9 of the best pubs in Adelaide

Finding a good local is a prerequisite for visiting any capital city.

These days, classic Aussie pubs have morphed into places you dress up and go out to for a good meal plus a night of entertainment.

From modest watering holes to spaces worthy of design awards, with this list in your arsenal, you’ll never be caught short of a fine bevvy in Adelaide again.

1. Wheatsheaf

Since taking over the historic space in 2003, the owners of the Wheatsheaf have taken it from strength to strength.

Today, you’ll find an established venue in Adelaide’s local music scene, serving folky ambience and creations from its own on-site brewery. This innovation goes alongside a mix of imported craft beers, local wine producers and a list of boutique spirits.

While there’s no kitchen on-site, you’ll find food trucks outside four nights a week. There’s also an outdoor beer garden, live music and poetry, plus a number of other surprises. Venture inside and we’re sure you’ll find a few…

Address: 39 George St, Thebarton

Wheatsheaf Hotel is famed for its live music scene.

2. The Exeter

Located in the centre of Adelaide’s East End precinct, The Exeter Hotel has laid claim to serving patrons the perfect mix of “cold Coopers Ales, delicious pub grub, and live music. No pokies, no bullshit."

No bullshit is correct. In fact, rumour has it that the venue hasn’t received an upgrade since 1929, when green tiles were added to the outside façade. Everything else here remains as it always has been.

Many come for the live music, which echoes throughout the premises almost every night. Others come for the city-famous Curry Night, held Wednesdays from 6-9pm. What they all stay for, however, is the brazenly Australian drinks list, and a good old-fashioned approach to pubbing.

Address: 246 Rundle St, Adelaide

3. Port Admiral

Standing pride of place in Port Adelaide’s iconic waterside corner, a drink here is a lesson in historical South Australian landmarks. It’s the suburb’s oldest existing building, established in 1849 on Black Diamond corner – clearly they’ve been doing something right, because Port Admiral has been impressing patrons ever since.

It’s pub dining as it was back then, adapted to contemporary audiences. The hotel now serves as a front bar, saloon, beer garden, outside terrace and a bottle shop – nailing the balance required when you serve as the suburb’s main drinking jaunt.

Address: 55 Commercial Rd, Port Adelaide

Port Admiral SA — Port Admiral is one of South Australia’s best historical landmarks.

4. The Norwood Hotel

Whilst holding the claim of ‘heritage-listed’ isn’t uncommon in Adelaide (seriously, is every building beautiful here?!), The Norwood Hotel is a local institution that truly deserves its title.

Whether it’s a happy hour beer with mates, dinner with family, or a coveted special event, this hotel has served South Australians for over a century – all in the comfort of a grand Victorian building, might I add.

Stop here for modern Australian food, as well as your favourite pub classics.

Address: 97 The Parade, Norwood

Norwood Hotel SA — Refuel at Norwood Hotel.

5. The Cumby

If you hear someone refer to this place by its ‘given’ name – The Cumberland Arms Hotel – you could probably make an educated guess that they aren’t an Adelaidean.

To pretty much everyone in the area, The Cumby is part of their colloquial vocabulary, a permanent fixture of the CBD dining scene – both pub and otherwise.

Following a pretty schmick refurbishment, punters can choose from the alfresco beer garden for pub grub and drinks, or the more upmarket bistro dining option inside. Whichever you choose, the Cumby is well worth the visit.

Address: 205 Waymouth St, Adelaide

The Cumby SA — There isn’t a local in Adelaide who hasn’t been to The Cumby.

6. The Grace Emily

Some call The Grace Emily ground zero for Adelaide’s live music scene. A haven for local musicians, who use the pub stage as an entry point to the ears of listeners. And that’s just the way they like it.

The online events calendar is packed to the rafters, though Monday is reserved for Billy Bob’s BBQ Jam, an open mic night and jam session hosted by Billy Bob and the BBQ Boys.

A breeding ground for local culture, you’ll find co-publicans George Swallow and Symon Jarowyj serving beers behind the bar every night of the week.

Address: 232 Waymouth St, Adelaide

Grace Emily SA — The Grace Emily is a haven for local musicians.

7. The Archer

Following extensive renovations, The Archer rejoined North Adelaide’s pub scene in 2019, promising a solid all-rounder of a venue. It went on to deliver.

At its core, this place offers everything you’d expect from your local pub, a comfortable front bar, an atrium eating area, a spacious beer garden and many flexible function spaces.

Top that off with a location that puts you a short walk from Adelaide Oval and it’s the perfect place to celebrate into the early hours post-match.

Address: 60 O’Connell St, North Adelaide

The Archer SA — The Archer is perfectly positioned near Adelaide Oval.

8. Earl of Leicester

Tucked away in the borough of Parkside, this charming old pub has cemented itself as a local favourite.

Once renowned for cheap pub grub – favoured mostly among young people – new management has seen the old Earl of Leicester find a new lease on life. It now serves generous portions of delicious food, varied beers and boutique wines, all in a historic 1890s setting.

Just make sure you try the schnitzels. They’re massive in scale and equally as delicious.

Address: 85 Leicester St, Parkside

Earl Of Leicester SA — Earl Of Leicester serves up comforting pub grub at its best.

9. The Elephant

If it’s a large British pub, filled with nostalgia that you seek, then this place ticks the box.

Housed in the back streets of Adelaide’s East End, this is what a local pub ought to be. There’s a cinema right next door, but the space also hosts live entertainment in the upstairs bar every Friday and Saturday night.

And with over 30 draught Beer and Cider taps, there is sure to be a drink for everyone to enjoy.

Address: 1 Cinema Pl, Adelaide

Beyond the winding bitumen and coastal views lies another side to Victoria’s most famous route.

There’s something hypnotic about this stretch of Victoria’s coast. Maybe it’s the way the road hugs the ocean so tightly, or how the cliffs catch the sun in colours you can’t name. Or, for local Victorians who drove this route as kids, maybe it’s the memories of winding through the impossibly tall trees as they seemingly guide you on your journey like wooden guardian angels. Most travellers know it for the 12 Apostles, but there are plenty of alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road equally as worthy of your time.

So, next time you’re in that neck of the woods, park that car, stretch those legs and try these experiences.

1. Discover living culture at Budj Bim

Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism — Walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Breakaway Creek’s Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is a masterclass in educational storytelling. Join a guided tour with Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism to walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system, where the Gunditjmara people built sophisticated eel traps and stone channels more than 6,000 years ago.

Budj Bim’s aquaculture system predates Egypt’s pyramids by roughly 2,000 years, making it one of the oldest examples of human engineering on Earth. If that’s not enough to get your history-loving family members involved in this road trip, we’re out of ideas.

2. Unwind in the hot springs at Warnambool

woman relaxing at Deep Blue Hot Springs — Let mineral-rich water heal you.

If your legs need a break after a long drive, Deep Blue Hot Springs is your remedy. The geothermal pools sit just metres from the coastline, filled with mineral-rich water that bubbles up from deep underground. Move between open-air baths, waterfall pools and quiet zones made for meditation.

The water in Deep Blue’s geothermal pools comes from an ancient aquifer nearly 850 metres below the Earth’s surface, which, in non-scientific terms, means it’s far more likely to have healing properties than the mineral water you’d find at the supermarket.

3. Take to the air at Princetown

12 Apostles Helicopters flight alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road — See an icon from a different view.

You may have seen the Twelve Apostles from the trusty viewing platform, but a helicopter flight with 12 Apostles Helicopters shows you just how sprawling and rugged this coastline really is.

The trip covers everything from Port Campbell to London Bridge (not to be confused with the UK’s own), giving you a rare chance to watch waves carving the limestone cliffs from above. It’s worth noting that the limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles are said to erode by roughly two centimetres each year, so the longer you leave it, the less of the Apostles you’ll see.

4. Step into the past at Flagstaff Hill

Continue the tour through Warnambool at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and Museum , a recreated 19th-century port town. Hear stories from the days when shipwrecks were as common as seagulls, with an astounding 180 ships believed to have sunk along the Shipwreck Coast in less than five years.

The night show, complete with lights, sound, and sea spray, brings the coastline’s most dramatic stories to life.

If you’re staying the night, Simon’s Waterfront offers relaxed dining with fresh local seafood and oceanfront views. Order the catch of the day and toast to the sailors who never made it ashore.

5. Learn to surf in Torquay, Lorne, or Anglesea

kid having a lesson with Go Ride A Wave — Learn how to hang 10. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Whether you’ve surfed before or can barely stand on a board, Go Ride A Wave will have you upright in no time. Torquay’s calm beaches are ideal for first-timers, while Lorne and Anglesea bring a bit more energy for those unafraid to get dunked.

Bells Beach, just down the road from Torquay, has even hosted the world’s longest-running professional surfing competition since 1962. So, for those eager to have a gander at pros using surfboards like they’re an additional appendage, the competition usually runs sometime in autumn.

6. Tackle the trails in Forrest

Barwon Flow Trails Otways Flow MTB — Hire a bike and explore MTB trails through the Otways.

Forrest is a haven for mountain bikers thanks to an expansive network of trails through stunning natural scenery. The Forrest trail network has almost 100 kilometres of singletrack across 36 trails, so there’s something for every level of rider. That’s including more than 60 kilometres of purpose-built mountain bike trails winding through the Otways’ dense forest. Cycle through ancient myrtle beech trees and towering tree ferns, with smaller ferns and soft mosses forming a carpet at your feet.

Hire a bike from Forrest MTB Hire and take your pick from easy, scenic rides to more challenging singletracks, such as Red Carpet or Rollercoaster.

7. See wildlife up close in Apollo Bay

bush rat on Wildlife Wonders tour — Get help spotting the locals. (Image: Doug Gimsey)

If spotting koalas and kangaroos in the wild feels like winning the lottery, Wildlife Wonders gives you guaranteed sightings without cages or crowds. Every visit to the sanctuary helps fund the Conservation Ecology Centre which supports endangered species across the Otways, so your business is appreciated by humans and animals alike.

The guided walk takes you through protected Otways habitat where you might spot potoroos (or joey lookalikes for those unfamiliar with a potoroo), wallabies, and sleepy koalas lounging in the trees.

8. Visit the Cape Otway Lightstation

Towering over the sea on a cliff above the Southern Ocean, Cape Otway Lightstation has been guiding ships since 1848. Before the lighthouse was built, Cape Otway was one of the most treacherous points on the Victorian coast, with dozens of shipwrecks occurring in its surrounding waters. Pick the right day, and you may bump into a local willing to tell you about the wreck of Eric the Red .

While at the Cape Otway Lightstation, explore the keeper’s quarters, walk the coastal trails, and take in views that only stop short at the horizon.

And no, contrary to popular belief, the Round the Twist lighthouse is actually located in Split Point, just shy of two hours in the direction of Melbourne. Nothing’s stopping you from embarking on a lighthouse crawl, though.

Plan your next no-stone-unturned journey along this iconic Aussie road at visitgreatoceanroad.org.au.