EAT

Adelaide Pho
199 Waymouth Street 
(08) 8212 0997
A steaming bowl of pho is just what the doctor ordered and Lieu Tran and her family spent more than a decade labouring over the perfect broth. This casual haunt has long provided quality, affordable Vietnamese soup to devoted locals in a humble, old-school space at the relatively quiet end of Waymouth Street.

Africola
4 East Terrace 
(08) 8223 3885
A bowl of Goolwa pipis swimming in fermented chilli at this African-inspired restaurant is a wow moment, as is watching the chefs cook over open flames. The peri peri chicken with Mpumalanga fire sauce is superb. A raucous, fun place to dine.

Aurora At ILA
Ground Floor, ILA, 63 Light Square
0422 245 511
Dining at Aurora is a multi-sensory experience. New chef Robin Wagner and his team serve exquisite dishes against a backdrop of Immersive Light And Art (ILA) performance and entertainment. It’s art on and off the plate and the forbidden fruit dessert is a thing to behold.

Hey Jupiter
11 Ebenezer Place
0416 050 721
Joue de boeuf à la bourguignonne anyone? It doesn’t get much better than beef cheek in red wine sauce with mashed potato, carrots, shallots, lardons and croutons. This petite French bistro serves hit after French hit over breakfast (available late in the afternoon on weekends so you can sleep in), lunch and dinner. C'est délicieux.

Kiin
73 Angas Street
(08) 8448 1221
Chef Ben Bertei’s fresh take on modern Asian dining is full of hits. Lazy long lunches and dinners include new dishes such as coconut curry arancini and a massaman curry featuring a punchy medley of roast Japanese pumpkin, pickled potato, peanuts and ginger.

La Louisiane
89 King William Street 
Retreat to this underground bar and restaurant for French cuisine, live jazz music from 5pm every night and cocktails named after cult French classic films. It’s dimly lit, high-energy and features a roaming caviar cart. Steak frites (scotch fillet served with fries) for the win.

Longplay Bistro
131 Pirie Street
(08) 8151 0967
Take decision making out of the equation and let head chef Calum Horn feed you, bistro-style. A killer wine list and carefully curated LP vinyl soundtrack add to the appeal. A dimly lit hideaway for cool cats.

Lucia's Pizza & Spaghetti Bar

Shop 3–4 Western Mall, Adelaide Central Market
(08) 8231 2303 
There’s a reason this café and restaurant feels like a warm hug; it’s a family business that’s served southern Italian cuisine since 1957. Adelaide’s first pizza bar serves everything from spaghetti carbonara for breakfast to traditional pizzas and the Friday lasagne specials are great too.

Osteria Oggi
76 Pirie Street 
(08) 8359 2525
Is there anything more comforting than a bowl of lovingly house-made pasta? The award-winning interior design and fast-paced service creates a buzz, seven days a week, and unlike many restaurants these days, Oggi opens until late.

Restaurant Botanic 
Plane Tree Drive, Adelaide Botanic Garden
(08) 8223 3526
For two weeks during winter (26 June–6 July), Victoria Lennard (Melbourne restaurant Attica's former head pastry chef) takes residency for a high tea series with a native ingredient twist; for example, expect emu egg custard tarts and marron claw tartlets. The Botanic Garden setting is special, no matter the season.

Soi 38
74 Pirie Street 
(08) 8223 5472
During June, July and August, the Soi 38 team, led by chef Terry Intarakhamhaeng, run curry nights every Thursday. At $35 per person, it’s one of the best bargains in town, featuring a choice of three signature regional Thai curries plus three specials served with rice and roti. Small, family-fun and full of warm fuzzies.

Star House
1/31–39 Gouger Street
(08) 8221 6303
Best Chinese restaurant on Gouger Street? Depends who you ask but if the number of chefs and hospitality folk dining at this bustling institution is anything to go by, Star House is a contender. Fill the lazy Susan with spicy shredded ox tripe savoury porridge, and stewed pork belly hot pot, and let the good times roll. It’s utter chaos, which is part of the appeal.

DRINK

2KW Bar & Restaurant 
2 King William Street 
(08) 8212 5511
It’s no new kid on the block, and it’s not just for summer either (although we’re dreaming of the days we’re back on the terrace). Punters dress to impress, kicking back in booths with cocktails in hand, and the views over North Terrace and Government House are stunning any time of year.

Apoteca
118 Hindley Street
(08) 8212 9099
Dress to impress for this Hindley Street bar and restaurant. Once inside, you’re engulfed in the splendour of 1920s style (look up, the chandeliers are gobsmacking) and apothecary-style cabinetry and decor that stirs the senses. It’s fitting then, that champagne and fine wine rule the menu.

Baddog
63 Hyde Street
A place to hide from the world; Baddog is pretty much as clandestine as it gets in this city. If the small light out front of this bluesy bar is on, consider it open. The dark space is full of comfy booths, with a fully stacked bar.  

East End Cellars
25 Vardon Avenue
(08) 8232 5300
This wine bar has more than 10,000 bottles on show (in bar and bottle shop format) ranging from obscure drops from faraway lands to difficult-to-find local unicorns. The onsite restaurant channels European influence and the window perches are the best seats in the house, especially when the temperature drops.

The Exeter Hotel
246 Rundle Street
(08) 8223 2623
No pokies, just authenticity at this iconic old watering hole. Reasonably priced wine and affordable pub meals make this a city favourite. There’s always a big scotch fillet and curry of the day (for which it’s famed) on the menu.

La Buvette Drinkery
27 Gresham Street
This lush little, family-run Euro star serves bistro-style treats such as escargot alongside French aperitifs, stellar cocktails, and local natural and organic wines. But they had me at baked camembert and crème brûlée.

LOC
6 Hindmarsh Square
An exciting line-up of chefs hit the small kitchen at this lovely independent bar on a rotating basis. As a result, it attracts a devoted and wine savvy crowd. LOC stands for 'left of centre' which gives some insight into the kind of minimal intervention wines in the glass.

Mother Vine Wine Bar
22–26 Vardon Avenue
(08) 8227 2273
A stellar global wine list and a slick interior make this a classy place to imbibe and dine. The food is excellent, too. Slow cooked brisket, anyone?

Septimus House Of Wine & Cheese
220 Grenfell Street 
(08) 8166 5171
The name says it all. French cheese and wines with ooh-la-la heritage (plus South Australian gems) are part of the experience in this brand spanking new two-level venue.

Smokelovers
244 Rundle Street
This bar in a former tobacco store is small but full of charm. DJs play until late and the Margaritas are on point.

Station Road
Festival Tower, Station Road 
(08) 8102 1980
This sleek restaurant recently opened as part of the new Festival Plaza redevelopment so it’s close to the entertainment precinct’s theatres for a quick drink or French-inspired meal. The cocktails alone are worth a visit, most of which are inspired by classics. The Bees Knees is a heart and belly warmer (Pot & Still fig gin with honey and lemon).