One of the largest beneficiaries of Adelaide’s high-quality local produce and food and wine culture are the restaurants. You might think you have to travel out to the Barossa for the best dining experiences, and although you’ll find them there, you’re also guaranteed to have a delicious meal in the Adelaide CBD.
One of Australia’s most renowned fine dining restaurants is found right in the CBD—in fact, right in the heart of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. Nestled in 51 acres of gardens, diners at Restaurant Botanic experience a menu crafted to reflect their natural surroundings and the seasonal produce available. This three-and-a-half hour dining experience interprets the gardens and sources ingredients from it, paired with unique Australian ingredients like marron, green ants and finger limes. This spot is the definition of luxury, and only made more impressive by their score of 19 out of 20, a rarity by the Australian Good Food Guide. Be prepared to pay a premium, but know that you’re receiving your money’s worth.
Restaurant Botanic specialises in Modern Australian cuisine, but if you’re after a taste of Adelaide’s cultural melting pot, the CBD has you covered. Practically every nation is represented in the restaurants of the city centre, suitable for every budget. Press* Food and Wine is the best for broadly European food, although their Press Burger is famous for surprising guests. Fugazzi wins out for Italian, known instead for their gnocci fritto and ‘Roman Vegemite’ toast. Asian staples are Shobosho for elevated Japanese yakitori, complete with communal table and open kitchen, and Golden Boy for Thai on North Terrace. After a busy day in the North Terrace Cultural Precinct, fuelling up with the Tuk Tuk set menu is the perfect way to take the edge off (and not make any more decisions!). For something you might not have considered, Africola is a great spot to try some South African food from a wood-fire oven, right on the corner of North and East Terraces for your convenience.
Aurora is a special restaurant, located within Adelaide’s centre of Immersive Light and Art. Not only is the food delicious and the location stylish and creative, but dining here supports local Adelaide artists. The Immersive Table series of degustations hosted by Aurora and the ILA make for an incredibly unique dining experience, in which 50 square metres of LED screens surround your table alongside themed foreground décor while you dine on five courses carefully curated by their executive chef.