Queen's Head Hotel

Queen's Head Hotel brings a long North Adelaide history together with a food-led pub and bar experience. First licensed in July 1838 by Giles Abbott Snr, it remains in its original location on the corner of Kermode Street and Abbott Lane, making it one of South Australia's oldest continuously located licensed venues. Its façade has remained unchanged since major renovations in 1881, giving the hotel a strong sense of place near the centre of Adelaide.

Inside, the historic exterior opens into a more contemporary setting, with brick and marble details and distinctive light features sourced from outback Australia and Egypt. There are two bars, an undercover beer garden and space for meeting friends or family before, during or after events at nearby Adelaide Oval. The layout offers a choice between settling in for a drink and spending more time over a meal, with a setting that can work for casual catch-ups and larger gatherings.

The kitchen is best known on the website for wood-oven pizzas, along with small and large plates described as the foundation of its restaurant offering. The hotel also serves pub fare, while the bar includes beers on tap, local wine selections and cocktails. A dessert menu and kids menu are available, giving groups with different appetites more flexibility. For larger festive gatherings, the venue lists two-course and three-course set menu options for bookings of 20 or more during November and December.

Queen's Head Hotel's food credentials are backed by several South Australian Restaurant and Catering Awards, including Best Restaurant in a Pub/Tavern in 2015 and 2018, and Best Pizza Restaurant in 2014. That combination of heritage, considered interior details, pub food and a broad drinks focus makes it a practical choice for groups, families and visitors wanting a meal or drink in North Adelaide. Its history and distinctive surroundings also give solo diners and smaller groups something beyond a standard pub setting to take in.