Adelaide is known for many things: Rundle Mall, the Central Market and, as the saying goes, churches. It also happens to be home to two of our favourite things: beer and chocolate.
We travelled to Adelaide for a weekend, partly to catch the final weekend of Monet to Matisse: Defying Tradition at the Art Gallery of South Australia. While looking at a map of the city, I realised there were two long-standing, family-owned Adelaide institutions that were practically calling our names: Haigh's Chocolates and Coopers Brewery.
What better way to spend an afternoon than exploring a little of Adelaide's history through two of life's great pleasures?
Haigh's Chocolates
A bit of history
2025 marked 110 years since Haigh's Chocolates was founded by Alfred E. Haigh on 1 May 1915 in Adelaide, South Australia. More than a century later, the business remains proudly family-owned and operated, now in the hands of the fourth generation of the Haigh family, led by brothers Alister and Simon Haigh.
Easter chocolates from Haigh’s are something of a tradition in our house, so Haigh's has a particular place in our seasonal celebrations. The company began making chocolate Easter eggs in 1925. Before then, Easter eggs were generally made from moulded sugar paste rather than chocolate. By 2014, Haigh's was producing and dispatching more than 450,000 hollow chocolate Easter eggs to its stores. And I think we’ve contributed our fair share to that number each year.
Our visit to Haigh's
We weren’t exactly expecting Willy Wonka to do a barrel roll on arrival, but we were surprised at just how unassuming the storefront is. If it wasn’t for the big Haigh’s sign out the front, you might walk past thinking it was any suburban shopping strip.
The rich aroma of chocolate is immediately noticeable as soon as you walk through the door. There’s a shop, of course, but you’ll find similar ones in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. Step past the welcome desk and you’re on the factory floor — or at least able to observe it through glass. We watched the rich brown goodies tumble against the crisp white and steel backdrop as they moved through the various stages of production: from the panning room to the spinner room, hollow moulding, solid moulding and finally, enrobing. It’s a good word, as 'enrobed' in chocolate was how we felt by the end of our visit.
Pro Tip: Love chocolate but want to save some money? You can buy factory seconds at significant discounts. These are still high-quality chocolates, but may not quite meet the exacting standards of Haigh’s.
There are no photos allowed of the workings — it’s someone’s workplace after all — but there are plenty of vintage moulds and products on display to snap. Best of all, you can pick up some samples at the shop counter with pretty much any purchase.
Practicalities
Where: Haigh's Chocolates Factory and Visitor Centre, 154 Greenhill Road, Parkside SA 5063.
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Both free self-guided and paid guided tours are available.
Coopers Alehouse
A bit more history
If Haigh's represents Adelaide's sweet side, Coopers is here to look after the hoppy side.
Founded in 1862 by Thomas Cooper, Coopers Brewery is Australia's largest independent, family-owned brewery. It is still owned and operated by the Cooper family, now in its sixth generation.
Thomas Cooper arrived in Port Adelaide in 1852. After working in Adelaide as a cobbler, stonemason and dairyman, he discovered an unexpected talent for brewing. His first batch of beer was actually made as a tonic for his sick wife, Ann. Fortunately for Australian beer drinkers, the experiment was a success.
The family's commitment to independence has also been tested over the years. In 2005, Coopers successfully fought off a hostile takeover attempt by rival drinks company Lion Nathan. Lion had built up a 19.9% stake in the brewery and made an unsolicited cash offer for the business. The Cooper family strongly resisted the takeover, arguing that independence was central to the brewery's identity and future. The family-owned business survived the challenge, and Coopers remains independent today.
Our visit to the Coopers Alehouse
The Original Coopers Alehouse at the Earl (to use its full name) is a leisurely 15–20-minute walk up Unley Road/Pulteney Street from Haigh’s. Whether you’re visiting Australia or just feeling nostalgic for a traditional Aussie pub, the Coopers Alehouse quietly screams “old school”. As soon as we stepped in the door and saw the wood panelling, the glistening taps, cricket on the telly and the spinning brass paddles over the bar, we felt immediately at home.
We were also really impressed with the pub menu, which ranges from pub classics to pizza and nibbles. Not only were there plenty of vegetarian options throughout the menu, there was a whole vegan section that included gnocchi, a tofu and veggie brochette and a wood-fired pizza. Our pick on the day was the moreish Manchurian fried cauliflower.
Coopers is perhaps best known for its Original Pale Ale and the fruitier, more robust Sparkling Ale. The distinctive green and red labels have become familiar sights in Australian pubs. There's also the Best Extra Stout and a range of seasonal releases, including the Vintage Ale. We had a few glasses of the latter, which was wonderfully malty and suited the throwback day we were having.
Practicalities
Where: The Original Coopers Alehouse, 316 Pulteney Street, Adelaide SA 5000.
Opening hours:
Monday to Thursday: 11:30 am – 10:30 pm
Friday and Saturday: 11:30 am – midnight
Sunday: 11:30 am – 10:30 pm
Lunch and dinner are available.