Awesome place, me and my hubby had dinner there tonight. The staff were very friendly and the food was amazing. I want to thank Chris and all the staff for being very acomodating and friendly �
Food was great. Very well executed dishes and the wine and beer choices were spot on. Would recommend to anyone staying in Adelaide to go for a meal here.
A very special experience from the moment we entered this gem of a bar. Great ambiance, fantastic, refined cuisine with wines to match. Definitely a standout in service, food, wine list, cocktails and overall experience. Would definitely come again!
This was not our first dining experience here. We had to return for the great food and service! One of South Australia's hidden gems. Beautiful dishes with fantastic wines to match.
A great querky place
Food is great do not be Scared of the menu go in try and enjoy
Wow, I'm so satisfied with my evening meal. Will be back on my next visit to Adelaide. Exceptional service, with a knowledgeable waitron, able to recommend an gorgeous wine to compliment my meal, and deal with my "odd" sense of humour without losing his.
One of "Hindley" streets incredible secrets. Chris the waiter was the best and we felt like we were in another world. It was beautiful and so was the champagne and cheeses.
Absolutely amazing place!
I love the atmosphere and the decor is stunning. Just looking in the cabinets at all the things is fascinating.
Service was fantastic and the food was DEVINE!
Thanks for making my Partners Birthday a great one!
A rich and opulent boudoir of culinary enticement and luscious imbibe-ness! So many surprises of flavour to tempt the senses. Great staff, with expert knowledge on the food and wine menu. A *must* visit location in Adelaide that has stood the test of time.
6 course chefs menu was Delicious! Snapper ceviche and the angus beef so good!
Love the selection of wine and cocktails. The food was great.
Had dessert and wine with my friends last night. Really like the desserts esp the polenta cake and sorbet. We had a lovely time. Their atmosphere is really relaxing as well. Definitely will come back for more wine and dessert!
Consistently great service with a wine tome for a wine list and a great selection of spirits. I have eaten here before and the food is great but it was just drinks on this occasion. A lovely oasis in the craziness of Hindley Street on a Saturday night. If you're down Hindley Street this is a great option for a drink.
The Apothecary 1878 is a must try for fine food enthusiasts in Adelaide.
Plush velvet lounges, marble table tops and mahogany cabinets take you back to another time. Lights are dimmed, surroundings cosy and romantic, the perfect location for a date.
I recommend trying the large banquet option, allow the chef to cook your degustational surprise while you sit back and relax. I found this option well priced considering the number of meals and attention to detail. Dishes were packed with flavour, a real trip for the taste buds. The wine list is extensive and do try a cocktail!
I have visited several times and have never had a dull experience.
I had the pleasure of dining there last night. The place has a vintage look, the ambiance was overall good.
The food was great and they have a wide selection of wines. Some of them they offer as half bottle.
The good: the beef Tatare was amazing especially with their homemade capers. Well done.
The beef as main was tasteful, it is recommended to order a side dish with it.
The bad: Not much, while service was friendly, it was sometimes a bit slow.
Verdict: I would come back again, we had a good night and enjoyed the menu.
Nice menu, nice wine list and a bar stocked with quality spirits. I figure you could do well here for tea, an aperitif or a whole meal.
I had the steak which was tasty and beautifully presented. No side to speak of, a smear of purée carrot but to round out a meal one of the sides is essential.
Unfortunately, high 30s for main and teens for side and wine makes for a costly, if tasty, one course meal.
Quality is worth paying a bit extra and I left satisfied. Four stars.
Went to Apothecary last night, had been many years ago. Wondering why we hadn't been back! It has aged beautifully, little front bar lovely! Service good if not slightly over efficient! Shared appetisers and small plates which was perfect. Duck liver pate fabulous with perfect little rice crackers. Prosciutto, cacciatore and chèvre platter good, pork rillette lacked flavour. Small plates we were divided on best, but the slow cooked beef short ribs probably won! Beetroot great as well if not overly large. Dessert not as good, quite pleasant but not the strength of meal! Should have had cheese. Brilliant wine list, will definitely be back!!
Everything there was just beautiful and tasteful. We had a date night and dined in the basement. The atmosphere is cosy, the wine abundant and the food divine. Another memorable date night !
Overall I love this place. The proteins are perfectly cooked. I definitely recommend the pate, sardine and ox tongue for starter. The mains we ordered the steak and the salmon both are awesome!! Looking forward to come back some time soon.
My husband and I enjoyed the Chefs sharing plate and at $68 per head, we were very satisfied! The service was thoughtful and attentive. Ambience perfect for a romantic dinner. Food divine and matching wines paired well. We loved our experience and will recommend to friends.
Went here for 10th wedding anniversary. Intimate setting, great ambience with excellent service. The staff were very attentive. I would recommend the chefs tasting menu. Also has a huge range of local wines to choose from.
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Came here for cheese and dessert. For $27, my two-cheese cheese platter was rather expensive! Everything on the dish was fantastic though. I chose the ash chevre and a champagne washed rind cows milk cheese. Absolutely delicious, especially when eaten with the sweet, fruity sides. I particularly loved the walnut/fruit paste wheel (not sure what was in it). It complemented the cheeses extremely well! I wish it came with some bread rather than just lavosh, though.
I also tried their strawberry and white chocolate cheesecake. The strawberry component was actually just a curd. It was oddly very tart and citrus-y. I wouldn't have known it was strawberry if it wasn't written on the menu. The cheesecake had a really different texture to your normal cheesecake. It was kind of sticky - marshmallowy in a way - and not as creamy and heavy. I wasn't a fan of the wafers that were stuck onto the side of the cheesecakes. I'm not sure what it was entirely, but it appeared to be some sort of meringue but in a very thin sheet. It wasn't crispy like I had anticipated, and disintegrated way too easily in my mouth. It also stuck to my teeth a fair bit. I felt like they didn't add anything to the dish besides aesthetics.
Overall I enjoyed my visit a lot. The service was fantastic. The waitress was very professional and tentative. The ambiance would make this a nice place to sit down and enjoy a drink or two after a long day at work.
LOVE this place. Have never had more than wine here, but the wine list is to die for and because it's so good, it's also quite expensive. Definitely don't go here if you're wanting a big night on the town- stay outside and let the crowd inside enjoy the cool vibes and the great drinks menu! Go and get your cheap drinks across the road at red square *shivers*
Stepping in to The Apothecary, 1878, is like stepping through a portal into 19th century Europe. The mahogany, the marble, the antiquated bottles for potions and tinctures. One almost expects Toulouse-Lautrec to turn around from one of the tables. Visually stunning, Apothecary has already made a strong impression. I am salivating to taste the fare of this Hatted restaurant (one Hat from the Australian Good Food Guide).
Love
Love love it. Take a moment to enjoy one of their amazing cocktails before you dine. Like nothing else you will find in Adelaide.
We enjoyed their degustation menus. Our favourite were the scallops. Excellent and professional service, without the arrogance.
The room downstairs is dimly lit and the upstairs bar area is very quaint. I've been here twice, both times to have their degustation menu. I enjoyed it on both occasions but my friends did not. I think it was the steak which did not impress them but I personally don't mind if a steak is more towards the well done side. Each to their own I think. Worth a try!
Tasty food; a little over priced for the size of each dish. Mains are mostly meat with sauces and entrees are only a mouthful. However, well worth it as it was delicious. Wine list is grossly overpriced if directly comparing the price of the same wine at other restaurants, but the location probably has something to do with this. Great atmosphere, really moody and relaxed. Get the window seat as you can spread out for dessert on the little love seat lounge.
Edit: 7/10/15
Outstanding service, went above and beyond expectations. We had a selection of 3 entrees, 3 mains, 3 sides and 2 desserts. Food was full of flavour and we were so full we couldn't fit in dessert. Mushroom Entree was the stand out. Definitely recommend and will return to sample the rest of the vegan menu.
Went here for a hen's night. Inside is beautiful and the court yard is really nice/quite. Service was good and attentive from both wait and bar staff. Vegetarian options but no vegan options on menu which is disappointing.
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Apothecary 1878 is one of the most visually stunning restaurant/bars in Adelaide. The food is good, but I think it's overshadowed by the atmosphere and decor of the place.
Food:
I came here in a large group and so I got to try the majority of the dishes.
Rather than going into details (the menu has changed since) I will summarise by saying that the food was good, but for prices at fine dining level I was probably hoping or expecting a little bit more. The dishes are simple and elegant and of good quality, just lacking a bit of excitement.
Service:
The wait staff are attentive and professional and the bar staff are friendly and helpful. One dish was forgotten from our order, but we did order quite a lot (as usual) and that can sometimes happen. Unfortunately it was a side of potatoes, which was then undercooked in the rush to get it out to us.
Ambience:
This is where Apothecary 1878 really stands out. The design, the decor, the lighting - just the whole vibe of the place is really cool. Despite it's location, in the middle of everyone's favourite street to avoid after 10pm, the place maintains a classy and relaxed atmosphere.
We just couldn't choose any of the tantalising options on the menu so were interested in the waitresses banquet suggestion of sampling 3 portions of the chef's chosen signature starter dishes and one main dish (sometimes called a Dégustation). Let me tell you we were not disappointed. The food wasn't abundant however the flavours and quality that accompanied the dishes were some of the best in Adelaide and with only a glass of wine we left completely satisfied, next time we would like to have more time so can try the dessert menu. If your more into pub food (steaks, chips & chicken schnitzels) then this place may not be for you. If you want to have a quality, cosy fine dining food experience like no other with a strong uniqueness of flavours & textures then book your table and let the menu try you for a change, you won't be disappointed.
Amazing gem of a wine bar and restaurant. It feel as if you're in a small bar in France. Amazing food, wine and service. Although our group of four were told that the restaurant was fully booked (we were walk-ins on a Saturday night), we were able to have dinner in the bar area, which included the entire menu anyway. Perfect!
Had the degustation here on date night. I was very impressed by the knowledge of the staff, though some of the food flavour combinations seemed a little bit forced particularly with the entrees. Most notable were the scallops- beautifully cooked scallops were overshadowed by a very strong smokey flavoured foam. Perhaps this is just my personal taste. We left very well fed and the mains were unable to be faulted. Dessert (cheesecake) was also divine.
Beautiful restaurant with an incredible wine list and great menu. The decor is amazing. I love the basement room for functions and the courtyard is really cute.
Ticked all the boxes. Intimate setting, interesting and well executed menu, attentive service. Good food and good wine made for an enjoyable evening. We will be back
This old chemist shop on Hindley Street still has all the old wares in a cabinet, behind me. If I get indigestion, I'll just take a swig of Bickford's hydrogen peroxide.
Wow love this wine bar, 3 bottles of Pinot..., the best
Perfect in every way. My wife and I went for our 10th wedding anniversary. The atmosphere, staff, food and drink was all amazing. Couldn't have asked for more. My only suggestion for improvement would be to open the cellar for dining even on quiet nights. It looks like an amazing space that shouldn't go to waste!
Dined in the room downstairs which was cozy. The food (tapas) was fantastic as was the wine, and the service was very good, overall a 9/10 experience
Terrific little place. Perfect ambience, perfect service, and one of the best selections of wine and spirits you'll find in Adelaide. Highly recommended.
Outstanding food, special atmosphere, great service, good reasonably priced wine list. And open on a Sunday night!!!
Quaint and unique setting with wonderful tasty food and exceptional service. Would defiantly recommend.
Amazing and unique restaurant with world class food. Food: 10/10
Service: 10/10
Drinks: 10/10
Atmosphere: 10/10
Value: 9/10
Overall: 10/10
Fantastic knowledgable and friendly staff. With some of the best food in Adelaide, great spot.
Great wine great service. Just had some cured meats and cheeses yum
Fantastic. Bit pricey but worth it.
Atmosphere excellent. Service excellent. Desserts lovely. The good could do with more fresh vegetables ad imagination.
Wonderful experience. Attentive staff and prompt service. The duck breast & lamb backstrap were both done perfectly.
Pre Dinner Drinks. Dropped in recently when we had about an hour to kill before dinner. The service was excellent and we managed to try 2.5 glasses of wine each (love the range of sizes and styles). Staff input was fundamental in each selection. Also had a couple of nibbles, Prosciutto and White Anchovies were superb. Will definitely try dinner next time.
Great ambience and atmosphere... Lacked in the area of "top notch" food. Of the four dishes had, 3 were good the fourth a disaster. The staff were attentive and mannered. The chef acknowledged the questionable quality of the last dish and we found the meal reimbursed. Would definitely go again if visiting.
Haven't been here for quite some time, but great to see it is still the best wine bar in Adelaide by quite a way!
Lovely experience. Had the most divine dinner experience here this past Friday night. Was looking for somewhere a little bit fancy and different to try in Adelaide as we were there for the weekend.
The atmosphere is initimate, the basement is cosy and transports you to another time and the service is great.
The food itself was presented beautifully and just as delicious. Pricing was not as bad as we were expecting and meant we could try a little something for dessert.
If you're looking for a romantic night out, this seems to be the pick in Adelaide CBD...just ignore what surrounds it on Hindley St.
Surrounded by the riff raff is a haven. Filled with beautiful food, a serene and welcoming atmosphere, you are greeted by friendly staff. I felt like I had been transported back to 1940's Paris - and what a trip it was. I would happily recommend this restaurant to any and all. So far, my favourite place in Adelaide...
Best restaurant recommendation on our first Adelaide visit. Perfect in every way - food, service, ambience, price, extensive wine list. Every dish was devine, start to finish.
Nearly there. The kind of place you have to try but not necessarily go back to; or gets "liked" on Urban Spoon but not "favourited" for this price range. The taste of the food and background music were only 'good' which is disappointing for the price. Having said that, the food's presentation, the service and the decor were all much, much better and aligned to the price while the wine menu is extensive. If you're going to do fusion tapas, why keep it bland? E.g. Instead of pork sausages and lentils, why not fuse NT game sausages with Indian Dahl? And pre-1930's music (Edith Piaf, etc) would suit the decor better.
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Lush. Walking off a wintery Hindley st into The Apothecary, we were transported to a warm Parisienne evening. Dinner was served in the cellar, a candle lit rustic room with an intimate ambiance. We ordered the banquet C, consisting of 3 sharing plates. The chefs selection that evening was fig and walnut stuffed quail, baked chili barramundi with fennel and currants, and whisky piri piri prawns and cockles. These plates, designed to savour were just divine. We then had a choice of 1 main each, I chose the slow cooked octopus with borlotti beans and my friend tried the scotch fillet with leek and gorgonzola. The scotch fillet was cooked nicely and the leek and gorgozonla pleasantly complementary, although nothing to write home about. I, however, was left unimpressed with the octopus which was obviously not slow cooked for long enough as the texture was rubbery. I dont think I would bother dining here again considering how expensive the mains are if youre not ordering a banquet. I am however, tempted to try their supper menu and some of the other 'to savour' plates. Overall, this is an old world romantic space for a lush nightcap and tapas on very cold evenings.
Outstanding....say no more!!
Amazing experience, staff were knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. Food was fantastically mouth watering and the wine list long and local.
Loved it! Atmosphere. Comfort. Classy quirky and delicious.
Great Wine and Cocktails. I haven't eaten here, but I've had the privilege of drinking here on a few occasions. They have an extensive wine, alcohol and cocktail list. The environment and decor is beautiful and classy. It seems a little out of place located on the less than classy Hindley Street haha.
Went to the apothecary for their valentines day degustation menu. I was so impressed by the feel of the place, the old world medicine cabinets were really a cool touch. All over the food was interesting and exciting to eat, the staff were really prompt with their service and you felt very looked after. They had a really great selection of wines also. A good experience I would. recommend checking this place out.
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I wrote this when I was last in Adelaide and tried Apothecary 1878 for the first time (April 27, 2011):
"Fantastic meal. My husband and I enjoyed a meal here while holidaying in Adelaide. Loved the unique decor and the food was superb. I had the chicken maryland and my husband swore the seafood brodet he ordered was one of the tastiest seafood dishes he had ever eaten. Good value for money for really high quality food".
Having returned to Adelaide for our first visit since 2011, my husband and I went back to Apothecary 1878. Same beautiful decor and absolutely flawless service. My broadbean galette was just as beautifully presented and tasted lovely. My husband didn't enjoy his swordfish (fish of the day) as much. The gentleman serving us genuinely appreciated the feedback and very kindly offered us a chocolate/hazelnut dessert to finish our meal on a high note. He was exceedingly polite and professional and we really valued the gesture. It's a reminder of how good this place really is and I'm so glad we returned. Hopefully won't be too many years again between visits!
Very good. The food was great. We (a table of four) had the banquet. The flavones were terrific and the presentation was impressive too. The staff were very knowledgable about the menu as well as the extensive wine list. The venue (a former pharmacy, as the restauramt name suggests) provides a fun atmosphere. And it's very good value for money.
Returned after a fab first experience in the bar expecting our booking to be in the restaurant. Alas it was closed so stayed in the bar and what a contrast. Still good food but seriously inattentive service. Very sad experience.
Little Gem. Lovely atmosphere with a great wine list. We had the chef's tapas selection which was so, so, lovely. What a change to be waited on by the same person each time too, and in addition to be waited on by someone who really knows how to wait on a table.
Highly recommend this lovely little gem. Will be a regular here for post work drinks.
Have been several times when visiting adelaide. Absolutely top class wine bar that seems out of place on hindley street. Definately visit.
This place is a very old chemist. Very interesting place. Like a Wild West saloon, but gloomier.
This place is a very old chemist. Very interesting place. Like a Wild West saloon, but gloomier.
This is an interesting place. It’s like a fancy saloon, but with a cobblestone floor. Two of the chairs at my table are very tall lounge chairs. Lots of polished wood panelling and chandeliers. Brick cellar is interesting. “1878″ seems about right.
Beef fillet (6/10)
With caramelised shallots and ashed goats cheese.
I think that sauce was a kind of pumpkiny thing. It was a bit on the tart side to eat by itself, but went nicely with the lamb. The lamb medallions were very nicely done. I ate them with the “ashed” goats cheese. It was all fairly pleasant, if unusual.
Visually stunning, Apothecary has already made a strong impression. I am salivating to taste the fare of this Hatted restaurant (one Hat from the Australian Good Food Guide).
Wok You Talking About
+4.5
When you walk past Apothecary 1878, don't let the bar fool you. It looks like a small French salon-style bar on ground level but a stylish room greets you downstairs where the restaurant takes hold against an impressive wine cellar. No wonder it's a
Nice place great decor love the exposed brick and natural floor boards. Small à la carte menu and small selection of beers. The food was good and steak was cooked slightly under what was requested. The staff were great very friendly and helpful with great service provided by all staff members who we interacted with. All in all a pleasant experience.
Beautiful venue! My party had the chefs tasting menu, and the staff were able to work around all dietary requirements. No one felt like they were missing out at any point. The food was delicious with flavours you'd never think to pair, like date compote with roasted/grilled fennel! It was simple, yet exquisite.
Huge shout out to our waiter, Dan, who went above and beyond to make our night enjoyable, and was happy to have a laugh and a chat with us. He knew the menu, he knew what drinks would go well with our preferences, and was always there when we had a question or needed something.
10/10, I can't wait to go back.
Had the pleasure of dining in this uniquely decorated charming restaurant. Service was excellent and personalised. Food was delicious, tastes were well balanced and wine pairings made the entire experience unforgettable! Will definitely recommend!
We had a lovely mid-week dinner for so many reasons!
Firstly, a cool and unique venue with amazing curiosities that keep your eyes darting around and admiring the period interior and intricate tiling.
Secondly, the food is just great - a lovely and varied menu with something for everyone.
Thirdly, friendly and attentive service made our night hassle free and enjoyable.
Perfect!
We went here for our anniversary and the reputation lived up to the hype.
We opted for the chef 5 dinner mystery option and each meal was better than the previous.
Amazing food, fine dining and a luxurious ambiance makes this a great place for a more important milestone or just a fine night out. Highly recommended !😁
Had a great night here for a friend's birthday dinner. We enjoyed having the chef selection meal and loved the cocktails and the paired wines.
Staff were friendly and the atmosphere and decor was amazing.
Will definitely go again.
I had always walked past and always wondered what they had to offer. After checking out the website I knew I had to make a booking. Small intimate area with only 5 tables but enough space for a private dinner. We chose the 5 course chef selection with paired wines. What a wonderful experience! Food was incredible and wines were amazing. Service was impeccable I didn't have to lift a finger. The cabbage starter was my favourite followed by the steak. We will definitely be back!!
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