I LOVE this library. Just a heads up: they are busy, and central, so you might have to reserve a book if you want to get your hands on it. But the internet is fast and the photocopying is super cheap. The staff are a mixed bag, but I've had one staff member iron out a sticky situation when a fine I'd paid wasn't deducted off my membership. It would have been expensive if she hadn't believed me and gone the extra mile to fix the problem!

There is a great kids' area too. I used to take my little sister to the library (she's too old for that now) and I would recommend it as an alternative to some of the incredibly expensive activities around for kids these days!

This store IS a little on the pricey side, but Kieren is a total gem. He's full of good stories and he's patient. He is so customer focused, unlike some salons where the customer is treated like a cash cow, where everything is done as quickly as possible.

The cuts are gorgeous, the colours impressive, and my hair is always AMAZINGLY soft and shiny because their treatments are a cut above the rest.

If you are looking for a great stylist in your area, I can recommend Kieren completely.

I usually buy my Birthday cake (the one for my restaurant dinner with friends, not the one my family makes or buys for me!) at the Adelaide Central Market, and the cakes you can buy there are gorgeous; you can find beautiful artisan cakes that are light as a cloud, elegant and impressive!

But if you don't have time, or you want something that is about half the price and will make everyone happy and glad, the cheesecake shop is a total winner. They are open til at least 5 on Saturday, and their cakes are so delicious. I especially love the beesting and the blueberry continental cheesecake - even though I am not a cheesecake lover, the continental is light and soft and creamy, not heavy and intense like most cheesecakes.

The strawberry fields is great too!

The customer service, too, was fantastic. The lady who served me made us laugh and said such lovely things to me about my birthday. I would go there again just to say hi to her!! Even though the cheesecake shop is a franchise, her awesome service made it clear that the service was personal and from the heart, a rarity!!!

There are also some vouchers you can get for your birthday on their website. Check the website for more details!

Approximate cost: $25

I took my awesome little cousins to the Beach House when they were visiting from Perth.

They absolutely LOVED it! The waterslides are fun, I went on them too, it's a family tradition, and the games kept them happy for a few hours.

I have facebook photos of us all on the bumper cars!

But this place is incredibly expensive and I can't help but think that might have been why it wasn't full. Other parents are savvy to the exorbitant prices.

We caught the tram down, so that was cheap, but by the time we had bought lunch and done all the activities, we could have gone to the museum or rock climbing or any activity, and had enough left over to eat somewhere super fancy or go shopping with my sister!

I will definitely go there again with friends' kids, and the like, but I would go on the water slides only and then pick another fun activity to do in the afternoon.

Approximate cost: $a lot!

When you're heading home from a dinner party that started at 6, and it's now somehow 2.30, and you're fuzzy headed and peckish again, Cafe de Vili's is open! It's open 24/7 and does the best, tastiest chips and gravy.

Because everything is baked on the premises, the pies and pasties are super fresh. If you're working in the area, it's a fantastic place for a quick, cheap, fairly healthy lunch.

An Adelaide Icon!

Nova does cheap monday tickets, 8.50 for every session for evening times or 7-ish for day sessions (I've never been during the day).

I go once a month on a Monday, at least. My sister and I have a deal where one of us pays one time and the other, the next.

For under $30, you get two tickets, popcorn and drink. Half of Adelaide seems to be there when there's a good selection of movies on.

On every other day of the week, the tickets are a bit expensive. And some of the cinemas are very small. But still, the movies they play are great, and they are in the middle of the city, so as long as you take a jacket it's always great, clean fun.

The Leigh Street Ajisen Ramen has unfortunately copped a lot of bad reviews.
I've never been there. But the good thing about a franchise, or different locations at least, is that the stores are completely different.

Here, the staff are polite and friendly and do a great job of getting your order out hot, fresh and on time. I always get the bento boxes, which are big portions, and very tasty, or the set meals, or the gyoza. Everything that friends and family have eaten has been fabulous.

I love this restaurant/cafe. And it's always full during lunch hour despite being tucked away in a shopping arcade, so you know it's good!

Don't let bad experiences with the other Ajisen Ramen put you off; this place deserves a look in if you like this style of food!

Approximate cost: $8-16

The best thing is that the Iconic do free returns.
Stocking some of Australia's best brands, you can buy something that looks gorgeous online knowing that you won't pay the price if it's too big, small or just plain ugly when it arrives.

I wish they stocked a few more things that I would like to buy, because I'm sick of making expensive returns to other online retailers.

I would recommend them above every online retailer that doesn't have such fair policies, because they give you complete freedom as you'd have if you bought the item instore!

This place is amazing for hungover breakfast on a Saturday (don't get too hungover and accidentally go there on a Sunday, as you'll find it closed).

The menu is great, with full breakfast, half serves, and the regulars like eggs florentine sharing space with specials like the amazing Raison Experience, a raisin toast confection with Poached pears, ricotta cheese and berries and almonds (so amazing!).

They do breakfast til very late and the lunch menu is always available, good for people like my boyfriend who prefers things like their quiche and amazing chicken pie to calm the hangover beast.

A quick note: they are often very busy, so don't expect quiet. They also do great weekday food I'm told, though I only go to Dr. Zuma's on a Saturday.

Vego's Mulligatawny soup (sorry, I can eat it but I can't spell it!) is so heartwarming and delicious, it's a winter staple. If you've got a cold or you're too busy for home cooking, I recommend it during winter.

During summer, any of the Vegos burgers are amazingly delicious. The tofu burger is to die for. And using Olive paste to spice things up is genius - I am a total sucker for it.

The owner has had vegos since I was a little girl and my mother used to take me. The food has gotten better and more goumet as time has gone by!

They also do delicious juices.

Vegos is, as the name suggests, vego and vegan. But unlike some vegan menus which are bland and boring, Vego's is quite spectacular.

As another reviewer has said, this place can get busy for lunch. If you want to share lunch with a friend who has a story to tell, you might want to try somewhere else or just try your luck - there are quiet spots some days.

Definitely a must-visit, and this from a self confessed meat lover.

Approximate cost: $7-15