Neither a restaurant nor a nightclub, Casablabla is one of Adelaide’s most unique multi-cultural offerings.
Situated at the CBD’s buzzing Leigh Street precinct, this venue celebrates global diversity through modern cuisine, international sounds and an exotic atmosphere.
Showcasing the best of Mediterranean, North African and South East Asian foods, its menu of tapas and share plates is bursting with flavour and ethnicity, whilst the surrounds echo the likes of Bali, Morocco, Turkey and Cambodia.
Casablabla’s split-level design, featuring two bars, beer garden, dining spaces and dance floor makes for a colourful and pulsating night out.
Fridays are ideal for late afternoon functions or an early evening dinner, with live DJs on weekends as well as Afro-Caribbean nights on Wednesday’s.
Find Casablabla at 12 Leigh Street, Adelaide SA | 08 8231 3939
Presenting innovative, modern-Asian food alongside an exceptional selection of wine and cocktails, Kiin is known for its humble hospitality, outstanding service and inviting surrounds.
The brainchild of hospitality veterans Ben Bertei and David Wickwar, Kiin is the culmination of over fifty years experience in the industry, with the pair meeting some twenty years ago in Melbourne.
“We both relocated to Adelaide with the idea to open multiple venues, so Kiin is like our baby and our flagship”, says Director & General Manager David Wickwar.
Sharing a mutual respect and love of Anthony Bourdain, references to the late renowned chef are notable throughout the venue, its menu and its exuberant ambience.
“One of the main driving forces was to create a place that we could be proud of ourselves, but also a place where people had a beautiful environment to come to”, says David.
“There’s a sense of escapism dining here, and that’s because of the style of service, the food, the music – there’s a lot of thought that’s gone into the smaller details”
“We have the quality and standards of a fine dining restaurant, but without the pretence”, says David.
Utilising seasonal produce and locally sourced suppliers, Kiin showcases an innovative menu of exotic and authentic Thai flavours.
“The red curry cheeseburger and the prawn and lychee pop stick are popular – they’re not going anywhere”, says Chef & Director, Ben Bertei.
“I’ve been doing a lot of Thai food for a considerable amount of time, and for me to branch out and become who I wanted to be creatively and express that, that’s the direction it’s taken”
“There’s a lot of thought that goes into what we do – a dish may take four different variations before getting it to where we want it to be”, says Ben.
Complementing their carefully curated food menu is a drinks list that’s specific to the palate of Asian cuisine.
“The drinks list is designed to suit the food – but representing local was important as well, so the wine list is South Australian and European wines only”, says David.
With the capacity to also cater for functions and events, Kiin ensures all dietary requirements are met, and that every customer is left contented and well-nourished.
“We’ve created a little bit of an Oasis here – it really is an enjoyable place to be”.
Situated just five minutes East of Adelaide’s CBD, The Parade, Norwood is a buzzing precinct of shops, businesses and mouth-watering eateries.
Renowned for its multi-cultural and premium dining offerings, the strip presents an array of culinary choices, all amongst leafy suburbia.
Seen as the heart of the multicultural City of Norwood, Payneham & St Peters, visitors are spoilt for choice with a selection of restaurants showcasing cuisines from all over the world.
Indulge in culinary excellence at the renowned Arkhé Restaurant, or explore local and seasonal produce at 30 Acres.
30 Acres
Grab a taste of the orient from one of its many Asian-inspired eateries like Hanamura, Danny’s Thai Bistro or Koyla.
Danny’s Thai Bistro
Brunch offerings and delicious coffee are also easily accessible with celebrated cafes like Argo, Bravo, Pave Cafe and European Cafe.
Pave Cafe
The relaxed surrounds, and welcoming neighbourhood vibes are perfect for that casual catch up with friends, or intimate night out for two.
So, if you’re looking for your next great food adventure, explore what’s on offer at The Parade, Norwood.
New Southeast Asian inspired wine bar Makan has opened its doors on Flinders Street, bringing a burst of flavour and eclectic vibes to the dining precinct.
Makan, meaning ‘to eat’ in Malaysian/Indonesian, is the brainchild between Ben Liew and Karl Tang, who currently work at East End’s Southeast Asian fusion restaurant, Paper Tiger.
The new bar has a large focus on natural Asian wine varieties, a point of difference that Co-Founder Karl Tang, is excited to introduce.
“Makan is a place where people can expect the unexpected when tasting wines, and food for that matter,” Karl says.
“Our wine list has 50-60 varieties, and while we will have a range of great local small batch labels, we’re really concentrating on flavours that people may not be familiar with”
“We also offer customers a range of Sake and Umeshu from Japan, as well as Chardonnay from China…We’re delivering a wine portfolio that is different and unlike anything else in South Australia which I’m very excited about,” continued Karl.
As well as wine, Makan also serves a range of spirits and beers.
When curating Makan’s menu, Ben drew influences from Southeast Asian cuisines, including Indonesian, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Malaysian, serving up twelve small plates, five larger dishes and a few desserts, all designed to share and enjoy with company.
Unlike the current restaurant, Ben is using Makan as his experiential kitchen and tapping into his creativity, experimenting with different ingredients.
“At Makan, I want to embrace my creativity, experiment with various flavours, and share new dishes with everyone who walks through the door – It’s going to be my playful kitchen,” Ben says.
There’s a focus on smaller plates which includes prawn doughnut, crispy capelin and Szechuan grill eggplant, along with some bigger plates that feature sesame tantanmen, a spicy pork mince, smoked cauliflower and a 60 day dry aged scotch fillet that will be part of an evolving dry aged menu, focusing on some interesting flavours such as honey and chocolate.
Although curated by Ben, the menu is executed by Head Chef, Yung-Xun Wu, who has previously worked in the kitchens of Chinatown’s Japanese BBQ joint, Kyoku Yakiniku, Minimono Noodle Bar on Rundle Street, and most recently, Paper Tiger.
Boasting hues of greens and black, with pops of warm yellow from LED lights, as well as a large balcony space, the loft-style 60-seat bar promises to bring a relaxed yet energetic atmosphere to the Flinders St location, with live music on the cards.
Makan is located at Level 1, 116 Flinders St – for opening hours and to book visit the website.
