The Best Pubs In Adelaide For A Pint And A Feed (October 2025 Edition)
Looking for a drink? A gig? A solid counter meal? The best pubs in Adelaide contain multitudes (and a hundred places to find a Cooper's). You can sink a schooner anywhere from a lauded hall of fame live music venue to cosy dives and an Irish sports bar. Whether you want levelled up pub classics or a 100% gluten-free menu, an all-Aussie wine list or a spot pouring one of the world's best Champagnes on the old front bar, you'll find your new local in Adelaide. There are indie art exhibitions and lasagne raffles to keep you entertained, beer gardens for summer and fireplaces in winter. City of churches? No, this is the city of pubs.
The Wheatsheaf
39 George St. The Barton Adelaide
Step inside and onto the well-trodden floors of this beloved Adelaide establishment. The Wheatsheaf (or The Wheaty) has a simple retro interior, but it's far from old-fashioned. No pokies here, just live music, pool, board games and little local art exhibitions. No cocktails, just small producer wines, interesting and “odd” whiskies and a brew list with everything from pilsner to porter—plus a specialty hand pump beer. Relax in the beer garden in fair weather, and when you get hungry, there's a regular rotation of food trucks. It's your easy breezy, no frills fun.
The Grace Emily
232 Waymouth Street, Adelaide
The simple exterior of The Grace Emily belies its cultural importance in the Aussie arts scene. This laid-back live music institution has snagged a spot in the South Australian Music Hall Of Fame. This venue has hosted Tim Rogers, Marlon Williams and the late Justin Townes Earl, among many, many more. The walls are packed with prints and paraphernalia, from Bollywood posters to band stickers. Billy Bob's BBQ Jam on Mondays is a 20-something-year tradition. You won't find counter meals here; it's all BYO food, but the Cooper's is on tap and the vino is local. As the sign proudly states, there's “No pokies, No TAB”, just darts, free pool and a crackling fireplace for cool nights. And the music, of course.
Golden Wattle
110 Pirie St, Adelaide
One for the foodies. It’s not just the timber-accented Australian nostalgia that draws you in, with wooden chairs and tables that wouldn't look out of place in an RSL. It’s also the epic pub grub. Sure, you’ve got your schnitty, parmi and porterhouse steak (hot from that famously Gumtree-sourced wood grill), but where else are you going to find chicken Kyiv balls with Bloody Mary aioli? Or a Fritz & sauce sangaa curiously South Australian delight of bologna-style deli meat in white bread with sauce (but, of course, made bougie). Vegos aren’t overlooked, with dishes like salt and pepper eggplant with vegan XO. No meat raffle here: it’s a lasagne raffle instead, plus quiz nights. “Australia's Choicest Car Park Pub”, but a bit extra.
The Stag
299 Rundle Street, Adelaide
Within the gorgeous Federation heritage exterior of The Stag is everything you could want from a perfect pub. A welcoming, greenery-festooned bar and airy terrace, with Wednesday quiz nights, big games on the projector, pool and a spot by the fire. It’s a 100% Aussie wine list, a selection of simple cocktails and local brews with others (including Guinness) from further shores. Formerly the Stag Inn, it has the honour of holding one of Adelaide's oldest pub licences. But the menu’s far from outdated. Your prosecco can be paired with fried nduja-stuffed olives or potato wedges with sour cream and chilli, followed by a pasta or bougie poutine with stracciatella or their famous Stag burger, plus a ‘tiramiso’ with amaretto and miso caramel for dessert. There’s a reason they call themselves “The Good Pub.”
The Cranker at The Edinburgh
233 Currie Street, Adelaide
Adelaide’s beloved hub of live music and dive drinking has settled into its new home in the End Castle Hotel. With this relocation, they've carried the same community spirit Adelaide loved, with quizzes, cold beer and an eclectic live music lineup of everything from metal to jazz. Stop in for a gig and a Guinness pie, save cash with Happy Hour specials and pub feed deals like $15 lunches and a two-for-$25 schnitty night or just grab a jug and some mates and hang in the beer garden. It’s unfussy. It’s honest. It’s your East-End old reliable in the West.
The Exeter
246 Rundle Street, Adelaide
This unassuming establishment has earned unexpected renown for Australia's best-priced serve of luxury Krug Champagne (rumour has it, they're one of the largest accounts in the country). But you won't find it in a flute at The Exeter. It's served in a little “butcher's glass.” That sets the tone for this Adelaide institution, at once a classic everyman spot and a stickler for quality, the haunt of winemakers, artists and casual punters. No pokies, no pretension, just Aussie wines, pub counter meals (with truly epic schnitties) and live music more often than not. The fireplace is warm in winter, and the Coopers is cold all year round (with every beer in their lineup). Whoever you are, you’ll feel at home here.
The West Oak
208 Hindley St, Adelaide
First established as the Royal Oak Hotel in 1838, this spot has had several lives before reopening as The West Oak in 2017. It’s kept the charm, with a long tiled bar and decor of light timber and pale green. The West Oak is bright and welcoming 7 days a week. The all-day menu has four sections. To Share has snacky bits like loaded nachos, corn and gruyere croquettes and nduja burrata with honey and dill. Between Bread is where you’ll find the burgers and a truly luxurious 12-hour slow-braised beef short rib baguette that will live in your head rent-free. Mains are your counter meals like schnitty and fish of the day, and Salads are, well, exactly what you think they are (but done better). The daytime deli also slings sandos and baked goods. Upstairs, you’ll find the quaint Jolly Bar, the old doctors’ bar (back when the Royal Adelaide Hospital was out this way), now open to all.
The Austral Hotel
205 Rundle Street, Adelaide
This facade has buckets of heritage charm, including a custom leadlight sign on the wraparound balcony. Established in 1880, it might look like a pub straight out of the past, but it's not old-fashioned. The Austral is proudly pokie-free and prefers indie art exhibits or bingo nights for entertainment. It's open 7 days a week for your casual drop-ins, with Cooper's on tap and Tuesday steak night. The pub fare is real classic, with bangers and mash, pizza, burgers, fish and chips and wedges alongside curry, kofta and falafel, with a nut sundae or sticky date to finish. Its enviable position on Rundle means it's always buzzing with locals and out-of-towners alike.
The Norwood Hotel
97 The Parade, Norwood, Adelaide
The heritage-listed pub next to Norwood Oval has given Adelaide over 100 years of good cheer and good beer. In addition to the bar and bistro, you'll find a little Irish sports pub, Finn McCool’s. The bistro menu is a mix of Australian favourites and Brit gastropub. Think, chicken parmi spring rolls, Guinness braised beef cheeks, pork and fennel sausages with Yorkshire pudding and chicken and leek pie with Colcannon mash. Splurge on a Surf & Turf or keep it simple with a fish butty. They have specials most nights of the week, and also do a “pub lunch in a hurry”: a steak sandwich or a fried chicken caesar. It's not everywhere you see a Long Island on the house cocktail list, but we love it, as well as the Aussie wine list.
Port Admiral
55 Commercial Road, Port Adelaide
Port Admiral sprawls across the corner of St Vincent Street and Commercial Road in Port Adelaide, encompassing a massive space of balcony, beer garden, bar, bottleshop and a few dining rooms. Originally opened in 1849, the current iteration prides itself on inclusivity and community. It's also the only pub with 100% gluten-free cuisine, from the bourbon-smoked ribs to fried dumplings, Nasi Goreng, arancini and a range of schnitzels with a selection of “Mega Toppers” to accompany. Of course, there's fresh seafood, as well as steaks (including chargrilled kangaroo). Furry friends are welcome, and can pick from a special pooch menu featuring dishes like Puppy Pasta and Bone Broth & Biscuit. You're spoiled for choice with drink options too, with beers (including gluten-free brews, of course), Aussie vino, cocktails and spirits.
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