Adelaide Arcade is not just a gateway between Grenfell Street and Rundle Mall, it’s a destination.
Photo:: Wayne Pearson
Full of unique SA-owned health and beauty shops, fashion, jewellery, homewares, gifts, and delicious treats, Adelaide Arcade opened its doors in 1885, and was the most talked about shopping precinct in the Southern Hemisphere.
Careful renovations have maintained the original ambience and if you’re REALLY lucky, you might spot a ghost. Self-guided history tours are free and you can even do one from home with their interactive website.
In case it’s been a while, here’s the haps at Adelaide Arcade.
Shop, shop shop
For beautiful fashion and accessories, start at Adelaide Hatters to find the right hat to suit your style, personality and face shape. Alexandra Lingerie is the French Big Boobs Expert who prides herself on women leaving her shop with the right-sized bra. Angels Shoes proves women with big feet can have fashionable footwear too, and The Pinhole Effect sells old-school, modern and handcrafted specs with a qualified optometrist on site. For stylish, high-quality fashion for women, head to Fella Hamilton who ensure their customers look and feel beautiful for every occasion.
If you’re shopping for that hard to buy friend, try A Rare Notion, who offers quirky sewing supplies and a mix of vintage clothing, jewellery, gifts and homewares; or I.S. Wright has a mish-mash of old jewellery, banknotes, medals and sporting memorabilia. Essence of Australia is full of Australian-made unique gifts and souvenirs, while Pencraft the Boutique is a writer’s heaven with an extensive range of gorgeous pens.
Dimonds Gallery is our go-to for custom picture framing, with a massive range of ready to hang prints from artists like Van Gough, Warhol and Picasso. T’Arts is a contemporary art gallery, created for artists to support each other and showcase their wares, and Gallery 33 has stunning homewares, jewellery and original pieces that will add colour to your home, from Indigenous artists.
Turn back the clock and embrace your inner child at Games World Adelaide, with thousands of games for puzzle lovers and hobbyists. Adelaide Comics Centre will make fans go wild with one of the largest ranges of comics and collectables in the country, and Mad Zombie Collectibles is the ultimate collectors’ gift shop, full of action figures and replicas.
Photo :: Wayne Pearson
Feel good
With multiple hair salons and a couple of funky barber shops, you can walk in and out of Adelaide Arcade a different you! Aristocut Beauty, Daly Salon, Elysian Lifestyle Spa, Slick Lobster, Shaver Shop, Anton’s Unique Hair Experience, and Bonnie Wigs are all there to keep your hair in check.
Photo :: Wayne Pearson
Shiny happy people
Many special occasions are marked with gorgeous jewellery. If love is in the air, the opportunities are endless — Clarke The Jeweller has been making couples’ dreams come true since 1949. Fili Jewellery proudly designs and manufactures engagement rings. Gerard McCabe creates unique romantic collections with natural fancy coloured diamonds, and Zu Design is a gallery and workshop where designer Jane Bowden creates bespoke special-occasion jewellery.
For those looking to add some razzle dazzle to their jewellery box, visit Mist Jewellery for their sterling silver range; or J Farren Price for luxury watch brands. Raw Pearls are proud of their massive range of White, Golden, Tahitian South Sea and Freshwater Pearls, and McIntosh Jewellers have been manufacturing handcrafted jewellery since 1984.
Let’s eat
With Haigh’s and Koko Black book-ending the arcade you’re sure to arrive and leave with a sugar rush. And if you’re after great coffee, a delicious open grill or ciabatta, pop past Adelaide’s first ever coffee bar, Ciao! Two-Bit Villains is full of tasty plant-based alternatives with an Americana-style cuisine; or if Japanese tickles your fancy, then Katsumoto in Gay’s Arcade serves authentic food for lunch, dinner and takeaway.
Bits ‘n’ bobs
Family-owned bits ‘n’ bobs stores are sprinkled throughout the arcade. You’ll find everything from Battery Bar and Button Bar to an IT Repair Centre, Godfreys and a deluxe cleaning service with Manhattan Dry Cleaners on the ground floor. You can also repair just about anything with Beaudelle Shoe Repairs, Heal Podiatry, and Arcade Cobblers & Locksmiths on site, too.
Hayley xx
