Situated at the back of the Adelaide Convention Centre, Regattas is the epitome of pleasant. The place overlooks the river Torrens and has much outdoor seating to take advantage of this. When I was there most patrons were seated outside to soak up the sun and the sounds of swing band Lucky Seven Swing (http://www.luckysevenswing.com/) who play afternoon slots there semi-regularly.
The great location attracts an after-work-drinks type of crowd and Regattas superbly accommodates them with cocktail specials and divine nibbles. I had never tried sardines before, and certainly not as a bar snack, but from the first munch my interest in repeating the experience was, like the fish, anything but canned. The bowl of fries were also of an excellent quality, but by far the nibble king was the chorizo.
The inside of the bistro is extremely spacious and no doubt would make an excellent venue for large private functions.
The best time of day anywhere along the water is in the morning or early-evening and this venue is no exception.
There is parking available for both Regattas and the Adelaide Convention Centre, but I have found it extremely confusing and have had to move my car from one seemingly-appropriate car park to another. I've also traversed an Escheresque series of staircases and lifts to get to and from the bistro. Fortunately for me a helpful security guard showed me which lift to use to get to my car, and the Regatta staff directed me to certain stairs to get out of the bistro itself.
Parking is validated by Regattas if you spend over a certain amount. read more