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Where to Eat, Drink, Stay, and Play During Adelaide’s Festival Season
From buzzing festivals to hidden gems, discover the best places to eat, drink, stay, and play during Adelaide’s most electric time of year - and beyond
Adelaide is at its most vibrant in March and April, when the city transforms into a buzzing cultural hub. As the warm days linger and an energy fills the air, festivals take centre stage, think Fringe, Adelaide Festival, and more. It’s a time when the streets are alive with performances, pop-ups, and late-night haunts, making it the ultimate excuse for a getaway.
But Adelaide’s magic doesn’t end when the festivals do! Beyond Mad March, the city continues to thrive with an ever-evolving dining scene, year-round arts and culture and stunning nature just beyond the city limits. There’s always something new to discover, whether you’re in town for a weekend escape or planning your next visit.
To help you make the most of it, we’ve curated the ultimate guide to where to eat, drink, stay, and play in Adelaide, during Mad March and beyond. From iconic venues to under-the-radar finds, here’s where you’ll want to be when the city is at its best.
Where to Eat
Shobosho
Tucked away on Leigh Street, Shobosho is an intimate space where smoke, char, and umami take centre stage. The best way to experience it? Leave it to the chefs and order the banquet, a curated spread of punchy dishes that showcase the kitchen’s mastery of Japanese technique with bold, modern twists. Our favourite dishes include the handmade potato crisps with salt, vinegar and nori and the burnt leek with smoked buttermilk and wakame.
17 Leigh Street, Adelaide
Osterio Oggi
With one of Adelaide’s chicest dining rooms, Osteria Oggi is the perfect place to linger over Italian-style share plates and pastas. Our pick? The oven-baked reginette with eggplant, fior di latte and a hint of chilli. Pair it with one of their light and herbal Osteria Spritz for a dreamy combo.
76 Pirie Street, Adelaide
Part Time Lover
Part Time Lover is Adelaide’s answer to laid-back yet stylish café-bar hybrids. Sun filled by day and effortlessly cool in the evening, it’s a home run no matter which meal you head there for. Their tight breakfast menu heroes simple produce done well. Whether you’re dropping in for a quick bite or settling in for the long haul, Part Time Lover makes it easy to stay a little longer than planned.
Paul Kelly Lane, Adelaide
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Paper Tiger
Located in one of the liveliest streets at Fringe, Paper Tiger is perfect for immersing yourself in the festival atmosphere. Indulge in delectable dishes inspired by flavours from Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. Be sure to sample their kombi-cured tuna sashimi and Singapore chilli soft-shell crab – they’re absolute must-tries! And whatever you do, save room for dessert; their The-tarik panna cotta is simply irresistible!
285 Rundle Street, Adelaide
Longplay Bistro
With French bistro flair, a cracking wine list, and a soundtrack to match, Longplay Bistro is the kind of spot where one glass turns into a bottle (or two). The one-page menu champions quality over quantity, with standouts like moreish rigatoncini with vodka sauce, and charred peppers with roasted barley and handmade crisps that’s best paired with a generous pour of red.
131 Pirie Street, Adelaide
Where to Stay
Hotel Indigo
Sitting just moments from Adelaide Central Market, this boutique hotel takes inspiration from its vibrant surroundings, think exposed brick archways, copper accents, and colourful, locally inspired artworks in every room. But the real drawcard? Merrymaker, the hotel’s rooftop bar. Perched 16 floors up, it serves up craft cocktails, fresh seafood, and some of the best city views going. Whether you’re unwinding after a day of exploring or settling in for a long lunch, this is a stay made for food lovers and design enthusiasts alike.
23-29 Market Street, Adelaide
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Hotel Alba
Hotel Alba channels LA-style luxury with a laid-back, sun-soaked vibe. Featuring a gleaming outdoor pool, a fully equipped gym, and the Mediterranean-inspired restaurant and bar, Ela, this stylish stay is designed for both relaxation and indulgence. Nestled on South Terrace, it offers the best of both worlds—tranquil parkland views and a prime location just moments from the city’s top restaurants and cultural hotspots.
226 South Terrace, Adelaide
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Where to Play
Adelaide Central Markets
We happen to believe that the best way to get to know a city is through its food scene. And lucky for us some of Adelaide’s best producers can all be found under one roof. So, if you’re looking for something to do or an affordable bite to eat between Fringe Festival shows, look no further than the historic Adelaide Central Market. Featuring over 80 vendors, this iconic market offers everything from fresh produce to meats, dairy, flowers, baked goods, and health foods – so you’re guaranteed to find something to suit every taste.
44/60 Gouger Street, Adelaide
Fringe Festival
The city’s biggest moment of the year, Adelaide Fringe Festival landed on February 21, drawing artists and audiences from across the country for a month of creativity. Expect everything from gravity-defying acrobatics and family-friendly circus acts to bold, boundary-pushing performances that challenge convention. It’s Adelaide at its most electric, vibrant and completely unmissable.
February 21st – March 23rd
Rundle and Rymill Park, Adelaide
Sleeps Hill Tunnel
Just a short drive from Adelaide you’ll find Sleep’s Hill Tunnel, an example of Adelaide’s past tucked away along the historic Adelaide to Melbourne rail line. This Adelaide Fringe Festival experience offers a rare opportunity to step back in time. As you explore the tunnel, you’ll be immersed in the works of multiple artists, each installation breathing new life into the tunnel’s history with stunning visuals and plenty of mushroom-inspired artwork—an element we believe is sorely lacking in today’s world.
February 14th – March 30th
The Tunnels, Adelaide
Chihuly Nights
As the sun dips below the horizon, Adelaide Botanic Garden transforms into a glowing gallery, where soaring glass sculptures by Dale Chihuly come to life in the shifting light. Chihuly Nights invites visitors on an immersive twilight journey through 15 mesmerising works, each nestled within the garden’s lush landscape.
September 17th – April 29th
Botanic Gardens, Adelaide
While Mad March is the city at its most electric, Adelaide’s vibrant culture, dining scene, and world-class events don’t disappear when the festival banners come down. The city’s thriving food and wine culture continues to buzz, with new openings and cult-favourite venues keeping things fresh year-round. Adelaide proves time and again that it’s more than just a festival city—it’s a destination in its own right. So whether you’re here for Mad March or planning a visit any other time of the year, expect a city that delivers on culture, creativity, and exceptional food and wine, no matter the season.
Loving our pick of what to see at during Adelaide’s Festival Season 2025 and want to discover more of what South Australia has on offer? Do yourself a favour and check out our pick of the best free things to do in Adelaide and top date ideas to suit every couple.
Our Sitchu editors work hard to deliver you the best products, events and venues that we hope you will love, each one is selected independently. Sitchu may receive an affiliate commission when you follow some links.
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