NOW EXPERIENCING:Clever Little Tailor

Read time 4 Mins

Posted 13 Oct 2022

By
Daniela Frangos


The entry to Clever Little Tailor, one of Adelaide's best bars

Set in a gorgeous heritage building on Peel Street, Clever Little Tailor has a democratic offering to please wine lovers, whisky devotees and seekers of a knockout cocktail.

People enjoying a night out at Clever Little Tailor in Adelaide
Why you goIn some ways, Clever Little Tailor (or CLT, as it’s fondly known) feels like the beating heart of Adelaide’s CBD bar scene. An early adopter of the small-venue licence, it has continued to stay relevant and inviting since it opened in 2013 with an evolving – and growing – drinks list, fancy snacks and friendly staff. Not to mention its gorgeous digs in a heritage Peel Street building with exposed stone walls, leather booths and charming old-world frontage.
Why you stayWhether you’re sliding into a booth, perching at the bar or sitting out front to watch the passers-by on Peel Street, there’s almost always a vibe here. The crowd is a healthy mix; on Friday arvos it can be a sea of suits, but you’re also likely to find some familiar hospo faces downing a cocktail or digestivo on their night off or a local winemaker testing out the goods. The mixed crowd comes down to the democratic offering: you’ll find something you like whether you’re a wine devotee, a lager drinker, a whisky buff or a casual imbiber with no strong preference.
What drink to orderWhile there’s greater attention paid to the wines these days, the cocktails are where it’s at. Choose between a house mix (including fruity mainstay Gin ’n’ Juice and frappé-style Roman Holiday) or a classic (a Gimlet or Margarita, say, or a fizzy Negroni Sbagliato where prosecco takes the place of gin).
Drinks and snacks at Adelaide's Clever Little Tailor
Drinks and food at Clever Little Tailor
What to pair it withAt first glance the snacks might seem like the usual wine-bar suspects, but the team here have thought through the finer details: olives are juicy, buttery, bright-green Nocellara del Belice from south-western Sicily, sourdough baguettes are delivered daily from local baker Soiboii, and the impressive line-up of cured meats includes Italian salted and air-dried bresaola using highly marbled wagyu beef, Spain’s silky jamón serrano ham and rillettes (aka free-range pork shreds slow-cooked in duck fat). There are also tinned Olasagasti anchovies from the Spanish coast, and a cheese of the day. If you’re after something larger, you’re smack-bang in the middle of the West End dining precinct (with Shobosho, Peel St Restaurant and Leigh Street Wine Room among your choices).
Regular’s tipEnd your weekend at Clever Little Tailor’s “bring a bottle, buy a bottle” Sundays, when you can crack open that fancy drop you’ve been cellaring to share with friends. “Grab a few snacks and choose a bottle from our list while we decant your bottle,” says co-director Dana Whyte. “It’s a great way to spend a Sunday.” There’s no corkage, but you have to buy a bottle from the list for every bottle you bring, so we suggest you gather the crew and time it with a celebration. 
Don't leave withoutLooking over the wine list. While it can get overlooked in favour of the cocktails, the wine program is “perhaps our secret strength”, Whyte says.
A bartender holds various wine bottles at Clever Little Tailor
A Martini being served at Clever Little Tailor
Make it fancyThe menu here has a page dedicated to special cocktails and bottles if you want to go all out. Try the Martin Miller’s Westbourne Strength Martini ($32), stirred with Dolin Dry Vermouth, served with icy garnishes and poured tableside or order a bottle of 2013 Louis Roederer Cristal at $549 a pop.
Who to takeThis is a place for mates or dates, but choose your night carefully. Friday afternoons and evenings can get rowdy with the after-work crowd. For a more intimate affair, head there earlier in the week. (The staff might even set the mood with some Isley Brothers on the stereo.)