I remember walking past this place with a friend and commenting on how out of place it actually seems on Hindley Street. Look, in a way it came across to us as a wine bar, and we certainly weren't the type of people who would want to frequent a wine bar. However, recently I decided that I'd actually check it out, namely because it has been sitting there for ages, and I still haven't visited it. Well, this ended up being a really pleasant surprise, especially since it came across as basically being like a European style bar. It even had beer, and some really, really nice beers at that. Oh, and they also have an awesome cellar downstairs as well. Really worth checking out. read more

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Walked in because it looked like a wonderful bar. Found out quickly, the aroma of food was intoxicating, that they had a full dinner menu and made reservations for the next night. The place just had everything right. The decor the lighting the music. It was perfect. When we arrived for dinner we had already planned out our orders having salivated over the menu the night before. We'd been careful not to eat to much at lunch so as to have room for all the food. It was every bit as amazing as we hoped! Our favourite was the roasted cauliflower. The pumpkin was delicious the quail mouthwatering. If we lived here we would make this place one of our regular haunts. read more

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I went to Apothecary 1878 just this past Tuesday for my birthday dinner with my partner. I picked the destination because I love cozy settings, especially in the winter, and from what I could tell from its (somewhat amateur) website, Apothecary was right up my alley. Don't let their website fool you: this place is professional without being fussy, with excellent service and even better food. We started with the French baguette (ordered another of these in the end, as it was very small), the baked chèvre with grapes and almonds, and a cous cous, cauliflower and coriander salad. Each tapa was exquisite in its own right, and together they were a satisfying, varied start to the meal. For mains, my partner ordered a steak with gorgonzola buttered leeks while I chose the mushroom pithivier (fancy-talk for pie) served on cauliflower soup. We also ordered a spinach salad with grapes, red onion and walnut on the side. My partner reported that his steak was very rich and very filling. I tasted his leeks and they were just as he described. My mushroom pie was extremely rich as well, but flavourful too; it didn't just rely on the heavy, earthy qualities of the pastry and mushrooms to carry the dish. We both loved the salad, and the side serving was generous. Looking back, I think that next time I will order the same tapas, with maybe another of the vegetarian ones, and the side spinach salad. It would be the perfect amount of food. We took advantage of the extensive wine list and tried a couple of glasses before choosing a bottle with dinner. There was a quirk with the wine service which I've never seen before: the server brought our bottle, poured two glasses, then took it back to the bar to be placed on ice, within our sight. She then took charge of refilling our glasses, so we never actually touched our wine bottle. An interesting and, I suppose "full service" approach, though we do usually like to control our own drinking pace. Anyway, we finished with a chocolate pudding that sported a sole candle in celebration of my birthday!. The server mentioned that he wouldn't sing, but did wish me a happy birthday-- I think that was best for everyone. The pudding was light as air and melted in our mouths. To sum up: Apothecary 1878 is an intriguing little restaurant with interesting and history-rich decor whose regal-ness (I know, not a word) is a little misplaced in its Hindley St location. We left stuffed to the brim, happy, and content after 3 hours of delicious food, tasteful service, and beautiful wine. read more

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It's been around a long time but fallen of the radar as a restaurant. Downstairs is great but upstairs in the charming bar is less cluttered and set with French bistro tables and chairs and they still serve the full menu. The service was amazing, the drinks list is amazing!!! Great escargot Great mini lobster tails Great soya beans & spec Magnifique! read more

Apothecary 1878 - Lobster tails - Wine Bars Near Me - Adelaide, SA

We didn't know what we were getting into but the pics looked cool so we tried it out. We sat at ground level by the window and had an amazing people watching experience ! Three of us shared a few dishes and the food was amazing and the cocktails were very good as well. It just took a long time to get drinks and it turned out to be a 2 hour dinner read more

The Apothecary used to be a real apothecary and now it is a fancy wine bar. There are many aspirational wanna-be wine bars in Adelaide. Most of them get it wrong somehow - bad art on the walls, sponged-on paint effects, eager to please service, too much boutique beer sponsorship material. I don't spend a lot of my time looking for the perfect place to have some wine and olives after work, so I'm probably not an expert, but I think The Apothecary is getting it right. The decor is what a professional food writer would call 'sumptuous'. Red velvet, regal furniture, and a genuinely amazing collection of antique apothecary cabinets and weird little old medicine bottles that used to hold the surprisingly hardcore stuff your great-grandma would have been addicted to back in the day. As I said before, I don't know much about fancy things, but the wine also tastes much better than anything I've ever had in my life. Ditto the olives. read more

Apothecary 1878 - Wine Bars Near Me - Adelaide, SA

I used to walk past The Apothecary thinking it was a closed bar that had gone under or something, until I was taken there by a group of friends. With only fleeting glaces through the darkened windows it is fair enough that I thought such things because the inside is like someone opened a time capsule from the late 1800's. The decor involves a lot of velvet and leather. Hundreds of old tonic bottles fill the shelves, of which could have possibly been filled with god knows what in the past. It's almost overwhelming all the history in here. I spent my first of surely many future visits sipping absinthe with friends. The APothecary really does have that sort of bohemian feel. read more

Apothecary 1878 - Wine Bars Near Me - Adelaide, SA

Cute theme names for drinks and dishes. Cocktails weren't for me as most were whisky or gin based. Food was decent with good pricing. read more

Apothecary 1878 - Wine Bars Near Me - Adelaide, SA

I was going to suggest that the Apothecary is a sign of the west end of Hindley Street's gentrification, but it has been around since 2002! Not a bad innings. They're still going strong. Excellent quality food and drink, and a comfortable atmosphere. I was there on a Sunday night and got a spot with no waiting. The place feels classy without being snooty, and was surprisingly relaxed. There is less of the show-off culture that you get in Sydney, and yet I thought the food was still pretty good, and the wine list was superb. I didn't try a lot of the food though - just the entrees, which were quite filling, generous portions. The polenta is better as a shared plate. Although ordering French wine in SA is a bit ridiculous, you can. And ... Um.. It's totally worth it. I guess one of the most impressive things the Apothecary has going for it is its large Mahogany apothecary cabinets - sourced from an Adelaide antique shop, originally from London. They're beautifully restored. I could stare at them all day. The service was excellent here - very sweet, friendly young staff, though not that many of them.I was kind of impressed that I only saw women staff - since Sydney's small bar scene is a bit of a boy's club in terms of who hangs out behind the bar. It might be different on busier nights. read more

5 stars for the wine and drinks list. 5 stars for decor and ambience. 4 stars for the food. 1 star for the location - seediest part of Hindley St! 2 stars for the service. Perhaps I spent too much time in the service capital of the world - the US - but how hard is it to get this part right so that customers have a great experience and want to return? Unlike at least one other wine bar in Adelaide the service is not rude and the staff are civil. So I will return but come on guys you can do better! Us "can we please have a table for 2" Waitress "are you drinking or eating food?" Us "both" We get a table and a drinks only menu but no other interaction for 10-15 minutes until the waitress returns with a food menu. Waitress "if you want food you need to order right now. it's 20 to 10(pm) and if you don't order immediately the chef will just say stuff it and pack up" Huh? Is there not a better way to convey this information! If there is such a rush then why didn't we get the food menu 10-15 mins earlier! No further interaction for another 10 minutes until a different waiter arrives to take our order. The drinks menu is like a war and peace novel so we order as best we can. No suggestions, explanations or help offered and then after the waiter leaves we continue on our browsing and come across a section at the back for "food items after 10pm". WTF! (stands for where's the food?) - why didn't the pushy waitress explain that for food we had 2 options - the before 10 food menu and the after 10 list at the back of the drinks tome (a wonderful drinks list BTW)? We order an expensive bottle of very nice wine. The waiter opens it at our table and spills wine and cork all over the table. No apology or offer to get us a new bottle or discount the price a little for the expensive juice soaked up by his sponge. Anyway we kept the menu so we could look at the drinks list and maybe order something after food to make up for the non consumed spilt wine. While we were talking, the pushy waitress walked past and whisked away the menu without asking if we were finished. Come on this is restaurant service 101! read more

Without a doubt my favourite spot to wine and dine in Adelaide. The wine list is truly epic, intimidating even, but the more I go there the more relaxed and comfortable I feel discussing the options with the bar staff without feeling like a classless hobo. I have always found the staff accommodating and passionate about the food and wine that they serve. The food is just wonderful. Personally I like to do a few tapas and then a main shared between the group. There's something very comforting about sharing lucious food with people you care about. The meals are often very rich but come in small serves so it doesn't feel too much. The cheese dishes in particular are cheesetacular. No description I could provide would do justice to the ambiance of The Apothacary. What I can say is that it cocoons me and makes me feel like there is a place in the world where I fit. I do have to agree with the other reviewers though that it's location sucks balls. Whilst walking off Hindley Street into what feels like a hidden opium den filled with mysterious wonders and all the worries of the world can disappear behind a haze of plush satisfaction, there's always that point in the night where you have to walk back out on to Hindley Street and usually in the middle of skank hour. It really does bring you crashing back to reality with a disappointing harshness. Unless of course you've sampled a little too much from the extensive wine list and inexplicably come to find skank hour appealing.... read more

I was very lucky to be taken here for my birthday - you know a place is good when you are planning to come back asap as soon as you have left the place! Decor is absolutely lush and gorgeous - downstairs is more minimal than upstairs, but still lovely and cosy. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. I ordered escargot (because I had never had them before) - wowsers, absolutely amazing! For main I had the duck, which was gorgeous, and for dessert I had the Strega and chocolate cocktail (I like to have liquid desserts, haaha!). After dinner we went upstairs for cocktails. The only disappointment here is that I ordered absinthe (*real* absinthe with sugar and water), but they brought it to me already mixed - part of the fun is pouring in the water over the sugar!! Next time I'll ask ... I guess we should never make assumptions! read more

The food was excellent, but unfortunately they refuse to do doggy bags. Which is a shame because I couldn't eat all of the massive amount of wonderful lamb on my plate and I HATE food waste. Next time (if I go again) I'll take a plastic bag and bag it myself without asking. There's just too much food waste going on for restaurants to be refusing to do doggy bags, and I dont believe there are any responsibility issues any more with food taken away from the premises. read more

Amazing choice for a romantic night out, anniversary coming up? Don't think twice and book quick. Have been lucky to eat here twice (special occasions) and both times have been an amazing experience. You first enter through their stunning bar, full of class and character and amazing drink selection, to which you are then guided down the stairs into the cellar (restaurant), which is an experience in it's self, it's dark, candle lit and romantic. The food is to die for! make sure you go for the buffet because it is an exciting experience not knowing what dish will come out next and you will try foods you have never had or considered. My favorite dishes were the quail, scallops and skate (fish), absolutely bursting with flavor and left you extremely satisfied. read more

Good food, not so good on the wine! Booked a table and asked for a quiet table. On arrival they had us in the middle of a very noisy room, but when they realised we had booked a few days in advance they moved us to a back and quieter room. Staff were friendly We ordered the Tasting menu, food was amazing except for the dessert which was very disappointing! The wine was very disappointing as well, considering they have won awards for their wine we were not impressed. Probably would not return June 2016 read more

Alright, this place is pretty. Great decor, relaxing ambience, and great service. I've chatted gin and wines with these guys and they know their stuff. There's something about sitting in there watching the hoards trawling up and down Hindley street that adds to the satisfaction of a delicious cocktail or wine in here. Aaaah snobbery!! But it's a welcoming place, regardless of class, dress, or body odour, you are accepted. Plus, you can easily impress people by bringing them down here, always goes over well. I have yet to eat here, but have salivated into my gin martini watching the food brought out to other lucky patrons. So its on the to-do list read more

I think the only thing that isn't quite right with the Apothecary is where it is situated. It just doesn't belong in the midst of Hindley street, where the drain people come out to play. It's like a tall flower in a bed of Macca's wrappers, pulse cans and strippers, this is no exaggeration. The Apothecary is like a fine antique store which also happens to cater the finest wine and spirits to your taste in addition to well presented meals. There are so many creepy bottles holding god knows what that were once used as medicine or possibly even poison, I think if you were to auction of all the little treasures housed in this bar it would be a nice little earner. I recommend making your order and slipping downstairs into the beer garden, its so pretty down there with tea-light candles and wrought iron tables and chairs, and its so well insulated that you forget that Hindley street in just out the door. This is a classy and relaxed evening out and I like that this wine bar isn't the least pretentious when so many of them are, a rare find. read more

Amazing food, great wine and dessert, and they served me even though the kitchen had closed just before I showed up!

Places like this are rare in Adelaide. I often used to walk past the Apothecary on my nights out and look inside and think, 'Man, that place looks cool and mysterious. Of course, none of the people I'm with would think that. I'll have to come here with a different crowd.' But I never managed to assemble the right crowd of people. So I finally went myself. And maybe it was the buildup, but I was floored. The thing I love most about the Apothecary is its atmosphere. It feels real, it feels authentic, it feels amazing. I've always enjoyed wine over beer. Not because I'm an inherently classy person, but because I like to FEEL like I'm classy. And the atmosphere of this place extends that feeling from your tastebuds and your nostrils to your eyes and your ears. I've only been there once, but I loved my time there. The first thing I'm going to do is bring a bunch of friends there, even if I have to smack them over the head and drag them. I'll make them love it because I love it. That's the magic of the Apothecary. You want to share it. read more

The Apothecary has a very rich, regal atmosphere to it, and I'm not yet sure if this is something I like. If I was a CEO and had retired here after an evening of hard work, it might seem a little more appropriate to light up a cigar and sip on some fine wine. But as a twenty two year-old student? It's a little weird. Having said that, it really is a cool place to visit. It's very homey and authentic, just like a classy old bar should feel. I'm not all that into wine, and that seems to be their forte, but they do have an extensive list of drinks on offer. I'm not certain whether or not a smoking room still exists in this bar, but back in the day you could light up a cigar or a cigarette whilst enjoying your drink, making it really feel like the old days. The smoky haze was terrible for the health of non-smokers, but it gave the place great atmosphere. read more

Sophisticated. Moody. Apothecary is one of the swankiest bars in Adelaide. Superb wine list. I hear, great food. Always brings a smile to my face. read more

I've finally tried the food here too and nothing changes about what I've previously said about this place. If anything, I would give it an additional star if possible. The downstairs room looks wonderful and it feels like being in an old wine cellar. Very romantic and intimate; there aren't many tables so I'd recommend making a reservation, especially on weekends. Service was impeccable. Now, the food does not only consist of tapas. If you fancy a proper main they also have a very reasonable selection of dishes, ranging from a mushroom pithvier (basically a fancy pie - which I had and it was delicious) to different types of meat. For entree my partner and I shared various tapas, feta, olives.. the usual. All in all it was a great experience to dine here and it's definitely become one of my favourite restaurants in the city. read more

Oh my god! Phenomenal experience From the lobster tail to the duck to the espresso martini with chocolate Food orgasm :) Will definitely find a way back read more

Had a wonderful dinner here last week. Opted for the $48 chef's dinner which was a great selection of small plates and a main - so much variety! from scallops, duck, lobster tail to beef. Great combo and good portions. read more

Our first night in Adelaide and my friend & I followed the reviews from TripAdvisor visitors. We were not disappointed. Duncan, our waiter was superb, Friendly, very professional and knowledgeable. Food tends toward gourmet Italian style. The wine cellar is extensive and the general ambiance is superb. We both enjoyed a splendid evening and wonderful meal with confidence in Duncan's suggested choices and accompanying wines. Go and enjoy this experience. read more

A refined ambience and quiet atmosphere. Attentive service, although granted it was a Monday night (only four tables in use). The period pharmaceutical antiques add a quaint touch to the decor. The food was all you could wish for and highly recommended. Staff were able to mix classic cocktails that weren't listed on the menu. Dine here when in Adelaide. The only negative is that the neighbouring businesses are a bit seedy -- XXX bookstore etc. Unaccompanied women may feel a bit uncomfortable in the area, which is a shame for The Apothecary as it's good enough to merit their patronage. read more

Amazing food, beautiful atmosphere, very reasonable prices for what you get, the Ceviche and house made Nougat were special highlights! Great selection of local gins! read more