Entertainment in South Australia
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Sugar
Sugar is an unusual Adelaide club in several ways: (a) it's open every night; (b) it's relatively upmarket and bogan-free; and (c) it's in the East End. Expect international and Australian DJs, cool cocktails and local art on the walls.
reviewed
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Pier One Bar
A cavernous mainstream sports bar with voyeuristic beach views and fold-back windows for when the sea breeze drops. As many screens as staff (a lot of each), and raucous Sunday sessions.
reviewed
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Piccadilly Cinema
A beaut old art-deco cinema on the main North Adelaide strip, with a sexily curved street frontage and chevron-shaped windows spangled across the facade. Mostly mainstream releases.
reviewed
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Music SA
All-genre listings.
reviewed
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A
Moonlight Cinema
In summer, pack a picnic and mosquito repellent, and spread out on the lawn to watch old and new classics under the stars. 'Gold Grass' tickets cost a little more.
reviewed
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B
Mercury Cinema
The Mercury screens art-house releases, and is home to the Adelaide Cinémathèque (classic, cult and experimental flicks).
reviewed
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C
Mars Bar
The lynchpin of Adelaide's nocturnal gay and lesbian scene, always-busy Mars Bar features glitzy decor, flashy clientele and OTT drag shows.
reviewed
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D
Lotus Lounge
We like the signage here − a very minimal fluoro martini glass with a flashing olive. Inside it's a glam lounge with cocktails, quality beers and Adelaide dolls cuttin' the rug. Expect queues around the corner on Saturday nights.
reviewed
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E
Jive
In a converted theatre, Jive caters to an off-beat crowd of student types who like their tunes funky, left-field and removed from the mainstream. A sunken dance floor; great views from the bar!
reviewed
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Jazz Adelaide
Finger-snappin' za-bah-dee-dah.
reviewed
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HQ Complex
Adelaide's biggest club occupies the bad-old Heaven complex, filling five big rooms with shimmering sound and light. Night-time is the right time on Saturdays − the biggest (and trashiest) club night in town. Retro Wednesdays.
reviewed
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HQ Complex
Primarily a dance venue, HQ is big and powered-up enough to entice eclectic touring acts like Gary Numan and Sparkadia.
reviewed
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Her Majesty's Theatre
Built in 1913 and seats over 1000 people; managed by the Adelaide Festival Centre.
reviewed
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Grace Emily
West End alt-rock, country and acoustic.
reviewed
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H
Grace Emily
Duking it out with the Exeter for 'Adelaide's Best Pub' bragging rights (it pains us to separate the two) the 'Gracie' has live music most nights, featuring up-and-coming Australian acts. Inside it's all kooky '50s-meets-voodoo decor, open fires and great beers. Cult cinema Tuesday nights; no pokies. Look for the UFO on the roof.
reviewed
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Governor Hindmarsh Hotel
Ground Zero for live music in Adelaide, 'The Gov' hosts some legendary local and international acts. The odd Irish band fiddles around in the bar, while the main venue features rock, folk, jazz, blues, salsa, reggae and dance. A huge place with an inexplicably personal vibe.
reviewed
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Fowlers Live
Inside the former Fowler Flour Factory, this 500-capacity venue is a temple of hard rock and metal.
reviewed
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Exeter
The East End's rockin' soul: original indie bands, electronica and acoustic.
reviewed
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Exeter
The best pub in the city, this legendary boozer attracts an eclectic mix of postwork, punk and uni drinkers, shaking the day off their backs. Pull up a stool or a table in the grungy beer garden and settle in for the evening. Original music nightly; no pokies.
reviewed
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M
Earl of Leicester
Hidden in the suburban Parkside backstreets is this atmospheric old bluestone pub, serving a winning combo of crafty microbrewed beers and the biggest schnitzels you're every likely to bite into (mains $13 to $26).
reviewed
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Distill Cocktail Bar
Super-sassy Rundle St bar with a tight dress code (to the nines) and a kickin' organic cocktail list. Sustainable snacks (sourced within 100 miles) are creatively paired with SA wines: Limestone Coast cloth cheddar with juicy Shiraz; organic basil pesto with herby Riesling.
reviewed
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Daniel O'Connell
An Irish pub without a whiff of kitsch Celtic cash-in! Just great Guinness, open fires, acoustic music and a house-sized pepper tree in the beer garden (164 years old and counting).
reviewed
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Crown & Sceptre
An urbane boozer drawing all-comers, from legal-eagles on adjournment from trial to ditch diggers in their boots. Ambient tunes, DJs most nights, sidewalk tables, a cool little beer garden and better-than-average pub food (mains $10 to $28).
reviewed
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Q
Crown & Sceptre
Grooves, beats and funky stuff from resident selectors.
reviewed
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Cork Wine Cafe
A down-sized Frenchie hole-in-the-wall wine bar, unexpected among the fluoro-lit Chinese restaurants along this stretch of Gouger St. Well-worn floorboards, bentwood chairs, art-nouveau posters…perfect for a quick vino before dinner.
reviewed