It’s a good day to be a sando lover in the city! Cult favourite delicatessen Bottega Bandito has expanded its cute millennial pink cafe to the CBD, set to open at James Place, just off Rundle Mall. The second site of the beloved Prospect joint will offer the same iconic sandwich fillings in fresh sourdough focaccia, pastries, coffee and more.

Since 2021, Bottega Bandito has garnered a loyal following thanks to its commitment to crafting all breads and pastries in-house. Adelaide’s had a huge appetite for the fresh loaves across the last three years, so much so that the Bandito team has decided to include a micro-bakery in its new haunt.

“Our original location has been a huge hit, there’s always a high demand for our freshly made sandwiches and pastries,” says managing director of The Big Easy Group, Oliver Brown. “Our vision for the CBD location is to replicate the charm and quality of our Prospect venue, with the added excitement of the micro-bakery.

“We found the baking process to be so mesmerising that we felt it needed to be put on display within the venue.”

Head Pastry Chef John Laguna has been painstakingly refining his baking skills since the venue’s inception. Beginning with Executive Chef Shane Wilson’s sourdough starter culture (developed a decade ago when Wilson was at Bistro Dom), Laguna uses only the highest quality ingredients to craft Bandito’s famed bread. “All of our butter is French,” he says. “And the process is rigorous, spanning three days with every step temperature controlled.

The sourdough culture also helps kick off fermentation, giving “everything [Bandito] makes a signature Bottega flavour that cannot be recreated.”

The new Bottega Bandito joins the Big Easy Group family (who are the brains behind venues like Anchovy Bandit, Bandit Pizza and Wine, Bowden Brewing and more) and will offer takeaway and dine-in options seven days a week. With the addition of the micro-bakery, the venue will continue its tradition of daily production of freshly baked goods across both locations.

Stay tuned to Bottega Bandito’s socials to find out when the second store is opening!