Best Bars for Dancing in Adelaide

Nightclubs are kind of all-or-nothing. Either you’re standing at the bar being jostled, or you’re on the dance floor getting into it. And having a decent conversation? Forget it.

Bars are a little more flexible – when you need it, there’s room to take a break from dancing or have that long-overdue D’n‘M with your best mate. Plus, the drinks are almost guaranteed to be better, whether you’re drinking beer from an actual glass, or sipping on a well-made Negroni.

Words by Dan Cunningham And Holly Bodeker-smith
Updated on 23 March 2022

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Lion Arts Factory

Formerly Fowler’s Live, this heritage live music space is one of the best places to see live music in the city. It's had a modern revamp by a team of SA hospitality veterans, and now it stays open late with a diverse line-up of bands, DJs and more.

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99 Gang Social

American-style burgers, beef rendang hoagies and tropical cocktails are the signatures at Gang Gang’s disco-ready burger bar. After the dinner trade, a floating DJ booth provides danceable tunes till late.

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Marys Poppin

This inclusive bar and nightclub is a safe space for Adelaide’s queer community, but it's open to anyone who's looking for a gay old time. Mirrored ceilings, light-up go-go dancing cages and a giant rainbow are the canvas for your Saturday night boogie.

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Cry Baby

A "polished-up" dive that splits the difference between pub and small bar. You could just as easily come here to sip from the 300-strong spirit list heavy on tequila and bourbon, or dance to the jukebox rock 'n' roll tunes spinning until late.

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Ancient World

Anything goes at this basement bar and live performance space. If you don’t know what you’re in for, you might stumble into a niche club night or an art exhibition. All you need to do is find the entrance, hidden down a low-key laneway.

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Jive

At this seamless music venue and club, one minute you’re swaying to a live band, then next thing you know the band is gone and you’re dancing to indie tunes with three new friends. Its double-level layout makes you feel like you’re in a Brooklyn club but the constant flow of Coopers on tap keeps your location in check.

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Bank Street Social

Hailed for its stellar cocktails and pizza, this place has become the cool older sister of Adelaide’s dancing scene. It’s a boon for lovers of house, disco and tastefully-selected party tracks.

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Nevermind

Hidden behind Leigh Street Luggage, this good-times cocktail bar is a love letter to the Adelaide hospo crowd. It's the kind of place you can drop in late, grab a fancy toastie and a well-made cocktail, then boogie to a rotating cast of DJs spinning everything from hip-hop to house until the early hours.

More Options

Rocket Bar & Rooftop, Adelaide

Rocket’s main bar downstairs has been a live-music go-to for more than a decade. The breezy, open-air rooftop on the other hand, has a more chill weekend vibe – with an astro-turf terrace and fun drinks to match. Cats at Rocket is the venue’s weekly club night, with DJs spinning every Friday since 2012.

Fat Controller, Adelaide

Booking red-hot acts like a seasoned pro, this smart music venue and nightclub is a no-brainer if you're chasing down a weekend boogie. And because the place doesn't deal in a specific genre, the diverse line-up of bands and DJs who play here means there’s just about something for everyone.

Rhino Room, Adelaide

This Fringe favourite is a proving ground for the city’s comedy scene, but it also knows how to throw a solid dance party outside of the festival calendar. Lowlife, the venue’s fun subterranean bar, looks set to do most of the heavy lifting in 2022.

Anna's Cocktail Club, Adelaide

Inclusivity, particularly for the queer community, is paramount at this neon-splashed nightclub and bar. Its chaste origins as a former bible house have well and truly been forgotten, though the popular “confessional” nights might see you score a free cocktail if you’ve got something juicy to spill.

Oddio, Bowden

Oddio isn’t your average cellar door. For a start, there are no vineyards dotting the area, no rolling hills or lush valleys. But there is a disco ball hanging from the ceiling, which should give away the venue’s double life as one of Adelaide’s best event spaces. Keep an eye on Oddio’s socials for pop-ups, pizza parties and more.

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