Bar 9 introduced Adelaide to specialty coffee, back when it was barely even a thing, opening a flagship cafe in Parkside (since closed) and another in the basement of David Jones.

In a previous life, the vine-covered building was Iliad, a Greek restaurant, before becoming a Vinnies dining-room. It’s been redressed by Wholegrain Studio’s Josh McCallum as something recognisably Bar 9: blue walls, timber benches and a work-in-progress vibe. You can eat in or take a seat in the surrounding parkland of Whitmore Square.

Long-serving Bar 9 chef Duane Tilka has added Mediterranean-inspired dishes to the backbone of the menu, in a nod to the building’s history. Former Please Say Please owner Daniel Freer is back on the tools, steering the coffee program with a bunch of fancy new tech to play with. As well as espresso, filter coffee is available, courtesy of a Marco SP9 single-serve brewer.

The site is bike-friendly, with racks and pumps provided.