Proof

The small venue licence has done a lot for Adelaide’s bar scene, and Proof was one of the first takers. Living up to the law that made it possible, Proof is petite but makes good use of its space with 1950s-style furniture, soul jazz tunes and a secluded upstairs terrace that fits snuggly between the high-rise buildings.

The “kitchen” is a sandwich press behind the bar, but limited resources inspire creativity. Toastie variations include baked bean and cheese, truffled mushroom ragu and Gruyere, or the daily special. There’s also a range of cheeses, plus Cuca sardines and anchovies to add some punch to your drink of choice.

Plus, there’s a lot of choice. Find a selection of absinthes, a brandy list categorised by fruit-of-origin, Australian vermouth, and a cocktail combining spiced rum, rhubarb and almond.

Proof is like the Fred Astaire of bars: it can act, sing, dance and still look good with a whiskey sour in one hand and a top hat in the other.