A new chapter has opened above one of Adelaide’s best-known bars, with Hains & Co officially unveiling its newly transformed upstairs space, Admiral’s Quarters.
The intimate lounge has replaced the discreet Ralph Louis Frederick, bringing the upstairs venue under the Hains & Co name while introducing a more relaxed and inclusive experience built around whisky, classic cocktails and conversation.
The space at 23 Gilbert Place was already affectionately known by guests as “Hains upstairs”, according to owner Marcus Hains, making the decision to bring it into the Hains & Co fold a natural next step.
“It was time to make the upstairs space feel more inclusive and welcoming,” he said.
While whisky remains firmly at the heart of Admiral’s Quarters, Marcus says the new venue is designed to appeal to far more than serious whisky drinkers.
“You can now come up for a Margarita, some Champagne, a quiet date or an after-dinner drink and feel equally at home.”
The room itself has also undergone a transformation, designed to feel less like a traditional whisky bar and more like the private study of a well-travelled naval officer.
“We have introduced comfortable booths and intimate seating areas, made more of the balcony overlooking Edmund Wright House, and created a setting that feels collected over time,” Marcus says.
“Service is more personal and unhurried upstairs,” he added..
“Guests can settle into a table, ask for guidance through the whisky collection or simply order a classic cocktail without feeling that they need any prior knowledge.”
And while the whisky collection is designed to be discovered rather than displayed, there are some particularly special bottles tucked away for those who ask.
Among Marcus’ favourites are the Glendronach 29 Year Old 1989 Kingsman Pedro Ximénez and Yamazaki Mizunara 18 Year Old 2023, released to mark Suntory’s 100th anniversary.
He also has a bottle of Glendronach 15 Year Old Pedro Ximénez Puncheon with a particularly personal story, having hand-filled it straight from the cask at the distillery in Scotland.
“My current personal favourite is The Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch No. 7,” Marcus says.
“It’s a limited release that is becoming increasingly difficult to find. Fortunately, I loved it so much when it was released in 2020 that I stockpiled quite a few bottles!”
If you’re not a whisky drinker, there’s a cocktail list is filled with classics, with Marcus taking a deliberately traditional approach to the drinks.
“Every classic cocktail has a reason for existing in Admiral’s Quarters,” he says.
“Our job isn’t to rewrite them, it’s to make the best version of them.”
His current pick is the Sazerac, made with a blend of rye whisky and brandy in a New York-style interpretation.
“It is a slow sipper and the ultimate nightcap,” Marcus says.
For something a little more approachable, his wife’s favourites are the Margarita and Admiral’s Espresso Martini.
The Margarita combines Herradura tequila with Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao, while the Espresso Martini swaps vodka for Hains & Co’s own Admiral’s Spiced Rum, bringing warm baking spice, vanilla and richness to the drink.
Upstairs also continues the Hains & Co tradition of cigars, which can be enjoyed on the balcony overlooking the heritage façade of Edmund Wright House.
The food offering is deliberately concise, designed to complement the drinks rather than turn Admiral’s Quarters into a restaurant.
That includes Hains & Co’s much-loved Sea Pigs, which are house-made sausage rolls served with tomato, Shiraz and black pepper chutney, alongside golden halloumi bites with honey and lemon and sweet potato fries with aioli.
“For now, we want to concentrate on doing a small number of things extremely well,” Marcus says.
The upstairs space can accommodate around 50 guests, making it suited to everything from intimate dates and after-dinner drinks to small celebrations and private events.
And while it has a distinctly different atmosphere from the lively bar downstairs, Marcus says the two spaces are ultimately designed to work together.
“Downstairs has always had this wonderful energy – people laughing, celebrating and enjoying themselves,” he says.
“Upstairs is where that energy settles into conversation. Stories get longer, the pours become more considered, and guests settle into the experience.”
“You can have a great gin and tonic downstairs, then wander upstairs, sink into a lounge chair and watch the city from the balcony with a great dram or cocktail in your hand.”
“That’s exactly how we imagined people experiencing the venue.”
There is also a family connection behind the new name and evolution of the space, with Marcus’ grandfather, Ralph Louis Frederick Hains, providing the early inspiration for the upstairs venue.
“In many ways, I like to think Poppa would approve,” Marcus says.
“It’s still built around great hospitality, great conversation and sharing a good drink.”
Admiral’s Quarters
When: Wednesday to Saturday, 5pm to late
Where: Upstairs at Hains & Co at 23 Gilbert Place, Adelaide
To find out more, click here.
