12 of the best cafes in Adelaide

From hipster hangouts to breezy beach brunch bars, we’ve got your caffeine covered while you’re on Kaurna country.

Coffee culture is a serious business in Adelaide and there are an abundance of world-class cafes for you to sit down and enjoy a top-notch brew. Whether you’re catching up with a friend or looking to refuel before exploring the city, here is our guide to the best cafes in Adelaide.

1. My Kingdom for a Horse

Best for: Locally sourced dishes

Southwest of the city, this family-friendly cafe is still going strong after nearly a decade on the scene. An on-site roastery allows the ever-evolving coffee menu to cater for even the most caffeine-conscious connoisseurs. You’ll be spoilt for choice with the seasonal menu, but don’t miss the Kingdom Huevos Rancheros with smokey house-baked beans.

the cafe interior of My Kingdom for a Horse, Adelaide — My Kingdom for a Horse has an on-site roastery with a coffee menu to cater to caffeine-conscious connoisseurs. (Image: Raven Mead Pty Ltd.)

Address: 191 Wright St, Adelaide

2. Peter Rabbit

Best for: Secret city escapes

Escape the grittiness of Hindley Street in Adelaide’s West End at this dreamy garden oasis serving generous brunches and lunches to those in the know, as well as the best puppuccino in town.

al fresco umbrellas outside the Peter Rabbit cafe in Adelaide — Settle into a garden oasis at Peter Rabbit.

Winters are spent cosying up to the fire with a plate of Nonna’s gnocchi, while summer is the ideal time to sip a gin and jam cocktail in the garden while you disappear down the rabbit hole for an hour or two.

an al fresco dining setup at Peter Rabbit cafe in Adelaide — Sip a gin and jam cocktail in the garden.

Address: 234 Hindley Street

3. Karma and Crow

Best for: hipster boozy brunch

Inner west favourite Karma and Crow recently unveiled a new location in Brooklyn Park that shares space with onsite brewery Yellow Matter.

a breakfast and brunch meal at Karma and Crow in Adelaide — Power through the day with a hipster boozy brunch at Karma and Crow. (Image: Kelsey Zafiridis Photography)

The pastel tones and curved lines juxtaposed with industrial chic make for an Instagrammable interior and if you’re too early for a schooner of the house ale, try the lemon ricotta hotcakes with matcha labneh.

people dining at Karma and Crow in Adelaide — The pastel-hued Karma and Crow cafe is a chic spot for coffee (Image: Kelsey Zafiridis Photography)

Address: 18/108 Marion Rd, Brooklyn Park

4. Dutch Coffee Lab

Best for: Carb-loaded cheese toasties

Run by Dutch expat Tom de Flaart, The Dutch Coffee Lab brings European shabby chic to Port Adelaide, all the way down to Oma’s authentic beef and veg soup. If you’re after a sweeter start to the day, try a stroopwafel with your freshly roasted De Groot coffee while you browse the vintage clothing racks for a bargain.

Address: 255 St Vincent St, Port Adelaide

5. Joe’s Café

Best for: Ocean view

You can’t beat the views from this popular seaside beach cafe established over thirty years ago.

the dining interior of Joe’s Café in Adelaide — Soak up ocean views at Joe’s Café.

A midday mimosa with slow-cooked pork benny might kickstart your weekend after a long week.

a close-up shot of a seafood dish at Joe’s Café in Adelaide — Refuel yourself with fresh seafood.

You’ll find plenty of tables outside for four-legged friends and if you look up you’ll also spot the resident rooftop dachshunds.

the exterior of Joe’s Café in Adelaide — Take a seat outside and enjoy the sunshine.

Address: Corner of South St and Esplanade, Henley Beach

6. LUMA Coffee Club

Best for: Health-conscious foodies

Located on a suburban strip just a minute’s drive from Henley Beach, Luma Coffee Club attracts an image-conscious 20-something fitness crowd.

a hand holding a toastie at LUMA Coffee Club, Adelaide — Start your morning right with a toastie at LUMA Coffee Club.

So it’s no surprise that you’ll find a healthy menu of acai bowls, toasties with ‘good fat mayo’ and coffee from ethical Mclaren Vale coffee supplier Octeine.

acai bowls at LUMA Coffee Club, Adelaide — Enjoy refreshing acai bowls at LUMA Coffee Club.

Address: 60-62 Mitton Avenue, Henley Beach

7. Bloom

Best for: Cast iron baked pancake, poached quince, house vanilla ice cream, orange syrup, macadamia

This family-friendly cafe with inside/outside dining offers an appetising seasonal breakfast and lunch menu. The clever design by Sans Arc Studio has transformed a former tram shed into a light-filled space perfect for a lazy brunch.

the entrance of the Bloom cafe in Adelaide — Step into the Bloom cafe for a lazy brunch. (Image: Bloom)

Choose the Bloomin’ banquet if you can’t decide, then cycle to the city or the sea along the nearby River Torrens to burn it off.

the light-filled interior of Bloom cafe in Adelaide — Once a former tram shed, Bloom has been transformed into a light-filled space. (Image: Bloom)

Address: 38 Winwood Street, Thebarton

8. INC Café

Best for: Working

As a social enterprise employing people of all abilities, INC café has inclusivity in its DNA. With a bright space full of natural light and sofas, the simple menu delivers value for money, with $10 avo on toast. Perfect place to work for a few hours with enclosed gardens for our four-legged friends

Address: Jack Fox Drive, North Brighton

9. Yuna Restaurant and Café

Best for: Casual Asian flavours

Matcha lattes and milk bread are the vibe in this unassuming Japanese-inspired cafe in the western suburbs. The traditional breakfast set with shiozake (salted) salmon, tamago, miso soup and a house-made pickle will start your day with a bang.

a hand holding an egg sandwich with coffee at Yuna Restaurant and Café — Dine casual Asian flavours at Yuna Restaurant and Café.

Visit a bit later in the day and you might be able to persuade owner Mia to share some sake over lunch, or wash your ramen down with a list of local small-batch wines including Yetti and the Kokonut.

a hand pouring a bottle of sake at Yuna Restaurant and Café — Share some sake over lunch.

Address: Shop 7 34 Henley Beach Road Mile End 5031

10. My Grandma Ben

Best for: Sustainable vegan and vego brunches

My Grandma Ben is an ethical eatery offering an impressive range of vegan and vegetarian brunch options with sustainability at its core.

a hand garnishing a meal at My Grandma Ben cafe, Adelaide — Sample vegan delights at My Grandma Ben. (Image: Josie Withers)

Omnivores will be tempted by the roo crumpet stack, an Aussie take on traditional breakfast fare, but you can’t go wrong with the stracciatella on garlic grilled sourdough sourced from the adjacent Lost Loaf Bakery (which attracts epic lines on weekend mornings).

a staff walking inside the My Grandma Ben cafe, Adelaide — My Grandma Ben slings delicious vegetarian brunch options. (Image: Josie Withers)

Address: Plant 4 5 Third Street, Bowden

11. WORK

Best for: Midday grab-and-go

Owner Matthew Raymond’s background in design is evident in the slick look and feel of this CBD cafe , where office workers fuel up with his signature coffee blend.

a hand holding a hot pastry at WORK, Adelaide — Grab a WORK pastry and coffee. (Image: WORK)

At lunchtime, you can build your own sanga or keep up your carb intake by ordering a WorkBurger.

breakfast and brunch at WORK, Adelaide — Fuel up with a satisfying brunch. (Image: WORK)

Address: 100 Pirie St, Adelaide

12. The Pear

Best for: crafting with locals over cake

This is a small space with a big impact run by Alberton locals Christie Anthoney and Joost den Hartog in the front room of their 100-year-old house. From crafting to fruit tree grafting, a daily program of workshops welcomes locals and visitors to connect over coffee and cake. And the location next to the Alberton train station makes it easy to reach from the CBD or Port Adelaide.

Address: 49 Sussex Street, Alberton

Need a dinner spot? Check out our list of the best restaurants in Adelaide.

Under wide-open outback skies, discover a fossicking gem that’s managed to slip under the radar.

While the name Clermont may feel new to even the most intrepid traveller, its gilded history stretches back centuries. You’ll find it just off the highway, humming quietly under the hazy veil of Queensland’s outback sun. It’s here, hemmed in by mountains and perched atop soil heavy with the earth’s treasures, that one of Australia’s most accessible outback adventures awaits.

Thanks to deposits of gold, copper and gemstones – souvenirs left by exploding supernovas and the heave of tectonic plates – Clermont became a centre point of Queensland’s Gold Rush. And now? Australia’s fossicking capital is yours to discover.

Getting there

car driving along Capricorn Way in queensland — Take a drive through Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. (Image: Sean Scott/ TEQ)

You’ll find Clermont in Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. To get here, it’s an easy three-hour drive over sealed roads from Mackay. Or, if you’re heading from the Sapphire Fields of Emerald, the drive will carve out just over an hour from your day.

Whether you’re road-tripping through outback Queensland or just tracing your way through all that Australia has to offer, Clermont is remote but easily accessible.

Best accommodation in Clermont

Theresa CreekDam in clermont — Camp by Theresa Creek Dam. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

All accommodation comes with a generous helping of country hospitality here. The choice is yours between modern hotels, parking up the camper or pitching a tent.

Theresa Creek Dam lies just outside town. Begin each day with crisp country air and bright outback sunrises. Spend the night under the sparkling country stars and your days out on the dam fishing or kayaking. Even if you aren’t camping, be sure to save space in your itinerary for an afternoon on the red dirt shore.

To stay closer to town, opt for a central hotel to base yourself between exploring and fossicking, like Smart Stayzzz Inn and Clermont Country Motor Inn .

Things to do in Clermont

three people on a tour with Golden Prospecting — Join a tour with Golden Prospecting.

One does not visit Clermont without trying their hand at fossicking. There are strict rules when it comes to fossicking, so stick to areas dedicated for general permission and make sure you obtain your license beforehand. Try your luck at McMasters , Four Mile , Town Desert, McDonald Flat and Flat Diggings . To increase your odds, sign on for a tour with the expert team at Golden Prospecting . They’ll give you access to exclusive plots and expert advice along the way.

Once you’ve tried your luck on the gold fields, head to the Clermont Township and Historical Museum . Each exhibit works like an archaeologist’s brush to dust away the layers of Clermont’s history. Like the steam engine that painstakingly relocated the entire town inch by inch to higher ground after it was decimated by flooding in 1916. See the tools that helped build the Blair Athol mine, historic fire engines, shearing sheds and all sorts of relics that make up Clermont’s story.

The historic Copperfield Chimney offers a change of pace. Legend has it that fossickers found a solid wall of copper here, over three metres high, kick-starting Queensland’s first-ever copper mine.

Bush Heli Services flying over clermont queensland — See Clermont from above with Bush Heli Services. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

For hiking, nearby Dysart is the best place to access Peak Range National Park. Here, mountainous horizons stretch across the outback as if plucked from another world. Set off for a scenic drive along the Peak Downs Highway for access to countless geological wonders. Like the slanting rockface of Wolfang Peak. Summit it, and you’ll find yourself looking out across a scene surely conjured up by Banjo Paterson. Dry scrub dancing in the warm breeze, grazing cattle, eucalypts and the gentle creak of windmills. Don’t miss visiting Gemini Peaks, either, for one of the park’s best vistas, and a blanket of wild flowers after rain.

Then, take to the skies with a scenic helicopter tour with Bush Heli-Services . Shift your perspective and cruise above all the sights from your trip. Spots like Lords Table Mountain and Campbell’s Peak are best viewed from the skies.

Before you head home, be sure to explore the neighbouring townships. Spend a lazy afternoon in the shade of Nebo Hotel’s wrap-around verandahs . The hotel’s 1900s dance hall has since been replaced with one of the area’s biggest rodeo arenas, so consider timing your trip to line up with a boot scootin’ rodeo. Or, stop by a ghost town. Mount Britton was once a thriving town during the 1880s Gold Rush. It’s been totally abandoned and now lies untouched, a perfect relic of the Gold Rush.

Best restaurants and cafes in Clermont

meal at Commercial Hotel — Stop into the Commercial Hotel Clermont.

Days spent fossicking, bushwalking and cramming on history call for excellent coffee and hearty country meals. Luckily, Clermont delivers in spades.

Lotta Lattes Cafe is beloved by locals for a reason. Start your days here for the best caffeine fix in town and an impeccable brunch menu.

For a real country meal, an icy cold beer and that famed country hospitality, head straight to the town’s iconic hotel: the Commercial Hotel (known endearingly to locals as ‘The Commie’). It’s been a staple in Clermont since 1877. The hotel even survived the flood of 1916 when it was sawn in two and moved to higher ground.

Naturally, time spent in the outback must include calling into the local bakery. For delicious pies and a tantalising array of sweet treats, make Bluemac Bakehouse your go-to while in town.

Discover more of The Mackay Isaac region, and start planning your trip at mackayisaac.com.