The Best Restaurants and Food Experiences in Adelaide Right Now

Adelaide's food scene is arguably Australia's most underrated: the city's proximity to three of Australia's greatest wine regions (the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, and the Clare Valley, all within 90 minutes), the extraordinary Adelaide Central Market (one of the finest fresh food markets in Australia), the outstanding seafood (Spencer Gulf prawns, Port Lincoln tuna, Coffin Bay oysters, and Kangaroo Island rock lobster), and the sophisticated local food culture (Adelaide has long had a restaurant-to-resident ratio among the highest in Australia) together create a food and wine destination that consistently surprises and delights visitors. The city's compact geography (everything is within a 2km radius of the Central Market) makes it extremely easy to explore multiple precincts in a single day.

Adelaide Central Market — the Adelaide Central Market (the covered fresh food market on Gouger Street, Chinatown, operating since 1869) is one of Australia's most treasured food institutions: the extraordinary Central Market hall (one of the largest undercover fresh food markets in the southern hemisphere) is home to 250+ stallholders selling fresh produce, seafood, cheese, charcuterie, specialty food, and artisan products. The Monday and Friday late-night trading, the Saturday morning market (busiest session, excellent atmosphere), and the remarkable produce quality (Adelaide's proximity to the Adelaide Hills and the Barossa Valley means that the market receives extraordinary fresh produce) make the Central Market the essential Adelaide food experience. The Chinatown precinct (immediately surrounding the market on Moonta Street and Gouger Street) adds Asian food culture to the market experience.

Rundle Street and the East End — the Rundle Street East End (the eastern extension of Rundle Street beyond Rundle Mall, 1km east of the CBD) is Adelaide's most celebrated restaurant and bar precinct: the pavement dining, the excellent wine bars (the Pink Moon Saloon, Clever Little Tailor), the outstanding restaurants (Africola, one of Australia's most acclaimed and most joyful restaurants), and the general food culture of the Rundle Street East End make this Adelaide's go-to evening dining destination. The adjacent East End Markets provide excellent weekend food market culture.

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