The green light has been given for developers to build Adelaide's tallest tower, a 134-metre-high hotel and apartment building on Frome Street in the East End.

Part of the Kyren Group's Frome Central project, the 34-storey tower will sit next to a 21-storey student accommodation building between Rundle Street and North Terrace.

The tower will come in 2 metres higher than Westpac House, which has been Adelaide's tallest building since 1988.

Project manager Steven Kotzias said it was a great opportunity for the city's East End.

"This is a unique opportunity to lead Adelaide's CBD into a new era, and with a tramline extension down North Terrace, the future Old Royal Adelaide Hospital regeneration, we believe it's a much-needed boost for the city," he said.

"It's a building and an opportunity to lead Adelaide ... into an era of height and will really be an extension of the city's skyline."

The developers said work would start first on the student building next year, with the taller tower due for completion by 2019.

The latter will be made up of a hotel, serviced short-stay apartments and residential apartments.

Mr Kotzias was confident the "premium residential product" would be in demand.

The Development Assessment Commission granted the project approval this week.