This is Australia's most underrated city
Adelaide has a reputation as being a bit boring – but there’s lots to love.
A buzzing small bar scene
There are a dozen small bars scattered around the ade-laneways of Peel and Leigh streets, with enough attitude to rival Melbourne’s best. Each has it’s own theme: at the literary Bibliotecha each cocktail is based on a famous novel (like the syrupy sweet Lolita or the Goblet of Fire with a flaming pumpkin fizz) while Haines & Co is a nautical nook with the cutest sailors/bartenders in town.
Cool café culture
Bypass the tourist trap that is Rundle Mall and head to the uber trendy enclave of Ebenezer Place in East Adelaide for breakfast. Hey Jupiter does a mean Bloody Mary and you’ll be lucky to get a seat at Exchange Specialty Coffee, but it's worth the wait.
Stunning colonial architecture
Unlike most other historic cities in Australia, Adelaide was colonised by free settlers. These relatively affluent arrivals created a beautiful city, filled with churches, stately homes and charming pubs. While the CBD is now dominated by skyscrapers, you can still find plenty of these 19th century gems.
Heaps of festivals
Adelaide is known as the festival capital of Australia. In fact, it was the only city in the country invited to join the International Festival City Network alongside places like Edinburgh, Montreal and Berlin. The top festivals include WOMAdelaide, the Adelaide Fringe, the Adelaide Arts Festival, Feast Festival, the Cabaret Festival and lots more.
An old school beachside
Jump on the tram and head out to Glenelg, Adelaide’s laid back beachside suburb. There’s a huge white sand beach fronting onto a calm ocean where you can frequently spot dolphins. It's lined with heritage hotels, trendy cafes and quirky shops, which run back along the pedestrian mall and into the sleepy side streets. It’s like the classic beach holiday you remember from your childhood.
A new kind of wine tour
For a wine tour with a difference, jump onto the new Trail Hoppers hop on hop off buses that depart from the CBD. The buses head to the Adelaide Hills, Barossa or McLaren Vale most days of the week and you can choose which of the dozen or so wineries you’d like to visit.
Do you like to visit Adelaide? Let us know in the comments below.