Here are the restaurants we love in Adelaide, as reviewed in our Restaurant Guide — from long-standing favourites to exciting new hot spots shaping the city’s culinary scene.
The always bustling dining room at Kiin, one of the top restaurants in Adelaide
Jack Fenby
The Gourmet Traveller team has turned its attention south, spotlighting the very best restaurants in Adelaide right now. From the fine-dining matriarch Magill Estate Restaurant, where two centuries of winemaking heritage meet a boldly modern kitchen, to the playful Thai plates at Kiin, this carefully curated edit captures the flavours of a city that continues to punch above its weight on the national stage.
Our critics have narrowed the field to four must-visit city dining destinations, from refined degustations to lively neighbourhood spots that are defining what it means to dine in Adelaide today. This guide is not limited to a single style of dining; every restaurant featured should be considered gold standard. See how the guide works.
Here’s our guide to Adelaide’s vibrant dining scene.
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Our expert critics
This guide to Adelaide’s best restaurants has been edited by Gourmet Traveller’s expert reviewer and South Australia state editor Katie Spain alongside national guide editor Michael Harry. Spain has travelled far and wide to visit — and revisit — dozens of restaurants, seeking out the most exceptional meals and memorable dining experiences in Adelaide.
Perched above Etica, this plant-based set menu surprises at every turn, from punchy parsnip soup to yuzu-infused croquettes. In the intimate 28-seat space, fresh florals, chilled music and playful touches make for a dining experience full of personality and flair.
At Kiin (Thai for “eat”), the aromas of galangal and lemongrass set the scene while diners at the bar watch creativity unfold over fiery charcoal burners. Executive chef Ben Bertei brings Queensland’s Spirit House influence to inventive snacks and vibrant mains, while Thai-inspired desserts, imaginative cocktails from Darren Burton, and a strong local wine list complete the playful, flavour-packed experience.
This fine-dining matriarch pairs nearly 200 years of winemaking heritage with a bold, modern kitchen. Seasonal, garden-driven dishes ranging from trout roe crumpets to blue mackerel aguachile arrive with inventive wine pairings, making every meal memorable, exciting and distinctly South Australian.
Guests begin with sunrise lime kombucha at the Adelaide Botanic Garden, setting the stage for a 21-course menu that celebrates native Australian ingredients and storytelling. From juniper-smoked kangaroo to emu egg custard tart, dishes arrive in seashells and handmade earthenware, while inventive wine and non-alcoholic pairings complete the unforgettable experience.
To earn a place in this guide, each venue must excel from welcome to farewell, with service, design, originality, consistency and atmosphere each carefully considered. But the most crucial area of excellence is always the food. From fine-diners to city wine bars, bistros, trattorias, izakayas and many more, every restaurant featured in this guide should be considered gold standard. It’s an exciting snapshot of how we like to eat out in 2025 and beyond.
All of the restaurants reviewed were visited anonymously between March and July 2025 with reviewers paying their own way. The price guide has been updated this year to convey the average cost for two people. While we’re big fans of solo dining, restaurant visits are more often a shared experience, and this adjustment reflects that.
PRICE GUIDE
Average cost for two diners, not including drinks.
$ = under $100 $$ = $100 to $175 $$$ = $175 to $250 $$$$ = $250 to $325 $$$$$ = $325+
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