Cafés reopening in the CBD

The Federal and State governments are charting the way out of the coronavirus crisis. Here's how cafés in the Adelaide CBD will adapt as restrictions ease.

SPECIAL REPORT: COVID-19 ADELAIDE

As we’ve consistently heard from our State and Federal political leaders – and from the South Australian Patron Saint of Good Hygiene, Dr Nicola Spurrier – South Australians have been a mostly well-behaved bunch throughout the COVID-19 crisis, and as such we’ve earned a few early marks.

The news has moved very quickly in the last week, so here’s a recap of the important bits.

At around 5pm on Friday, 22 May, Premier Steven Marshall announced a backflip on a previous decision and immediately allowed all venues of any licence category to trade with 10 patrons indoors, 10 patrons outdoors, and to serve alcohol alongside food, so long as each patron in either area is afforded 4sqm.

Remarks

This article has been updated.

If you own a café and would like to be listed, or you’d like to update your listing, email jvoneinem@solsticemedia.com.au.

Monday, 25 May then brought the announcement that the stage 2 easing of restrictions would be brought forward to Monday, 1 June, as well as an expanded easing of restrictions than was initially planned.

From 1 June, venues can have up to 80 patrons at any one time, but that capacity must split between “discreet rooms or areas”, each up to a maximum of 20 patrons.

In effect, a pub with a separated front bar, dining room, and lounge could have 60 people spread throughout those three areas. However, each patron must still be afforded 4sqm.

Additionally, all licensed venues will, from 1 June, be permitted to serve alcohol without a meal, so long as patrons are seated. And to further belabour the very important point: through all of this, social distancing requirements of 4sqm per person still apply.

For cafés, this is mostly gravy on top of the bangers and mash of being able to seat people indoors once again – meaning you and I, dear reader (and up to eight others at a time, or up to 18—78 others from 1 June), can sip our flat whites, long blacks or espressos within arms reach of the warming coffee machine whence they came.

To find out how this affects our favourite CBD coffee traders, we emailed a whole bunch of cafés. Find your favourites below.

East

Abbots & Kinney Pirie Street
78 Pirie Street

HOURS
Mon—Fri: 7am ’til 12pm

Currently offering takeaway. No outdoor dining until further notice.

Abbots & Kinney Urbanest North Terrace
230 North Terrace

CLOSED

No reopening date scheduled yet.

Adelaide Unibar
Union House, University of Adelaide, North Terrace

CLOSED

The UniBar is currently closed and will not reopen until at least the beginning of the university semester two, in August. The decision to reopen will ultimately be based on when students can return to campus.

Amicus Curiae
Shop 1a Adelaide Central Market Arcade

HOURS
Monday: 7:30 am ’til 2pm
Tue—Sat: 7:30 am ’til 2pm, 5pm ’til 8:30pm

Amicus Curiae is currently offering takeaway and has outdoor seating for up to 10 patrons.

The café will continue with this style of trade from 5 June onwards until demand increases and they can be sure patrons feel safe dining indoors.

DAYJOB Coffee
83 Halifax Street

HOURS
Mon—Fri: 7am ’til 3pm
Saturday: 8am ’til 2pm
Sunday: 9am ’til 2pm

DAYJOB is currently offering takeaway and outdoor dining for up to 8 people.

Diaspora Kouzina
250 Pulteney Street

HOURS
Mon—Fri: 6am ’til 4pm
Sat—Sun: 7am ’til 4pm
Public holidays: 9am ’til 3pm

Currently offering takeaway and outdoor dining for 10 people maximum.

After stage 2 easing of restrictions (scheduled for 5 June), Diaspora Kouzina will offer an all-day breakfast and brunch menu with up to 20 people seated inside.

East End Cellars & The Tasting Room
25 Vardon Avenue

HOURS
Mon—Tue: 9am ’til 5pm (lunch service 11am—3pm, all day menu 3pm—5pm)
Wed—Thu: 9am ’til 9:15pm (lunch service 11am—3pm, all day menu 3pm—5pm, dinner service 5pm—8:30pm)
Fri—Sat: 9am ’til late (lunch service 11am—3pm, all day menu 3pm—5pm, dinner service 5pm—8:30pm, all day menu 9pm—9:30pm)
Sunday: 12pm ’til 6pm (lunch service 12pm ’til 4pm)

East End Cellars and The Tasting Room are currently offering indoor and outdoor dining, with both spaces each capped at 10 patrons maximum.

Bookings are highly recommended for all food service sittings, and are available as follows, as the venue is introducing staggered sittings to ensure they comply with social distancing requirements.

“In a nutshell if you are dining inside, minimum spend is $150 per person (includes $75 three course set menu), for dinner only, with two hours per sitting,” co-owner Michael Andrewartha says.

“If you are sitting outside for dinner or for lunch in either section, there is no minimum spend for a two hour sitting.”

Exchange
12-18 Vardon Avenue

HOURS
Mon—Fri: 7am ’til 3pm
Saturday: 8am ’til 3pm
Sunday: 9am ’til 3pm

Exchange is currently offering indoor and outdoor seating and table service for up to 10 patrons in each zone.

Flinders Street Project by Elementary Coffee
276 Flinders Street

HOURS
Mon—Fri: 7:30am ’til 2pm
Sat—Sun: 8am ’til 12:30pm

Flinders Street Project is currently offering takeaway only.

Owner Brad Nixon says “a new concept and menu” will launch for the site “in the next few weeks.”

The café may not open for indoor dining from 5 June, but Brad says they will play it be ear.

HD Eatery
16 McHenry Street

HOURS
Mon—Sat: 7am ’til after lunch service

HD Eatery is currently open for indoor and outdoor dining, limited to 10 patrons in each space, offering a limited version of their usual menu.

The café has been operating restricted hours recently, closing just after lunch service.

Hello Sarnie Gawler Place
99 Gawler Place

HOURS
Mon—Fri: 7am ’til 4pm

Hello Sarnie is currently offering takeaway as it always has, but its outdoor dining has been restricted to one person per table. The store has also reintroduced indoor dining, as per government advice.

The sandwich shop has no plans as yet to change its style of service when restrictions are eased on 5 June, and will instead wait to see what demand there is in the city after that date.

Hello Sarnie Pirie Street
147 Pirie Street

HOURS
Mon—Fri: 7am ’til 4pm

The sandwich shop has no plans as yet to change its style of service when restrictions are eased on 5 June, and will instead wait to see what demand there is in the city after that date.

Hey Jupiter
11 Ebenezer Place

HOURS
Mon—Thu: 7am ’til 4pm
Fri—Sat: 7am ’til 10pm
Sunday: 7am ’til 4pm

Hey Jupiter is currently offering dine-in for a maximum of 10 patrons indoors and 10 patrons outdoors at any one time.

From Monday, 1 June, this capacity will be revised up to 10 people indoors and 20 people outdoors.

The Howling Owl
10 Vaughn Place

REOPENING SOON

The Howling Owl is currently closed.

The café and bar plans to reopen for coffee and cake service from 1 June, and will begin full trade from 5 June, as the stage 2 easing of restrictions kicks in.

The Howling Owl will then operate from 8am ’til late Monday through Saturday.

The Jade
160 Flinders Street

REOPENING SOON

The Jade is currently closed.

Owner Zac Coligan says he has plans to reopen the Jade’s garden kiosk soon for takeaway coffee, breakfast and lunch soon. No reopening date has yet been set.

Larry & Ladd
104 Grenfell Street

HOURS
Mon—Fri: 7am ’til 4pm
Saturday: 8am ’til 2pm

Larry & Ladd currently has seating for 10 people.

From 1 June, the café will be able to seat 10 people inside the café, as well as another 10 people outside in the arcade.

Levant Pirie
70 Pirie Street

HOURS
Mon—Fri: 10:30am ’til 3pm

Levant is offering outdoor seating for up to 10 people. The business will continue to use takeaway and disposable packaging for the time being.

As restrictions ease on 5 June, Levant will increase their seating in line with government regulations. From 5 June, up to 20 people will be permitted to sit indoors, provided there is room enough for one person per 4sqm.

Maison Clement
Shop 16 Central Market Arcade

HOURS
Mon—Sat: 7am ’til 2pm

Maison Clement is currently open for takeaway, offering a condensed version of its usual menu.

The café is considering reopening for dine-in trade from 5 June, but will make the decision based on demand. For the time being, they will stick with takeaway trade.

The Motorcycle Society
258 Pulteney Street

CAFÉ CLOSED
The Motorcycle Society’s café offering will remain closed indefinitely, at least until all restrictions are removed, says owner Simon Modra.

However, the workshop side of the business is still operating and opens Monday to Friday from 7am ’til 5pm.

Naancho Naancho Man
3/210 Hutt Street

CLOSED

Naancho Naancho Man is closed and currently undergoing renovations. It is set to reopen on 27 May.

When stage 2 easing of restrictions kick in on Friday 5 June, Naancho Naancho Man will trade seven days a week from 12pm ’til 8pm.

Nano
23 Ebenezer Place

HOURS
Mon—Fri: 7am ’til 3pm
Saturday: 8am ’til 3pm
Sunday: 9am ’til 3pm

Nano is currently offering indoor and outdoor seating for up to 10 people in each zone. The café is using takeaway packaging for all orders, but will reassess this when the stage 2 easing of restrictions kick in.

Following the easing of restrictions on 5 June, Nano will also start indoor dining, limited to 20 patrons.

Nathan Bakes
2/39 Grenfell Street

CLOSED

Nathan Bakes is currently closed, but they are still taking retail and wholesale orders for cupcakes and cakes.

The café is trialling reopening on 5—6 June, however they are unsure whether this will extend further until their section of the CBD becomes busier.

They will be launching a new savoury range on these dates, however.

“Things such as gourmet gluten free and vegan paninis, curries packed with flavour and a few more surprises,” says co-founder Nathan Schubert-Jones.

Roxie’s
188 Grenfell Street

REOPENING SOON

Roxie’s is currently closed, but the team expects to reopen the Roxie’s Deli from Monday, 1 June, offering both breakfast and lunch for takeaway and dine in, in line with government advice. On 1 June, only 10 people will be allowed to dine outdoors, and from 5 June, 20 people will be allowed to dine indoors.

The café, bar and restaurant is also looking to introduce some pantry items to the Deli, including Midnight Spaghetti pasta sauce and pickled vegetables.

Beyond the stage 2 easing of restrictions, “Breakfast and brunch bookings will be closely monitored and capped to allow appropriate spacing of tables etc within our current footprint,” says group operations manager Patrick Allan.

Sibling
96 Gilles Street

HOURS
Mon—Fri: 8am ’til 2pm

Sibling is currently only offering takeaway and outdoor seating for up to 10 people.

From Monday, 25 May, Sibling will increase its seating to allow seven people to dine indoors as well.

“We will begin the week with a small menu, available to eat in or take away,” says co-owner Nathaniel Morse.

“We will be expanding and reintroducing dishes over the next few weeks. We will continue to sell our house made retail items and house baked bread online and in store.

“We will reopen on the weekends soon, as takeaway coffee only. We will then open weekends offering a full menu available for dine-in or takeaway.”

Staazi & Co
224 Grenfell Street

HOURS
Wed—Sat: 12pm ’til 8pm

Staazi & Co is currently open for takeaway, for pick up and delivery via Uber Eats, and up to 10 patrons can sit outside at a time, provided they are properly distanced (one person per 4sqm).

There are no plans for Staazi to change its style of service from 5 June, except that “as things progress, we won’t be accepting phone orders anymore. Just walk-ins Uber and online.”

West

Bonobo
16 Bank Street

HOURS
Mon—Fri: 7am ’til 3pm

Bonobo is currently open for takeaway and offers outdoor dining for up to 10 people.

Bowlsome Franklin Street
12 Franklin Street

HOURS
Mon—Fri: 11am ’til 3:30pm

While takeaway has always been Bowlsome’s main game, the eatery is now offering indoor seating for 10 patrons and outdoor seating for 10 patrons. You can also now order takeaway for delivery through the Bowlsome app.

The service is available “all day and night from all stores,” says founder Danielle Elia.

“For us, it will be interesting to see the demand for delivery once restrictions are lifted, and people are able to get out & about a little more.

“Being able to bring back our indoor dining options in the CBD after June 8 and greater amount of seats outside will also be great for business, especially in the CBD!”

Bowlsome may not reintroduce indoor dining immediately from 5 June, but will respond according to demand.

Cheeseburger
189-207 Hindley Street

CLOSED

Cheeseburger is currently closed and there is no date yet set for its reopening.

Crack Kitchen
13 Franklin Street

REOPENING SOON
Crack Kitchen is currently closed. The café will likely reopen on 5 June, ” if pedestrian traffic in Franklin St increases appropriately,” Owner Kim Palmer says.

Once open, Crack will likely adhere to government advice, introducing indoor dining for up to 20 patrons at a time.

However, this decision will heavily depend on the return of office workers and other pedestrian traffic to the vicinity of the café.

“We’ve heard that businesses in our area are yet to amend their respective work-from-home directives; however, we are hopeful this [will happen] soon to increase the number of people coming to the city,” Kim says.

Elementary Railway Station
Station Ramp, Adelaide Railway Station

CLOSED

Elementary’s Railway Station outlet is currently closed. There are not yet any plans to reopen under the current restrictions.

Elementary Young Street
9-17 Young Street

HOURS
Mon—Fri: 7:30am ’til 2pm

Elementary on Young Street is currently offering takeaway only.

There are no plans to reopen for indoor dining from 5 June. Owner Brad Nixon says they will “play it by ear.”

Hilton Adelaide Lobby Lounge
233 Victoria Square

CLOSED

The entire Hilton Adelaide, including the Lobby Lounge, closed on Friday, 3 April and is currently scheduled to reopen in July 2020. Hilton Adelaide’s commercial director, Hayley Kimber, says the reopen date may change depending on when South Australia’s border restrictions ease.

Konbini
Station Ramp, Adelaide Railway Station

HOURS
Mon—Fri: 7am ’til 3pm

Konbini is open for takeaway with a small amount of indoor seating available (just two seats).

From 5 June, the café will also launch Friday night trading.

“I’ll have something special lined up for that,” founder Jason Barber says.

La Buvette
27 Gresham Street

What is La Buvette doing in the café list, I hear you ask? Read on.

La Buvette is currently closed, but trading as a delivery wine shop: La Buvette Delivers.

“[It’s] been a great way to stay connected with our regular clientele,” says owner Hayley Lentz.

The bar will open up for daytime trade as a café from 1 June, offering coffee, petit déjeuner and lunch from 7am ’til 3pm Monday to Friday. The café concept will be takeaway only at first.

From Friday 5 June, La Buvette will also reopen on Friday and Saturday nights under limited trade, offering “a ‘la buvette Experience’, whereby we will offer to book a limited amount of spaces for a specific experience and will provide a couple of options to choose from,” co-owner Hayley Lentz says.

“It will very much change the way our usual business flows but we will create the same great ambience and personalised service as always.”

Later on, the bar will start its ‘hello apéro’ hour, “which will be a drink/ aperitif style food combination at a special price per person..TBC in days and nights,” Hayley says.

“We will go in stages, and gradually open more nights as restrictions ease!”

Levant Hindley
252 Hindley Street

HOURS
Mon—Fri: 7:30am ’til 3pm

Levant is offering outdoor seating for up to 10 people. The business will continue to use takeaway and disposable packaging for the time being.

Little Khmer Kitchen
Shop 56, Adelaide Central Market Arcade

HOURS
Mon—Thu: 9am ’til 3pm
Friday: 9am ’til 7pm
Saturday: 9am ’til 3pm

From Friday, 22 May, Little Khmer Kitchen will open again for dine-in service, hosting a maximum of 10 people at a time.

Mornings Coffee
18 Peel Street

REOPENING SOON

Mornings on Peel Street is currently closed but will reopen Monday, 28 May.

From 28 May, Mornings will seat 10 people indoors and 10 people outdoors and trade from 7am ’til 12pm Monday to Friday.

Once its nighttime identity, Malt & Juniper reopens, Mornings will open back up for all-day trade.

My Kingdom For a Horse
191 Wright Street

HOURS
Mon—Sun: 7am ’til 2pm

My Kingdom For a Horse is currently offering indoor dining for up to 10 people, and outdoor dining for up to 10 people. The café will return to its regular (meaning not takeaway-oriented) menu from 30 May.

My Kingdom will return to normal trading hours from 1 June and will begin to take bookings from the following week.

From 5 June, My Kingdom will expand to offer indoor dining for up to 20 patrons at any one time, as per government advice.

Peter Rabbit
234-244 Hindley Street

REOPENING SOON

Peter Rabbit is closed now but will reopen on 5 June and operate per government advice: Maximum 20 people at one time and accomodating one person per 4sqm.

One reopened, Peter Rabbit will operate as follows (though this may change):
Mon—Thu: 7:30am ’til 3pm
Friday: 7:30 am ’til 12am
Saturday: 8am ’til 12am
Sunday: 8:30am ’til 2:30pm

Public Caffe
12 Franklin Street

HOURS
Mon—Fri: 7am ’til 3:30pm

Public is currently offering indoor seating for 10 patrons and outdoor seating for 10 patrons, and has recently expanded its menu in response to the eased restrictions.

The café will continue to expand its service in response to demand as restrictions ease.

“This period has given us time to reset and really think about our offering across the board for all our group of venues and we are excited to re-open. For us, its more of a cautious response,” says owner Danielle Elia.

Recess
21 Bank Street

HOURS
Mon—Fri: 8am ’til 2pm

Recess is currently open for takeaway. There is limited outdoor seating available on Bank Street.

Shibui
2/160 Grote Street

HOURS
Wed—Sun: 5:30pm ’til 9:30pm

As of Friday, 22 May, Shibui is open for takeaway, with a brand new menu of macaron ice cream sandwiches.

There will be 10 seats available within the eatery; however, owner Lisa Chao says even as restrictions ease, Shibui will continue with a takeaway-only service for the foreseeable future. There will be no plated dishes on offer in the meantime.

Troppo
42 Whitmore Square

HOURS
Tues—Sun: 7:30am ’til 3pm

Troppo is currently offering takeaway at the same time as operating as a corner store. They now also offer outdoor dining for up to 10 people.

The café will not change its style of service from 5 June, as the eased restrictions allowing for indoor dining will not be workable in the space. Though they will continue to operate as a corner store.

Way Back When
10 Franklin Street

HOURS
Mon—Fri: 7am ’til 3:3opm

Way Back When is currently offering indoor seating for up to 10 patrons.

Closed for good

Not all CBD venues have weathered the COVID-19 storm. Below are some of the cafés that have now shut for good.

Tell Henry Gilbert Street
22 Gilbert Street

Remarks

If you have a CBD café and would like to be added to this list, email jvoneinem@solsticemedia.com.au.