Here is one of those pubs that, despite living in Adelaide, very rarely visited. I suspect that this had something to do with it not being all that close to me or where I worked. However, as I was wandering through the city one afternoon with my friends, finishing off the pubs that needed to be finished off, we came upon this place. Actually, since we hadn't had any lunch we decided to stop off here for a meal, which basically meant that I landed up with a schnitzel. Yeah, it was quite nice, and there were also some decent beers on tap. The pub itself isn't that huge, but it is one of those pubs that of have been to on an infrequent basis. Oh, they also have a bottle shop just around the side. read more

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Bars tend to go in and out of vogue, and one that has been in, or at least moderately popular, is The Kings Hotel on King William Street. I used to live a couple of blocks away from The Kings (previously the Kings Head) and must say I didn't go there overly often. I have been a few times of late, due to friends parties and the odd chance that I just happened to be around the area, and I must say I like it more than I used to. I think the crowd has a lot to do with my enjoyment of a bar, and it is certainly less pretentious than it used to be. The interior is pretty nice, with an overall rustic feel with some polished elements that lift the place up a notch or two. The Front bar is my favourite area (which is normal for me), and out the front is a really funky booth style design that kicks on a warm summer night. They have also made some kegs into tables (see the piccy) which really works. Right I'll put my interior designer silk scarf away for the time being and pop open a stubby. The beer selection is just how my fellow Yelper, Tegan H, describes....pretty darn spiffy! I tried a few myself, the last time I was sitting on the corner stool, but ended up with sticking with a couple of tried and true drops! I always feel that any pub where you are comfortable having a drink is handy in my book, but be warned that some of the brewskis (and spirits) can be a little costly (ATM's are dangerous!). read more

Kings Head Hotel - King Me! - Pubs Near Me - Adelaide, SA

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This is a nice local place. It's always been quiet when I've been there, but have been there to eat and have a beer as opposed to other late night activities. I tried the lamb shank pie floater and as Adelaide's, unofficial, 'official' dish I had to give it a go. It was quite the experience, but a bit gourmet for the simple idea of a meat pie. The sauce that topped it was a bit bitter but I ate around it and enjoyed the rest. They had several good beers on tap and had a few, but for the life of me can't tell you what it was. something hoppy and something nice. Enjoy! read more

Kings Head Hotel - Lamb Shank Pie floater - Pubs Near Me - Adelaide, SA

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The Kings is so unashamedly pro all things South Australian, I half expected the staff to be wearing Heaps Good tees for good measure. When I made the mistake of asking for a Blonde I was gently steered towards a Clear (because OF COURSE I order low carb beer with chips, doesn't everyone? And, the chips: Yes. Just, yes. Very good chips indeed, chunky and crunchy with mayo and wowsa, what a generous sized serving. It was a busy Friday night when we arrived and sitting in the front bar was going to involve a lot of yelling - so we made our way to a little lounge area out the back. I love the old building, its quirky style and many nooks and crannies. It's classy but not posh. A pokie free venue where you can connect to people (even if the front bar involves having to connect loudly). They'll even lend you a board game if you're bored :-) We'd booked a table of ten in the den, and points to The Kings here for leaving a respectable amount of space between the tables. Little candles abounded creating a cosy atmosphere and the wood fire was most welcome since winter seems determined to make every last day of August a bit of a misery. Most of our table went with the iconic pie floater... a leap of faith for me, as a vego I'd never had one before. It was almost miraculous. The pea soup was more like the mushy peas you get at a chippie in the UK - not at all runny. The sour cream pastry was not at all soggy, and the lentil and root vegetables in the middle were hearty and filling and almost made me wish I'd gone easy on the pre dinner chips. But not quite. The chips were too good to regret. Those who indulged in desserts seemed suitably blissed out by their sugar hits. The house made Fruchoc icecream got the thumbs up although another friend reported that the coffee part of her affogato was a little low tide. We had a friendly and efficient server which meant we could concentrate on the good food, wine, conversation and laughs. It's at the higher end of the range for pub meals: some may baulk at paying $20 for a pie and peas. But you get what you pay for, and in my opinion the local produce, friendly service and classy atmosphere make a meal here well worth your while. read more

Kings Head Hotel - Vegetarians rejoice, for you too can have a pie floater! (Note: it usually comes with "dead horse" - I requested it sauceless) - Pubs Near Me - Adelaide, SA

Talk about knowledgeable, passionate staff! These guys know a thing or two about beer, wine and food and they are happy to have a yarn and share their stories. The fact that this is the first and only SA only pub is awesome. The beer, wine and food produce are all sourced 100% in SA and you can taste it! The 12 rotating beer taps feature some excellent small batch craft brews. The menu is full of SA icons. Seriously, do yourself a favour and get a tasty brew and sausage roll in your gob at The Kings. read more

Woah - as far as service goes, these guys nailed it. Stopping in with a friend to try a particular beer over the weekend, we were disappointed to learn that it had run out - but fear not, the friendly bar staff gave us samples to try and helped us find something else. They listened to the flavours we liked and found us each a beer to match our requirements. I was thrilled - this was above and beyond! I can't really comment on the food (I did eat here a couple years ago when I came here for an engagement party) but the beer and warmth and friendly feel of the venue make it a top choice in my mind! read more

Went on the $10 schnitzel Thursday night and very impressed with the food, drinks and service. Split a beef and eggplant schnitzels with the wife and both were excellent. The range of IPAs were good as well. read more

We came here for an 80s night, but I'd definitely like to come here to eat some time ;) The 80s night here was fantastic, as there is a (very small) area serving as a dance floor. The staff were very friendly, and there is a good selection of wines (mainly South Australian) and cider (don't ask me about beer!). I like the fact that the Kings doesn't have pokies, and is supportive of music nights - we probably should come here more often ;) read more

Everyone needs a pub they can feel at home in, and I absolutely love melting into one of these deck chairs, and indulging in a few quiet bevvies. When I say deck chairs here, I mean seating made out of decking, but it is still relaxing regardless. Most of my time here is spent moving from the front bar to the outside area, and they have DJs inside the front bar on weekends (and some weekdays). The Kings pride themselves in exclusively serving up locally made food and wines, from regions such as Mclaren Vale, so you can sleep well knowing you are handing your money over to the local, rich bastards. read more

We had reserved a table in the quiet back area for a work meeting over lunch which was communicated upon making the reservation. Upon arrival we were told that the quiet back room was not open and that we could have a table in the front bar. It was extremely loud and the music was quite loud too. We requested politely if the music could be turned down a bit or if there was anywhere else we could sit away from the noise due to the nature of the lunch meeting we had planned - the bar tender looked at us as if we were asking something impossible/ stupid so we ended up taking our business elsewhere. I have eaten here on previous occasions and it is very hit and miss... They do have really yummy hot chips though... read more

The King's Hotel seems to be one of those brilliantly underrated pubs. I never hear anyone talking about it, and most of the people I know have never heard of it. Maybe it's best kept a secret, as this pub has something special going on. The atmosphere inside the bar is cosy and warm, and there are lots of Olde English style decorations on the walls to give it that classic feel. There's plenty of beer, wine and spirits, and the beers on tap are comprehensive. What I particularly liked about this place was their steak specials. I can't remember which night it was that I went, but they had a ridiculously cheap steak deal that I couldn't pass up. For the amount I paid, the steak was far beyond my expectations, and was succulent, juicy and cooked to perfection. The outdoor seating arrangements are spacey and comfortable, which makes moving between the inside and outside areas a breeze. I'll definitely be paying this pub another visit after their stellar first impression. read more

Waited over an hour for our starters and then the mains were average. But good beers, friendly staff and good atmosphere. So maybe just a once off kitchen blemish that could be forgiven if I wasn't a tourist. read more

I used to come here for lunch when I worked in the Optus building many years ago - and boy has this place changed! They've obviously spent a bit of money and it looks wonderfully like a typical pub now! I know that sounds odd - but so many pubs today look like schoolrooms; big bright interiors, plastic imitation shrubbery and cheap seating. The first thing that struck me was wood. Yes - wood! Fab wooden floors, huge wooden bar and wooden walls to boot! The next thing that smacked me in the face like a wet haddock was that there were NO 'foreign' beers or ciders. Everything sold - and I mean EVERYTHING - is South Australian! There's an incredibly impressive range of bottled craft beers - I counted 15 in total, so don't bother asking for a Ted's or a VB - cos you'll be severely disappointed! (go to Victoria if you want that cr*p!). I ordered a Prancing Pony, as you do, and then decided that it was time to eat. Being a Friday night, with patrons from Clipsal and the Fringe ensuring that the place was packed to the rafters, I knew that the food may take a while to arrive and accepted that without hesitation. The menu was, well, adequate for a pub let's say. There was the usual range of shnitty's and burgers (made from Lobethal beef or McLaren Vale chicken), fish and chips, and some great specials including risotto's and other fish dishes, plus a speciality of theirs - pork belly, which came either as a burger or as a crispy salad. The food arrived about 30 minutes later and was fine. My friend ordered a shnitty, and was notably disappointed about the size of the portion; a reasonable size shnitty with about 15 chips and a small side salad; $20? - you can make up your own mind I guess. The atmos was great though - everyone in party mood, but if I had to whinge about anything was the heat. Yes it was a warm evening, but people were having to go outside (28deg) to cool off! Get some decent air-conditioning I suggest - then there'll be less whinging! All in all though - a nice place to venture to, but I can't say that I'd make a deliberate point of going there. But as with all these reviews - try it, review it and let others decide. read more

Kings Head Hotel - Great menu@ - Pubs Near Me - Adelaide, SA

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Want to get a taste for just how many quality craft beers are brewed right here in South Australia? The Kings bar has got to be your first stop. The hotel stocks a transient list of around thirty offerings from boutique and micro breweries in the state and the South Aussie focus doesn't stop there. As a cider fanatic, I was also pleased to see the variety of local ciders on offer, with the lobo cloudy apple cider brewed in Lenswood being a clear winner for me as far as quality, body and drinkability are concerned. My visit to The Kings fell on a fairly average Thursday evening, but at 6:30pm both the Bar and Restaurant are already humming. The nautically inspired deck out the front on King William street seems the place to be for the after work crowd, with many enjoying a pint on their way home. Being a foodie I was headed for The Den restaurant to sample the Locavore delights on offer within. The service was efficient and friendly and despite not having made a reservation, a table was found for us. The atmosphere was pleasant and relaxed, with the furnishings and settings a little nicer than the standard hotel dining room. Linen napkins are a good touch but the space did get a little noisy. On ordering, I went straight for the iconic South Australian Pie Floater and my dining companion the calamari, chorizo and rocket salad. The wine list is selected from many of the states smaller wineries and offers a solid range of surprising quality and interest. On this visit the Hahndorf Hill, 2009 'blue blood' Blaufrankish fits the bill perfectly and is a unique and winning recommendation from our young waitress. The pie floater is no pie cart number; it turns the horrors of the original into a deliciously gourmet gastro-pub dish. This is a must do experience for visitors to South Australia! The minted peas are a vivid green and provide a tasteful moat around the main event, unlike the traditional swamping of grey pea soup. The pie is of significant size, made in house and I am aware that dessert is a fast diminishing option. The pie filling is slow cooked beef and resembles a Beef Bourguignon. The pastry (I believe it is sour cream pastry) is also delicious, if perhaps a little too thick for my tastes. My companion is pleased with the salad which is a delightful combination of naughty and nice. She is able to sample the Fruit choc ice cream for dessert, another Iconic South Australian treat, served with apricot compote and almond biscotti. The noises of enjoyment and speed of demolition indicate the choice as a clear winner. Overall the food focuses on a simple selection of quality local produce with a retro theme and the parochial pride is evident in their choice of tag line - "All SA, Everyday". read more

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This place is so average for food, I'd think twice before handing over my hard earned cash again. It's good for a drink, but I wouldn't waste my money on the food. We were served up the most average type of food at lunch. It took way too long to come out and it was cold. What was happening in the kitchen and on the floor. No attempt by staff to apologies, give a drink on the house, anything. Just an all around bad lunch time experience. I would definitely not eat there again, especially when there are so many better places to spend a dime. read more

The atmosphere is nice and the wine we had was lovely. The meal on the other hand! my husband had the risotto and it had way too much garlic. It was very nice but too over powering he couldn't eat it all which is strange for him. My pork belly salad was nice. I would come back and try something different as the music was good read more

My go-to for craft beer in the cbd, the Kings is always welcoming and warm. On Fridays they have $5 pizzas, which are a perfect starter for the night. The staff are knowledgeable about their booze and will usually remember what you're drinking and recommend based on that. read more