Five of the best brunch spots in Adelaide

Nothing beats a good spot brunch on the weekend.  It’s the perfect way to start the day, fuelled by a healthy injection of caffeine, carbs and protein. I have had fond memories growing up in Australia and sharing brunch with family and friends exchanging laughs, stories and even food. Because for us brunch is not only a meal but an institution, which has become deeply engrained in our lifestyle.

We all know that Melbourne is famed for its epic brunches but what about little old Adelaide? It may be known as the ‘City of Churches’ but is it also the city of brunches? If you’re prepared to scratch the surface and explore the city’s inner underbelly you may be surprised how many quality brunch spots you can discover around every corner. Whether you’re looking for a healthy kick-start to the day, a greasy hangover cure or, for the gym bunnies, a much-needed reward after your morning run there is something in Adelaide for anyone. So get on board and enjoy this much loved institution for yourself.

Here are five of my favourite brunch spots around Adelaide.

The Pantry on Egmont

One of Adelaide’s worst kept secrets when it comes to a quality brunch – “The Pantry” is famed for its innovative brunch menu and modern twists on old-fashioned favourites. Nestled in the middle of upmarket Hawthorn, the cafe is housed in an old set of shops near the railway line. The cosy cafe is a unique mix of old and new, blending contemporary art works together with mismatched retro furniture and crockery. Sweet cinnamon encrusted french toast with blueberry and apple compote and Russell’s Big Breakfast, complete with all the trimmings, are some of the dishes you can expect from their comprehensive menu.  If you can manage to fight off the Hawthorn yummy mummies for a seat, the retro inspired cafe is a perfect spot to sit back and relax with a De Groot Co coffee and hum along to their classic tunes. The service is fantastic too, which keeps locals coming back for more week by week.

Corner Store Cafe

Venture to the leafy Eastern suburbs to Dulwich and you will find one of the best brunch spots in Adelaide – the Corner Store Café – tucked away in sleepy Swift Avenue. Join the locals and their dogs on the sidewalk tables in the sunshine and enjoy their top-notch coffee, excellent service and quality produce. The interior has a distinct rustic feel with its warm atmosphere, exposed bricks and wooden floorboards. The owners pride themselves in using artisan and local produce – from their free range eggs sourced from the Adelaide Hills to their Fleurieu milk. If you’re a sweet tooth like me, you can’t go past their fluffy pancakes served with passionfruit coulis, caramel and coconut.

The Loose Caboose

Brunch fanatics will be well impressed with the menu at Loose Caboose, which literally explodes with mouth-watering dishes like banana french toast with salted caramel and pure cream and the epic Loose Caboose Board – a gut wrenching selection of eggs, thyme roasted mushrooms, smoked bacon, feta, avocado, tomatoes and fresh sourdough.  The cafe has been brilliantly  converted from the old Bowden train station. It’s a spacious fit out full of character and a blend of old and new world charm. The deck is the place to soak up that sunshine in the summer months but in winter you can retreat indoors and cosy up to the roaring  fireplace.  Be warned – this place gets seriously busy on weekends so be prepared to queue.

Bar 9

If any coffee shop was to win the crown for best coffee in Adelaide it would have to be Bar 9 in Parkside. Affectionately described by themselves as ”a coffee nerds shed”, Bar 9 is a  grassroots espresso bar serving ethically traded single origin and blended coffee from quality driven roaster, Five Senses Coffee. But the quality doesn’ t stop at their coffee – they also serve a mean brunch menu. Expect your taste buds to be tantalised by house hits like the indulgent creamy truffled mushroom ragu, or if you prefer something lighter, the house cured ocean trout served with creme fraiche and dill. They pride themselves in sourcing the best in South Australian local produce; even their milk is sourced from a boutique farm in Lobethal in the Adelaide Hills. Its full-bodied and creamy flavour is a dream for that perfect cappuccino. The flagship store is nestled between a strip of factory outlet shops on Glen Osmond Road.

A Mother’s Milk

If you’re lucky enough to have A Mother’s Milk as your local, you’re in for a treat. Their expert baristas certainly know how to make a good coffee. The café has a rustic industrial feel with its exposed brick walls, graffiti and warehouse style crates which double as seats outside. The dishes are served on wooden boards – think baked turkish eggs smothered with napoletana sauce, shaved provolone cheese and fresh parsley  or the BRT – sourdough packed with chunky bacon, rocket and tomato. Regular brunch goers – you won’t be disappointed.

Special mentions must go to my other favourites Argo on the Parade, Grind It, Whipped, Chianti Classico and The House of Donkey.

What are your favourite brunch spots in Adelaide? Please leave your comments below 🙂