladd is a great place to start your exploration.

EAST END
Concentrated is one way to describe the East End and coffee, and while more choice doesn’t necessarily equal better quality, the section of Rundle Street between Frome Road and East Terrace is one for caffeine addicts to behold. With that in mind, we’re not going to feature every cafe along the stretch – you can experience that for yourself, but below is a list of a few places that we like to visit while we’re in the area.

Laneway Espresso House – Shop 4, 4-10 Ebenezer Place
Mon-Thurs: 8:00am-4:00pm
Fri: 8:00am-6:30pm
Sat: 9:00am-4:00pm

Laneway Espresso House (formerly Sad:cafe) will turn your frown upside down, widen that smile on your dial. From cheap eats (an $11 veggie & halloumi burger!) and exceptional coffee, this has to be on your list of venues to visit. Kangarilla based roaster Dawn Patrol are building their influence around the CBD strongly, and Sad is their city home when not comfortably nestled between vineyards on Sundays. Quite a few of the cafe’s on this list are pouring their roasts, and for good reason too. A great lunchtime venue that’s affordable and cosy.

Hey Jupiter – 11 Ebenezer Place
Mon-Fri: 7:00am-4:00pm
Sat-Sun: 8:00am-4:00pm

Offering a little slice of France in our CBD, Hey Jupiter is a fabulous destination to indulge & soak in a few rays of sun. They’ve welcomely sprawled out onto the path in front of the store, with many of the seats facing outward, to watch the world go by. A tasty cup of coffee, and usually one of the only spots open when the most are closed.

Exchange Specialty Coffee – Shops 1&2 Vardon Avenue
Mon-Fri: 7:00am-5:00pm
Sat: 8:00am-4:00pm
Sun: 9:00am-4:00pm

Exchange Specialty Coffee is the shining light of the East End. Nestled on the corner of Vardon Avenue, the floor to ceiling windows allow for plenty of natural light, or handy protection for those wet and wild days that will soon be upon us. Brewing Market Lane coffee and serving up some of the tastiest lunch treats, Exchange is one of those cafes that stay open that little bit longer, in case you’re after the pick-me-up. An in-house chess set is rumoured to exist, but you’ll need to be lucky.

The Tasting Room

From wine to coffee, these guys know how to do it right. You can perch yourself outside and people watch before hitting the shops.

SOUTH EAST
The poor ol’ South East often doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Hutt Street is a beautiful street to walk down, and plenty of people live around the area – heck, you might be one! If so, this is dedicated to you.

The Flinders Street Project – 276 Flinders Street
Mon-Fri: 7:00am-4:00pm
Sat: 8:00am-3:30pm
Sun: 8:00am-3:00pm

Technically speaking, Flinders Street Project classifies as North East, but we’ve included it into the South East section because it’s a phenomenal spot, and we didn’t want it to get lost in the hype of the East End. A smashing little weekend brunch spot or weekday coffee stop, Flinders Street Project has delectable food & very nice coffee. The roof is pretty quirky too, be sure to look up!

Fawn Coffee – 269 Gilles Street
Mon – Friday: 7:30am-4:00pm
Sat: 8:30am-3:00pm

Fawn Coffee is a beautiful little spot that has opened it’s doors to the hundreds of people in the Far South East that had been tolerating the walk to good coffee. Pouring Dawn Patrol (we told you there was a few) their home cooked food is delicious & friendly service is always a pleasure.

Archie & Co – 48-49/81 Carrington Street
Tues -Thurs: 7:00am-5:30pm
Fri: 7:00am – 9:00pm
Saturday: 7:00am – 5:30pm

Another contentious decision, given the location, but trust us, Archie & Co feels more South East than it does Central. This cafe the newest offering from DAS Hair and Sad:cafe founder Adam Hadley-Darrie along with his partner Paul Engelhardt. Much like the Ebenezer spot we featured earlier, there’s a salon and cafe in this little space and it’s pouring Dawn Patrol coffee. It’s worth the extra few steps if you’re after a coffee on that side of town.

Balaboosta – 289 Halifax Street
Mon-Sat: 7:30am-9:30pm
Sun: 8:00am-4:00pm

Balaboosta combines Middle Eastern with Mediterranean and is hiding on the residential side of Hutt Street. There’s a few different choices on that intersection, including Cibo, Biga Cafe and Coffeelosphy, so you can’t really go wrong!

SOUTH WEST
Fast becoming the ‘East End of the South West’ with new brunch spots opening up and plenty of development in the pipeline. Here’s a few spots in the area that if you haven’t been to yet, be sure to visit if not for the coffee, for the bragging rights of being able to say you were there before the area got massive.

My Kingdom For A Horse – 191 Wright Street
Mon – Fri: 7:00am-4:00pm

My Kingdom For A Horse is all about the layout. Designed from the ground up, a great deal of thought has obviously been placed into every aspect of this space. It has huge windows that allow plenty of natural light in. They roast their own beans, too. So you’re always going to get something special from the crew here.

Cafe Troppo – 42 Whitmore Square
Tues-Thurs: 7:30am-4:00pm
Fri: 7:30am-10:00pm
Sat: 9:00am-9:00pm
Sun: 9:00am-4:00pm

Synonymous with Whitmore Square, Cafe Troppo is like that friend who you don’t see for a long time, but when you catch up, you immediately click. It hits the perfect balance between laid back and professional, has tasty treats, yummy coffee and great atmosphere.

Bar 9 Outreach – 34 Whitmore Square
Wed-Sun: 7:30am-2:00pm

Look, if you haven’t heard of Bar 9 then please bookmark this guide on your PC. Bar 9 is an Adelaide institution, it’s been around since the days when people used the term PC. Ian Callahan is at the helm and this exciting new cafe serves it’s coffee with a side of good will. Partnering up with St Vincent De Paul, Bar 9 Outreach has all the classics you expect from it, plus it helps upskill homeless and unemployed people in the hospitality industry. Coffee with a conscience, there’s a lot to love.

Paddy’s Lantern – 219 Gilbert Street
Mon-Fri: 7:00am-3:00pm

Arguably Adelaide’s hidden gem when it comes to cafe’s. They make a mean cup of coffee and their food is out of this world delicious. Brewing an in-house blend that is roasted by 5-Senses, the Ben Cousins on a hot day is a winner (go on, try it!)

And if you’d like to try a selection of the best in one exceptionally alert and peppy hit we suggest you hop on board a Square Mile Tour. Though they’re not as frequent in the winter months you need to put them on your radar! The new touring company are doing all kinds of food and drink tours across the CBD, but for the coffee lovers, you can’t pass the Coffee Ride.

Caffeine fix, sorted!

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