The Apothecary 1878

For anybody who knows anything about Adelaide, you would know that Hindley Street is not exactly the place to go if you’re looking to find a place that shows any sign of class. Hindley Street is notorious for being the “entertainment” district, filled with bars, clubs, and more strip joints then I can count on my two hands in a one block radius. Yet, on this debauchery laden street where you would cringe at the thought of touching any solid surfaces, you may just find a hidden gem. I’ll admit, they made a dire mistake in choice of location, but The Apothecary 1878 Wine Bar may just be worth a trip to Hindley Street if you are ever in Adelaide, SA.



Being a heritage listed building, the Apothecary has a very rustic and eclectic vibe to it. Upon entering, you will instantly notice the 132 year old antique medicine cabinets lined with bottles of the finest wines and champagnes, which the name “Apothecary” (definition: a pharmacist) is derived from. The owner herself was nice enough to give us a tour of her establishment and impart a little bit of history on us.



Following Paola downstairs, I soon find myself surrounded by red brick walls. The surrounding walls that make up the dining room are part of the original underground tunnels that run under the buildings of Hindley Street. When Paola purchased the building, she restored the bricks and filled in the tunnel to form a wall, and lastly, installed wrought iron cages to hold her collection of over 1200 wines. A cozy and eclectic dining area with its mismatched chairs.



Upstairs, there’s a function room featuring elegant antique couches that take you back in time. If you don’t have enough people to book a function, you may consider attending some of their master classes hosted in the function room. The Apothecary host a variety of events including whiskey tasting and sparkling wine / champagne tasting (who can resist a glass of bubbly?!).





To save the best for last, Paola was nice enough to provide us a taste of their food prior to us leaving. Dish served: Seafood Paella.

The Basics:
Paella is a rice dish originating from Spain. In some ways, it resembles risotto, using similar preparation methods.



Tasting Notes:
The rice is perfectly cooked with a chewy yet firm (al dente) texture. But the nice part is, when you get to the bottom of the pan, you get a crisp layer of rice (much like bibimbap, or Korean stone pot rice). An array of fresh seafood is added to the dish (mussels, prawns and snapper), and along with fish stock, gives it its irresistible seafood flavour. With hints of saffron, onions, tomatoes and garlic, it leaves a long savoury taste in your mouth that leaves your craving more! And just when you think you’ve tasted it all, the hint of paprika kicks in to top it all off! I am one who is quite indifferent about rice dishes, but this one definitely hits the spot!



My Two Cents:
Having only tried only one dish, which left a taste on my tongue that I still crave, I would definitely love to have an opportunity to go back and try out more of their menu. If the food is not enough of a temptation in itself, their extensive wine list may just be of appeal to you. Wine being Australia's biggest export, the Apothecary prizes itself on its carefully chosen wines from boutique wineries that you may not find anywhere else. If you are ever in Adelaide, this rare gem and possibly only gem on Hindley Street may just be worth popping into.





118 Hindley Street,
Adelaide, SA
Phone: 8212.9099