Caffeine Corners: 5 Best Cafes in Glenelg

For a comfortable and filling experience, the award-winning The Strand Cafe is a great choice. With its ample seating, spacious sofas and tables, and generous food portions, it’s an ideal spot for families and groups of friends.

Their Mediterranean offerings are fresh and well-prepared. Standouts include the sweet and earthy Moroccan curry and the Meat Lovers Pizza, which has hearty servings of bacon and ham. 

Their coffees are also recommendable, especially flat white and latte. These have the right amount of sweetness, and the artful latte art by the cafe’s skilled barista enhances the experience.

Furthermore, the cafe has an inviting ambiance because of its warm lighting, its elegant design, and the staff’s responsiveness.

However, they open too late (at 9 AM) for those who want a morning cup of coffee. Also, their items are a bit pricey.

The Daily Fixx Glenelg is a good choice for those who want a grab-and-go, especially with the cafe’s coffee and biscuit deal that is priced at $5.

Their menu is mainly brunch food that is served in generous portions, especially the quinoa porridge and the berries and buttermilk pancakes. These are easy to pack for take-out too.

Their coffees are delicious and consistently well-roasted. They offer milk alternatives, and their baristas are good at following specific instructions.

The cafe exudes an elegant ambiance through its sophisticated black and brown decor, which is complemented by tasteful paintings and a grass wall that sets the mood.

As for downsides, one is that their space and tables are small. Also, they’ve received some complaints for impolite service. 

CIBO Espresso Glenelg is notable for the high quality of their beans, made possible through their strict process for sourcing these. The beans result in coffee with a distinct nutty and earthy flavor that makes for a pleasantly bitter taste.

The beans are ethically sourced from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms. These are then roasted in Thebarton, South Australia, and then exclusively supplied for CIBO.

The shop was founded by four friends with Italian ancestry who have decades of experience in the food industry. 

It’s why their menu is mainly Italian, with standouts being their savory tuna and cucumber sandwich, chewy and nutty chicken focaccia with sun-dried tomato basil pesto, and the sweet and mildly sour yogurt and honey Perfetto Porridge.

While their menu is excellently made, a downside is that some items are unavailable on some days. Also, the shop’s indoor seating capacity is limited.

If you’re looking for specialty coffee, Veloce Glenelg is an excellent pick. They have a simple but exquisitely made menu featuring classics like espresso, macchiato, flat white, and mocha.

Also, they’re one of the few cafes in Adelaide to sell their drinks and food wholesale, making them excellent for those who want catering for an event.

Veloce’s baked goods are also noteworthy for their consistent quality and high-grade ingredients. Standouts include the chocolate and strawberry Belgian waffles and the maple pancakes.

The shop has a great view of the Glenelg marina, which makes its ambiance relaxed and cozy. They also play good cafe music, and their staff is pleasant to talk to.

Do note, however, that their menu has limited items. Also, most are pricey.

For a European cafe experience, H&A coffee is a great choice. Crowd favorites include the strong ristretto, the creamy Vienna coffee, and the Nutella-mixed marocchino.

The cafe is owned by husband-and-wife duo Hannah and Andrew who have Polish ancestry. Their ancestry’s influence is especially seen in their Polish dumplings/pierogi, which can come with blueberries, sauerkraut, cherries, and more.

The cafe provides a highly filling eating experience because of their large servings and well-rounded menu. They serve many variations of coffee, tea, smoothies, milkshakes, and more.

Another cafe specialty is coffee mixed with alcohol, like Advocat, Galliano, and Baileys mixed with whipped cream.

As for downsides, though, their service could be faster. Also, their fees are pricey.