The best hospitality openings of 2024
2024 has been a year of Mediterranean openings, “non-pretentious” hearty meals, and, you guessed it, a few more sando stops.
We nad newcomers join the fun, hospo groups – like the Good Gilbert clan and EMBR Hospitality – dominate more areas of Adelaide’s food and bev landscape, and old favourites pop up again, but bigger and better.
In no particular order, scroll on to see the best hospitality openings of 2024.
7t7
77 Mooringe Ave, Camden Park 5038
When 7t7 quietly opened in the suburbs of Camden Park, CityMag was instantly intrigued. An up-market place to buy a classic bánh mì? No way. Much like the fit-out, the food is top tier, offering a range of different Asian options like pho, rice bowls, cold rolls, pad Thai and more.
But as co-owner Stephen Wong began to share memories of his younger years in Vietnam, CityMag realised the significance of family business and just how important the venue 7t7 is to their family.
When all of this is considered, including 7t7 in the best hospitality openings for 2024 was a no-brainer.
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Aces
96 Gouger Street, Adelaide 5000
The highly anticipated Aces opened on Gouger Street in late March. The space is built on nostalgia, as the original Aces had a long and storied history in the Central Market, owned famously by Enzo Fantasia. It was then revamped and opened again in 2020 before closing 18 months later. Aces in Chinatown is the next iteration of this much-loved Adelaide treasure.
The vibes are high when you walk in and the fit out, designed by Frame Creative, highlights an old school Italian diner with red velvet seats and black and white tiles.
The food is as good as the fit-out. with a range of pasta and mains. The inclusion of a lunchtime ‘Yum Ciao’ – which is Italian yum cha – also nods to the location of the restaurant.
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Asha
135 Goodwood Road, Goodwood 5034
This has been a huge year for the Good Gilbert crew, with three new venues up for potential contention for this list. But given that we got a first glimpse at this restaurant, which is a brand new concept for this group, we couldn’t look past Asha.
This is the hospitality group’s first go at a restaurant over bar, and it does not disappoint. The high-end casual fine dining spot has contemporary Australian with Middle East and North African food influences. It’s adaptable, fun and creative.
There’s a lot of spice and a heavy protein influence. The best part though? When you’re ready to kick on, just walk on over to Good Gilbert which is just two doors down.
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Don’s Deli
324 The Parade, Kensington 5068
After EMBR Hospitality – the hospitality group with Bar Lune, Dolly and Fettle in their catalogue – opened Spread Unley last year, we instantly loved their sando offering. So when we heard the news of a new sando spot across from their established Bar Lune, we knew it would be high quality.
Don’s Deli specialises in simple sandwich options with a range of fresh and toasted ones to choose from. CityMag’s top picks are the toasted mushroom, tarragon and provolone and the marinated eggplant with a Middle Eastern inspiration.
This hospo group also opened Oliveti alongside Spread Glenelg in June this year to add to their collection.
Don’s Deli is quick, fresh, and simple, making it easily on our 2024 best hospo openings list.
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Gang Gang Eden Hills
Shop 2 276 Shepherds Hill Road, Eden Hills 5050
After closing their first brick-and-mortar in Parkside in June this year, the Gang Gang co-owners, Nina and Morgen Wynn-Hadinata, decided to go back to their roots: takeaway. They opened Gang Gang Eden Hills in November, which is the latest – and promised final – instalment of the Gang Gang name for the time being. This hospo pair also own 99 Gang Social and Thirsty Tiger on Hindley Street.
There’s minimal seating inside but they plan to open up the outdoor front space for dine-in patrons and include casual seating with umbrellas.
The menu features all the Gang Gang favourites like the Cardi B, Cali Love and Spice Girl plus bagels and salads.
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Homeboy
266-269 North Terrace, Adelaide 5000
Homeboy must be good to already make this list! It hasn’t even been open for a month! But the unused nook of the Yugo building – which is a Renew Adelaide space – is now home to Tom Oswald’s latest venture.
Tom went viral on TikTok after opening his first café in Hahndorf as he posted a 19-second clip to TikTok explaining he had zero customers on his first day of trade. He’s documented to social media every step since, including his move to the CBD.
The venue offers fresh sandwiches, quality specialised Homeboy coffee and homemade cinnamon scrolls, and we really can’t get enough.
Latteria
185 Hutt Street, Adelaide 5000
The vibes are always high at Latteria. If you haven’t had a chance to go, you still probably understand what we mean as it’s regularly highlighted across everyone in Adelaide’s socials.
The latest venture by the Osteria Oggi team opened up in April this year and promises a venue that you can stay at all night. They’ve got bar seating available for a pre-dinner aperitif, tables for a sit-down meal, and a lounge for a late-night drink.
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Nightshade
15 Solomon Street, Adelaide 5000
You know you’re in for a good time when the co-owners of Cry Baby and Sunny’s Pizza combine, which is why we couldn’t look past Nightshade for a spot in our best hospo openings of the year.
When you step into Nightshade, you’re taken back to the 80s with maraschino cherries atop drinks, Michael Jackson’s music playing, Prince’s Purple Rain movie poster framed and placed by the bar and, of course, textured fur lining parts of the venue.
It’s always fun at Nightshade and the boozy late-night spot we’re often after.
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Rita’s
9-71 Melbourne Street, North Adelaide 5006
What intrigues us most about Rita’s – which opened up in July on Melbourne Street – is their mix of traditional Italian cuisine with Asian influences. We’re clearly into it.
Our top menu picks include burrata with Chinese chilli oil, venison backstrap seared off with lemon myrtle, brown sugar and thyme and the classic cacio e pepe.
Along with their unorthodox approach to food, they also have a list of out-of-the-norm cocktails including an oyster shell martini and a Rigazzi spritz.
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Sofia
16 Hutt Street, Adelaide 5000
The Part Time Lover team opened two venues this year –Sofia and POMPOM – and given anything with the Part Time Lover name simply slaps, it was hard to look past them.
Sofia, however, hasn’t left our mind since we dug into the melt-in-your-mouth type potatoes (👀), ripped open the chunky focaccia, and dipped it into the leftover oil. The food is delicious, reliable and exactly what you want.
The vibes are always high at Sofia, with a Sans-Arc Studio interior design and colourful artwork filling the walls.
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Station Road
Festival Tower, Station Road, Adelaide 5000
It only took Station Road a month and a bit to cement its place in our best hospo openings of the year list. I mean, can you blame us? When the owners of East End Cellars and Mother Vine come to play, you know you’re in for a top-tier experience.
Located in Festival Plaza and a short walk from any CBD attraction – think Adelaide Oval, Festival Theatre and the Mall’s Balls – it’s the perfect destination to celebrate an occasion, or just pop by for a snack and a drink.
The food is light and simple and the team strive to marry quality service, food and alcohol all into one.
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The Thai Guy
402 Magill Road, Kensington Park 5068
We couldn’t look past The Thai Guy – Soi 38’s spin-off restaurant by co-owner Terry Intarakhamhaeng – which is located at Kensington Park and opened at the beginning of the year.
This restaurant is an ode to Terry’s life in north-east Thailand as he worked as a tour guide before moving to Adelaide and starting his career as a chef in 2009.
The Bangkok street markets serve as a large inspiration food-wise, as the menu is filled with choices that spark memories of Terry’s childhood. This includes skewers with squid, pork and more and options like satay chicken and deep-fried roti.
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Tonino
114 King William Road, Goodwood 5034
In 2024, the sandos still stood tall, with Tonino at the front of the pack, holding the flag. This sandwich deli opened on King William Road in mid-March and always promises fresh ingredients on crispy focaccia.
There are well-known fillings like prosciutto, fior di latte, tomato and basil, alongside ones you’d only really see in Italy, like a “hot Calabrese salami”.
What we love most about Tonino is their inspiration from the Italian region Naples, as they’ve included la cremina on the menu, which is a whipped coffee and sugar drink.
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