Adelaide is one of those capital cities that tends to fly under the radar for foodies – most of whom will head straight from the airport to the closest vineyard for their fix of gustatory greatness. But those in the know will tell you that there's more to the place than meets the eye – and that you just have to know where to look for the best and coolest restaurants, wine bars and cafés in order to park yourself at them.
As someone who has spent a more-than-ample amount of time in and around the city of Adelaide across the last 30 years – including its hills and even the rural outskirts (I could also direct you the best pubs in Virginia if you asked), this is a list of spots curated from experience and ample recommendations from a network of locals that extends from Gawler to Stirling. So read on for our (non-exhaustive) list of the best and coolest Adelaide restaurants to visit...
1. Idle Hands (CBD)
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Sourdough bread, pastries, coffee and natural wine are the specialties at Idle Hands in Adelaide's Gilbert street. Owner Lewis McDonald turned his homemade sourdough into a bricks-and-mortar operation in the city last month, and he's peddling a tight edit of drinks (no matches, and no chocolate on caps), pastries (try the cardamom bun), and now wines (s pouring from 5pm till 10pm in the evenings with local drops from Manon Farm, Jauma, Lucy Margaux, Limus, The Other Right and Scintilla Wines).
2. Leigh Street Wine Room (CBD)
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An architectural marvel with its soaring arched ceiling and moody lighting, Leigh Street Wine Room is the kind of place you walk into for a glass and stay for the whole bottle. The wine list leans towards the natural and biodynamic, and the small plates—think stracciatella with fennel pollen or crudo draped in citrus—are designed for sharing. The bar is the passion project of sommelier Nathan Sasi, a chef-turned-wine-enthusiast who previously co-founded Nomad in Sydney.
3. Fugazzi (CBD)
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New York brash meets Italian indulgence at Fugazzi, where plush booths and marble-topped tables set the scene for a dinner to remember. The venue's signature pasta dish – a Taglierini with Blue Swimmer Crab – is a must, as well as their Gnocco Fritto, Smoky Bay Pacific Oysters and their take on a ‘Roman Vegemite’ Toast.
4. Bar Pin (Torrensville)
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Bar Pin are still in their soft launch era (they only opened in January 2026), but the Torrensville wine bar are already making waves cooking up small plates, cocktails and the occassional DJ set. From Thursdays till Saturdays (5pm–late), they're dishing up seasonal cuisine like pipi’s in a ginger and fish head broth to grilled feta washed back with a couple "fig and tonics". We can't wait to see more from them.
5. Osteria Oggi (CBD)
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A long, communal table winds its way through Osteria Oggi, inviting you to lean in and let the pasta come to you. Handmade daily and served with a glass of something crisp, this is Italian fare done properly—no frills, just flavour. The venue’s fit-out, complete with cobblestone floors and a dramatic arched ceiling, was designed by local firm Studio Gram and won a global award for best restaurant interior.
6. Sunny's Pizza (CBD)
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A neon-lit fever dream of a pizzeria, Sunny’s is for nights that don’t need a plan. The drinks are cold, the playlists are loud, and the pizza—charred, chewy, covered in just the right amount of grease—is the kind you crave long after the last slice. Opened by a group of hospitality friends, including chefs from Africola, it’s the kind of spot that keeps the party going long after dinner is done.
7. Arkhe (Norwood)
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At Arkhe, the fire does the talking. Chef Jake Kellie, formerly of Singapore’s Michelin-starred Burnt Ends, has crafted a menu where everything—dry-aged beef, heirloom carrots, even butter—spends time over flames. There’s no gas in the kitchen, just pure wood-fired alchemy.
8. Parwana Afghan Kitchen (Torrensville)
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A family-run institution where the walls are as rich with history as the dishes are with saffron and spice. Parwana serves Afghan cuisine with warmth and generosity—pillowy mantu dumplings, slow-cooked meats, and fragrant rice that tells a story with every spoonful. It’s owned by the Ayubi family, who fled Afghanistan in the '80s and now use their restaurant to share their heritage through food.
9. Magill Estate Restaurant (Rosslyn Park)
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A fine-dining experience that reads like a pilgrimage for wine lovers. Overlooking Penfolds' vineyards, Magill Estate serves seasonal, locally driven tasting menus paired with some of Australia’s most iconic bottles. Fun fact: Penfolds’ legendary Grange was first crafted on this very estate by winemaker Max Schubert in the 1950s, forever changing the landscape of Australian wine.
10. Fino Vino (Seppeltsfield)
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The sibling to Barossa’s Fino, this intimate city outpost brings its signature take on local, low-intervention dining to the heart of Adelaide. Expect small plates driven by what’s fresh, what’s available, and what tastes best alongside a glass of something South Australian. Owners Sharon Romeo and David Swain are known for their hyper-local approach, meaning the menu shifts with the seasons and the producers they love.
11. Hardy's Verandah (Mount Lofty)
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This spot's ethos is dinner with a view, and then some. Perched high in the Adelaide Hills, Hardy’s Verandah channels old-world charm with its silver service, multi-course degustations, and wine pairings that celebrate the best of the region. The restaurant sits inside the historic Mount Lofty House, once home to Arthur Hardy, a 19th-century pastoralist who built it as a summer retreat—before the estate fell into disrepair and was later revived as a luxury getaway.
12. Daughter in Law (CBD)
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A Melbourne fave that's now tucked into Adelaide's Rundle St – this modern Indian restaurant serves all the classics (butter chicken, garlic naan, dahl and lassis) along with a standout list of cocktails and wines. The interiors are kaleidoscopically colourful and the ceiling strung with floral garlands. It's the perfect place to kick start an evening on the town (or at the Fringe, if you're there in March).
13. Ondeen Farm (Verdun)
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Ondeen's restaurant and wine room nestled in the Adelaide Hills (just three minutes from Hahndorf and 25 minutes from the Adelaide CBD) are rooted in a farm-to-table philosophy. Set within a meticulously restored 1851 homestead, they're the recipients of the prestigious Australian Good Food Guide (AGFG) 14 Chef Hat Award last year. The space is open from 10am-5pm every day, and their wine room even puts together excellent platters filled with house-made sourdough, pine brined olives and local Adelaide Hills cheese.
