12 of the best cafes in Adelaide

Louisa NormanBy Louisa Norman
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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.
Louisa Norman
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How a $1 deal saved Bendigo’s historic tramways

    Megan ArkinstallBy Megan Arkinstall
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    The passionate community that saved Bendigo Tramways has kept the story of this city alive for generations.

    It was an absolute steal: a fleet of 23 trams for just $1. But such a fortunate purchase didn’t happen easily. It was 1972 when the Bendigo Trust handed over a single buck for the city’s historic collection of battery, steam and electric trams, which had transported locals since 1890.

    inside the historic Bendigo Tram
    Bendigo Tramways is a historic transport line turned tourist service. (Image: Bendigo Heritage)

    The city’s tram network had been declared defunct since 1970 due to post-war shortages in materials to upkeep the trams and declining passenger numbers as motor vehicles were increasing. However, determined locals would not hear of their beloved trams being sold off around the world.

    The Bendigo Trust was enlisted to preserve this heritage, by converting the trams into a tourist service. The Victorian government approved a trial, however news spread that the Australian Electric Tramways Museum in Adelaide had acquired one of the streetcars for its collection.

    a tram heading to Quarry Hill in 1957
    A tram on its way to Quarry Hill in 1957. (Image: Bendigo Heritage)

    An impassioned group rallied together to make this physically impossible. Breaking into the tram sheds, they welded iron pipes to the rails, removed carbon brushes from the motors, and formed a blockade at the depot. The community response was extraordinary, and a $1 deal was sealed.

    A new chapter for the city’s fleet

    the old Tramways Depot and Workshop
    The old Tramways Depot and Workshop is one of the stops on the hop-on, hop-off service. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Today, Bendigo Tramways welcomes some 40,000 passengers annually, operating as a hop-on, hop-off touring service aboard the restored trams. Fifteen of the now 45-strong fleet are dubbed ‘Talking Trams’ because of the taped commentary that is played along the route. The trams loop between Central Deborah Gold Mine and the Bendigo Joss House Temple, which has been a place of Chinese worship since 1871, via other sites including the old Tramways Depot and Workshop.

    a Gold Mine Bendigo Tram
    The fleet comprises 45 trams that have been restored. (Image: Visit Victoria/Robert Blackburn)

    Keeping things interesting, throughout the year visitors can step aboard different themed trams. Tram No. 302 becomes the Yarn Bomb Tram, decorated both inside and out with colourful crochet by an anonymous group of locals.

    During the festive season, Tram No. 15 operates as a tinsel-festooned Santa Tram, and the big man himself hides out somewhere along the route for excited children to find. And on selected dates, the adults-only Groove Tram runs nighttime tours of the city, accompanied by local musicians playing live tunes and a pop-up bar.

    the historic post office turned visitor centre in Bendigo
    Visitors can hop on and off to see the city’s sites such as the historic post office turned visitor centre. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    As well as preserving the city’s history, however, the continuation of the tram service has kept the skills of tram building and craftsmanship alive in a practical sense. Bendigo’s Heritage Rail Workshop is world-renowned for restoring heritage trams and repurposing vehicles in creative ways.

    Locally, for example, Tram No. 918 was transformed into the Dja Dja Wurrung Tram with original Aboriginal artworks by emerging artist Natasha Carter, with special commentary and music that shares the stories and traditions of Bendigo’s first people. You can’t put a price on preserving history. Nonetheless, it was a dollar very well spent.