The eclectic, alternative and multicultural Inner West is perfectly located halfway between the city and the beach, and is Adelaide’s musical hub.
Highlights
The Inner West is Adelaide’s bohemian, artistic hub. Being a popular location for students and migrants for decades has given the West its diverse, multicultural feel. Plus, it means there are countless affordable options for food, with many varying cuisines from around the world available. For breakfast, head to Mister Sunshine’s for fresh, delicious food, or The Loose Caboose, a café housed in the old Bowden Railway Station, built in 1856. Or, grab a delicious pastry from Abbots and Kinney in Croydon. Henley Beach Road is also dotted with international supermarkets, including Day2Day Halal Supermarket and Asian Grocery. For dinner, try some traditional Ethiopian fare at Abyssinian, Afghan food at the always-popular Parwana (make sure to book in advance), or Italian dishes at Napoli Pizzeria – Adelaide’s only pizzeria recognised by the Association of Neapolitan Pizza in Italy (which means the pizza is really good).
A large number of quality pubs dot the Inner West. Even if you don’t drink alcohol, keep them in mind for cheap midweek meal deals. Highlights include The Wheatsheaf Hotel, with its outdoor beer garden, roaring fireplaces, board games and craft beer on tap; and the Mile End Hotel, which boasts long happy hours and cheap pizza on Friday nights. For late-night entertainment, head to Ice ArenA in Thebarton – Adelaide’s only permanent ice-skating rink, which hosts monthly themed skating parties for the public, complete with a DJ. Or, try Bounce Inc, an indoor trampoline park that’s open late on Friday and Saturday nights.
A large number of quality pubs dot the Inner West. Even if you don’t drink alcohol, keep them in mind for cheap midweek meal deals. Highlights include The Wheatsheaf Hotel, with its outdoor beer garden, roaring fireplaces, board games and craft beer on tap; and the Mile End Hotel, which boasts long happy hours and cheap pizza on Friday nights. For late-night entertainment, head to Ice ArenA in Thebarton – Adelaide’s only permanent ice-skating rink, which hosts monthly themed skating parties for the public, complete with a DJ. Or, try Bounce Inc, an indoor trampoline park that’s open late on Friday and Saturday nights.
Elizabeth Street (more commonly known as Queen Street) in Croydon has become a go-to destination for the alternative crowd on weekends. Along the street there are retro vintage stores such as Hype and Seek, cool boutiques like Azalia and an assortment of hip cafés. Grab a delicious crêpe from La Lorientaise Crêperie or enjoy a Sunday brunch at Queen Street Café. At the end of Queen Street is a huge Officeworks – perfect for picking up study supplies and any tech you need.
The Inner West is all about live music, with incredible venues operating out of historic buildings, such as The Gov and the Thebarton Theatre, both of which have hosted huge international bands, up-and-coming local musicians, comedians and performers for years. For larger events, the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, with its own conveniently located tram stop, hosts everything from ice hockey matches to theatre productions and musicals.
Community facilities
19 on Green is an open-access community centre that hosts yoga sessions, art workshops and cooking classes, which are often free or cost very little. There are two major libraries in the area – the Hamra Centre Library and the Hindmarsh Library. Membership is free, and with it, you become a member of the One Card Network, meaning you can borrow books from libraries across Adelaide. There is also the Mobile Library – a public library built on the back of a truck that travels around the western suburbs.
Thebarton is home to the Thebarton Aquatic Centre, a seven-lane, 25m lap pool, featuring lessons for all ages and only $6.20 entry for students. There’s also the Adelaide Badminton Centre, where you can hire a court with friends or join a social session for a small fee, or Adelaide’s Bouldering Club, where you can book into an Intro to Bouldering session if it’s your first time.
The Brompton Medical Centre, Hindmarsh Bowden Health and Brickworks Medical Centre all offer excellent healthcare for the western suburbs, including family health services, mental health care, skin checks, travel immunisation and sports medicine.
Unique experiences
Bonython Park – or Tulya Wodli as it’s also known – is just west of the city centre. The park hosts a range of community events, music festivals and concerts, as well as food fairs throughout the year. To name just a few: Listen In festival, a mini version of hip-hop/electronic music festival Listen Out, brings in well-known DJs like Diplo and Flume; the Adelaide EID Festival celebrates Eid al-Fitr with amusement rides, food stalls and camel rides; and Circus Rio offers a Rio de Janeiro Carnival-style extravaganza.
Plant 4 Bowden is famous for its popular markets, held until late in the evening on Wednesdays and Fridays, and from 9am-3pm on Saturdays. Each market has something special, including stalls selling locally grown fruit and vegetables, live music, vintage clothes, handmade gifts and pop-up food spots. Special events at Plant 4 also include movie nights, workshops and long table sit-down dinners, all held in the beautiful refurbished warehouse.
