Seven Grounds: The Art of Fusion

Art on the wall. Art in the cup. Asian fusion on the plate.

Seven Grounds makes its presence felt on Hawker Street.

As I walked up to the entrance of Seven Grounds, a café on Hawker Street in Brompton, it was impossible not to look left. Stretching across the wall was this massive mural, big, bold and bursting with colour. It makes quite a statement before you’ve even reached the door. There’s a lot going on in the artwork, and you get the feeling there’s a story behind it. As I was about to discover, the mural is only the beginning.

Looking down on the heart of Seven Grounds.

Step inside and there’s plenty to take in. High ceilings, timber, greenery and natural light create a relaxed, modern feel. The open kitchen puts the action right in front of you, while upstairs there’s a mezzanine overlooking the space below. Despite the café’s size, it still feels warm and welcoming.

The kitchen team at work.

Something else caught my attention: the name. Why Seven Grounds? The “grounds” part is straightforward enough. It’s a reference to coffee. But seven has a little more behind it. I discovered the three owners all have birthdays in July, the seventh month of the year, while Brompton’s postcode is 5007. Look closely at the logo and you’ll spot two sevens worked into the design. Clearly, the number seven helped steer the story from the beginning.

A quick chat with the staff revealed another interesting side to Seven Grounds. Among the team were people with backgrounds spanning the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan and Vietnam. That’s quite a cultural mix under one roof in Brompton, and the food reflects it. Asian influences run right through the menu.

There are some interesting surprises among the brunch offerings. The dumplings have been on the menu from the beginning and come with a nice family connection. They’re handmade by one of the owners’ mothers, something I confirmed with the chef. Chilli scrambled eggs, an Asian omelette and Adobo Yakisoba bring ingredients such as chilli oil, yuzu, bonito flakes, Japanese mayo and pickled ginger into the mix. The menu still has plenty of familiar choices, but they’re not afraid to give them a little twist.

I’ve always liked an open kitchen. You can watch the chefs at work and see exactly what’s happening with your food. To me, it shows confidence in what they do. There’s nowhere to hide, and I like that.

Turkish Eggs dish heading out to the table.

Around the tables, the food was getting plenty of nods. Turkish eggs and the chilli scramble were among the favourites, while I went for the granola bowl. Fleurieu Greek yoghurt, seasonal fruit, Beestings granola and a wattle and honey syrup made it fresh and just sweet enough. The cinnamon apple pieces were the standout for me, adding great flavour and texture. Everything I saw coming out of the kitchen looked impressive, colourful and well presented.

Jasmine Crisp’s latest work commands the wall outside.

Seven Grounds has used Melbourne-based coffee roaster St Ali since opening on Hawker Street in 2020. My cappuccino was smooth and creamy, and tasted as good as it looked. But there was another little detail worth noticing. Each cup seemed to arrive with a different design in the froth. The two baristas can create up to eight different designs. I noticed customers comparing the artwork in their cups.

Almost too good to drink. Almost.

That brings me back to the mural that first caught my attention. Adelaide artist Jasmine Crisp painted the original in early 2020, when she was just starting out as a mural artist. After six months painting overseas in 2024, she returned home feeling her earlier work no longer reflected what she could do. So she approached Seven Grounds with an unusual offer. She’d paint a completely new mural for free, this time with more creative freedom.

Completed in 2025, the new mural draws on an unusual tradition Jasmine discovered during her travels. Inspired particularly by her time in Thailand, it features elements of modern street shrines, where food and everyday treats are left as offerings to spirits. Seven Grounds wanted to keep the Asian food theme, so Jasmine combined it with her own ideas and details she’d noticed around the café.

A quieter corner away from the main dining space.

The colour continues beyond the mural. Brompton has changed considerably from its industrial, city-fringe roots and seems to be finding a new rhythm. Wander through the surrounding streets and it appears in unexpected places, with mosaic-covered Stobie poles and planters adding character along the way. Seven Grounds feels right at home here.

A little local character hiding in plain sight.

There’s a lot to like. The food has personality, the coffee is made with care and the friendly team brings a genuine warmth.

At Seven Grounds, the art isn’t confined to the wall.

Photography by Brett Partington

My choice for brunch - Granola Bowl.

Please subscribe below to receive Feature Stories, Event Reviews, What’s On Guide, Beyond SA direct to your inbox.