Adelaide’s best restaurants know good things take time.
Every chef blazing a trail of culinary excellence in this city would agree on one thing. There is a secret to this place — it’s what makes our vines that much juicer, our produce that bit sweeter. Pace. We take our time harvesting ingredients, combining them with intention to serve you a taste of alchemy. We prefer quality, over quantity when it comes to food and drink experiences. You'll taste it in the kombu-cured swordfish, that took six hours to prepare. You’ll sense it when the waitress lingers a little longer, taking their time to guide you through the local wine list. You’ll see it from your chair at the chef’s table, watching on as the kitchen team slice seasonal produce with precision. Ready to slow down and taste more? We’ve curated a list of Adelaide’s best restaurants for 2025 — in the city and surrounding suburbs — all offering hospitality that’s unique to this place.

1 / 10
Fugazzi, CBD
Ever had a meal you can’t stop fantasising about? One that lingers in your mind long after the table’s cleared. You’ll find your fantasy at Fugazzi on Leigh Street, thanks to its famed gnocchi fritto. The crispy, golden dough is light and airy — with a warm and pillowy interior. Tear it apart with your hands and pass around the pieces to loved ones, before fighting for the first dip of whipped ricotta and honey. It’s the perfect balance of sweet, salty and savoury, with a punch of freshly cracked black pepper. Originating from Emilia-Romagna, it’s a dish rooted in tradition and comfort. That Italian warmth carries through the whole menu — from the handmade pasta, with dough so soft it melts in your mouth to the tiramisu served tableside, layered with mascarpone, coffee and cocoa.
Best for: Gnocchi fritto dipped into whipped ricotta and honey.
Local tip: It’s the kind of place everyone wants a seat at — book ahead to make sure you don’t miss out.

2 / 10
Station Road, CBD
At this French-inspired bistro tucked inside Festival Plaza, stories arrive by trolley. Servers pour Champagne tableside, lifting it from an ice bucket with a tale of its vintage. Later, the cheese cart rolls by — French wedges and local Section 28, each one introduced by rind and region, ready to be carved tableside. From your seat at Station Road, you can see straight into the open kitchen, where head chef Baine Stubbs and his team slice, sear and season. They turn Southern Rock lobster into a rich cannelloni and pair Aylesbury duck with sweet blackberries. The service is impeccable but never stiff — A little European. A lot South Australian.
Best for: Their Champagne list — pouring Louis Roederer and Cristal by the glass.
Local tip: Beyond the fine dining experience, the bistro also doubles as the perfect spot for a bar bite and bubbles. Drop in after work, before a show at the Festival Centre or after a game at Adelaide Oval.

3 / 10
Africola, CBD
Walking into Africola is like stepping into direct sunlight. You’re illuminated by the abundance of bright colours and patterns that beam from the walls. But the artwork and checkerboard tiling aren’t the only bold forces at play — owner and head-chef Duncan Welgemoed wields the energy. The South African chef has been a staple in Adelaide’s dining scene for years. His heritage, his story and his taste are seared into every corner of the busy restaurant — reflective, fiery, spicy and loud. Flavour is first and foremost, and that’s obvious when he’s making vegetables seriously tasty. Crunch into a sprouted lentil salad with pistachio and preserved lemon and let charred cauliflower reveal its smoky depth. Here, the simple pleasure is in the unexpected.
Best for: Their crispy chicken tea sandwich with peri peri drippings
Local tip: Book an outside tale during Adelaide Fringe season to people-watch as East End comes alive.

4 / 10
Arkhe, Norwood
Step inside this heritage listed building in Norwood and be enveloped by a sense of warmth — from the soft interiors and welcoming staff to a flame-powered approach to every dish. Walk past dry aging cabinets where local Mayura Station beef is suspended on hooks, before taking a seat at the wrap around counter encircling the open kitchen. From your front row seat, watch knives slice through spring onions with a crisp snap, as chefs shuffle past each other like line dancers in perfect rhythm. Their perfectly choreographed routine takes place before a three and a half tonne wood oven — a key set piece and a nod to the Greek origins of the restaurant’s name. Flames dance over every ingredient. Each plate at arkhé is a window into owner and head chef Jake Kellie’s fiery open kitchen.
Best for: 9+ Mayura Station wagyu tomahawk from SA’s Limestone Coast, dry-aged in-house.
Local tip: Follow @arkhe_restaurant for chef collaborations, one-off menus and specials that pop up throughout the year.

5 / 10
La Louisiane, CBD
This is the kind of place where stories cling to the walls. Red velvet curtains pool in corners, hinting at nights of burlesque and live jazz. Wax-dripped bottles flicker in the candlelight, warming the bones of this underground French brasserie. It’s all very romantic. Tables glow beneath flattering lamplight, soft and flickering, while the drinks list reads like a love letter to France — with local labels tucked between the pages. Escargot opens the meal, a spontaneous choice that earns its place. It’s followed by the stacked Gruyère burger and steak frites done the proper way. Somewhere between the second course and the second set, time slips away. And when the cheese and another glass of wine arrive, thoughts are already on your next visit to La Louisiane.
Best for: Date night with your loved one.
Local tip: Live jazz plays every night. Check the set times online and book your table to catch it at just the right moment.

6 / 10
Restaurant Botanic, CBD
Every dish at Restaurant Botanic is a work of art. The degustation feels more like a gallery collection, but unlike priceless pieces of art, here you are allowed to taste, touch and savour. Smoke billows off the hot rocks as the first dish is seared right before you. Leaning in, every ingredient and every detail is explained with passion by a highly skilled chef. The aroma of the next course wafts your way, stopping you in your tracks. What could possibly follow the five-star act that came before? Your answer arrives in the form of their signature dish — marron that shifts with the seasons, its delicate texture exceeding any conceivable expectation. Each of the courses borrows from its iconic location, using native ingredients sourced from the surrounding 51-hectare Adelaide Botanic Garden.
Best for: Degustation dining to celebrate a special occasion.
Local tip: Allow at least four hours for their signature experience (which you can book on the first of each month for two months out).

7 / 10
Aurora, CBD
Aurora is a place where hospitality goes beyond keeping your glass full — it’s about giving, with generosity built into their DNA. Sitting snugly within multi-level arts venue, ILA, Aurora reinvests its profits to help local creatives in Adelaide. That spirit of giving spills into every element of the experience. Most nights, it’s found in the details — the warmth of the staff and the precision of cooking over the open-flame braai. But on special nights, it’s amplified. You take your seat at The Immersive Table, a long candlelit dining setting surrounded by 50 square metres of LED screens. Trees stretch skyward. Mist rolls in. The room becomes a living, breathing artwork — and your degustation is the heart of it. Taste the artistry of a six-hour kombu-cured swordfish or a white chocolate shell disguised as an apple. Creativity flows through it all and follows you home.
Best for: Seasonal and sustainable dishes.
Local tip: Join the waitlist for the next ‘The Immersive Table’ — a sensory 5-course degustation set inside a room wrapped in LED screens.

8 / 10
Shobosho, CBD
Shōbōsho means ‘fire house’ in Japanese — a fitting definition for a venue with fire at its heart. Old traditions mix with the radical new, blending the ancient art of Japanese yakitori with the finesse of modern cooking. There’s a feeling of warmth that comes from more than just the cosy room itself. The long communal table is a tangle of limbs, with friends passing plates of scallop sashimi and duck potsticker dumplings. Conversation ignites the room as you drift closer to its spark — a crackling flame at the heart of this bistro. The heat draws you in, inviting you to pull up a chair at the eight-seater yakitori bar. The open kitchen affords you a connection with the chef while they cook for you. Watch them flip the spit-roast teriyaki chicken on the grill, flames licking at its sides as you pour some sake, highballs or beer. Here, fire feeds more than just the food.
Best for: Bringing the whole crew (up to 30 in the main dining area).
Local tip: Want a front-row seat to the flames? Book Shō, the eight-seat yakitori bar tucked inside.

9 / 10
Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant, Magill
Time seems to slow down when you dine at Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant. When there's no need to hurry, it's easy to appreciate the finer details. Like the passionate chef who steps out of the kitchen to present and assemble each course before you, letting your eyes take the first bite. Or the waiter who anticipates your needs, appearing right when you need them — not a moment too soon. With only 34 seats in this fine-dining restaurant, all attention is on you. That focus extends to the local sommelier, who artfully pours an iconic Penfolds Bin 707 cabernet sauvignon. This foothills’ estate boasts sweeping views of the surrounding vines, setting the scene for a relaxing and inviting experience.
Best for: A simple three-bite scallop hot dog that has food reviewers raving.
Local tip: Not up for the full splurge? Magill Estate Kitchen next door offers a more low-key way to enjoy Penfolds dining.

10 / 10
La Popular Taqueria, Port Adelaide
Some places plate food. La Popular Taqueria plates memories. Named after the Mexico City neighbourhood where chef Daniella Guevara Muñoz grew up, this tiny Port Adelaide taqueria mills its own corn and hand-presses every tortilla — each one a nod to home. Here, tacos are built on the holy trinity: handmade tortillas, vibrant salsas and carefully cooked fillings — no hard shells, sour cream or lettuce in sight. It’s how Mexicans actually eat them. To compliment your tacos, chilaquiles and rich, smoky sopa de tortilla arrives. The salsa packs heat, the broth runs deep. This is the kind of place where your fingers get sticky and your Mexican beer sweats on the table. It’s not flashy. It’s just exactly what it should be.
Best for: Chilaquiles — crunchy corn chips, salsa, crema and cheese.
Local tip: 2-for-1 margaritas most Thursdays. The Port Dock train station’s just around the corner, which locals will tell you is no accident.
Adelaide city’s just the beginning.
Head south and you’ll find vineyard kitchens, cliffside diners and country pubs that cook with the seasons in mind. Explore our guide to the best restaurants near McLaren Vale.