LOCATIONIn the hub of Hyde Park; five minutes’ drive from the CBD.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIACosy – that is what comes to mind when you think of Spats. Eccentric, avant-garde, ornate, and cool too. Folk have been gathering here for years for coffee, crepes, cocktails and conversation – hushed tones seem fitting in a place like this. If the walls could talk they would share no end of titbits from tete-a-tetes and late-night rendezvous. While the walls remain silent, the same cannot be said for Spats’ in-house “guests”. When the chatter of customers has died down for the night, some have reported hearing the sounds of those who hail from a supernatural world. An Edwardian terrace house from the 1890s, a fire once trapped some unfortunate souls, and they may be having a hard time moving on. However, you should never let a ghost stand in the way of a good cup of coffee – and Spats has been voted as serving some of Adelaide’s best. Pots for one offer New York and New Guinea Gold blends, while Africana coffee adds dark chocolate, rum and orange peel to the black brew. Cocktails and cold drinks outshine the limited wine list – punch and fruit crunches sound super refreshing. The cherry version, for example, blends sour Morello cherries and imported cherry juice with ice-cream. Yum.
Have a play with the food side of things too – the kitchen has. The menu is an unconventional mix of old-school teahouse, steakhouse and kebab house. Owner Deniz’s Turkish heritage shows in dishes like chicken and lamb kofte. They sit alongside prawn vol au vent, scotch fillet and Welsh rarebit. Comfortable couches, casual wicker chairs and private booths abound, and fabulous artwork and antiques reminiscent of the Belle Epoque era celebrate the building’s age and charm. Dimmed lighting, heavy claret-coloured curtaining, chandeliers and lace table coverings complete the look: the perfect setting for your next “encounter”.
Roz Taylor, April 2009