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

Check out our guide to the 12 best cafes in Adelaide.

Beyond the winding bitumen and coastal views lies another side to Victoria’s most famous route.

There’s something hypnotic about this stretch of Victoria’s coast. Maybe it’s the way the road hugs the ocean so tightly, or how the cliffs catch the sun in colours you can’t name. Or, for local Victorians who drove this route as kids, maybe it’s the memories of winding through the impossibly tall trees as they seemingly guide you on your journey like wooden guardian angels. Most travellers know it for the 12 Apostles, but there are plenty of alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road equally as worthy of your time.

So, next time you’re in that neck of the woods, park that car, stretch those legs and try these experiences.

1. Discover living culture at Budj Bim

Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism — Walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Breakaway Creek’s Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is a masterclass in educational storytelling. Join a guided tour with Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism to walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system, where the Gunditjmara people built sophisticated eel traps and stone channels more than 6,000 years ago.

Budj Bim’s aquaculture system predates Egypt’s pyramids by roughly 2,000 years, making it one of the oldest examples of human engineering on Earth. If that’s not enough to get your history-loving family members involved in this road trip, we’re out of ideas.

2. Unwind in the hot springs at Warnambool

woman relaxing at Deep Blue Hot Springs — Let mineral-rich water heal you.

If your legs need a break after a long drive, Deep Blue Hot Springs is your remedy. The geothermal pools sit just metres from the coastline, filled with mineral-rich water that bubbles up from deep underground. Move between open-air baths, waterfall pools and quiet zones made for meditation.

The water in Deep Blue’s geothermal pools comes from an ancient aquifer nearly 850 metres below the Earth’s surface, which, in non-scientific terms, means it’s far more likely to have healing properties than the mineral water you’d find at the supermarket.

3. Take to the air at Princetown

12 Apostles Helicopters flight alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road — See an icon from a different view.

You may have seen the Twelve Apostles from the trusty viewing platform, but a helicopter flight with 12 Apostles Helicopters shows you just how sprawling and rugged this coastline really is.

The trip covers everything from Port Campbell to London Bridge (not to be confused with the UK’s own), giving you a rare chance to watch waves carving the limestone cliffs from above. It’s worth noting that the limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles are said to erode by roughly two centimetres each year, so the longer you leave it, the less of the Apostles you’ll see.

4. Step into the past at Flagstaff Hill

Continue the tour through Warnambool at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and Museum , a recreated 19th-century port town. Hear stories from the days when shipwrecks were as common as seagulls, with an astounding 180 ships believed to have sunk along the Shipwreck Coast in less than five years.

The night show, complete with lights, sound, and sea spray, brings the coastline’s most dramatic stories to life.

If you’re staying the night, Simon’s Waterfront offers relaxed dining with fresh local seafood and oceanfront views. Order the catch of the day and toast to the sailors who never made it ashore.

5. Learn to surf in Torquay, Lorne, or Anglesea

kid having a lesson with Go Ride A Wave — Learn how to hang 10. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Whether you’ve surfed before or can barely stand on a board, Go Ride A Wave will have you upright in no time. Torquay’s calm beaches are ideal for first-timers, while Lorne and Anglesea bring a bit more energy for those unafraid to get dunked.

Bells Beach, just down the road from Torquay, has even hosted the world’s longest-running professional surfing competition since 1962. So, for those eager to have a gander at pros using surfboards like they’re an additional appendage, the competition usually runs sometime in autumn.

6. Tackle the trails in Forrest

Barwon Flow Trails Otways Flow MTB — Hire a bike and explore MTB trails through the Otways.

Forrest is a haven for mountain bikers thanks to an expansive network of trails through stunning natural scenery. The Forrest trail network has almost 100 kilometres of singletrack across 36 trails, so there’s something for every level of rider. That’s including more than 60 kilometres of purpose-built mountain bike trails winding through the Otways’ dense forest. Cycle through ancient myrtle beech trees and towering tree ferns, with smaller ferns and soft mosses forming a carpet at your feet.

Hire a bike from Forrest MTB Hire and take your pick from easy, scenic rides to more challenging singletracks, such as Red Carpet or Rollercoaster.

7. See wildlife up close in Apollo Bay

bush rat on Wildlife Wonders tour — Get help spotting the locals. (Image: Doug Gimsey)

If spotting koalas and kangaroos in the wild feels like winning the lottery, Wildlife Wonders gives you guaranteed sightings without cages or crowds. Every visit to the sanctuary helps fund the Conservation Ecology Centre which supports endangered species across the Otways, so your business is appreciated by humans and animals alike.

The guided walk takes you through protected Otways habitat where you might spot potoroos (or joey lookalikes for those unfamiliar with a potoroo), wallabies, and sleepy koalas lounging in the trees.

8. Visit the Cape Otway Lightstation

Towering over the sea on a cliff above the Southern Ocean, Cape Otway Lightstation has been guiding ships since 1848. Before the lighthouse was built, Cape Otway was one of the most treacherous points on the Victorian coast, with dozens of shipwrecks occurring in its surrounding waters. Pick the right day, and you may bump into a local willing to tell you about the wreck of Eric the Red .

While at the Cape Otway Lightstation, explore the keeper’s quarters, walk the coastal trails, and take in views that only stop short at the horizon.

And no, contrary to popular belief, the Round the Twist lighthouse is actually located in Split Point, just shy of two hours in the direction of Melbourne. Nothing’s stopping you from embarking on a lighthouse crawl, though.

Plan your next no-stone-unturned journey along this iconic Aussie road at visitgreatoceanroad.org.au.

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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8 experiences to get the most out of Victoria’s Great Ocean Road

Beyond the winding bitumen and coastal views lies another side to Victoria’s most famous route.

1. Discover living culture at Budj Bim

2. Unwind in the hot springs at Warnambool

3. Take to the air at Princetown

4. Step into the past at Flagstaff Hill

5. Learn to surf in Torquay, Lorne, or Anglesea

6. Tackle the trails in Forrest

7. See wildlife up close in Apollo Bay

8. Visit the Cape Otway Lightstation