The Best Restaurants in Adelaide That Opened in 2023

Adelaide is a true foodie haven, offering everything from French fine dining to gastronomic pubs, traditional Italian and sensational South Australian seafood.

Adelaide delivers big on the bar scene too, giving bigger cities a run for their money with cruisy rooftops and cosy cocktail bars.

To help you keep on top of the latest and greatest to hit the city, we've compiled a list of the best restaurants, cafés and bars in Adelaide that opened up in 2023. Whether it's date night, a social catch up or a work do, these venues have you covered with their fantastic food and drinks, pretty interiors and stand-out service.

Ocean Bar and Kitchen

The Henley Surf Life Saving Club has a stunning new addition, perfect for a feed pre or post ocean dip, in the form of Ocean Bar and Kitchen. Take a seat in the open, fresh space and be blown away by the views - you can't get much closer to the ocean than this! Featuring a fresh surf and turf menu perfect for the location, make your way through a selection of fried calamari, Kingfish crudo, fish and chips, scotch fillet and burgers. If you're feeling up to it, the seafood platter for two is loaded with fish, calamari, scallops, mussels, prawns and oysters, with the option to add South Australian lobster for some fancy fare.

246 The Esplanade, Henley Beach

Bibo Bar and Eatery

Make your way just east of the CBD and within minutes you'll find yourself in the charming leafy suburb of Kent Town. Several chic bars and restaurants have recently decided to set up shop in Kent Town, including the brand new Bibo Bar and Eatery. Open from morning through to evening, this local eatery is all about coffee in the morning, great meals throughout the day, and good times over cocktails come nightfall. Keeping it as local as possible, you will be able to try wines from nearby wineries, and enjoy meals made with the freshest ingredients, from heirloom carrots with whipped lemon ricotta to scotch fillet tacos with orange guacomole.

97 King William Street, Kent Town

Home of Plenty

While this new venue may be an hour drive from Adelaide, we think you'll agree - it's absolutely worth it. If there's one thing Adelaide loves, it's a funky spot to try a drop of wine, and that's exactly what Home of Plenty is providing. The independent winery has opened their cellar door to customers in Currency Creek - just north of Goolwa - and it's a neon dream. Bright colours are paired with neutral tones to create a stunning visual, and their signature style and branding is evident throughout. There are bites to eat to go with your wine, like salted bread and oil, burrata with hazelnut and honey, sardines and lemon, and plates of prosciutto. You'll want to get yourself to this gem ASAP.

261 Myrtlegrove Road, Currency Creek

Niña Restaurant

Have you met Niña? She's the cheeky, sassy new kid in town, serving up Spanish vibes to the streets of Adelaide. This vibrant hotspot is all about traditional tapas-style delights, best enjoyed when shared amongst friends. Get things started with smoky bay oysters, sourdough with bone marrow butter, and patata bravas 'a la Nina' style and brussel sprouts that will fully convert you to loving the little green veggies, before moving onto the main event. With everything from cured spice tuna with citrus to a mouthwatering Wagyu brisket, this menu has something for every palate. The space brings an eclectic feel of Euro-chic, from the marble bar to retro dining chairs and old-school plates, and Nina's magic has set the city abuzz.

38 Rosina Street, Adelaide

Enoteca Lounge & Cucina

The newest restaurant to pop up in Adelaide's East End on Rundle Street, Enoteca is a chic space combining classic Italian dishes and flavours with modern charcoal-infused techniques for a delicious feast. With an upbeat vibe from the minute you walk in and top-tier service, it's the place to be for exquisite wines, mouthwatering food, and great company. With a menu of cured Kingfish with vongole dressing, 400g grass-fed scotch fillet and spaghetti chitara with blue swimmer crab just a few of the standouts, this contemporary gem won't disappoint for your next dinner date.

281-283 Rundle Street, Adelaide

Tunki

For a decadent dinner by the water that will take you to two faraway corners of the globe, Tunki combines Japanese cuisine and Peruvian ingredients in a unique offering of ceviche and woodfire grill dishes. Not quite sure what that looks like? The menu is actually quite simple and oh-so-tasty with fresh, wholefoods like lamb cutlets, edamame, oysters, skewers and platters of ceviche and sashimi. With a fascinating history behind this combination of cultures, be sure to ask the staff for some facts about Tunki - the national bird of Peru - while you order.

141 Brebner Drive, West Lakes

La Louisiane 

Descend to the basement inside a heritage building to discover a moody brasserie dishing up classic French dishes and some of the best martinis in Adelaide. La Louisiane is here for a good time, not a long time, and you'd be remiss to miss out on an evening spent tucked within this gorgeous space, listening to live jazz til late on weekends and indulging in the likes of gruyere soufflé, steak tartare, snails with garlicky herbed butter, a signature burger and fries, and as much steak and frites with Café de Paris butter as your stomach can permit. The world class wine list doesn't hurt proceedings either. Bon appetit! 

Until December 2023

89 King William Street, Adelaide  

Thai Room

The Thai Room is a mood, an upmarket new restaurant in Adelaide to settle into for a long lunch or dinner date, and indulge in fragrant, blistering curries and street food-inspired small plates. Serving up traditional Thai food with a modern twist, and accompanied by 99+ unique wine selections that complement perfectly with a variety of dishes, there's something for everyone here. 

The moodily hued, dark green and burgundy space has been designed into two separate sections, one for a semi fine dining Thai cuisine experience and the other for more relaxed drinks and tapas with Thai influence. The outdoor seating overlooking Victoria Square is also perfect for savouring Chu Chee barramundi with a vibrant McLaren Vale Grenache Blanc, while enjoying some amazing city views. One of our favourite new restaurants in Adelaide. 

193 Victoria Square, Adelaide 

House of George

House of George is the newest Greek restaurant in Adelaide, previously known as Yiasou George. Led by Head Chef Sav Sexton and Restaurant Manager Azi Flynn, George’s potential is being taken to new heights with the new era of ‘George’. Not afraid to push the boundaries when it comes to having a good time, House of George takes inspiration from the greater Mediterranean and puts their own spin on the classics. Their menu spans from woodfire pita and baba ganoush to daily fish and Magra lamb rump, with a feed me option at $75 per person. All of this is joined by their small and rotating wine list and pre-batched cocktails to keep the party going.

30 Vardon Avenue, Adelaide

Motherlode 142

Motherlode 142 is a boozy fried chicken restaurant in the heart of Adelaide, serving our unique flavours of fried chicken. Always easy and never greasy are their motto here - and they do it with aplomb! The signature menu item are the nuggets, with many super delicious flavours from signature buttermilk and pink parmesan, to jalapeno honey butter and tandoori. There's even laksa nuggets (topped with coriander, coconut, fried shallots, lime and a laksa mayo). The chicken tenders and sandwiches are equally epic (including the rotating sando of the month), and tasty sides will keep your tongue tingling with lots of different textures and flavour notes. We also love the varied range of beers, natty wines and cocktails on offer; hard cherry cola, anyone? 

Sitchu Tip: Every Wednesday night they have a bottomless fried chicken or fried cauliflower with waffle combo for $29.99, with beer jugs for $20 and select $10 wines by the glass. 

142 Hindley Street, Adelaide 

Paper Tiger 

The exciting new restaurant Paper Tiger has opened on Rundle Street and is creating a buzz of excitement with its beautifully presented food and cocktails. Chin Chin inspired, it's serving up plates of Southeast Asian flavours including succulent lemongrass lamb skewers and grilled scallops, in very cool surrounds. Nom nom. It's one of the best new restaurant openings in Adelaide in 2023, in our humble opinion. 

285 Rundle Street, Adelaide

STH

Discover a taste of Australian-Asian fusion cuisine in the charming ambience of STH, Unley's newest cafe and restaurant. Indulge in seasonally inspired dishes curated from local produce, while taking in the cosy and chill atmosphere. The classic brasserie and bistro-inspired design will transport you to Europe, making STH the perfect spot for a delightful dining experience.

27 King William Rd Unley

Allegra Dining Room

Have you been to this tucked away gem yet? Just upstairs from the popular pizza joint Etica, lives Allegra Dining Room. Seating just 28, you’ll want to secure your table to enjoy the unique menu that changes with the seasons. Motivated by flavour, nature and innovation, each night the Allegra team dish up a full course dinner showcasing a collection of plant-based dishes that best represent the season.

L1 125, Gilles Street, Adelaide

Fire ADL

With a commitment to serving quality, delicious Thai food, whether you're looking to dine in or take out, Fire ADL is one of our go-to casual restaurants. Think Thai classics like pad thai and beef massaman, and of course their famous crispy pork belly. There’s always a number of great vegan and gluten-free options too.

54 Pulteney Street, Adelaide

Bandit Pizza & Wine

Anchovy Bandit has a new trattoria sibling in town, sitting amiably in Hyde Park. The menu is short but sweet, consisting of classic and unique Neapolitan-ish pizza styles, flavour-packed snacks like gnocco fritto, arrosticini skewers and plates of jamon iberico, plus hearth-cooked vegetables, prawns and pork chops. The menu will change according to the seasons and inspiration, there are pre-batched cocktails and a winning wine selection to enjoy, and the space is surprisingly cosy given its ground floor of a modern apartment block setting. Low-ceilings, classic trattoria-esque curtains and inviting neighbourhood wine bar vibes make this a place you'll want to frequent, over and over again.  

248 Unley Road, Hyde Park

Frankie Italo Dining & Disco Lounge 

Disco inferno and Italian nirvana - the ultimate combination has arrived at Mitolo Wines in the McLaren Vale, and we couldn't be more here for it. It's the perfect place to kick your feet up, let your hair down and feast. Perhaps you're looking for a Roman-style pizza, a series of tasty snack plates, or a handmade pasta; either way, Frankie's menu has been carefully curated to share. Inspired by traditional Italian 'cucina povera' (cuisine of the poor), these are dishes that were born out of necessity, emphasising frugality, humble ingredients and simple techniques...with outstanding results!

14 Mcmurtrie Road, McLaren Vale

Umaii

Sushi and sake abound at Adelaide's vibey new Japanese izakaya Umaii (meaning delicious). Upscale yet casual, it's all timber accents and blasting 80's Japanese pop, while dishing up yakitori alongside a premium range of sushi and snacks, like bluefin tuna nori bites and handmade pork & prawn wontons. If you've been searching for a sushi and booze all night long kind of affair, this is your golden ticket. 

27 Currie Street, Adelaide

A Prayer For The Wild At Heart

Sibling restaurant to the multi-award winning My Kingdom for a Horse, A Prayer For The Wild At Heart overlooks Adelaide's beautiful Hurtle Square, with a name taken from Tennessee Williams play Stairs to the Roof. A love letter to the hospitality industry at large, it's open Wednesday to Sunday night and everyday for lunch, with the menu focusing on modern brasserie fare like oysters, mussels escabeche, confit duck, heirloom beetroot carpaccio and beef cheek with mushroom pithivier. It's matched by a considered range of local and international wines, cocktails and spirits and makes a great spot for both a casual lunch or more intimate dinner. A simple breakfast is also available until 11am daily.

44 Hurtle Square, Adelaide

Valentinos 101

Step in through the arches and discover a delicious land of brioche and burrata, cannoli and calamari, coffee and chianti. An Italian hybrid even chicer than a Fiat, Valentinos 101 is an antipasto bar, cafe and pasticceria all in one - and it's serving up the goods morning through night. For city workers and Italian-lovers, it provides everything from a Roman breakfast of espresso and bombolini, to antipasto and a daily roast for lunch, and even knock-off drinks and then dinner on a Friday. We can't think of a better way to end the work week than with a limoncello spritz, a heaped bowl of olives and a deep pan funghi, truffled mushroom and ricotta cream pizza. 

101 Grenfell Street, Adelaide 

Tried all the best new restaurants, cafes and bars in Adelaide and craving more foodie inspiration? Tackle Glenelg over the warmer months and dine overlooking the bay, or check out Adelaide CBD's finest eateries. If that's still not enough for you, take on the best gourmet getaways in Australia!