Thrift Shop Bar

This was another place we just had to visit, and we were very impressed — deliberately daggy décor, and a very comfy atmosphere (like you’re in granny’s loungeroom, but much cooler!).
Staff were very friendly and helpful … gotta love a place that serves cocktails in a large teapot — YES! There were also various free snacks placed around for those who needed to soak up the alcohol.
I’m definitely going to have to come back here as soon as possible :)

Interesting gin menu but where is the food?

Eye-​catching décor… I love the old suitcases under the bar, and there was a group on a hens night, complete in vintage bride and bride’s maids dresses. So eclectic, with a real 70s record player belting out blasts from the past.

Did you know that Adelaide has a bunch of old horse stables sitting behind old pubs and businesses? Thrift Shop Bar was created in one of these stables and has a great feeling of history and enchantment. The bar is made from old suitcases, vintage frocks have been made in to lights, and there’s nic-​nacs everywhere that speak of days gone by.
The menu is modern Australian, with a huge lineup of Australian spirits and beer, cider and wine sourced purely from South Australia. The food has a local flavour angle too, with some of our native flora and fauna making an appearance.
Don’t miss the hidden back room!

One bright and sunny day I was walking down Waymouth Street on my way to a meeting and something caught my attention. Down the little alley way of Waymouth Place I noticed some AstroTurf and chairs set up around the back of the Ambassadors Hotel. Hmmmmm… there was also a sign «Thrift Shop Bar». It was closed, so I continued on my way.
Later, it started to bug me. I did a search and found out something quite exciting. This was an external bar to the Ambassadors within the old stables of the hotel.
What is particularly notable about this bar is that it is stocked with only Australian liquor and South Australian wine, beer and cider. I love this mentality. It is so important to support local produce and talent. Australia actually has a lot to offer in its production of liquor, beer, cider and wine. And I can tell you, the best place to experience the vast selection is at the Thrift Shop Bar. Do not hesitate to speak to the lovely chaps who run the bar about their collection; they are both amazing and so happy to share their wealth of knowledge with you. In fact, they have created their own Quandong Gin. It is truly amazing and you must try it!
The beer, cider and wine menu changes every two months, so you know that you will be able to try different selections on your visits. Something else that is unique about this bar is that they carve their own ice. This is perfect to slow down your ice from melting and watering down your drink. They also create their own soda drinks; which is such a lovely change from post mix or from the bottle. So if you are the designated driver, you can have something special to drink too!
My favourite cocktail would have to be the Whiskey Breakfast. This is a single malt whiskey stirred with wattle toffee liqueur, maple syrup and served with a Danish pressed waffle piece. Oh, I could totally drink that everyday for breakfast!
The menu is also really amazing and a great reflection of their Aussie style. How about Smoked croc on sourdough, beach succulents & wasabi cream? Or seared emu fillet on rye, blue cheese, port & pepperberry relish? Yes please!
Last thing to mention is the décor; the layout of the bar feels like you have stepped into an old thrift shop displaying true unique finds. Oh, if only all the items where for sale. I want my home to look like this!
So, if you want a knock off drink, and you want quality, Thrift Shop Bar is for you. Take a seat on a comfy chesterfield lounge and listen to some funky tunes on their record player. This is the perfect way to wind down!

I have mixed feelings… I want to love this place due to the idea of it and the hard work that I know the owners have put into this place. And I want to support small, laneway bars!
The best thing about The Thrift Shop is probably the service, local drinks list and laid back atmosphere.
I have to say the outdoor area is very disappointing — more shabby than hipster looking with a constant sewer smell that is too distinctive to miss. Melbourne, and in more recent times Sydney, have been able to do laneway bars really well. Thrift just misses the mark for me… I left after a drink and headed round the corner to Proof.

Post Fringe Parade we wanted a place to drink.
«Perhaps we can head back to Peel Street? offered one of the group, having eaten their earlier.
«Good call!» complimented another.
But then, as we strolled Waymouth Street parched and keen on a glass or three, Jaime Fraser stepped before us and convinced us to leave Peel Street for another day.
This guy, manager extraordinaire of Thrift Shop, knows how to sweet talk his customers. He engaged us in conversation, asked us what we liked to drink, and ushered us into his little cave of ob je dar and locally-​sourced plonk. The spirit list is as long as a very long snake, with bottles from all across this large nation. We settled on a round of Kis (Kangaroo Island Spirits) Wild Gins — an ode to the hyperlocal in relative terms. Delicious. One of our party had had enough to drink so opted for something sweet and non-​alcoholic. Jaime partially apologised that they only make their lemonade in-​house, and went about crafting the brew before our eyes. What the? This is unheard of, but so great. And delicious.
The atmosphere was groovy. Only to be let down by the smell of sewer in the outdoor drinking area. I guess it is in a laneway…

Peering down Waymouth Place (from Waymouth Street) while grabbing lunch some days, I used to see the beer garden to the back of The Ambassadors Hotel and be puzzled. I had ventured down there once, lured by the cute strings of lights with vintage lampshades, faux turf and cute furniture and was disappointed to find it was just an outdoor smokers corner to the daggy Ambassador’s front bar. No more, no less.
Then the buzz about Thrift Shop hit social media and I was intrigued… Boutique South Australian beer, wines and spirits you say? A name referencing Macklemore’s 2013 Triple J Hottest 100 chart topper? A record player on site? I was pretty much sold.
I went with a bunch of workmates one day after work and was happy to find that my expectations were all met.
The interior is all vintage and just suits the space completely. Old leather chesterfield lounges, floor lamps with mustard floral shades and tassel trim, vintage sheet music wallpaper, and flamboyant retro dresses served as lamp shades to the hanging lights overhead.
Searching for a drink in the menu I noticed some really original cocktail combinations. I tried the Fiano White wine to start off with and that was a good choice. I moved into an odd Gin cocktail a bit later that I think had Gin, cucumber and chocolate or cherry liqueur in it (I forget which one — admittedly, I’m writing this the next day and I had a few drinks!) and a friend buys me another white wine but I make a note to peruse the menu a bit later for another cocktail which might tickle my fancy.
A record player blared Simon and Garfunkle and Rodriguez all night long and as the drinks flowed, I swayed happily in my seat to these smooth tunes as I sipped my wine/​cocktail and nibble on the complimentary popcorn the genuinely nice bar guys kept serving to the group.
One after work drink turns into five, and the 5pm pit stop turns into a drinking session worthy of making dining decision — To leave and eat dinner or not? Irresponsibly, we veto dinner for more drinks as the ambience is homely and the bar guy hands us more popcorn and a sample of these hot, gooey gourmet toasties of thick white bread filled with blue cheese, thinly sliced pear and sweet pickles.
Soaking in the vibe and looking around, I was impressed– the guys at the Ambassadors have turned the building behind their beer garden into a bar which feels like a natural extension to the vintage courtyard they had initially concepted. It was like hanging out at your cool great aunt’s living room.
Post toastie, I immediately vow to come back and bring my girlfriends for a night out. With 10 or so more cocktails that I need to try, I’m happy to hang out in the CBD’s new communal living room for as long as it takes to try them all.