A permanent bricks and mortar venue will extend and expand on the style of hospitality for which the Lindes Lane street parties have become known. CityMag takes a look around the freshly-renovated space to get familiar with the café-cum-wine bar ahead of its official opening on Friday.

Lindes Lane has wooed us with its street party charm over the past few months, with many Friday and Saturday nights spent with Astroturf under foot and alcoholic beverage in hand. But it’s finally time – the doors to the Lindes Lane permanent venue are (almost) open and a full menu, specialty coffee and vast alcohol selection are on offer.

There aren’t too many late night places around town we can think of that offer customers the perfect espresso. But now there’s definitely one.

Lindes Lane is the long-awaited collab from some bright Adelaide hospitality minds – Ian Callahan (Bar 9), Wes Gilson (former owner of Cork Wine Cafe) and designer Jason Jurecky, along with their handpicked management team.

For Ian, a licensed venue was a new venture.

“From my point of view it was a good chance to expand … the realm of hospitality in which I operate and to do that with great people who I knew and had history with,” says Ian.

“I was able to come on board with my little area of expertise…So I get to sit within my comfort zone but then also expand my comfort zone into a licensed venue and have a look at that side of it as well.”

Determined to have a point of difference, the team envisaged a space that would stand apart by offering high quality without a high price tag amid an easy-going environment.

“Who says you can’t have the best of everything in one place,” says Jason.

With a focus on “highlighting unique producers” in all facets of the business, Lindes Lane has a full coffee menu, a range of locally-made base pours and an international wine list that hones in on small producers. And of course, there is food to match.

Wes Gilson, the wine guru of the group, has designed a “decanter series” in which specialty wines that need a little extra time to breathe and open up can be tasted by the glass.

“So basically there will always be something … that has been decanted for x amount of time so that when we’re pouring it’s at its optimum. I don’t think there’s anyone else in Adelaide doing that,” says Ian.

“Quality is just a given, but the point of difference is it’s approachable.”

Designer Jason also had a different vision for the interior of Lindes Lane.

“If the fit out is too modern, too slick, it works for a while and then gets a bit dated. It doesn’t have that ambience,” he says, “you need something that’s a bit older, especially when it’s a wine bar, its not modern or slick, it’s the warmth of timber and the charm of stone.”

The evolution of Lindes Lane has taken place over 12 months – from dark alleyway to what is now a space with a diverse offering.

With the activation of the laneway and the overhaul of the café and wine bar complete, it’s only natural that these guys are looking to the next project. There’s a little surprise space in the basement, hidden behind a fireplace, which may or may not resemble a secret champagne lounge. Think pared-back French industrial meets swanky jazz bar. But let’s keep that hush hush – it’s still a few months away.