What to see and where to be seen during your stay in Adelaide.
Restaurants close to home
Adelaide is known as a foodie destination, and the good news for you is that the cottage is ideally situated to walk to some of the best restaurants in Adelaide. Gouger Street is the home of the famous Adelaide Central Markets and was traditionally Adelaide’s China Town. However, the Asian influence doesn’t stop at Chinese, there are some other great restaurants in this precinct, and not all are Asian cuisine.
Some of my favourite restaurants nearby are:
Vietnamese is my favourite food and if you are a fan too then you will be pleased to know you don’t have far to go! Two of my picks are Little NNQ just at the start of Gouger Street at number 128 and the very hip Hotel longtime one street over at 110 Grote Street.
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Little NNQ
125 Gouger StVietnamese is my favourite food and if you are a fan too then you will be pleased to know you don’t have far to go! Two of my picks are Little NNQ just at the start of Gouger Street at number 128 and the very hip Hotel longtime one street over at 110 Grote Street.
Nu Thai at 228 Morphett Street and their sister restaurant the somewhat edgier Lantern by Nu at 10 Selby Street Adelaide are my favs for authentic quality Thai food.
Nu Thai Restaurant
228 Morphett StNu Thai at 228 Morphett Street and their sister restaurant the somewhat edgier Lantern by Nu at 10 Selby Street Adelaide are my favs for authentic quality Thai food.
Lantern by Nu
10 Selby StGrab lunch in the China Town precinct (between the dragons on Gouger Street.) With two food courts and the restaurants in the lane there are many places to choose from! Some dishes that are popular with the locals are Laksa at the Laksa house, everything at Ricky’s Chicken (the duck soup is my favourite), dumplings at Dumpling King on the corner of Grote Street and the hainanese chicken rice at China Town Café.
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Chinatown Adelaide South Australia Inc.
18 Moonta StGrab lunch in the China Town precinct (between the dragons on Gouger Street.) With two food courts and the restaurants in the lane there are many places to choose from! Some dishes that are popular with the locals are Laksa at the Laksa house, everything at Ricky’s Chicken (the duck soup is my favourite), dumplings at Dumpling King on the corner of Grote Street and the hainanese chicken rice at China Town Café.
Don’t be put off by the plastic décor, Ying Chow at 114 Gouger Street is an institution with Adelaide locals, this understated restaurant is where it is at for cheap and cheerful traditional Chinese and late night eats. Try the tea-smoked duck and salt-and-pepper squid with a side of BBC. You won’t regret it I promise!
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Ying Chow Chinese Restaurant
114 Gouger StDon’t be put off by the plastic décor, Ying Chow at 114 Gouger Street is an institution with Adelaide locals, this understated restaurant is where it is at for cheap and cheerful traditional Chinese and late night eats. Try the tea-smoked duck and salt-and-pepper squid with a side of BBC. You won’t regret it I promise!
Asian food isn’t the only thing on offer in Gouger Street. Gauchos Argentinian at 91 Gouger Street is hailed as Australia's pioneering Argentinian restaurant, Gaucho's has created a passion for the chargrill and is recognised as one of Adelaide's best restaurants.
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Gaucho's Argentinian Restaurant
91 Gouger StAsian food isn’t the only thing on offer in Gouger Street. Gauchos Argentinian at 91 Gouger Street is hailed as Australia's pioneering Argentinian restaurant, Gaucho's has created a passion for the chargrill and is recognised as one of Adelaide's best restaurants.
Lastly but by no means least for modern Chinese that fuses flavours of the orient with fresh local produce, showcasing the best of South Australia's food scene try Concubine at 132 Gouger Street.
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Concubine
132 Gouger StLastly but by no means least for modern Chinese that fuses flavours of the orient with fresh local produce, showcasing the best of South Australia's food scene try Concubine at 132 Gouger Street.
Some other great restaurants not to be missed….
These ones you might need to book ahead.
For something a little fancy head to the Casino on North Terrace and treat yourself to Sean Connolly's award-winning New York-inspired brasserie Sean’s Kitchen, presenting mouth watering dishes utilising the very best of South Australia's produce. Also at the Casino, French-Vietnamese restaurant Madame Hanoi a real treat. (Book ahead for both of these).
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Sean's Kitchen
125 North TerraceFor something a little fancy head to the Casino on North Terrace and treat yourself to Sean Connolly's award-winning New York-inspired brasserie Sean’s Kitchen, presenting mouth watering dishes utilising the very best of South Australia's produce. Also at the Casino, French-Vietnamese restaurant Madame Hanoi a real treat. (Book ahead for both of these).
Madame Hanoi
125 North TerraceAlso book ahead for the very popular and chic Peel Street Restaurant featuring some exciting modern Australian cuisine at 9 Peel Street. Make sure you go early and grab a pre-dinner aperitif at one of the small bars in Peel Street such as Clever Little Tailor. Or follow dinner with a cocktail in neighbouring Leigh Street.
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Peel St
9 Peel StAlso book ahead for the very popular and chic Peel Street Restaurant featuring some exciting modern Australian cuisine at 9 Peel Street. Make sure you go early and grab a pre-dinner aperitif at one of the small bars in Peel Street such as Clever Little Tailor. Or follow dinner with a cocktail in neighbouring Leigh Street.
If French is your flavour (like me) then a must is Delicatessen at 12 Waymouth Street a relaxed and fabulous petit French bistro. (Ps Don’t miss the secret underground bar.) Or drop in and say bonjour to chef Clement Labaere at Maison Clement at the Adelaide Central Mark - open for lunch daily (except Sunday). While in Waymouth Street you might like to check out one of my favourite bars, Proof at 9 Anster Street or head up to the rooftop at the Gallery across the road.
Delicatessen Kitchen & Bar
12 Waymouth StIf French is your flavour (like me) then a must is Delicatessen at 12 Waymouth Street a relaxed and fabulous petit French bistro. (Ps Don’t miss the secret underground bar.) Or drop in and say bonjour to chef Clement Labaere at Maison Clement at the Adelaide Central Mark - open for lunch daily (except Sunday). While in Waymouth Street you might like to check out one of my favourite bars, Proof at 9 Anster Street or head up to the rooftop at the Gallery across the road.
Adelaide Central Markets
With over 70 traders under one roof, the Adelaide Central Market is one of the southern hemisphere's largest undercover fresh produce markets, buzzing with life and colour all year round. The Market offers a vast range of fresh food, including fruit and vegetables, meat and poultry, seafood, cheeses, bakery, smallgoods and health foods, and some of Adelaide’s most popular cafes and eateries.
With over 9 million visitors yearly, the Adelaide Central Market remains Adelaide’s premier food destination for multicultural cuisine and fresh produce.
The central markets are a must when visiting Adelaide and are right on your doorstep in the centre of Gouger Street. Open Tuesday through to Saturday and late on Friday evenings; it is a great place to pick up some fresh local produce to take home or dine in at some of the fabulous little eateries within the market precinct. Or grab your fresh produce and head to the River Torrens for a picnic!
At Lucia's you will find homestyle Italian and great coffee
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Lucias Pizza & Spaghetti Bar
60 Gouger StAt Lucia's you will find homestyle Italian and great coffee
Comida Catering Co
100C Mount Barker RoadPaella is popular at Comida with the afterwork crowd on Friday nights
Le Souk
44-60 Gouger StFor something a little different try Algerian at Le Souk
Try Big Table for Saturday morning brunch (if you can get a spot) or pop in for lunch for fresh and healthy salad, sandwiches and soup.
Big Table
44-60 Gouger StTry Big Table for Saturday morning brunch (if you can get a spot) or pop in for lunch for fresh and healthy salad, sandwiches and soup.
Sunday Markets
The Adelaide Farmers Market at Wayville Showgrounds is popular with locals. Open from 8.30 - 12.30 Sundays.
Adelaide Farmers' Market
Rose TerraceFancy a drink?
You don’t have to venture far from home to grab a glass of South Australian wine, beer or a cocktail either.
My personal hot tip is wine bar Cantina Sociale. Enjoy Adelaide wines and great small plates. It is a bar that only the real locals will know of and it is just down the road at 108 Sturt Street. (Ssshhh it is small so please keep the secret!)
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Cantina Sociale
108 Sturt StMy personal hot tip is wine bar Cantina Sociale. Enjoy Adelaide wines and great small plates. It is a bar that only the real locals will know of and it is just down the road at 108 Sturt Street. (Ssshhh it is small so please keep the secret!)
For the best views in town you can’t go past Adelaide’s premier rooftop bar 2kw Bar and Restaurant. Towering eight floors above the corner of King William St & North Terrace 2kw offers wonderful views of the parklands and beyond.
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2KW Bar & Restaurant
2 King William StreetFor the best views in town you can’t go past Adelaide’s premier rooftop bar 2kw Bar and Restaurant. Towering eight floors above the corner of King William St & North Terrace 2kw offers wonderful views of the parklands and beyond.
The new IT bar in town is the Hennessy on the roof of the Mayfair hotel in the heart of King William Street.
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HENNESSY Rooftop Bar
45 King William StThe new IT bar in town is the Hennessy on the roof of the Mayfair hotel in the heart of King William Street.
Your “local” pub is the Prince Albert around the corner at 254 Wright Street. Tuesday is cheap schnitzel night. BONUS - They have also have a wine shop!
Prince Albert Hotel
254 Wright StYour “local” pub is the Prince Albert around the corner at 254 Wright Street. Tuesday is cheap schnitzel night. BONUS - They have also have a wine shop!
If you want a taste of Adelaide nightlife the small bar scene is where it is at. Head to La Buvette Drinkery at 27 Gresham Street, this French aperitif bar is every bit as elegant as it sounds, serving an array of charcuterie plates, imported cheeses and tapas-style French delicacies.
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La Buvette Drinkery
27 Gresham StIf you want a taste of Adelaide nightlife the small bar scene is where it is at. Head to La Buvette Drinkery at 27 Gresham Street, this French aperitif bar is every bit as elegant as it sounds, serving an array of charcuterie plates, imported cheeses and tapas-style French delicacies.
If you drink like a sailor check out Hains & Co at 23 Gilbert Place for quality gin, rum and whisky!
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Hains & Co
23 Gilbert PlIf you drink like a sailor check out Hains & Co at 23 Gilbert Place for quality gin, rum and whisky!
On the very popular pedestrian street Peel Street, behind a timber wall in a small tunnel, you can find Maybe Mae, this art deco-inspired cocktail den oozes sophistication at 15 Peel Street.
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Maybe Mae
15 Peel StOn the very popular pedestrian street Peel Street, behind a timber wall in a small tunnel, you can find Maybe Mae, this art deco-inspired cocktail den oozes sophistication at 15 Peel Street.
If you prefer to be in the thick of the action try Clever Little Tailor at 19 Peel St.
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Clever Little Tailor
19 Peel StIf you prefer to be in the thick of the action try Clever Little Tailor at 19 Peel St.
Grab a glass of wine and some pintxos at Spanish inspired Udaberri.
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Udaberri Pintxos Y Vino
11-13 Leigh StGrab a glass of wine and some pintxos at Spanish inspired Udaberri.
And to dance the night away head underground at Bank Street Social 48 Hindley Street.
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Bank Street Social
48 Hindley StAnd to dance the night away head underground at Bank Street Social 48 Hindley Street.
Exploring South Australia's Wine Regions
South Australian wine is world class and so are the picturesque wine regions surrounding Adelaide. You can arrange food and wine tours of the wine regions of the Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley, Coonawarra, McLaren Vale and Clare Valley through Taste SA http://www.tastesa.com.au/
Barossa Valley
McLaren Vale
Adelaide Hills Wine Region
Lobethal RoadClare Valley
Coonawarra
Parks and Wildlife
If you want to experience some of South Australia’s natural beauty and even cuddle a koala you can visit a number of national parks close to Adelaide. Hike though Waterfall Gully or climb to the top of the Mount Lofty Summit. Mount Lofty is the highest point in the southern Mount Lofty Ranges. It is located only 15 km east of the Adelaide city centre and has panoramic views of the city. At Cleland Wildlife Park you can get friendly with the koalas, kangaroos and wombats. For more information see: https://www.parks.sa.gov.au
Adelaide is surrounded by parks and gardens and situated on the banks of the River Torrens. If you don't have a car you can enjoy some of South Australia's beautiful parks within the city including the Adelaide Botanic Gardens on North Terrace or Veale Gardens on South Terrace and the river torrens precinct and Adelaide Zoo.
Waterfall Gully
Mount Lofty Botanic Garden
16 Lampert RoadCumbre del Monte Lofty
Mount Lofty Summit RoadParque de Vida Silvestre Cleland
365 Mount Lofty Summit RdCasa de las Palmas - Jardín Botánico de Adelaida
North TerraceZoológico de Adelaide
Frome RoadRiver Torrens / Karrawirra Parri