Adelaide's Book Clubs Reclaim City Pubs With Wine-And-Chapters Sessions

The city's literary social scene is quietly turning into something more than library reading rooms. At the Strathmore Hotel on North Terrace, a new book club called 'Read Between the Wines' launched on July 9, 2026, meeting every second Tuesday from 6pm with a featured book and wine pairing. It's a format that swaps the hushed library table for a bar stool and a glass of shiraz.

The Venues

The idea of a book club in a hotel is not a new one, but Adelaide's version has found a natural home. The Strathmore, at 129 North Terrace in the CBD, has long been a local landmark; now it's also a meeting point for readers who want a structured conversation over drinks. Meanwhile, Bibliotheca Bar & Book Exchange at 27 Gresham Street offers a different take-a European-style bar where books and spirits sit side by side, open seven days a week. Bibliotheca isn't a formal book club, but its shelves and easy atmosphere make it a natural spot for informal meet-ups or quiet reading with a cocktail. The two venues, taken together, show how the city's reading scene is moving beyond the traditional library.

The city's public libraries are not being left behind. Adelaide City Libraries runs three book groups in the CBD and North Adelaide area-at City Library, Hutt Street, and North Adelaide-all meeting on the first Thursday of each month. The Hutt Street group is currently at capacity, which suggests demand is running ahead of available seats. For those who want a different kind of gathering, the Tough Guy Book Club meets at 7pm on the first Wednesday of every month in Adelaide, while Dymocks Mall runs a classics book club every Wednesday. Matilda's Bookshop in Stirling, just outside the CBD, hosts 'The Red Door Book Club' for adults on the last Thursday of the month, along with youth clubs for ages 9 to 16.

Who's Behind It

The growth of these groups hasn't come from a single organiser. It's a patchwork of independent bookshops, hotel management, library staff and, in the case of Tough Guy, a national franchise that has found a local chapter. The 'Read Between the Wines' club was created by the Strathmore Hotel itself, tapping into a mix of regulars and new faces who want more than a bar snack with their book group. Bibliotheca Bar started as a passion project-a place where the city's gap between a good read and a good drink was finally bridged. There's no single founder to point to; the scene has grown because readers themselves kept showing up.

Where It's Headed

For anyone looking to join, the options are clear. The library groups meet on the first Thursday of the month (Hutt Street is full, so City Library or North Adelaide are safer bets); 'Read Between the Wines' runs the second Tuesday from 6pm at the Strathmore; Tough Guy gathers the first Wednesday at 7pm; Dymocks classics meets every Wednesday; and Matilda's Red Door runs the last Thursday. Bibliotheca Bar is open daily for walk-ins. The city's book club scene is not a single movement but a collection of distinct gatherings-each with its own venue, its own regulars, and its own reason for meeting. And for now, there's still room for new readers.