From citrusy spritzes to herbaceous gimlets and locally-distilled drinks, these are Adelaide’s tastiest cocktails for American Express delicious. Month Out. As autumn undeniably takes hold and the nights turn crisp, there’s nothing like cosying up with a cocktail to help you unwind. Thankfully, Adelaide is home to many an inventive tipple – some of which have been built using locally-distilled spirits – to provide the perfect backdrop to your autumnal sipping. From bitter and bold to sweet and indulgent and everything in between, these drinks are the refreshing accompaniment to a night out on the town or a cosy dinner. Plus, from 28 April to 31 May 2023, American Express Card Members can savour more receiving up to $25 back per Card, via a 20% credit per transaction* when they save the exclusive offer to their eligible Card and spend at any of the 30,000+ participating businesses. Limited to the first 75,000 Cards to save the offer. *Exclusions, T&Cs apply. So without further ado, here’s where to go and what to order in Adelaide this May. This article was made possible by American Express, in collaboration with delicious.
Home to delicious antipasti, daily-made pasta (go the hand-cut taglierini cacio e pepper) and an innovative drinks list flaunting Italy’s best wine regions, there are plenty of reasons to hit up this Hyde Park gem. However, there is none more compelling than their zesty off-menu limoncello spritz. Built with a house liquor made following the method traditionale, it will perk you up at first sip. 2/160 King William Road, Adelaide; nidobarpasta.com.au
The clever folks at this regional Thai hotspot have crafted their own gin in collaboration with Adelaide distillery, Polemic Aperitif Lab. Featuring 16 botanicals that highlight the sweet, sour and nuanced flavours of Thailand, with Australian ingredients at its core (think Tasmanian pepper berry, lime, pandan and Thai basil), it’s perfect in one of their signature, herbaceous Holy Gimlets. 74 Pirie Street, Adelaide; soi38.com.au
The cocktails at Little NNQ are affectionately named after their “family’s annoying, naughty but too adorably cute cats and dogs”. As such, expect to find Molly’s Coffee Phin-Tini, the ragdoll kitty-inspired boozy Vietnamese iced coffee. For something more spritzy, go the Obedient Nikki – named after their sweet 12-year-old pomeranian and featuring coriander, grapefruit, lime, campari and vermouth. 125 Gouger St, Adelaide; littlennq.com.au
This neon-lit cocktail bar, concealed upstairs in the East End Produce Market Archway overlooking Ebenezer Place, specialises in cocktails, craft beers and spirits. Sweet tooths will love the Jaffa which, true to its name, promises chocolatey-orange good times via a mix of 36S blood orange vodka, chocolate liquor, espresso and orange bitters. 12 Union St, Adelaide; mrgoodbar.com.au
Meaning ‘today’ in Italian, this piazza in the heart of the CBD is complete with cobblestone floors, a meat room, private cellar and intimate booth seating – the latter being our chosen spot to enjoy an Oggie spritz made with house vermouth, jasmine gin, soda and prosecco – and a few anchovy soldiers alongside. 76 Pirie Street, Adelaide; osteriaoggi.com.au
This cafe-bar in hip and historic Unley does a great espresso martini made using Five Senses coffee. Try it with a croque madame for brunch or a sriracha maple sauce-doused chicken and waffles come lunch. 136 Greenhill Road Unley; whistleandflute.com.au/
Consider the lemon, sugar, gin and sparkling wine-spiked French 75 at PLV one of the best flutes of fizz you’ll have in this city. Equal parts sweet, sour and bubbly, it’s great on its own or with just about anything off the all-day menu (the fried corn ribs and gochujang beef tartare are just some of the highlights). Paul Kelly Ln, Adelaide; parttimelover.com.au
It’s hard to pick just one cocktail off the list at this intimate ocean-themed watering hole but if we had to, it would be the margarita-inspired Neon Ballroom: tequila, Escubac, Plantation white rum, grapefruit and orange oleo, citrus, with a jalapeño kicker at the end. Their sliced-to-order charcuterie is the ultimate grazing mate to the stiff and salty. 19 Peel St, Adelaide; cleverlittletailor.com.au
The team behind nearby East End Cellars have opened this predominantly wine-forward bar that houses an encyclopaedia of hard-to-find drops, but also happens to pour a very good negroni. You heard it here first. 22-26 Vardon Avenue, Adelaide; mothervine.com.au
Hendricks gin, cucumber, lime and vermouth collide in the bright green Eastbound – expertly strained over ice. It comes from Nick and Jess Favaro, whose parents run Italian stalwart Chianti next door so if a bowl of rigatoni calls, you don’t have far to travel. But there’s plenty of Spanish things to snack on at Bar Torino too, like Ortiz anchovy toast.158 Hutt Street Adelaide; bartorino.com.au
With names like Westside Glory and Banana Split, it’s clear this French restaurant and bar is offering good times and flavour combinations. The lemon creme spritz is another such pour, mixing up gin, creme de cassis, lemon oleo, tonic and lemon juice for the ultimate citrus lovers’ cocktail. 11 Waymouth St, Adelaide; elevenadl.com.au From 28 April to 31 May 2023, American Express Card Members can savour more receiving up to $25 back per Card, via a 20% credit per transaction* when they save the exclusive offer to their eligible Card and spend at any of the 30,000+ participating businesses. Limited to the first 75,000 Cards to save the offer. *Exclusions, T&Cs apply. To explore the full list of participating businesses, visit amex.com.au/delicious . This article was made possible by American Express, in collaboration with delicious.
