The 17 best restaurants in Adelaide

What is it? A fast-paced and neon-filled Asian diner with seating that spills onto Rundle Street.

Why go? One of the newest kids on the block, Paper Tiger arrived with a bang and is collecting fans all around town. Chef Benjamin Liew takes things back to his roots with a blend of Malaysian and Indonesian-style share plates, including crispy pork belly bao, peanut gado gado salad and Singapore chilli soft shell crab. Small in size but not in flavour, it’s also worth reaching for the grilled scallops, crispy chicken wings and kombu-cured tuna sashimi (warning: the spice is real). Try to score seats on the street at sundown and cap off the night with a tropical cocktail from the bar.

What is it? Afghan comfort food that the New York Times raves about.

Why go? Since 2009, the Ayubi family have been introducing diners to fragrant, flavour-packed Afghan staples in Adelaide’s inner west. Despite revealing their secrets in a popular cookbook, no home cook can replicate their legendary jewelled rice or banjaan borani (strips of eggplant simmered in tomato sauce and a potpourri of spices until they’re so soft they fall apart). Alcohol is BYO only (the owners use the proceeds to feed the homeless), but the atmosphere is convivial and the colourful interior is packed every night of the week.

What is it? A bustling, modern Thai restaurant with a value-for-money Tuk Tuk experience and plenty of outdoor seating.

Why go? A far cry from the suburban Thai joints you’re used to, this trendy spot in a historic building in Adelaide’s East End stays busy until late into the night with good reason. Zingy, spice-laden dishes burst with freshness and the hardest part is deciding what to order. Your best bet is to opt for the Tuk Tuk sharing menu, where the dishes will keep coming until you say stop (though you’ll still need to choose from the list of South Australian-leaning wines and inventive cocktails).

What is it? Classics done well; that's what they’re all about at this all-day Parisian café, bistro and bar. 

Why go? You know what’s cheaper than flights to Paris? A trip to Hey Jupiter. Behind a beautifully tiled facade that recalls the Metro stations of Paris, this brasserie hits the sweet spot between tradition and innovation. As a result, it’s as popular with boomers enjoying the chic brasserie vibes as it is with hospo staff ducking in before a shift. The extensive menu ranges from croissants, croque monsieur and cassoulet in the morning, to foie gras, steak frites and crepes Suzette past noon. Wine is a must and the bottles are proudly French, with beers, ciders, apéros and cocktails to play with too.

What is it? A retro bar cross party-sized pizza joint cross nightclub.

Why go? Come for pizza and a pinot noir, and stay for a boogie at this kitsch laneway joint. Somewhere between a restaurant, a bar and a nightclub from your favourite 70s film, Sunny’s was always destined to become a cult classic. And no matter which way you slice it, this buzzing spot slings some of Adelaide’s best pizzas. Fluffy Naples-style pies with just the right amount of chew are the main game, while the ‘not pizza’ section of the menu includes wood-roasted veggies and killer fried chicken. Just make sure you’ve got enough energy to hit the dance floor afterwards.

What is it? A mash-up between an art gallery and wine room, with a 400-strong list of minimal intervention drops.

Why go? In an old dry cleaner on super-hip Leigh Street, this narrow venue takes design cues from Parisian bistros that the owners visited on their honeymoon. Take a seat at the terrazzo bar and gaze up longingly at the enormous wall of natural wines sourced from near and far, before sitting down to elegant European-inspired share plates of housemade pasta, delicate seafood and proteins cooked over redgum coals.

What is it? A scenic spot for pizza and a Spritz, which overlooks the rolling hills of Carrick Hill and beyond.

Why go? First came Chianti, then came Bar Torino, and now the Favaro Group has opened a long-awaited Italian restaurant in the historic Carrick Hill estate. Perched on the balcony under the shade of big, striped umbrellas, you can take in picturesque views of the Adelaide foothills and tuck into Italian share plates. Start with a Spritz (of course), then fill the table with antipasti, including rosemary focaccia, anchovy toast and wood-roasted cauliflower. Pizza is a must too, and there are four woodfired discs to share around.

What is it? A blowout restaurant in the foothills of Penfolds winery’s historic Magill Estate vineyard (est. 1844).

Why go? Though it’s only fifteen minutes from the CBD, Penfolds’ Magill Estate is far enough into the foothills to offer stellar views back over the city. They’re matched by seriously sophisticated food; Chef Scott Huggins works with the finest SA produce in an innovative degustation menu that can be paired with predictably brilliant wines (go all out and order some Grange – you know you want to).

What is it? The best of South Australian regional produce on a plate and in your glass.

Why go? Seppeltsfield’s Fino made its city debut in 2019 with the opening of a sleek restaurant and wine bar on Flinders Street. Five years on and Fino Vino is still one of the city’s best, with its largely local menu that heroes the best of the seasons. At $55, the all-day express menu is an absolute steal and will let you sample three share plates, along with a glass of vino. Finish on a sweet note with the crema catalana, which has been on the menu since day one.

What is it? A seriously stylish modern Australian take on Italian food.

Why go? Worth visiting for the interior alone, Oggi upped the stakes for Adelaide dining when it opened in 2015. At once graceful and modern, the award-winning fit-out draws inspiration from a light-filled Italian piazza and is just as enticing. Grab a seat at the long concrete bar or one of the comfy booths and peruse a highly seasonal menu that melds Italian tradition with the best local produce. Expect plenty of cured meats and seafood, as well as pasta that’s made fresh daily (Oggi is Italian for ‘today’) on the deceptively simple menu that foregrounds fresh produce and bold flavours with an Italian-leaning wine list.

What is it? Fire rules at this izakaya, where flame-blackened timbers overlook an open kitchen filled with smoke and steam.

Why go? You can chat with the chef as you feast on flame-licked Japanese food at this intimate yakitori bar on Leigh Street. Watch the action from a seat at the bar and start with delicate, intensely flavoured small bites, before moving onto larger share plates that hero proteins from the yakitori grill and wood oven. For an even more intimate experience, grab one of the eight seats at street-level, spin-off Sho for charcoal-grilled skewers and whisky highballs on tap.

What is it? Hearty meats press the right buttons at this modern European bar and dining room in the heart of Adelaide.

Why go? Amid the office blocks of Waymouth Street, industrial Press* dishes up a super seasonal menu that caters for both casual and upscale nights out. There’s a focus on sustainably and ethically farmed produce, and you’ll find steak cooked up a handful of ways (are you team Dianne or Cafe de Paris butter?), along with vodka rigatoni, cacio e pepe arancini and pickled sardines on toast. Choose between a seat at the bar, a communal bench or the more formal loft upstairs.

What is it? A fine diner with a conscience (and an onsite music venue).

What is it? Taking sustainability beyond the plate and into the way staff and guests are treated, Aurora promises a feel-good fine dining experience. In the kitchen, the custom-made braai laden with vegetables, meat and fish hints at produce-driven mod-Oz with a South African soul food influence. You can go à la carte or lean into a beautifully-balanced five-course tasting menu, and because the profits from the restaurant help to fund onsite arts venues, on any given night there might be jazz, classical or modern dance performances happening throughout the 150-year-old building.

What is it? An industrial hip establishment that almost singlehandedly reinvented Adelaide city dining.

Why go? Peel Street is ground zero for Adelaide’s burgeoning small bar scene. But before all that jazz, Peel St restaurant redefined urban dining in Adelaide with trendy industrial décor and super-generous serves of creative modern Australian cuisine (with hints of Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines). The food, listed on a constantly changing blackboard menu, is sublime, and the vibe is totally unpretentious: quick-fire, communal and democratic.

What is it? Adelaide’s best Indian restaurant that just keeps on keeping on.

Why go? Trends may come and go, but this Adelaide institution is a constant. Generations of diners have made the trip into this unassuming basement knowing they can expect a friendly welcome and a menu of simple but consistently good subcontinental hits. Jasmin is big-hearted but still intimate, with just the right amount of flair. And if there’s a better prawn sambal in Adelaide, we want to hear about it.

What is it? An old-school Italian serving pizza and pasta just like nonna used to make.

Why go? For 150 years, Adelaide’s sprawling Central Market has been ground zero for local cooks specialising in every imaginable cuisine – so it’s fitting that it housed the first pizzeria in the state (some say the country). Today, Lucia’s is better known for its housemade pasta and sauces (Friday is lasagne day); rich, silky espresso; deep pan pizzas and one of Adelaide’s best parmigianas. The deli next door makes sandwiches so popular they have their own tea towel.

What is it? A plant-based degustation that doesn’t make you feel like you’re missing out.

Why go? This small 28-seat restaurant upstairs from Etica pizzeria doesn’t try to replace meat dishes with plant-based alternatives. Instead, every one of the ten dishes on the set menu is designed from the ground up to reflect the season. The result is a sophisticated dining experience that will delight vegans and omnivores alike.