The section of Pulteney Street between Wakefield and Angas feels like its own neighbourhood, with its close-knit community of traders and feel-good experiences.

Double shot at happiness

Campbell Herbert is one of the partners of Intersection Traders, a green coffee importer and café buying direct from Ugandan coffee farmers and helping run a washing station in that country.

CityMag has written about them before, including co-founders Daniel Gregg and Adam Marley (a 40 Under 40 alumnus). In a nutshell, it’s super-ethical, quality coffee.

Behind the café in Gunson Street is Some Where House, which Campbell calls “a cozy tap house”. It serves local beers, wines and simple food, and exhibits local artists.

Meanwhile, Intersection’s coffee roaster Tim Kind, who Campbell says “worked in the beer world in a different life,” has been setting up their microbrewery. So, expect to see those brews soon.

Intersection Traders (258 Pulteney Street)
Mon–Fri: 7:30am ‘til 3pm

Some Where House
Wed–Fri: 2pm ‘til 11pm

Get a glow up at 3am

Jetting off for a Euro summer, or tackling a to-do list that leaves little time for you? Then you’ll want to know about The Society and Co.

With 10 beauty and self-care services in the one place, this temple of wellness is your ticket to more me time. Think skincare, makeup, hair, nails, injectables and vegan-friendly spray tanning.

Victoria Penfold, who’s behind the unique concept, says it’s a win-win for customers and for the women behind each of the small businesses, who between them trade seven days.

Clients can have a complimentary coffee, or wine or cocktail after 5pm. And should you want your perfect depth of tan at 3am, step into Victoria’s fully automated, easy to use tan room and come out glowing.

The Society and Co (262 Pulteney Street)
Tanning 24/7
For other services’ hours, head to the website. 

Persian cuisine pride

As a city, we pride ourselves on our food culture and unique gems. Naaz Persian Cuisine, run by husband-and-wife team Omid Moghaddami and Mali Ershad, is one of them. Omid says Persian food is “mild in spice and flavourful in taste”. In head chef Mali’s hands, traditional staple ingredients give rise to a tempting array of luscious flavours from their homeland in northern Iran.

Dining in offers an opportunity to further connect with Iranian culture. Works of art and poetry adorn the walls and the décor is inspired by the home town of the couple’s grandparents, Masouleh, which has a history stretching back two millennia.

Naaz Persian Cuisine (260 Pulteney Street)
Tue–Thu: 6pm ‘til 10pm
Fri–Sat: 6pm ‘til 11pm
Sun: 6pm ‘til 9pm

A little bit of salsa is what you need

TRYP is one of Pulteney Street’s newest landmarks and more than a stylish accommodation offering in the city’s festival heartland. It’s also home to Mamacita Restaurant & Bar, which has plenty to boast about. Great Mexican cuisine, Adelaide’s largest list of tequilas, margaritas and hot sauces, and the unexpected bonus of free Latin American dance classes on Friday and Saturday nights.

General manager Valentin Corchado says Mamacita’s polished floor is “perfect for dancing shoes” and learning how to merengue, salsa and cha cha cha is a great ice-breaker. These relaxed sessions are proving popular, as are the mid-week promotions. Think Thursday Steak Night and all-you-can-eat Taco Tuesdays. For the record, that record is 15.   

Mamacita is open seven days and spreads across two levels.

TRYP by Wyndham (266 Pulteney Street)
Lobby: 7am ‘til 9pm
Level 1: 4:30pm ‘til 9pm
with the bar open ‘til late

Follow the clues

Mindshift Escape Rooms is housed in a mid-century office building that gives no hint of the worlds inside. Owner Nicole Williams picked the site for its central location, nearby eateries and street parking that make it super convenient for those booking in for one of the five (soon to be six) challenges.

Mostly, they see groups of friends, colleagues or schoolkids, but Nicole says they once had a world ranked Rubik’s Cube speedsolver come in. “There was one puzzle he just didn’t like and he let us know – but he didn’t do too bad. Then he pulled a cube out of his pocket and solved it with one hand.” He left a four-star review because of the puzzle. Most people leave five.

Mindshift Escape Rooms (246–248 Pulteney Street)
Wed–Thu: 11am ‘til 8pm
Fri–Sat: 11am ‘til 10pm
Sun: 11am ‘til 6:30pm

ALSO IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

Louca’s (242 Pulteney Street)
Diaspora Kouzina (250 Pulteney Street)
Cheeky Greek (252 Pulteney Street)
Hey Bianca (254 Pulteney Street)
AMM Food + Coffee + Beats (255 Pulteney Street)
Interim Recording Studios (18 Gunson Street)
The Mill (154 Angas Street)