Adelaide’s best places to eat and drink in 2026

Tucked neatly between the fertile Southern Ocean and three wine regions that moonlight as picturesque food bowls, Adelaide has long enjoyed an excellent position when it comes to produce. Local chefs have joined the party in recent years, drawing on global culinary traditions and a healthy dose of creativity to bring to life a rich dining scene that is accessible, affordable and full of pleasant surprises.

propeller

Perfect for: authentic Afghan soul food

After fleeing Afghanistan in 1985, food gave the Ayubi family a tangible connection to their homeland, and the black-and-white photographs covering the bright blue, rose, and tangerine walls of this inner-western restaurant invite them to journey there with them. Slow-cooked banjaan borani eggplant has achieved legendary status, and even rice takes center stage, thanks to caramelized carrots, pistachios and slices of seedless raisins gracing Kabul’s palate.

124B Henley Beach Road, Torrensville. Phone: 08 8843 9001. See parwana.com.au

herringbone

Perfect for: Contemporary classics in a cozy atmosphere

Business meetings and post-gym diners are equally welcome at this low-key spot on a quiet city street, where owner Paul Tripodi embodies true hospitality and provides a range of services as a waiter, sommelier, photographer and concierge. The cuisine draws liberally on influences from across the Mediterranean, and the only strict rule is that you should always order the focaccia; this is handy for cannellini bean sauce studded with chermoula or gorgonzola and for scooping up the brown butter sauce left behind by pan-fried gnocchi.

72-74 Halifax St, Adelaide. Phone: 0428 926 977. See. herringbonerestaurant.com.au

Flying Fig Delicatessen

Perfect for: the complete Jewish deli experience

Unfazed by the latest Instagram trends, this bluestone and redbrick cafe in leafy North Adelaide stays true to what it knows. That means crowd-pleasing New York Jewish classics like lox bagels, latkes, and vinegar-based shrubs, but it’s the flashy Reuben that inevitably draws envious glances from surrounding tables. A towering masterpiece of house-smoked bacon, Swiss cheese, kohlrabi and cumin sauerkraut amid slices of dark rye, it’s best handled with two hands.

161 Jeffcott St, North Adelaide. Phone: 08 7226 1788. See theflyingfigdeli.com.au

Makan

Perfect for: natural wines and Southeast Asian sharing plates

An adventurous wine list full of local micro-producers and a few surprises from further afield (Chinese chardonnay anyone?) make this neon-lit hideaway the perfect option for cheeky imitations. When you stay for dinner, you’ll find equally bold flavors leaping from every plate. Malaysian, Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese influences collide magnificently in dishes like crispy shrimp buns with tom yum sauce and roti murtabak stuffed with confit duck leg.

L1/116 Flinders St, Adelaide. Phone: 0450 966 665. See. makanwinebar.com

Lucia’s Pizza and Spaghetti Bar

Perfect for: Italian classics like Nonna does

Located at the entrance to the bustling Central Market, this Adelaide institution has been going strong since 1957. Allegedly Australia’s first pizza restaurant, it also introduced locals to real coffee and (uncanned) spaghetti. The recipes and decor have barely been updated since then, and everything still looks like it came straight from Nonna’s kitchen; If pizza and pasta aren’t your thing, grab one of the bright orange tables and order the pan-fried veal parmigiana with hand-cut chips.

Store 1-2, Central Market, Gouger St, Adelaide. Phone: 08 8231 2303. See lucias.com.au

Restaurant Botany

Perfect for: Target dining in the heart of the CBD

Accessed from an avenue of majestic Moreton Bay fig trees, this highly acclaimed fine dining restaurant in the Botanical Gardens offers a true dining destination in central Adelaide. The epic tastings unfold over four hours and more than 20 courses, each interspersed with items foraged from surrounding gardens and indigenous Australian produce that goes well beyond the usual suspects. Expect to find ingredients like turban periwinkle, crocodile tongue and bunya bunya branches woven into elegantly plated dishes, and the presentation adds a sense of theater that more than justifies the long running time.

Plane Tree Dr, Adelaide. Phone: 08 8223 3526. See. restaurantbotanic.com.au

OMADA Bar & Barbecue

Perfect for: modern Greek created to be shared

Adelaide’s CBD is dominated by neoclassical sandstone buildings but this modern Greek restaurant offers a more contemporary update on the classics. The newest venue in Simon Kardachi’s hospitality empire eschews blue-and-white-striped Hellenic stereotypes in favor of minimalist accoutrements and generously flavored modern Greek fare made for sharing. Work up your appetite and know that once you try the gyros sprinkled with pork cracklings and wrapped in super soft homemade pita, you’ll never be able to look at midnight gyros again.

46 Currie St, Adelaide. Phone: 08 7118 4391. See omadabargrill.com.au

Allegra

Perfect for: Vegan fine dining with something for everyone

Earthy tones dominate this 28-seat restaurant, located above the Etica pizzeria, but nothing is quiet about the flavor-packed vegan creations coming out of the kitchen. For a single weekend each month, the micro-seasonal tasting showcases creative dishes like soy-marinated roasted watermelon with zinc mint and coriander chutney. Umami-rich miso soy butter and hemp seed cream mean there’s no risk of FOMO for omnivores, and the take-home snack extends the treat well into the next morning.

125 Gilles St, Adelaide. Phone: 0404 129 686. See. allegradiningroom.com

mandoo

Perfect for: Divine dumplings with a Korean touch

Whether you’re partial to momos, pierogis, or xiaolongbao, it’s hard to beat dumplings as a comfort food. But none quite resembled the house’s expertise in this hole-in-the-wall joint. Packed with glass noodles, minced pork, vegetables and kimchi, each handmade takeaway is served with house pickles and spicy choganjang dipping sauce, and one bite is enough to justify the constant queuing out.

Shopping 3/26 Bank St, Adelaide. Phone: 0475 032 828.

Topiary

Perfect for: A plant-focused lunch in a living garden

Located on a working nursery in Adelaide’s north-eastern tip, this 150-year-old lodge starts each day as a cafe and then turns to lively lunches using only South Australian produce. Everything from the sourdough to the cheese is made in-house, and chef Kane Pollard’s zero-waste philosophy means it’s rare to see a dish without a sauce or vinaigrette made from by-products, but you don’t need to be an expert. MasterChef Decide to enjoy dishes like graffiti eggplant breaded with radicchio and golden gazpacho.

1361 North East Road, Tea Tree Gully. Phone: 08 8263 0818. See topiary-dining.com

Osteria Oggi

Perfect for: modern Italian along with first-class design

A lot has changed in the decade since Oggi arrived along with Adelaide’s small bar boom, but this modern Italian wonder continues to impress. The long concrete bar is a portal from bustling Pirie Street to a square-like atrium with cobblestone floors; Every day feels like summer here, and la dolce vita takes the form of salumi from a racecar red meat slicer, pasta made fresh every morning, and tables piled high with vibrant Italian wines.

76 Pirie St, Adelaide. Phone: 08 8359 2525. See osteriaoggi.com.au

Candyman Gelato

Perfect for: late night sugar rush

Cult chocolatier Alex Crawford’s pastries used to draw lines around the block, but there’s no need to wait for miso and chocolate chip cookies or Willunga almond baklava, as they’re now available in gelato form.

The store’s nightclub-bright lighting heralds some adult flavors among the dozens of scoops on offer, but if you take a leap of faith you’ll be rewarded with flavor bombs like mascarpone custard, blackberry and smoked salt gelato, topped with a pool of yuzu-infused olive oil.

197 Hutt St, Adelaide. To see thesugarman.com.au