Melbourne Patron

The first thing any Adelaidean will tell you about the Fringe Festival is that "The Garden" is an absoulte MUST. A sectioned-off part of Rundle Park at the north-eastern corner of the CBD, The Garden of Unearthly Delights  (cnr East Terrace & Rundle Road) is essentially the hub for All Things 'Fringe'. Here, for the duration of the Festival, you can buy or collect tickets, attend shows in any one of the on-site 'venues' (mainly tents like you'd find at a circus), buy merchandise, get a food or drink fix, shop at market stalls, attend events, lounge around on the grass or chairs and watch people or the free entertainment, take the kids on rides... and the list goes on. The Garden is set up like an old-fashioned fair: elaborately decorated caravans housing food stalls, games and tickets; various stages and 'big top' style, colourful tents; wooden painted signs, flags, mirrors and coloured lights. It is loosely divided int...

On the Sunday of a long weekend in Adelaide's CBD, there's not much open. And when you're a caffeine addict like me, that is a terrible, terrible thing. Fortunately (well, unfortunately for her), my little sister has been privvy to my state when I have not been caffeinated in a timely manner before. So she used that clever technomalogical thingy called Googler or iCall or something to locate a cafe within walking distance for our breakfast and all-important caffeination. It was called Jam The Bistro  (112-114 Wright Street, Adelaide), and it was very nice. Being on holiday, we figured we deserved alcohol at breakfast time, so we had a Bellini each (prosecco with peach juice). Bellini-licious The coffee was made on a pretty red Ruggero, and was also served up all pretty-like: We both had the same thing for breakfast: a beautifully-presented concoction of smoked salmon bruschetta with poached eggs, goats curd and beetroot jam. As well as the fac...

The  Adelaide Fringe Festival  brings with it many wonders, including a host of excellent - but sadly temporary - pop-up bars. These usually build up a following through social media and word of mouth, and the lucky ones enjoy great reviews and constant custom. One such bar is  Little Miss Mexico  (188 Grenfell Street, Adelaide), squeezed into an L-shaped courtyard around the Crown and Anchor pub. Walking distance from "the Garden", Little Miss Mexico offers (surprise, surprise) Mexican-themed food and drinks in a vibrant and relaxed outdoor setting. It has partnered with Vinteloper Wines to offer delicious grapey drops through the Vinteloper Urban Winery Project  which, aside from the main bar, also features at a separate wine-tasting and sales counter. Vinteloper counter - "Nuggets of wisdom, free"! We popped in for a couple of drinks and some nibbles before heading out to a Fringe show that night. It was a delightful 36-degree d...