adelaide CBD cafes
Coffee Branch
Cafe
Coffee Branch helped kickstart the city’s modern cafe scene and is still going strong. No slow food, long lunches or fancy brewing gear here. Just great coffee and a straight-shooting menu geared towards takeaway.
My Kingdom For A Horse
Cafe
A short gallop from Adelaide Central Market, this colourful venue does food all day, roasts coffee on-site and seats 100 patrons in comfortable retro-Danish style.
Peter Rabbit
Cafe
One of Adelaide’s buzziest cafes holds a lush garden and a shipping-container-turned-eatery. When the weather’s fine, it's hard to beat a spritz on the deck.
Elementary Coffee
Cafe
One of the standard-setters for Adelaide’s specialty coffee scene lives in a spacious warehouse serving photogenic breakfasts to go with your single-origin brews.
Hey Jupiter
Cafe
A little corner of France in the East End. Hey Jupiter has been throwing down champagne breakfasts and Bloody Marys for more than a decade.
Exchange Coffee
Cafe
Occupying an iconic corner in Adelaide’s East End, Exchange Coffee has long been at the front of the pack in the city’s specialty coffee scene. Come for Market Lane coffee brewed every which way, produce-driven brunch dishes and a signature sandwich worthy of its cult status.
Munch Deli
Cafe
This tiny deli brings Vietnamese-inspired sangas and toasties to the city. Most popular is the Pho-nomenal, bursting with brisket and Asian herbs.
34 Wyatt Street
Cafe
A small, relaxed city hang serving sandos and pastries with a Filipino twist.
Work Cafe
Cafe
Meeting for coffee in the city? This cool spot has you covered with sandwiches, quality coffee by Rio and pastries by Prove.
Carton Deli
Cafe
The “accidentally nostalgic” menu features slow-cooked sarsaparilla pork with apple slaw, a sous vide chicken roll, and an inspired spin on the ham-and-cheese toastie (with Hawaiian pizza DNA).
Nanna Hot Bake
Cafe
A cheap and charming Asian bakery.
Community
Cafe
This cafe-bar hybrid is in a restored octagonal kiosk on North Terrace. It was the first food and beverage joint for Adelaide’s innovation precinct Lot Fourteen. The brunchy menu here, by the owner-chef of Fine & Fettle, is Asian-inspired takes on brekkie staples.
Abbots and Kinney
Cafe
Pastries from Italy and beyond, made fresh every morning. The sfogliatelle – a strudel-like Italian number – is unmissable, equal only to the house croissant.
Diaspora Kouzina
Cafe
Say “yiasou” to this very modern Greek eatery, with traditional roots.
Real Falafel
Cafe
The Central Market's tiny but mighty falafel stall has moved to a bigger site and introduced breakfast, coffee and deli products for sale.
Mister Pigeon
Cafe
Callum Dinnison lives just a two-minute drive from his cafe, Mister Pigeon. That's probably for the best, because many of his possessions have ended up at Mister Pigeon. To furnish the cafe, Dinnison pilfered his own place. No wonder it feels so homey. The end result is a community-focused cafe with comfy couches, a book exchange and excellent toasties. It's a relaxed spot that feels miles away from its inner-city surrounds.
Leisurely Coffee
Cafe
This cafe in the former Paddy's Lantern site opened in October 2020. The interior’s had a refit and a new kitchen installed, but the trusty Synesso espresso machine that served Paddy’s so well for over a decade remains. Come for the “barista’s breakfast” (a potent coffee trio); handmade dumplings; a croissant with soft-shell crab and scrambled eggs; and halal bao buns with “beef bacon” and egg.
Mascavado
Cafe
At this Hutt Street patisserie, you'll find miso cookies, plum and rose Danishes and chai blondies. Plus, there's quiche with freshly-foraged porcini mushrooms, flourless brownies and whisky-and-almond knots.
St Louis House of Fine Icecream and Dessert
Cafe
Eat dessert like a true Parisian.
Recess
Cafe
This hole-in-the-wall lunch spot serves up egg-and-bhaji naans, blackened cauliflower salad, fresh juices and breads made in-house.
Abbots and Kinney North Terrace
Cafe
Jonny Pisanelli’s fourth patisserie store mixes tradition and invention.
Ayla's Cafe
Cafe
This vegetarian and vegan favourite offers the warmth of a home-cooked meal in the heart of the city.
The Motorcycle Society
Cafe
Top up your caffeine levels while your bike gets an oil change.
Chu Chu
Cafe
Asian-inspired grab-and-go lunches such as vegan ramen, rice bowls and black sesame and charcoal buns
Sibling
Cafe
This slick cafe on a quiet strip of the CBD is a true family affair.
Let Them Eat
Cafe
A city cafe loved by both vegetarians and meat lovers alike.
Fleur and Brew
Cafe
A tiny coffee shop and florist in the CBD’s south end.
Levant Eatery Hindley Street
Cafe
Pocket breads and grain salads served fast.
First Order Coffee
Cafe
Brunch with an Eastern-European flavour in a former laboratory.
Cafe Troppo
Cafe
Sustainable food and decor get more than a token nod at this cafe.
The Howling Owl
Cafe
More South Australian than a pie floater.
Booknook & Bean
Cafe
Linger among the books, or take away an ethically sourced coffee.
Please Say Please
Cafe
Expert coffee with a fresh macaron or cronut on the side – yes please.
Juice Lovers Juicery
Cafe
A vegan cafe with a variety of unusual juices.
Le Carpe Diem
Cafe
Seize the day with a Nutella-filled crepe or cheesy buckwheat galette.
Jack Greens
Cafe
Salads that command attention.
Fiefy’s Specialty Cafe
Cafe
Size doesn’t matter when the coffee is this good.
Market Street
Cafe
The best of the Central Market, crammed into a corner deli.
Remy & Violette
Cafe
Handmade croissants and Belgian-style waffles from the founders of Burger Theory and Pearl's Diner.
Penny University
Cafe
A tiny coffee spot where you can't help but chat with your fellow customers.
Steven ter Horst Chocolatier
Cafe
Handcrafted chocolates until well after sundown.
Mamachau
Cafe
An easy choice for fast, modern Vietnamese.
Archie & Co
Cafe
Sip coffee while you wait for your haircut at this cafe-salon hybrid.
La Moka
Cafe
Score a doughnut and a coffee at this intimate Italian cafe, then return after work for an aperitif.
Lindes Lane
Cafe
Wine, specialty coffee, breakfast cocktails and an all-day fusion menu – this laneway venue has all the bases covered.
The Big Table
Cafe
A retro-styled cafe in the Central Market.
Sazón Espresso CBD
Cafe
Mediterranean-inspired Mexican for a unique breakfast or lunch.
Public
Cafe
A striking venue inspired by the grandest of public spaces.