Arson attack guts cafe that fed the homeless

A cafe-running couple are "devastated" by an arson attack that badly damaged their Adelaide cafe.

Ladle Of Love on Little Sturt Street makes lunches for a local school canteen and feeds the local homeless people.

The owners, Adella and Leo Contieri, had planned to leave for a holiday cruise today, travelling through the South Pacific with their 10-year-old son.

"We saved all year for our holiday," Ms Contieri said.

"And we're going to have one disappointed little boy."

Fire crews were called to the cafe just before 5am today after a neighbour noticed a plume of smoke.

It didn't take fire crews long to extinguish the blaze, but soon after another danger became apparent.

A damaged gas pipe was leaking, forcing firefighters to plug it until the supply could be cut off.

Police believe the blaze was deliberately lit.

Two adjoining businesses suffered smoke damage.