It’s no secret that here at Hidden City Secrets, we love trying out new and delicious eateries around South Australia. The state is blessed with a bounty of fresh produce and a delightful array of wines to suit every palate. The only downside is that all the choice can make it hard to pick which one you should visit. That’s why we’ve brought you 10 of our favourite restaurants and eateries in and around central Adelaide.
173 Hutt St, Adelaide CBD
Keen to get out and try a little slice of Rome, but without leaving the state? Then head down to Amaro Ristorante, a Contemporary Italian restaurant that’s dedicated to providing an exceptional and authentic dining experience. You can expect to receive a high-quality Italian dining experience where love and care has gone into every dish.
The seasonal menu uses local produce with an extensive seafood selection, and the recipes and methods are exactly what you would expect to find in the most traditional restaurants and households in Italy.
Art Gallery of South Australia, North Terrace
If you’d prefer a bit of culture with your dinner, a visit to the Art Gallery of South Australia, at the centre of Adelaide’s picturesque North Terrace might be just the ticket. Art Gallery Food & Wine is the ideal place to relax after visiting an exhibition, as they pride themselves on working with local suppliers to bring good food to the city.
With a relaxed vibe with an informal dining experience is what you can expect at Art Gallery Food & Wine, where you can sit in the dining room or out on the lawn when the sun is shining and enjoy some quality food and drinks.
285 Rundle St, Adelaide CBD
Lively Bistro Blackwood, located in the east end of Adelaide’s CBD, is the sibling of Restaurant Orana. Serving a seasonally evolving menu which includes bistro classics alongside a punchy local-leaning wine list with an emphasis on lo-fi producers.
Daily specials draw from indigenous ingredients and techniques that are brought to life with flair; chefs are able to be creative and use seasonal ingredients from local organic farmers and suppliers, or what their forager has discovered that day.
15 Peel St, Adelaide CBD
If you love Maybe Mae on Peel Street, then you’ll adore her sister restaurant, Bread & Bone Wood Grill. Off its own bat, Bread & Bone has quickly gained the reputation of having the best burgers in Adelaide, and is always buzzing, even in the wee hours of the morning. And for good reason: the space has been beautifully designed, mixing simplicity with a modern minimalist style, and is one of the rare restaurants that will serve you delicious food ‘till 2 am – when you need it most.
The extensive menu covers a wide variety of burgers, steaks, hot dogs, barbecued items, salads, and range from classics to gourmet. Don’t fret if you’re a vegetarian, you’ll be well taken care of too.
Flinders University – Registry Road, The Hub, Level 2, Bedford Park
Alere has been voted South Australian Cafe of the Year 2018 at the Restaurant & Catering Awards for Excellence. The cafe is located in the new Hub building within Flinders University, has a minimalist feel to it with Scandinavian touches, not distracting from the spectacular views across the campus and Adelaide’s coastline.
The menu focuses on local, ethical and seasonal produce with a big emphasis on using fresh vegetables, herbs, lean meats, pulses and legumes in every dish. The wine list mainly focuses on the Fleurieu Peninsula with some options from other major regions in South Australia, priding itself on covering a range of different varieties such as organic, biodynamic, minimal intervention, vegan and orange wines. Great local and craft beers are also offered, along with hand crafted cocktails utilising the best South Australian and premium spirits.
34 Whitmore Square, Adelaide CBD
Cafe Outside the Square is first and foremost a community Café – offering a quality menu and great place to meet, eat, work and play in the Adelaide CBD. Come enjoy the locally-focused menu and, of course, quality coffee! The cafe is open 7 days a week, excluding public holidays. Their business is a little different from most venues, with a 100% ‘not for profit’ business model redefining “paying it forward”, in order to support those less fortunate in the community. The net proceeds from every purchase at the cafe is put to helping the disadvantaged.
12 Leigh St, Adelaide CBD
Neither a restaurant nor a club, Casablabla embodies the exotic, entertaining notions from places around the globe. Its unique combination of global underground sounds celebrates multiculturalism in all its manifestations and is reminiscent of the energy of life worldwide.
Every night is party night at Casablabla, with an array of specials running throughout the week. Menus are crafted by talented chefs, who draw inspiration from all corners of the globe.
Mount Lofty House, 74 Mount Lofty Summit Road, Crafers
Mount Lofty House was built in 1852 for Arthur Hardy, but today, the space has been transformed into Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant – a place which pays homage to the refinement, elegance and opulence the guests of Arthur Hardy enjoyed 165 years ago.
Overlooking the patchwork Piccadilly Valley, HVR diners are treated to magnificent views as an accompaniment to their culinary experience. The team of world class chefs grow and forage right on the property and are focused on highlighting the bounty of the Adelaide Hills in every dish they present. The altitude, rainfall and soil here combines with the passion of the local farmers allow for the production of truly remarkable dishes and as a result, a culinary experience that will be remembered for years to come.
131 King William St, Adelaide CBD
Level One is an award-winning modern Asian restaurant with an informed yet informal dining style. Dine ‘Omakase’ style from carefully curated group dining menus – or, if you’re looking for a canapé function, try a selection of bite-sized versions of some of their favourite flavours. With many years’ experience in modern Asian and Australian cuisine, the experienced kitchen team use these skilled techniques paired with flavours from their heritage to create a truly unique dining experience.
38 Waymouth St, Adelaide CBD
Melt CBD is Adelaide’s favourite tapas and pizza venue, in the heart of the city. It’s the perfect spot for a quick drink at the bar after work, a speedy lunch or long dinner, and everything in between. Operating on 2 levels, the ground floor eatery has a lively welcoming atmosphere with bench and table seating available, or alternatively, you can get up close and personal by pulling up a pew at the bar where you can watch the kitchen and bar staff in full action.
See the full list of Adelaides best restaurants [click here]
