Adelaide’s Best Kept Secrets: Hidden Gems Hiding in Plain Sight

Adelaide may not be the biggest city but it’s always got a little delight tucked up its sleeve, ready for the grand reveal when you least expect it. If you’re a bit bored of hitting the same spots week in, week out; have a friend visiting who you want to show Adelaide to; or perhaps a first date and you’re keen to blow them away; these special spots are well worth making a part of your plan. 

Here are Adelaide’s hidden gems and best kept secrets, hiding in plain sight for you to explore and enjoy. 

Maybe Mae

The definition of ‘hidden secret’ is when you cannot see the door and you have to know exactly where to push to gain entry. Maybe Mae is a stunning little hideaway and one of Adelaide’s best hidden gems, tucked below Bread & Bone. Take a seat in one of their dimly lit booths and be transported back to the 1920s with their art deco styling and expertly crafted cocktails and mocktails. 

15 Peel Street, Adelaide

Mount Osmond Reserve

Take a hike and get lost! Escape to The Hills and wander through lush greens and forests before finding yourself on top of the world (well, Adelaide), with an absolutely stunning view over the city. With various paths available at Mount Osmond Reserve, you have the choice between 2.2km trails right up to an 11km loop through beautiful pine and eucalypt forest. 

City of Burnside, Mount Osmond Reserve

Bibliotheca Bar & Book Exchange

Focusing on spirits from around the globe, perfect classic cocktails and books, lots of books; this stunning little spot is a blissful escape from the busy city streets of Adelaide into a slice of Europe. It’s cosy without being cramped, classy without being snobby, and cool without even trying. See something you like lingering on their bookshelves? Take it home and replace it with one of your own. A truly fun Adelaide hidden gem. 

27 Gresham Street, Adelaide

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Himeji Garden

Full of features which are of profound religious significance to the Japanese people, discover an enchantingly quiet refuge in the serene Himeji Garden. By just taking a small step away from the city, you can lose yourself in one of Adelaide’s best hidden gems, and all of its natural beauty, including the lake, mountain garden and dry garden. Side note – it’s free entry.

South Terrace, Adelaide

K1 Cellar Door

Considering this is listed as one of Australia’s top 10 cellar door experiences, this may not be considered such a ‘hidden’ secret – though it is hidden out of the way, with beautiful views overlooking the vineyard and tranquil lake. Booking at K1 Cellar Door is definitely essential, to ensure you’re not disappointed. An unmissable Adelaide experience. 

159 Tynan Road, Kuitpo

Folklore Café

If you’re not feeling the beach but also not feeling the city, then head over to the beautiful and industrial Port Adelaide. Amongst the colourful wall murals and situated right on the waterfront, Folklore Cafe is a cute hidden gem where you can get stuck into expertly made coffee and delicious brunch fare. The community-minded space is serving up corn fritters, mushroom ragu on toast and chili scrambled tofu aplenty, and their mint-chocolate milkshakes are a must. We insist you sit out in the sun, but undercover suits just fine if the weather’s not playing ball. 

11 Mundy Street, Port Adelaide

Did these hidden gems inspire you to explore more of the beautiful South Australia? Check out our guide on the best wineries in Adelaide Hills or plan your next couples getaway or girls’ weekend away with our round-up of Australia’s best winery accommodation, or Adelaide’s best day trips.

Topiary at Newman’s Nursery

Situated in another one of Adelaide’s hidden gems, Newman’s Nursery, Topiary is a local produce driven, waste-free, environmentally friendly, and unique dining experience. From fresh breakfast options including local free-range eggs, wood smoked bacon and market fruits, to their South Australian dining Foragers lunch, and other completely plant-based dining menu, you’re guaranteed to fall in love with both the food and ethos here. 

Newman’s Nursery, 1361 North East Road, Tea Tree Gully

Tagai Cellar Door

Offering one of the finest Adelaide Hills cellar door experiences around, Tagai Cellar Door has great wine, tasty sharing plates and pizza, and views across rolling hills filled with vineyards and the a hoppity kangaroo or two. Open for business from Friday to Monday each week, it’s the ultimate spot to spend some quality time and enjoy a sunset, with later opening times than your average cellar door. Bottoms up!

128 Leslie Road, Lenswood

Canoe the Coorong

Enjoy a blissful time cruising down the Coorong River with Canoe the Coorong tours. Opt for a romantic sunset tour as you paddle down the Murray Mouth, a full day all-inclusive tour or an overnight camp. You can even make a holiday out of it with a four-day expedition that covers almost 100 km of river and terrain. This is a great activity for nature lovers, families, and those after an unique and fun date experience, that offers something much more than just a drink at a bar.

Lot 99 Mundoo Channel Drive, Coorong

Garden Island Ships’ Graveyard Maritime Heritage Trail

This trail is a hidden gem in Adelaide, offering kayakers and small boat enthusiasts a chance to cruise the shallow waters around Garden Island and discover the final resting place of 25 wrecks – a varied group of dredges, barges, pontoons and ferries as well as sailing ships and steamers. Many ended their working lives in the Port as store ships and tenders. One even became a footbridge and another a floating grain mill.

These abandoned wrecks represent a unique collection of vessels that worked South Australian waters during an era when the maritime industry dominated transport, trade and employment. It’s a fun and uniquely Adelaidean experience. 

Port Adelaide

The Mill

With a vision for a thriving and prosperous arts culture in South Australia, The Mill is a small but mighty leading arts organisation for a friendly dose of all things culture. 

Since 2013, The Mill has grown to encompass studio, creative industry offices, and working spaces and the current site on Angas Street is home to over 60 artists, makers, and designers at any one time. Supporting more than 1000 artists through its broader programs each year, The Mill’s multidisciplinary space combines galleries, a performing arts space, photography studio, tools workshop and shared meeting facilities. 

The Mill’s rich, year-round program provides artists with the necessary physical space to work on their practice, alongside diverse public events, performances, exhibitions and workshops (paint and sip or weaving masterclass, anyone?) for you to attend at any given time. Be sure to check it out. 

Find out more here

154 Angas Street, Adelaide 

Push Pin Boutique

This is one of the cutest vintage clothing stores in Adelaide – and if you haven’t visited it, this is your sign to do so. Specialising in beautiful vintage dresses and accessories from the 1950’s, it’s a warm and light-filled space brimming with fashionable excellence. One of the coolest Adelaide hidden gems hiding in plain sight, Push Pin Boutique is a chiffon-fuelled treat. 

8 Compton Street, Adelaide