Posted by When you visit Adelaide now, you might wonder why it took so long for it to come of age. With some of the country’s best wine making regions just a short drive away, incredible fresh produce on its doorstep, beautiful beaches and an unhurried pace of life, there’s nothing not to like about South Australia’s capital.
Right now Adelaide, or RADelaide as it’s affectionately known, is having its moment in the sun, and oh how it seems to be enjoying the new found attention. With a young and passionate hospitality industry leading the way, cute and creative bars are popping up in city laneways, a slay of new restaurants are getting nationwide attention, whilst old favourites like the Adelaide Central Market continue to shine.
The CBD is quite vast and spread out, though much of the eating and drinking action is clustered around the West End’s Leigh and Peel Streets, and around Vardon Avenue and Ebenezer Place in the East End. The banks of the River Torrens have also recently started to flourish, with new developments bringing restaurants and bars to the riverfront. Being a supremely flat city, it’s easy to walk to everywhere you want to be.
This Guide to Adelaide City was updated in September 2025.
Just Coffee..
Elementary Coffee | 9-17 Young St
From the warehouse style space, to the toasties and gin & tonic donuts, everything about Elementary is very on trend right now. Of course the coffee is fabulous too, and their melting moments are pretty special. Only open Monday to Friday. Elementary Coffee
Abbots and Kinney | 78 Pirie St
A small, very hip coffee bar that also specialises in simple but fabulous pastries and yummy sandwiches. They have a couple of other outlets around Adelaide. Abbots and Kinney
Please Say Please | 50 Grenfell St
This hole in the wall coffee shop has just a handful of high tables with stools, but it’s also popular for grabbing a good coffee on the run. They use beans by Social Coffee and also offer a small selection of pastries, plus petite but delicious toasties that come with six different fillings.
Exchange Specialty Coffee | 12/18 Vardon Ave
An understated, stylish spot in the East End that makes fabulous coffee (using beans from Melbourne’s Market Lane) and lovely super inventive breakfasts. Exchange Specialty Coffee
Breakfast & Brunch…
Market St | 11 Market St
A collaboration of three traders from the Adelaide Central Market, this unassuming bakery and café is the go-to spot in this part of town for a tasty brunch, quick snack or quality coffee. With the open kitchen/bakery a hive of activity, it’s fun to watch what’s being created but even better to enjoy the lovely aroma of freshly baked goods coming out of the oven. Their filled baguettes are top notch, as are all the pastry delights on offer, whilst you can also grab some delicacies from the packaged food section. They also offer a short but lovely dine in breakfast menu too, with plenty of seating. Market St
La Moka | 16 Peel St
A cute Italian inspired café and wine bar that operates from morning through till late, serving breakfast through to aperitifs. Their coffee is very good, whilst they keep the European style breakfast offering simple and succinct. The vibe and service are authentically Italian. La Moka
My Kingdom For a Horse | 191 Wright St
A little out of the way on the CBD fringe, the bright and striking retro décor at this hipster gem will grab your attention first. The menu spans popular international cuisine styles, adding modern twists to classic brunch favourites. The coffee is roasted onsite and suitably excellent, but they also serve booze if you’re in the mood for an indulgent brunch. My Kingdom For A Horse
The Flinders Street Project | 276 Flinders St
A sassy, busy but still quite relaxed diner with a captivating ceiling design featuring hundreds of wooden spoons, FSP serves imaginative Modern Australian cafe fare. It’s on a rather quiet street in the East End that’s gradually getting busier as this part of town starts to develop. The Flinders Street Project
Blended | 95 Grenfell St
Situated in the lobby of an office building, this light and airy space is a pleasant spot for a coffee or morning snack. They serve good coffee using local Adelaide roaster’s Altura beans and their tasty range of six bagels includes favourites like the ‘Good Morning’ with egg salad, through to a smoky salmon option, or Korean beef if you’re after something spicier. Blended
Lunch & Dinner…
FINO VINO | 82 Flinders St
A sister restaurant to the Barossa Valley’s enduring FINO at Seppeltsfield, you feel the warmth the moment you walk into this impeccable room with its leather booths and rustic brick walls, whilst the open kitchen at the rear is a hive of calm energy. The share menu is craftily designed to accompany fine wine, it’s truly driven by regional South Australian produce and will delight with every dish. When it comes to the wine, don’t bother looking at the list, just let the graceful staff choose something to perfectly accompany your food selection. FINO VINO
Kiin | 73 Angas St
Tucked in a quieter pocket of Adelaide’s CBD, Kiin delivers modern Asian dining at its best. Understated décor sets the stage for seafood-focused plates and inspiring salads where the spicy-sweet balance shines. Sit at the kitchen counter for culinary theatre or relax in the dining room which is segmented to make the space feel more intimate. The feed-me menu tempts, however it’s easy to navigate your own choices as there’s virtually nothing on the menu you won’t want to try! Cocktails flow quickly, and the wine list is thoughtfully curated. Flawless service completes a restaurant you’ll want to revisit often – if you’re not a local, Kiin is worth a trip to Adelaide just to try it. Kiin
2KW | Level 8, 2 King William St
One of Adelaide’s most stylish venues, on the 8th level of the historic Bank of New South Wales building, 2KW’s outdoor terrace offers up pretty special views of the city, especially at sunset. The inside dining room has a Scandinavian aesthetic, with a large dining area and long bar, whilst the outdoor terrace has a ‘garden in the sky’ feel. The Modern Australian food is quite fabulous, with varied overseas influences and using local produce as the hero, the Josper oven is put to good use. The wine list is just as impressive, spanning the best of Australian and international wines, there’s something to please everyone. 2KW
Peel Street | 9 Peel St
A fabulously convivial bar and eatery, get a seat at at the bar if you can and watch the magic being worked in the calm open kitchen. The menu spans a variety of cuisines, it’s honest food done with panache, and certainly delivers on their overriding principle of ‘Fresh.Simple.Delicious’. Portions are very generous so try not to over-order, though the lovely food being dished up out makes it difficult not to. The wine list is an interesting journey through mostly South Australian and French vineyards, and the service is effortlessly efficient, yet always warm. Peel Street
Africola | 4 East Terrace
One of Adelaide’s hottest dining spots, with a retro / vintage style fitout and large open kitchen (sit at the kitchen counter and watch the talented chefs at work if you can). The food takes its influences from African cuisine, but has Middle Eastern elements thrown into the mix, with both the vegetable and meat dishes shining equally. Opt for the set menu and you won’t be left hungry. Africola
Osteria Oggi | 76 Pirie St
The bold fitout features a long bar at the front and an expansive dining room at the rear with communal tables. The food is modern Italian, with an appealing selection of share style starters and fabulous housemade pastas that just melt in the mouth. Osteria Oggi
Soi 38 | 74 Pirie Street
Soi 38 moved into its new home in 2021, a long narrow space bathed in natural light with a clean, contemporary fit-out. The regional Thai fare is beautifully presented, flavoursome and simply wonderful, offering dishes from across the kingdom, with the menu helpfully noting which region each dish hails from. SA food producers play a big part in their success, and key producer partners are proudly named on the menu. The new reiteration of Soi 38 is now our go-to for great Asian fare in the CBD. Soi 38
Golden Boy | 309 North Terrace
Housed in a beautiful heritage building, you’ll be delighted by the choice of cosy dining spaces with quirky interiors or the leafy terrace dining area. The contemporary Thai fare is perfectly executed, with the food as visually appealing as the taste – it’s bursting with freshness and spicy flavours – the Tuk Tuk menu is a never ending procession of the chef’s best dishes. More than a little boisterous, Golden Boy amps up both the flavour and the fun factor of Thai dining. Golden Boy
Hey Jupiter Brasserie Francaise | 11 Ebenezer Pl
A quaint French café and bistro with a Parisian style pavement dining area. Open from breakfast through to dinner, the menu revolves around bistro classics, with the food preparation and presentation kept simple, letting the ingredients shine. At lunch time they also offer quick sustenance in the form of salads and sandwiches. It’s popular anytime, but especially for Sunday brunch when many city centre cafes are closed. Hey Jupiter
Shobosho | 17 Leigh St
The minimalist though warm timber decor of Shobosho allows your attention to focus on the open kitchen, where a calm team of super chefs turns out exceptional modern Asian fare cooked over predominantly fire. The menu spans multiple Asian cuisines, though Japanese is the main influence here, with highlights including a raw bar selection, succulent dumplings and an open rotisserie. The cocktail list also comes with a Japanese tilt, with Sake and Asahi on offer too. It’s pretty hip, always busy and quite noisy… But if you can’t get into the main restaurant (and if you do, try bag a seat at the bar watching the chefs in action), there is also a tiny yakitori bar at the front entrance. Shobosho
Drinks…
Leigh Street Wine Room | 9 Leigh St
They are serious about their food, wine and making sure you have a good time at this very ‘now’ wine bar. The long narrow room has been beautifully designed, with a striking arched white ceiling and an uncluttered décor, making the bar and its shelves stacked with natural wines the focal point. There are pages and pages of wine by the bottle on offer, and the attentive bar staff know what they’re talking about when you need advice. And whilst they call themselves a wine bar, if you don’t eat here you are seriously missing out an outstanding dining experience – the Euro leaning share food is inventive, looks and tastes fantastic and will impress even the most discerning foodie. Leigh Street Wine Room
Clever Little Tailor | 19 Peel St
One of those tiny wine bars that ticks all the boxes so well; warm, cosy and intimate with exceedingly friendly staff who know their craft. The lovely selection of local and international wines is ever evolving and often some rarer gems are available by the glass, plus there’s a solid selection of first class cocktails and flavoursome light bites on offer. Clever Little Tailor
Pink Moon Saloon | 21 Leigh St
A cosy, narrow space with a chalet style décor offers a cosy bar in the front section, a tiny open air courtyard in the middle, and a small sitting area at back (plus some alfresco tables out front on Leigh St). The decor, the beverage selection, the service and the vibe are all fantastic, this is what all small bars should be like. Pink Moon Saloon
Proof Bar | 9 Anster St
This cosy cocktail and wine bar is larger than it first appears, with a snug ground floor bar supplemented by a larger first floor space that includes an alfresco terrace. With oodles of old-world charm but a very new world vibe, the service is super attentive and the team behind the bar know their drinks well. The wine list offers a lot of choice from all around the world, it’s diverse and there are some big and bold options to enjoy. If you are feeling peckish, they serve creative toasties or a cheese selection, but you can also order from the full menu at sister venue, Press Food & Wine, which is just around the corner. Proof Bar
Maybe Mae | 15 Peel St
This moody basement bar is entered through a secret door on a timber panelled wall, but once you find the entry you’ll comfortably sink into the leather booth seating (or grab a stool at the bar) and soak up the NYC style cocktail bar vibe. Maybe Mae
Hains & Co | 23 Gilbert Pl
Another one of Adelaide’s laneway gems, this one has a strong nautical theme, including its focus on gin and rum based drinks (and as such, the wines by the glass are a rather basic selection). It’s small but rather fun with a nice outdoor sitting area spilling into the laneway. Hains & Co
Bank Street Social | 48 Hindley St
A long, relatively narrow basement has been transformed into a very slick, NYC style bar. With exposed brick walls, timber, leather and moody lighting, it’s a seriously sexy looking space but with a surprisingly laidback feel. They take their spirits seriously here, with Whisky a big focus. The food is kept simple, with just 4 pizzas to choose from. Bank Street Social
Mr Goodbar | 12 Union St
The East End Produce Market archway is the rather unique home to this enchanting small bar, it’s stylishly decked out with plush leather booths, low timber lined ceilings and cute attic-like windows. They don’t overwhelm you with choice when it comes to the drinks, focusing on quality over quantity… keeping the cocktails classic, a small but punchy wine list and a handful of craft beers. A DJ spinning soulful tunes is an added bonus. Mr Goodbar
NOLA Craft Beer & Whiskey | 28 Vardon Ave
A contemporary saloon, this smart looking two-level bar with an alfresco area has a very grown up sensibility. With a long Whiskey list and 16 craft beers on tap, there is only a handful of wines to choose but they are quality choices. The menu is classic fare from America’s deep south, perfect for a drinking session. The vibe can go from sedate to rowdy, depending on the time of day you visit. NOLA Craft Beer & Whiskey
Must Do…
Adelaide Central Market | Grote St
A compact European style market in the heart of the city that packs a lot into its modest space. Plenty of fresh food merchants make it a very popular spot for locals to do their food shop, but there are an equally great selection of stalls where you can sit at the counter and dine in, sampling some of the fabulous South Australian produce. There is plenty of charm in the fact that old school favourites like the Latvian Lunch Room stand beside some newer, hipper stores. The Kangaroo Island Stall is a favourite of mine. Adelaide Central Market
The Tasting Room at East End Cellars | 25 Vardon Ave
A large retail wine shop and tasting room, naturally the wine selection is extensive (if you can’t find something you like on the Tasting Room menu, purchase a bottle from the End End Cellars retail selection and add $15 corkage to drink it there and then). The food menu is classic wine grazing fare, with cured meats, cheese and small tasty plates of European style goodies. The Tasting Room
Plant 4 Bowden | 5 Third St, Bowden
This ‘local hero’ is just a 10 minute-drive from the city centre, the artfully converted old Clipsal warehouse space opens up to the community on Wednesday and Friday nights, plus Saturday during the day. With ethnic food stalls offering delicious market fare from all corners of the globe., there’s plenty of seating on the loft level which overlooks the market floor and there’s a bar too. Perfectly unpretentious, this is a fabulous way to live like a local for a night. Plant 4 Bowden
Where to Stay…
Mayfair Hotel | 45 King William St
A restored heritage building houses an elegant and supremely comfortable five-star hotel… the rooms cannot be faulted, with fabulous beds, great showers and all the little touches that make a stay feel just the right amount of special. They also have a pleasant rooftop bar at this centrally located hotel in the very heart of the CBD. Mayfair Hotel
Hotel Ibis Adelaide | 122 Grenfell St
One of the new breed of Ibis Hotels, the rooms are small but very fresh and a touch stylish even, comfortable with great showers, beds, practical work desks and pleasant views from the higher floors. They even have a fantastic modern gym. Well located right in the heart of the city, within walking distance of everywhere you’re likely to go. Hotel Ibis Adelaide
Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets | 23-29 Market St
Opened in March 2021, this funky newcomer may not be as close to Adelaide’s nightlife as other hotels, but with the Central Markets and Chinatown on your doorstep, there are still a lot of reasons to stay here. The designers have embraced the current trend for mid-century styling, the rooms are smart looking, a little compact but well appointed, the dual-head showers and beds are excellent – though ask for a higher floor if you’d like a view. There’s a small gym and fabulous lap pool and pool deck with views of the Adelaide hills on the fourth floor, plus a rooftop bar. Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets
Sofitel Adelaide | 108 Currie St
Adelaide’s newest luxury hotel opened in 2022 and offers an indulgent place to rest your head, just a short stroll from vibrant Leigh and Peel Sts. The rooms are overly spacious, with elegant Parisian style interiors, some offer roomy open plan bathrooms and all feature the ultra comfortable Sofitel MyBed. Floor to ceiling windows let the light stream in, with rooms on the western side of the building providing bird’s eye views out to the coast. Sofitel Adelaide
Featured Photo: ‘Just One More’ – Proof Bar, Adelaide
Travis. 