The charm of Adelaide’s food scene is in its quiet sense of confidence. It's a city that knows its wine and its produce – sun-ripened, sea-salted – is best enjoyed in a space where the service is sharp but the mood is soft. Whether you’re after a long lunch under stained-glass ceilings or a wood-fired feast that lingers into the night, these are the best and coolest restaurants in Adelaide – places that make dining in the South Australian capital feel like a love letter to good taste.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. Jasmin (CBD)
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This was one I stumbled across on a family trip a few years back, as it just so happened to be across the road from where we were staying. It's an unassuming front, but find the sign in Hindmarsh Square and follow the staircase down to the fragrant, warm-toned underground space of Jasmin and you'll be rewarded with some of the best Indian food the city has to offer. The restaurant has been in operation for more than four decades, having been established by the Singh-Sandhu family in January 1980. They've got all the classics – butter chicken, delish wood-fired naan – and plenty of vegetarian sides, salads and chutneys too.
