2KW Bar and Restaurant, Adelaide, South Australia © Andre Castellucci, SATC
Adelaide's best rooftop bars
Head to the rooftops for some fine views of Adelaide, along with some of the world's best wines, local produce, craft beers and cocktails with which to toast your luck.
By Marc Llewellyn and Carly Spek
From the city centre to the suburbs, Adelaide has bars that will have you singing from the rooftops. Some are elegant and sophisticated, while others have a more casual feel. Either way, the emphasis is on the great outdoors and food and drink with a South Australian slant.
Merrymaker
Aerial view over a busy, black and white tiled rooftop bar with a pastel sunset unfolding over a city skyline in the background at Merrymaker Rooftop Bar, Adelaide, South Australia © Hotel Indigo Adelaide
Where: 23-29 Market St, Adelaide
Sprawled across the top level of Hotel Indigo, above the streets of the famous Adelaide Markets, Merrymaker serves up crowd-pleasing fare on a sun-drenched terrace. The food and drinks here are divine, from decadent share plates to fruity cocktails that keep you coming back for more. Sweeping views from the venue's signature black and white tiled floor give the space an Instagram-worthy edge that sets the scene for an über-cool atmosphere.
2KW Bar and Restaurant
2K.W. Bar and Restaurant, Adelaide, South Australia © South Australia Tourism Commission
When to go
Adelaide comes to life with festivals in February and March, when Adelaide Fringe Festival and WOMADelaide take place.
Where: 2 King William St, Adelaide
Perched eight floors up on top of a historic building, the restaurant at 2KW flows out into a stylish rooftop bar that looks across the River Torrens and beyond to the Adelaide Hills. You can clearly see Government House, the home of the Parliament of South Australia since 1840. Also close is the Adelaide Oval, the city’s main sporting stadium. Local and small production wines feature heavily, including some made exclusively for the venue and served directly from the barrel. Wash down your oysters with the signature cocktail, The 2KW. It’s made from gin, peach and pear juice.
The Hennessy Rooftop Bar
Hennessy Rooftop Bar, Mayfair Hotel, Adelaide, South Australia © Mayfair Hotel
Where: 45 King William St, Adelaide
The Hennessy Rooftop Bar was unveiled in December 2015 and immediately became the height of popularity in Adelaide's city centre. It's a discerning place with an elegant interior decorated with lounges and leather armchairs, Tudor-style roof panelling and chandeliers. An outside deck offers views that stretch down Adelaide's main pedestrianised shopping street, Rundle Mall, and across the city centre. Drinks include cocktails, top wines, and premium champagnes and spirits. The bar is on the 13th floor of the five-star boutique Mayfair Hotel, which is close to many of the city's main attractions, including Adelaide Central Market, the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, and the Art Gallery of South Australia.
SOL Rooftop
SOL Rooftop, Adelaide, South Australia © Meaghan Coles
Where: North Terrace, Adelaide
The crown atop Adelaide's Sky City casino, Sol Rooftop, is a self-proclaimed all-day destination serving up scrumptious eats and great vibes from morning to night. Stop by for their signature Friday Sunset Sessions to watch the landscape transform under golden light as you listen to hit tunes spun by a local DJ and savour a cheeky cocktail or two.
Gallery
Gallery Bar, Adelaide, South Australia © Lewis Potter/Gallery Bar
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Where: 30 Waymouth St, Adelaide
Sandwiched between a coffee shop and an office block, Gallery has a rooftop bar on the third level that oozes cool. Expect modern art on the walls, wooden bench tables and designer metal chairs. This part of Waymouth Street has a high density of office workers, and the view is dominated by towering office blocks. The wine list is huge, and includes many examples from the great South Australian wine regions, including the Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, and Clare Valley. The food menu is loaded with tapas, from seared scallops to crocodile wontons.
