Adelaide boasts hundreds of restaurants, most of which are in the easy-to-navigate downtown area where there is a profusion of traffic-free streets. The good thing is that many cuisines are represented, from good old Aussie tucker, to superb Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Greek and Italian fare.
Central Market is one of the best places to eat in downtown, having a large number of cheap Asian stalls. There is also Hawker's Corner and food courts in the malls, while top-end restaurants are apparent both in downtown and the suburbs.
The café culture in Adelaide is varied and lively, with the best of it along The Parade in the Norwood district, and in Glenelg at the coast. All full-service restaurants will offer wines from the region.
You need go no further than the downtown area, which lies between the river and South Terrace. This is where the likes of Rundle Mall (one of the best shopping areas) and The Parade are. For upscale dining, Melbourne Street is also in downtown, along with King William Street and its many cafés.
Central Market is also downtown, right in the center, but deserves its own mention. It has some of the tastiest food in town with a huge amount of Asian food stalls and Aussie snacks available. Hawker's Corner and the International Food Market area also good for Asian fare.
Adelaide's Chinatown district is not far from the Asian-themed Central Market and can be found in traffic-free Moonta Street. You will find the best Cantonese food here as well as Japanese, Vietnamese, and Korean restaurants.
For a break from the city, be sure to head to the coastal Glenelg district which has a ton of shops and restaurants. It features beaches and promenades and has a great café culture, along with many top hotels, such as The Grand. You can get to Glenelg by tram from downtown.
The East End is good for its café scene and is multicultural, with a good helping of Greek, Italian, Thai, and Japanese eateries. There are also many vegetarian restaurants here and plenty of places to pick up a cheap snack.
The Norwood district is east of downtown Adelaide and has many high quality restaurants and cafés. The bustling Parade runs right through it and is a pleasant area to be day or night. If you are here in March, be sure to attend the wine and food day.
Jolleys Boathouse Restaurant
Jolleys Lane, downtown Adelaide
Phone: +61 8 8223 2891
Jolleys Boathouse boasts one of the finest settings of any Adelaide restaurant, located as it is in an ancient boathouse on the River Torrens. You can dine outside for views over the water, or eat inside in a cozy setting, and enjoy good Australian and Asian food.
The Grange
233 Victoria Square, downtown Adelaide
Phone: +61 8 8217 2000
The Grange is one of the smartest and most expensive eateries in town. It is located in the Hilton Adelaide and is an open-plan restaurant that does excellent contemporary food using a combination of Western and Asian tricks. The Grange has an extensive wine list.
Wellington Hotel
32 Wellington Square, North Adelaide
Phone: +61 8 8267 1322
If you're hankering for a good steak, the Wellington Hotel in Wellington Square does the best in town using coroong or waygu beef. They also do excellent seafood and have a big wine list and you can eat in the pub or out in the garden.
Magill Estate Restaurant
78 Penfold Road
Phone: +61 8 8301 5551
The Magill Estate Restaurant is better known for its wine list and views than for the food. That said, the food is also excellent but the setting over the vineyards is the real clincher. Be sure to sample the signature Magill Estate single vineyard Shiraz.
Windy Point Restaurant
Windy Point Lookout, Belair Road
Phone: +61 8 8278 8255
This fine restaurant also offers a less pretentious café onsite and has unbeatable views over Adelaide. The food, service and ambience at Windy Point Restaurant are all good in both the café and the restaurant.
Find more information about Adelaide and hotels in the area:
Adelaide hotels | Australia hotels
