The Best Restaurants In Adelaide | Australian Traveller

Surrounded by rich wine regions and fertile agricultural land, Adelaide’s restaurant scene has long punched above its weight and the abundant local produce means that quality and affordability go hand in hand.

Balancing world-renowned wine with the freshest produce imaginable, South Australian chefs have long been known for making foodies’ dreams come true.

Book a seat at one of the best restaurants in Adelaide and you’ll discover kitchens working with local producers to create a distinct sense of place, resulting in memorable dining experiences that linger long after the last of the sauce has been mopped up.

The shortlist

Great for special occasions: Restaurant Botanic
Best wine list: Magill Estate
Best for long lunches: Sofia Bistro
Best for casual eats: Peel Street

1. Restaurant Botanic

With an unbeatable location in the middle of the 51-hectare Adelaide Botanic Garden, it’s no surprise that the kitchen at Restaurant Botanic makes liberal use of the many onsite plants. They find their way into everything from garnishes to garums, helping to add a hyperlocal touch to elaborate degustations that unfold over four hours and feature 20+ “flavour combinations".

the lakeside Restaurant Botanic in Adelaide — Restaurant Botanic sits by the lake in the leafy Adelaide Botanic Gardens. (Image: Jonathan van der Knaap)

The leisurely pace means that both dinner and weekend lunches see only a single sitting, allowing the kitchen and floor staff to be generous with their time.

a look inside Restaurant Botanic in Adelaide — Snag a seat with garden views. (Image: Jonathan van der Knaap)

Named the top restaurant in Australia several times over, a visit is as much about the experience as what’s on the plate, with presentation worthy of a gallerist, impeccable service and a drinks list (including a non-alcoholic “temperance" pairing) that benefits from as much care as the food.

a close-up of a dish at Restaurant Botanic, Adelaide — Restaurant Botanic cares about the experience as much as the food. (Image: Jonathan van der Knaap)

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$$$$

Atmosphere: Modern elegance

Review: 5/5

Location: Plane Tree Dr, Adelaide

2. Osteria Oggi

There are plenty of Italian restaurants in Adelaide, but this classy joint stands head and shoulders above the rest.

a female staff at Osteria Oggi arranging tables — Osteria Oggi offers intimate dining in the heart of the CBD. (Image: Josie Withers)

Whether you visit at lunch or dinner, simply follow the long marble bar through several arches into the piazza-inspired back room and you’ll feel like you’ve been transported from bustling Pirie Street to a regional Italian square.

pouring a drink into a glass alongside a dish on the table at Osteria Oggi — This classy joint serves up sophisticated Italian food. (Image: Duy Dash)

Then all that’s left to do is grab a seat in one of the arched booths and check out the menu that lives up to the restaurant’s name (“oggi" means today).

a table-top view of the Italian menu at Osteria Oggi, Adelaide — The Italian menu at Osteria Oggi stands above the rest. (Image: Duy Dash)

That means fresh pasta made every day, from classics like carbonara to tagliatelle with blue swimmer crab and campanelle with smoked eel, along with elegant piatti piccoli (small plates) and heartier offerings in the secondi section.

the dining area at Osteria Oggi, Adelaide — Grab a seat in one of the arched booths. (Image: Duy Dash)

Cuisine: Italian

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Warm and inviting

Review: 4.5/5

Location: 76 Pirie St, Adelaide

3. Peel Street

There’s a reason this Peel Street favourite is busy every night of the week (except Sunday, when it closes its doors). The warm, personal service epitomises hospitality and the fabulously fresh plates that meld Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian cuisines are generous enough that you can almost guarantee there’ll be leftovers.

friends dining al fresco at Peel Street, Adelaide — Pop by Peel Street for casual eats. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

A large blackboard menu changes regularly, but the banana blossom salad is a non-negotiable. Put it all together, and you have a people-pleasing joint that makes it easy to sit back and enjoy life, and if you fancy a post-dinner drink you can find some of Adelaide’s best laneway bars just a few metres away.

friends drinking outside Peel Street, Adelaide — Grab a post-dinner drink at laneway bars next door. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Cuisine: Modern Australia

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Relaxed

Review: 5/5

Location: 9 Peel Street Adelaide

4. Parwana Afghan Kitchen

Since opening this labour of love in 2009, the Ayubi family have become legends in Adelaide’s hospitality scene.

the dining interior of Parwana Afghan Kitchen in Adelaide — Nab a seat in the charming and cutesy dining of Parwana Afghan Kitchen. (Image: Duy Dash)

A large part of that is the menu that packs in plenty of flavour without ever trying to be cutesy – the jewelled rice with slivers of candied orange and pistachios is justifiably famous, and the decadently gooey banjaan borani (eggplant braised in tomato sauce and served with tangy yoghurt) is to die for.

a close-up of a dish at Parwana Afghan Kitchen, Adelaide — Parwana Afghan Kitchen serves up dishes close to home. (Image: Duy Dash)

But there’s more to this spot in Adelaide’s inner west than what’s on the plate. Indigo and salmon walls adorned with old family photographs are a reminder that these dishes provide a very real connection to home, and the Muslim owners use corkage fees to buy and cook food for local homeless people on the weekends.

a spread of food on the table at Parwana Afghan Kitchen, Adelaide — Their Afghan menu is bursting with flavour. (Image: Duy Dash)

Cuisine: Afghan

Price: $$

Atmosphere: Warm

Review: 5/5

Location: 124B Henley Beach Rd, Torrensville

5. Magill Estate

Situated on the Penfolds estate in the foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges, this sumptuous spot has set the bar for Adelaide’s fine dining scene for decades. Just a fifteen-minute drive from the city, it’s still high enough to afford magnificent views of the vineyards, city and the sparkling Gulf St Vincent beyond.

friends enjoying dinner at Penfolds Magill Estate — Magill Estate has set the bar for Adelaide’s fine dining scene for decades. (Image: Tourism Australia / South Australian Tourism Commission)

Expect plenty of wow factor on the plate as well – chef Scott Huggins curates an indulgent tasting menu that combines dramatic presentation, opulent flourishes like caviar and truffle and his signature snack – a crispy deboned chicken wing packed to the brim with lobster and scallop meat.

a winery tour at Penfolds Magill Estate — See the underground tunnels on a heritage-listed winery tour. (Image: Tourism Australia / South Australian Tourism Commission)

The drink pairing unsurprisingly makes liberal use of the Penfolds cellars – opt for the Icon Pairing and you’ll get to taste some seriously impressive back vintages pulled from the museum.

friends exploring the cellar of Penfolds Magill Estate — Peek into the Penfolds cellars. (Image: Tourism Australia / South Australian Tourism Commission)

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Refined

Review: 4.5/5

Location: 78 Penfold Road, Magill

6. Sofia Bistro

The first thing you notice when entering this newcomer , which is part of a Hutt Street renaissance, is the warm welcome. The second is how well it uses its relatively small footprint. An abundance of natural light makes this all-day bistro feel surprisingly spacious, especially during daylight hours. The kitchen is open from breakfast (or brunch on weekends) right through to dinner, but it’s still worth booking ahead if you want one of the comfortable banquettes. Or you could sit at the bar and watch puffy flatbreads, vegetable skewers and proteins emerge from the wood-fired oven. Even the most voracious eaters will be satisfied with the ridiculously generous option, which pairs selections from the oven with cold plates like Sicilian-style crudo featuring kingfish, tuna and scallops. And if you want to settle in for the afternoon, you’ll find a wine list that pairs local classics with some lesser-known lights.

Cuisine: Italian

Price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Cosy

Review: 4/5

Location: 16 Hutt St, Adelaide

7. Black Dog Gallery

There’s no shortage of Japanese restaurants in Adelaide, but this unassuming diner in the city’s leafy Eastern suburbs sits comfortably among the best.

a bowl of noodles at Black Dog Gallery, Adelaide — Slurp on a comforting bowl of noodles at Black Dog Gallery.

A menu that covers plenty of Japanese classics is augmented by daily specials that skew more contemporary, leaving room for rich, creamy bowls of soy and miso ramen, karaage soft shell crab sliders and colourful poke bowls topped with sweet braised eel.

a Japanese dish at Black Dog Gallery, Adelaide — Choose from their Japanese menu.

The anything-goes spirit carries over to beverage offering, which always includes an idiosyncratic selection of specialty Japanese teas and craft beers that help make every visit feel like a journey of discovery.

black dog Kuro posing for a photo at Black Dog Gallery, Adelaide — Black Dog Gallery was named after black dog “Kuro".

Cuisine: Japanese

Price: $$

Atmosphere: Casual

Review: 4/5

Location: 4/455 Greenhill Road, Tusmore

8. Topiary

There’s no mistaking the time of year when you visit this casual restaurant that occupies a 140-year-old cottage in the centre of a suburban nursery. Whether you’re ordering breakfast eggs served with roast pumpkin and miso or tucking into a lunch featuring fresh figs in a bed of honey-spiked feta and celeriac schnitzel topped with fennel oil, it’s important not to get too attached to any dishes as the menu constantly changes to make the most of the seasonal bounty. Owner Kane Pollard draws much of his produce from the site and follows a no waste, made from scratch philosophy that sees bread and cheese made in house and even the smallest by-products repurposed into tasty morsels.

a table-top view of the menu at Topiary, Adelaide — Topiary offers a plant-based dairy-free degustation menu.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$

Atmosphere: Serene

Review: 4.5/5

Location: 1361 North East Road, Tea Tree Gully

9. arkhé

When chef Jake Kellie says he likes to cook over fire, you’d better believe it. With no gas or electrical stovetops, everything at this stylish neighbourhood fine diner is grilled, toasted, charred, roasted, caramelised and even fried over glowing chunks of river red gum. And the menu is far from a parade of proteins slapped on the grill (though the richly marbled steaks, butterflied fish and southern rock lobster are all done to perfection).

the classy black and white restaurant interior of arkhé, Adelaide — The interior at arkhé screams classic elegance. (Image: Timothy Kaye)

Kellie shows a surprisingly light touch on flavour-packed small bites like the signature parfait tartlet à la Burnt Ends, a slightly more than bite-sized pastry filled with plush duck liver parfait and topped with a delicate brûléed shell, while ingredients cooked over flames also make their presence felt in several smoky cocktails.

cocktail glasses alongside a plate of oysters at arkhé, Adelaide — Order smoky cocktails to pair with your oysters. (Image: Duy Huynh)

To top it off, Kellie has leveraged his international connections to host regular collaborations with some of the finest chefs from around Australia and the world, ensuring there’s always something new happening at arkhé.

Chef Jake Kellie preparing in the kitchen of arkhé, Adelaide — Chef Jake Kellie likes to cook over fire. (Image: Duy Huynh)

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Contemporary chic

Review: 4.5/5

Location: 127 The Parade, Norwood

10. Fino Vino

The city outpost of Fino Seppeltsfield may lack the Barossa restaurant’s broad courtyard and cellar filled with ageing tawny, but the creations emerging from the kitchen here are every bit as enticing.

pouring wine into a glass at Fino Vino, Adelaide — The three-course express menu lunch includes a glass of wine that is an absolute steal for $55. (Image: Julian Cebo)

A fit-out that goes heavy on exposed brick and natural materials mirrors a culinary philosophy that leans towards the classics and allows the flavours in the fresh local produce to shine.

the restaurant interior of Fino Vino in Adelaide — Fino Vino is a contemporary chic restaurant perfect for night outs. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Add in front-of-house guru Sharon Romeo’s note-perfect service and the legendary crema catalana for dessert, and you have all the ingredients for a perfect night out. And if you’re popping past at lunch, the three-course express menu lunch that includes a glass of wine is an absolute steal for $55.

a spread of food on the table at Fino Vino in Adelaide — Fino Vino leans towards the classics. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Contemporary chic

Review: 4.5/5

Location: 127 The Parade, Norwood

11. Makan

Accessed via a narrow set of stairs, this venue is billed as a wine bar but the name (which means “to eat" in Malaysian) points towards a broader ambition.

a plate of shellfish at Makan restaurant, Adelaide — Makan serves up pan-Asian dishes.

Enticing flavour combinations abound on both sides of the offering, with a 60-strong wine list featuring local natural wines alongside Chinese and Japanese drops (plus some sake and umeshu) and a pan-Asian menu that stretches from Indonesia to Japan.

a table-top view of a dish at Makan restaurant, Adelaide — Enjoy enticing flavours at Makan.

Punchy snacks including prawn “doughnuts" and betel leaves with salmon and green mango match the playful tone of the neon-lit interior, while bolder Chinese flavours shine through in larger plates like jiao ma chicken and smoked chacha cauliflower.

a snack platter with a dip at Makan restaurant, Adelaide — Kick it off with a punchy snack platter.

Cuisine: Japanese

Price: $$

Atmosphere: Trendy

Review: 4/5

Location: Lv1 116 Flinders Street, Adelaide

12. Aces

This old-school Italian restaurant in Adelaide’s Chinatown has been through many iterations, but the latest one might just be the best. Plush red carpet and dim lighting give the downstairs dining room the retro air of a classic Little Italy joint, while the black and white tiled upstairs bar features DJs and a dancefloor on weekends. It’s no surprise that hearty pasta dishes do most of the heavy lifting on the menu, but you’ll also find a few surprises in an appetiser section that features tender lobster ravioli and neatly cut lasagne skewers. Look further and you’ll even find a nod to Aces’ location with Italian-Chinese crossovers including spaghetti vongole à la Golden Century and a “yum ciao" lunch menu of small plates made for sharing.

Cuisine: Italian

Price: $$$

Atmosphere: Vibrant

Review: 4/5

Location: 96 Gouger St, Adelaide

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From thundering waterfalls to ancient Indigenous art, Kimberley’s raw beauty will take your breath away.

Wild, pristine, and shaped by nature, the Kimberley Coast is one of Australia’s most spectacular landscapes. A remote and rugged frontier that remains a bucket list destination for many travellers. Its most breathtaking attractions – including Montgomery Reef, King George Falls and Horizontal Falls – are accessible only by sea or air, making a guided expedition cruise aboard Silversea’s luxury expedition ship, Silver Cloud, the ideal way to explore it.

From its intricate intertidal zones to ancient rock art, extreme tides and rare wildlife found nowhere else in Australia – or the world – this journey offers an unparalleled exploration of one of Earth’s last true wildernesses.

Why Silversea?

Silversea offers a 10-day expedition departing Broome, or an extended 16-day expedition voyage from Indonesia, including landings on the hidden gems of Palopo Sulawesi and Komodo. Accompanied by expert guides and specialists in marine biology, history and geology, guests gain a deeper understanding of the Kimberley’s dramatic landscapes, rich cultural heritage and extraordinary biodiversity.

Silversea offers one of the experiential travel industry’s leading crew-to-guest ratios. Along with all-suite accommodation (80 per cent with private verandah), 24-hour butler service, a swimming pool and four dining options. Silver Cloud also has an experienced crew of multilingual expedition guides and specialists in marine biology, history and geology to enhance your Kimberley Experience.

silversea cruise ship pool deck — Take a dip in the pool deck.

1. Koolama Bay

Before visitors see King George Falls, they hear them – a growing rumble in the distance, steady and foreboding as the Zodiac glides through the gorge, the sound echoing off sheer rock formations. At 80 meters tall, the twin cascades carve through the red cliffs, churning the waters below in a spectacular finale – but Koolama Bay holds secrets beyond its striking scenery.

Named after a ship that beached here following an aerial attack by Japanese bombers in World War II, the bay may seem desolate, yet it teems with life. With Silversea’s expert guides on their 10-day Kimberley itinerary, guests gain a sharper eye for its hidden wonders – rock wallabies darting across the cliffs, crocodiles lurking among dense green mangroves, and high above, the silhouette of a bird of prey circling the sky.

King George Falls at koolama bay excursion on Silversea Kimberley Cruise — Take a shore excursion to see King George Falls.

2. Freshwater Cove / Wijingarra Butt Butt

Connect with Country on a wet landing at Freshwater Cove, also known as Wijingarra Butt Butt. Considered one of the most special experiences on both the 16-day and 10-day Kimberley cruises, Silversea guests are welcomed by the traditional Indigenous custodians of the land, painted with traditional ochre, and invited to take part in a smoking ceremony.

Located on the mainland near Montgomery Reef, Wijingarra Butt Butt holds deep cultural significance to the local Indigenous community. Here, rock formations along the shore represent spiritual ancestors, and guests are guided to a nearby rock overhang filled with ancient art, where traditional owners share the stories and meaning behind these sacred paintings.

welcome to country on freshwater cove during silversea kimberley cruise — Take part in a smoking ceremony. (Image: Tim Faircloth)

3. Vansittart Bay (Jar Island)

Modern history, ancient culture and mystery converge in Vansittart Bay, which is also known as Jar Island. Here, the first thing to catch the eye is the dented, silver fuselage of a World War II-era C-53 plane – a striking relic of the past. Yet, the true cultural treasures lie just a short hike away where two distinct styles of Indigenous rock art – Gwion Gwion and Wandjina – can be found.

The Wandjina figures, deeply connected to Indigenous traditions, stand in stark contrast to the enigmatic Gwion Gwion (Bradshaw) paintings, which date back more than 12,000 years. Significantly different in form and style, the two different styles create a striking juxtaposition, offering a rare glimpse into the region’s rich and complex past.

aerial view of Vansittart Bay, See it in you Silversea Kimberley Cruise. — Explore ancient Gwion Gwion rock art at Vansittart Bay. (Image: Janelle Lugge)

4. Horizontal Falls

Part illusion, part natural phenomenon, the Kimberley’s much-lauded Horizontal Falls aren’t a waterfall, but a tidal and geographic spectacle that visitors have to see to comprehend. Known as Garaanngaddim, the phenomenon occurs when seawater rushes through two narrow gaps- one just twenty metres wide, and the other seven metres in width, between the escarpments of Talbot Bay.

With each tidal shift, the force of the water creates whirlpools, furious currents and the illusion of a horizontal cascade as thousands of gallons of water are pushed and pulled in through the gap every six hours with relentless movement, making this one of the Kimberley ’s most mesmerising natural wonders.

Horizontal Falls are described as "One of the greatest wonders of the natural world". They are formed from a break in-between the McLarty Ranges reaching up to 25m in width. The natural phenomenon is created as seawater builds up faster on one side of the gaps than the other, creating a waterfall up to 5m high on a King tide. — Watch whirlpools and furious currents collide. (Image: Janelle Lugge)

5. Montgomery Reef

As the tide turns in Montgomery Reef, magic happens. With the Kimberley’s legendary tides varying up to ten metres, at low tide the submerged reef almost appears to rise from the depths: exposing up to four metres of the sandstone reef.

The impact is otherworldly: as the water drains, waterfalls cascade on either side of the channel, turtles left exposed scramble and dive, and fish leap in search of sanctuary in shallow pools. Meanwhile, the dinner bell rings for the migratory seabirds dugongs, reef sharks and dolphins that scavenge and feast in the area.

Using zodiacs, guests cruise through one of the world’s most significant inshore reef systems navigated by experienced guides, exploring the most intricate and fascinating parts of a 300-square-kilometre-wide biodiversity hotspot.

aerial view of boat going along Montgomery Reef — Witness seabirds, dolphins and reef sharks on the hunt.

6. Mitchell Falls by Helicopter

Experiencing the Kimberley by sea allows you to feel the power of the tides, but travelling by helicopter reveals the sandstone tapestry of the Kimberley, a landscape geologists believe is over 1.8 billion years old.

One of Silversea’s most popular optional excursions , guests who opt to fly into the interior from the onboard helipad soar up above the rust-coloured landscape of the Mitchell plateau, taking in one of Australia’s most scenic waterfalls: Mitchell Falls, a series of four emerald-coloured pools gently cascades into each other, before plunging down to the river below.

Seeing the landscape from above reveals a landscape weaved and shaped by the power of the freshwater wet season, juxtaposed to the constant lapping of the relentless and powerful tide on the coast.

aerial view of mitchell falls on silversea helicopter excursion — See emerald pools cascade into the river below. (Image: Tim Faircloth)

7. Indigenous Art Caves, Wandjina Art

The Kimberley Region of Western Australia is home to some of the most striking and significant

Indigenous rock art in Australia. Dotted throughout the landscape are caves, cliffs and rock overhangs depicting the striking, ethereal image of Wandjina, the rainmaker spirit and creation being central to many of the Dreamtime stories in this region.

Some of the paintings are regularly repainted by traditional custodians, while others are believed to be over 4,000 years old. Each artwork serves as both a cultural record and a living connection to the past, offering a rare opportunity to engage with the enduring traditions of the Kimberley’s Indigenous communities.

Freshwater Cover Rock Art the kimberleys — Walk among cultural records preserved in stone. (Image: Tim Faircloth)

See the best of this incredible part of the world on a Silversea Kimberley cruise. Book your 10- or extended 16-day expedition voyage at silversea.com

The best restaurants in Adelaide for every occasion

Surrounded by rich wine regions and fertile agricultural land, Adelaide’s restaurant scene has long punched above its weight and the abundant local produce means that quality and affordability go hand in hand.

The shortlist

1. Restaurant Botanic

2. Osteria Oggi

3. Peel Street

4. Parwana Afghan Kitchen

5. Magill Estate

6. Sofia Bistro

7. Black Dog Gallery

8. Topiary

9. arkhé

10. Fino Vino

11. Makan

12. Aces

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7 Kimberley experiences that need to be on your bucket list

From thundering waterfalls to ancient Indigenous art, Kimberley’s raw beauty will take your breath away.

Why Silversea?

1. Koolama Bay

2. Freshwater Cove / Wijingarra Butt Butt

3. Vansittart Bay (Jar Island)

4. Horizontal Falls

5. Montgomery Reef

6. Mitchell Falls by Helicopter

7. Indigenous Art Caves, Wandjina Art