The Bearded Tit

The Bearded Tit is a beacon among the drab assortment of paint stores and car yards further towards Alexandria. A sign reading, “Free love, not free beer” greets visitors on entry, above a glass box displaying a collection of knitted penises.

The knitted phalluses are just one example of the local art on display. The bar offers residencies for artists that covers a meal each evening and half-price drinks.

The bar, named after a variety of bird, is a collaboration between three friends who met through performance art. Their aim is to create openness and to connect people who might not otherwise meet.

The interior is fitted with a selection of circus-inspired paraphernalia; taxidermied half-animals hang opposite old carnival posters in the dim light. Live music happens on the stage at the front.

There’s an array of beers on tap, a number of South Australian wines and cocktails such as the Cherry Bomb and the Hail Mary. If you get hungry, nearby restaurants will deliver straight to the bar.