Charles Rawlings-Way

Forget the ‘City of Churches’ tag – Adelaide has just as many pubs, not to mention bars of all persuasions, which have ridden a boom in recent years following a tweak to licencing laws that now allow small bars to serve booze without food.  From a city-fringe craft beer nook called The Suburban Brew and a hidden speakeasy by the name of Maybe Mae to a cosy cabin right in the thick of it dubbed Pink Moon Saloon, there’s an Adelaide bar to suit every mood and tipple of choice. The 'big country town' is also a UNESCO ‘City of Music’, so expect to hear some live jazz, an acoustic troubadour or at least a DJ spinning rock classics while you quench your thirst. Oh, and don’t forget the wine. Given that South Australia is the nation’s wine-producing heartland, you can anticipate nothing but top bottles here. Without further ado, here are the best bars in Adelaide as chosen by our local expert writers, Dale Anninos-Carter and Charles Rawlings-Way, who've been perusing the scene for more than a decade and observed the ebbs and flows of the city's late-night hospitality world (and been part of it too). For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines. 🍺 Adelaide's greatest pubs for a cold beer🍹 The best rooftop bars in Adelaide🍽️ All the best restaurants in Adelaide right now

Combining seriously stylish design with access to abundant fresh produce from the surrounding wine regions, Adelaide’s restaurant scene has the best of both city and regional dining. Forward-thinking mod-Oz cuisine is informed by food traditions from across the world, which are also visible in everything from Afghan comfort food to Parisian classics and what might be Australia’s first pizza restaurant.  The accompanying wine lists are just as wide-ranging, encompassing powerful Barossa reds, spritzy natural wines and everything in between, all served by knowledgeable staff. And the best bit? Even the extended degustations sit at a price point that will come as a pleasant surprise to East Coast diners. Contributing writer and 11-year resident of Adelaide, Dale Anninos-Carter, has long been scouring the city for the utmost tastiest fare within dining rooms that tick all of the boxes. Together with Time Out’s local food authors, we’ve curated this guide to the best restaurants in Adelaide for all your eating pleasure – and these 21 spots are bound to do the trick. March 2025: Since our last update, we’ve knocked a few restaurants off the list and added recently opened eateries that are already turning heads to our guide, like LVN at Bird In Hand and Monica Bistro, too. Further, we've included up-to-date opening hours, addresses and how much you should expect to pay, along with our tips for each restaurant. For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial g

Australia’s charming climates and picturesque landscapes are a recipe for some of the world’s finest wines. You’ll find more than 100 grapes grown across our leading wine regions, which are concentrated in South Australia’s Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, NSW’s Hunter Valley, Victoria’s Yarra Valley, Western Australia's Margaret River, and beyond. You could spend weeks jumping between cellar doors in each region, sipping fine wines all day long – but that’s probably not entirely sensible. Why not start with our 30 top picks, and take it from there? Whether you opt to journey as part of a group or embark on an impromptu self-guided tour, these are the wineries to uncork. 🍽️ The best restaurants in Australia🍹 Australia's top bars for a tipple☕️ Where to find the best coffee in Australia

For far too long, South Australia has lived in the shadows of our nation’s more populous states. But with its world-class wineries, dazzling festivals and vibrant cultural scene, South Australia is now a must-visit on any trip Down Under. The state’s capital, Adelaide, is an obvious place to start your southern adventure, with the stunning McLaren Vale and Barossa Valley wine regions just a short drive away. A scenic road trip north will take you to underrated gems, like the Flinders Ranges or Coober Pedy. Alternatively, head south and ferry across to Kangaroo Island, our Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley’s favourite South Australian spot. Better yet, why not tick off all the incredible destinations on our list of the best places to visit in South Australia? The world is your oyster (top tip: you’ll find the freshest ones in Coffin Bay). 😱 All the best places to visit in Australia🥾 Where you need to go in Tasmania🚘 Everywhere you need to travel in Western Australia

Now, there’s nothing wrong with a good old-fashioned sushi roll. However, there’s a whole other world out there when it comes to Japanese cuisine. Although the quick-fix snack may be tempting, we’re here to inspire some curiosity. Go nuts at lesser-known suburban cafés that are dreaming up teriyaki chicken eggs benedicts, or sit fire-side and gawk as Kobe beef transforms right before your eyes.  Whether you want no-frills or all of the frills, there’s a Japanese restaurant in Adelaide to satisfy all your umami cravings. Here’s our pick of the best Japanese joints in town. 🍕 The best pizza in Adelaide🍽 The best restaurants in Adelaide🍝 Adelaide's best Italian restaurants

Standing in a McLaren Vale vineyard on a hot summer afternoon, gazing across the vines to the shimmering Gulf St Vincent, this place could be Tuscany... But that’s just the wine-tasting talking. McLaren Vale is definitively South Australian – and at just 45 minutes south of Adelaide, it’s also one of the most easily accessible wine regions in the country. Backed by the rippling topography of the Willunga Scarp, McLaren Vale’s agrarian landscape is a gorgeous patchwork of vineyards that was, at one stage, nominated for a World Heritage listing. Shiraz grows ridiculously well in the Vale’s deep terra rossa limestone soils – but with 80-plus cellar doors to visit, you’ll also find grenache, sangiovese, fiano, vermentino and other Med styles with which to blur your afternoon. Grab a map at the visitor centre, get someone else to drive, and start tasting. 🍷 Best wineries in Australia🍇 Best wineries in the Barossa Valley🌳 Best wineries in Clare Valley

Australians are constantly in a heavenly food coma, courtesy of Italian cuisine. This is thanks to the huge influx of Italian immigrants who arrived on our shores after World War II, bringing not just a suitcase of dreams, but a whole lot of pasta, pizza and parmesan. Whether you’re craving fresh antipasti straight from The Boot, hand-rolled pappardelle with rich ragu, wood-fired sourdough pizza or boozy tiramisu made just like nonna, we’ve scoured out the best Italian restaurants in Australia for every occasion. Our team of expert local writers has independently chosen these spots for their authentic flavours, prime locations, buzzing ambience and signature Italian hospitality. In Sydney, a cheery waterfront spot has been serving classic Italian hits for more than a decade. In Brisbane, live lobster is plucked from tanks and tossed through house-made spaghetti. And in Hobart, a tiny CBD wine bar keeps the vibes flowing with vinyl records all night. Take your pick! 🍽️ All the best restaurants in Australia right now🍕 The best pizzas in Australia🍔 Where to find the best burgers

There’s always time for a tipple when you’re travelling around Australia. Our thirsty country is swimming in stellar watering holes that are loved by locals and tourists alike. We’ve even got a handful of contenders on the World’s 50 Best Bars list to back us up. Whether you’re looking for a fancy spot for cleverly crafted cocktails or a natural wine bar with superb snacks, our local Australian editors and drink writers have curated this list of all the best bars in Australia right now. Start drinking your way through it! 🍽️ The best restaurants in Australia🍷 Australia's best wineries☕️ Where to find the best coffee in Australia

‘Barossa' is a name synonymous with world-class wine. Characterised by its luscious rolling countryside dotted with charming stone churches, this compact region is home to many of Australia’s most renowned and historic wineries, including Penfolds, Henschke and Seppeltsfield.  However, the Barossa Valley is more than just an idyllic place to drink, dine and unwind. Just under an hour’s drive northeast of Adelaide city, the Barossa boasts fantastic farm gates, gorgeous goldfield trails and luxurious lodges, for when you’ve had a glass (or two) too many. Here are the top spots to drink, eat, explore and rest your legs in the Barossa Valley. 🍷 The best wineries in the Barossa Valley🚗 Here are the best day trips from Adelaide✨ All the best wineries in Australia

Just a tick over 64km north of Adelaide, the compact Barossa Valley is one of the world’s great wine regions. This is traditional Peramangk and Ngadjuri country, with baking hot summers, cool winters and mineral-rich soils – perfect conditions for producing big, beefy red wines. Shiraz is the local hero, with some mighty fine rieslings emerging from the slightly higher, slightly cooler Eden Valley sub-region, just over the rise. There are more than 150 wineries in the Barossa, and an astonishing 80-plus cellar doors. You could spend weeks going between them, sipping fine wines all day long – but that’s probably not entirely sensible. Why not start with our top picks, and take it from there? RECOMMENDED:🍷 Best wineries in Australia🍇 Best wineries in the McLaren Vale🌳 Best wineries in Clare Valley

Take Main North Road out of Adelaide and keep driving for an hour and a half. As you roll into Ngadjuri Country, photogenic little Auburn marks the southern bookend of the Clare Valley. There’s a real shift in the landscape here: the silos and rolling wheatfields of the Mid North district give way to vineyards, historic stone villages and sheltered creek beds studded with huge old redgums. Clare itself, the valley’s northern bookend, is just 24 kilometres further on: in between are 50-plus wineries (around 35 cellar doors), bottling up mineral-rich reds, semillon and riesling to rival the world’s best. Snaking through it all is the 33km Riesling Trail, a disused rail line that’s been converted into a bike/hike path, taking you past some of the valley’s top cellar doors. So saddle up and get sipping. Here's our pick of the best wineries in the Clare Valley. 🍷 Best wineries in the Barossa Valley🍺 Best bars in Adelaide🌳 Best things to do in Adelaide

Adelaide has a lot to thank its thriving Italian population for, who have been imparting their vibrant culture to this city since the 19th century. In fact, the number of citizens of Italian heritage is second only to those of English extraction, so it’s no surprise that the garden city has some of the country’s best Italian restaurants. Whether you’re after the best takeaway pizza for the ultimate night in or sophisticated secondi for a celebration, Adelaide’s Italian restaurants have it all. Take your pick from our favourites below.  🍷 The best restaurants in Adelaide🍕 Adelaide's best pizza joints☕️ The best cafés in Adelaide

Not far north of Auburn’s heritage main street, with its rambling flower gardens and honey-coloured stone cottages, Taylors is one of the Clare Valley’s biggest operators. But in Taylors’ case, big volume and big distribution haven’t translated into any tailing-off in wine quality. It’s still a family-run business (most of the key players here are Taylors), and – if you can excuse the questionable castle-style architecture – the cellar door experience here is down-to-earth and personable. The range of wines produced here is impressive, from splash-it-around backyard barbecue blends to exquisite hand-crafted reds that nudge $300 per bottle.  Pre-booked tasting sessions are a bargain (from $5, redeemable with purchase), or you can extend your afternoon with a $20 wine-and-cheese or wine-and-chocolate experience. Serious wine buffs can opt for ‘the Pinnacle’ tasting experience, which takes you through Taylors’ top-flight range, including salubrious Pioneer shiraz and Visionary cab sav.

We’re not sure who Mae is or why she’s feeling so uncertain, but her underground speakeasy sure is cool. Cocktails, fine wine and retro-rock vibes make for a seductive combo, underpinned by a local and sustainable ethos. Duck in for a quick G'n'T after work and stay till 2am. The hardest part is finding the unsigned door (hint: it doesn’t look anything like a door). Head upstairs to Bread and Bone Wood Grill afterward if you’ve worked up an appetite (burgers and dogs FTW).

It's a little bit French and a big bit classy. La Buvette has raised the late-night drinking scene in Adelaide’s West End to new heights. Not to yuck anyone's yums, but most of the booze rooms around here are either mainstream haunts with muscled-up/mini-skirted clientele or old-school strip clubs of endlessly ill repute. La Buvette delivers something far more refined: fine French wines and aperitifs in understated laneway surrounds.

Adelaide’s East End is a high-rent scene: for a bar to make it here, it’s gotta be good. NOLA (shorthand for New Orleans, Louisiana – the mood here is very Deep South) has proven it’s got what it takes. A killer range of whiskies, boundless craft beer, Cajun eats (chow down on cornbread, grits, po’boys and fried chicken) and regular jazz maintains the bayou buzz.

Spinning off from Clever Little Taylor, one of Adelaide’s pioneering small bars is equally petite – a micro-wide cabin wedged into an alleyway off buzzy Leigh Street. The room at the front is where the drinking happens, leading into a courtyard with a food shack out the back – wood-fired, slow-cooked meats are the specialty of the house. It’s an innovative and compact example of how small can be mighty; just don’t walk past too fast or you’ll miss it.

Check out that façade! Built in 1901, Electra House is fronted by some serious stonework – all Corinthian columns, shapely balusters and muscle-clad gargoyles. Inside, the Chamber Bar is also a knockout, with six-metre-high ceilings, black-cane barstools, tan leather booths, mosaic tiles and tall windows the size of pool tables. It's a favourite haunt of barristers and bankers drinking Tanqueray and cocktails, and on a balmy night, you can dress to impress and hit up the jaunty brick-and-glass Garden Bar.

Real-estate agents tout ‘location, location, location’ as the winning triad, but at Bank Street Social the formula is ‘local, local, local’ (as applicable to beer, wine and spirits). Head downstairs and lean into the no-frills vibes: exposed brickwork and chunky timber beams set the scene for fab drinking den worthy of any occasion. It’s a laid-back space offering sweet relief from Hindley Street’s red-necked heartland, and live vinyl spinners and fab pizzas seal the deal.

Sail your yacht down Gilbert Place in Adelaide’s West End and moor yourself at Haines and Co for the evening. The nautical theme is a little out of whack in downtown Adelaide but charming in its own slightly incongruous way: think wall-mounted anchors and boats in bottles. And since the bar is apparently cobbled together from chunks of the old Largs Bay jetty, this shipshape aesthetic certainly passes muster. It’s a handsome port in a storm and a beaut of a bar, perfect for a gin on a hot afternoon or a rum on a cold night.

Adelaide and its hilly backdrop are home to around two dozen gin distilleries – welcome to the gin capital of Australia. One of the city’s flagship downtown distillers, Prohibition, gives the gin thing a 1920s spin. Its tasting room features a wall of interesting botanicals to ensnare the senses and inspire conversation. The ‘Next Door Bar’ is a more intimate cocktail room, but you can admire the chunky square gin bottles decking the bar in either space.

This Goodwood Road taproom is barely in the titular suburbs: at around 1km from Adelaide’s CBD, ‘city fringe’ might be a better description. Beyond a big grey roller door, the space opens out into a roomy, industrial beer hall with crafty pale ale, English bitter and heavyweight black IPA ready to be pulled into some pints. For those in search of old school pub energy, especially if you take your beer seriously, this is the boozer for you.

The question of the absent hill doesn’t seem to bother anyone at Penny’s Hill, just off the main road linking McLaren Vale and the historic village of Willunga. Or maybe the road’s gentle incline is the hill? Hmmm… But forget the nomenclature: everybody’s here to try some fine Penny’s Hill wine, the quality of which is beyond question.  The winery has expanded since its first vintages in the early 1990s, buying-up pastoral leases and wine blocks around ‘Ingleburne’, a handsome two-storey stone homestead from pre-20th century days. Ambitious, sure – but why not, when the dirt underfoot (sandy loam over clay) is so conducive to growing grapes. Shiraz and grenache are the leading lights here—but winemaker Alexia Roberts also knows a thing or two about wine from the adjacent Adelaide Hills. Tapping into the Hills’ altitude, chilly nights and valley mists, cool-climate sauvignon blanc from Kuitpo and chardonnay from a Piccadilly Valley holding broaden the tasting experience at the Penny’s Hill cellar door. Such a shame the restaurant has closed! Spending the weekend in Willunga? Check out Port Willunga Beach for a sunny afternoon.

What’s the definitive McLaren Vale experience? Take a sunny hillside, stripe it with rows of mature vines, insert a photogenic 1850s stone farmhouse down a long dirt driveway, add an olive grove and a conifer or two … then open a bottle of fine shiraz as the sun tracks its way towards the western horizon. Coriole delivers – and does so without a whiff or haughtiness, exclusivity or braggadocio.  Tastings at the cellar door ($15), one of Coriole’s original stone farm buildings, are typically laidback. No bookings are required, but be prepared to wait, as it’s a cosy space with limited numbers (hot tip: arrive early to late to beat the crush). The staff will happily take you on a tour from chenin blanc to sangiovese, nero d'avola and shiraz, and they are just as happy to talk sustainability: Coriole is big on solar, native revegetation, rainwater harvesting, composting and organic gardening. The restaurant here, Gather, with its clattering tables and chairs and local Willunga slate floor, uses vegetables and herbs grown on-site. Book ahead for a set-menu degustation lunch from Thursday to Monday. Or swing by the Arbour Bar for a bottle of Estate Shiraz and watch the late-afternoon sun do its thing. McLaren Vale defined. Planning another wine road trip? Have a look at our list of the best wineries in the Clare Valley.