Port Adelaide's riverfront revival adds a new drawcard: dockside dining venue Juno
Port Adelaide's long-dormant riverfront precinct is about to gain a new anchor tenant, with restaurant-meets-function-venue Juno confirmed to open on the Port River this Spring.
The project, complete with a dock out front for boaties to pull up and order brunch, is being driven by Shane Hryhorec, a developer with a track record for restoring heritage buildings around Port Adelaide, working alongside the operators of two established local venues, Daddy West and Confession.
Daddy West general manager Rhett Dryburgh told GLAM Adelaide the site itself was the starting point for the concept, having stood vacant on the waterfront for several years despite once housing a well-loved hospitality venue. "It's such a unique space that had been sitting unused on the Port Riverfront for the past couple of years," Rhett said. "In the past, it was home to another hospitality venue, a real place of meeting and community and we wanted to bring that spirit back while breathing new life into this iconic location."
Built out over the water, Juno will run as an all-day operation serving coffee and breakfast for early risers and brunch and lunch through the week and weekend. There will also be private functions and events by night. Boaties moored at the dock will be able to order via QR code without needing to come ashore.
"We'll be catering for early mornings, perfect for a coffee before work or during a walk around the river, as well as late weekend brunches and weekday lunches," Rhett said. "We'll also be hosting events in the evening, so anyone interested in functions or private events is encouraged to reach out."
The riverfront position also puts diners within view of the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary. Rhett said the outlook was one of the venue's standout features.
On the menu, Juno will lean into South Australian producers, drawing on partnerships with Mayfair Bakery & Patisserie, Milledge's Distillation and Pirate Life Brewing. Rhett described the offering as "unpretentious brunch and lunch staples, sweet treats, grab-and-go options, great coffee and a thoughtful selection of beer, wine and spirits that showcase what South Australia does best." The fit-out follows suit, with a palette of blue tones and warm timber accents reinforcing the marine setting.
The Juno name carries its own maritime backstory tied to the river it sits on. A steamship called Juno was the first vessel to enter the Port River under her own mechanical power in 1847, a milestone marking the shift from colonial settlement to working port. A second ship of the same name followed decades later.
"Later, in 1904, another ship named Juno operated ferry services between Port Adelaide and Port Vincent, called the Port home and now lies shipwrecked just off Garden Island in the very river Juno sits over," Rhett said.
There's a mythological layer as well. Juno is the Roman goddess of marriage, protection and renewal, a fitting tie-in given the venue's ambitions to become a wedding and events destination. "In some traditions, under the title Juno Fluonia, she is associated with river water, flow, and purification; a subtle connection to water and the river setting," Rhett said. "Her name also lives on in the month of June, which is also the name of one of the dolphins that calls the sanctuary home."
Juno
When: Spring 2026
Where: Port Adelaide
Jonathan Jackson, 23rd June 2026
