Adelaide is welcoming a new two-storey venue on Frome Street, Honeydripper. Set to open later this year – the venue is brought by wine expert Raf Thomson and blends wine bar warmth, with the intimacy of a Japanese-style listening lounge, in hopes to bring Adelaide a sensory experience like no other.
The idea sparked from a trip to Osaka, where an inconspicuous stairwell led to a vinyl-filled, ten-seat bar that was built around music rather than the menu. That encounter, along with visits to global audiophile hotspots like Dante’s in Miami and Goldline in Los Angeles, inspired the vision of a venue built around sound, design, and soulful service.
Honeydripper’s ground floor will operate from 8am weekdays as a coffee and bagel spot and transforming into a lively wine bar by afternoon with communal booths, conversation corners, and a bar menu designed to elevate the drinks.
Upstairs, the mezzanine will function as an audio lounge complete with Klipsch La Scala speakers, a 3,500-strong record collection curated by Chicago’s Gene Farris, and a central DJ area fitted with an Australian-made Condesa mixer.
Honeydripper plans to partner with local vinyl curators and host intimate events, wine fairs and community listening nights.
“It’s about providing a place for people who love music, but don’t always want the volume of a club. We’re creating something quieter, deeper built around quality,” said Thomson.