Fancy Fare: The Best Fine Dining in Adelaide

If Adelaide has one thing, it’s an abundance of amazing eateries. Wildly creative, local produce-driven and largely diverse, thanks to our multicultural makeup, the quality and variety of sophisticated restaurants make every occasion worth celebrating truly special. Experience a stand-out evening of indulgence, where gorgeous interiors, curated wine lists, breathtaking dishes and first-class service are guaranteed.

From masterful teppanyaki and charcoal-fused delicacies to mind-bending modern Australian, these are the best fine dining restaurants in Adelaide to put at the top of your fancy fare list.

Best Fine Dining Adelaide CBD

Aurora 

Book in for a memorable night that both nourishes and engages at Aurora. This unique fine dining restaurant is a fusion of world-class yet accessible dining, with a focus on sustainability, local produce and social responsibility. The à la carte and tasting menus take you on an ever-changing and evolving journey, with a fusion of diverse cuisines, crafted by the talented team whose expertise is shaped by their rich heritage and life experiences.

With a menu that changes with the seasons, be treated to dishes like Wagyu steak with chimichurri, kangaroo with eggplant and a decadent banana bread ganache with burnt butter ice cream, all housed within sophisticated and moodily lit surrounds. 

63 Light Square, Adelaide

Station Road 

Adelaide’s Festival Plaza welcomed a chic new dining destination in 2024 in the form of Station Road. In a prime location on the ground floor of Festival Tower by Walker, this central city spot has instantly elevated Adelaide’s booming restaurant offering, with a French-inspired, modern Australian menu.

Led by Head Chef Baine Stubbs (previously of Melbourne’s Vue de Monde), who brings a refined yet unpretentious menu, expect a world-class wine list, and a fabulous fine dining experience. With venue design by Studio Nine Architects, this exquisite space is complete with a striking marble bar, an intimate wine bar and alfresco seating. From casual pre-show walk-ins to private events, Station Road promises an unparalleled experience and premium service in the heart of Adelaide.

Festival Plaza, Adelaide

Restaurant Botanic

Situated in a heritage rotunda nestled within the beautiful Adelaide Botanic Gardens, the stunning Restaurant Botanic is a luscious fine dining restaurant worthy of all its accolades. A place that every foodie should experience at least once, it is clear to every diner why Restaurant Botanic was named Australia’s Restaurant of the Year 2022 by Gourmet Traveller.

From ingredients sourced straight from the surrounding botanical gardens to the artistic effort put into creating the 20+ courses of their degustation menu, and an expertly curated, paired wine flight, this experience is second to none. Recent renovations introduced an exclusive ‘chef’s table’ option, with 10 seats surrounding the culinary kitchen to see your culinary and sensory escape prepared fresh.

Plane Tree Drive, Adelaide

Fishbank Restaurant

Serving the freshest seafood from across Australia, Fishbank Restaurant is the perfect place to splash out for a special occasion. The contemporary, opulent décor complements the venue’s open space and high ceilings, matched by the quality food and award-winning wine list. Fishbank’s menu features premium grade seafood, from freshly shucked oysters, sashimi and caviar from the raw bar to moreish prawn toast, grilled silver whiting and southern rock lobster. Take your time as you flick through the 40-page drinks menu to discover the selection of wine recommendations curated by the house sommelier.

Ground Level, 2 King William Street, Adelaide

arkhé

Immerse yourself in the allure of arkhé, where charcoal black walls, brass fixtures, and open-flame dining delight the senses. Elements of fine dining are tuned to a cool clientele that keeps on coming back for more, thanks to the changing seasonal menu and commitment to excellence with every dish. A range of seating includes intimate booths, bar stools, a chef’s table or a spot in their private outdoor courtyard, making this a hot contender for all occasions.

It is recommended to order multiple smaller plates designed to share, as each delivers a variety of flavours and textures within a single bite. Larger dishes offer open-flame indulgence across seafood, meat and vegetables. Begin with a curated cocktail, then move on to caviar, oysters, grilled Murray cod and 9+ Wagyu steak.

127 The Parade, Norwood

Garcon Bleu

Immerse yourself in 1920s Parisian elegance and glamour right in the heart of Adelaide, all in celebration of exceptional food and wine. Garcon Bleu invites diners to experience the essence of French gastronomy amidst award-winning interiors, perched on level 9 of Adelaide’s luxurious Sofitel Hotel. Under the guidance of Head Chef Gianni Delogu, whose experience spans Michelin-starred kitchens across the UK, Europe, and Asia, the innovative menu bursts with bold French flavours. Opt for the Rapide menu for a swift yet exquisite lunch, or indulge in the à la carte menu to savour every sumptuous bite.

Level 9, 108 Currie Street, Adelaide

Press* Food & Wine

We’re pleased to report that Press* Food & Wine has it all. The interiors set an intimate mood, with plush booths and rattan seating mixed with exposed wooden beams and raw brick to give an overall loft-style feel to the restaurant. Their menu is designed seasonally around fresh South Australian produce, representing fine dining in Adelaide with chargrilling as an integral part of their cooking style. Choose between the set menu or an inventive à la carte offering that could include anything from seared scallops with cauliflower puree to the signature Press* burger and Blue Swimmer Crab pappardelle.

40 Waymouth Street, Adelaide

Georges on Waymouth

George’s on Waymouth’s seasonal Mediterranean menu is one to behold. Bringing together innovative flavour profiles that let the produce speak for themselves, their meze plates may be small in size, but certainly aren’t in flavour. Crisp white tablecloths and unwavering old-school hospitality lean into the venue’s Euro charm while its seasonally changing local menu has won a slew of awards over the years.

Drinks for before, during and after your meal are catered for thanks to their handsome wine list. Champagnes and wines are joined by a range including digestives, cognacs and an inspired list of gins that are sure to whet your appetite.

20 Waymouth Street, Adelaide

Apoteca

Experience a one-of-a-kind boutique venue with an old-world charm at the wine bar and restaurant Apoteca on Hindley Street. Sporting a European-inspired interior, local foodies flock to the cellar come Friday for an intimate fine dining experience in Adelaide, known for being one of the city’s best.

Guests come for the sophisticated flavours but stay for the big-hitting wine list, personality-driven service and charmingly cosy décor. Select from the a la carte menu or let the chef take care of everything with their sumptuous ‘Chef Selection’ menus featuring four or five courses of their most popular dishes, also available with matching wines.

118 Hindley Street, Adelaide

Lenzerheide

Housed in a former historical residence, Lenzerheide oozes elegant dining. A cosy atmosphere with elegant surroundings complements a menu of innovative culinary creations. Open for lunch, dinner and high tea, the sumptuous à la carte menu champions the finest local produce through carefully refined plates.

Quail with celeriac and thyme will change the way you look at entrees, and you’ll find yourself thinking about the grass-fed beef tenderloin with a bone marrow crust and cauliflower long after your meal has finished. Level up your meal and opt for the accompanying wine pairing, which you’ll conveniently find under every dish on the menu.

146 Belair Road, Hawthorn

Luma Restaurant and Bar

With a setting that will take your breath away from the moment you step in, Luma Restaurant and Bar is a place to see and be seen. Reimagined into a foodie wonderland, the Playford Hotel’s restaurant is widely accepted as one of the CBD’s best eateries, with a striking, award-winning bar to match. From the unique, elegant and dramatic interiors with lighting that flows across the entire room, to compelling and unforgettable dishes, The Playford’s Luma is a sensorial masterpiece. Awarded ‘One Chef Hat’ by The Australian Good Food Guide in 2023, the menu of snacks, small and large dishes, covers a range of textures and flavours.

120 North Terrace, Adelaide

Jolleys Boathouse

Nestled on the calming banks of the river, Jolleys Boathouse is a true icon of fine dining in Adelaide. A longstanding institution catering to any palate, their menu offers only the best in local seasonal produce, becoming synonymous with excellent service and great food. Select from the à la carte menu or let the chefs take control whilst you sit back and taste your way through Jolleys’ feature dishes. Entrees of lobster tortellini join mains of Humpty Doo Barramundi and Chermoula marinated cauliflower. For the ultimate alfresco feast, see if you can score yourself a table on the balcony overlooking the Torrens.

1 Jolleys Lane, Adelaide

Best Fine Dining in the Adelaide Hills

Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant

Hardy’s Verandah is noted as one of the spots best fine dining in the Adelaide Hills, with sweeping views of the Piccadilly Valley from your table along the wrap-around balcony. Set within the historic walls of Mount Lofty House, 3-hatted Hardy’s Verandah serves a seasonally changing nine-course degustation menu, following the ‘Valley to Verandah’ concept. Paired with a multi-award-winning premium wine selection, this is fine dining done right.

After dinner, the Arthur Waterhouse Lounge is open for late-night whiskey, cognac, cigars and aperitifs to round out the luxurious evening.

Mount Lofty House, 1 Mawson Drive, Crafers

Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant

Venture just 15 minutes from the city and discover the embodiment of fine dining at Penfolds Magill Estate Restaurant. With stunning views, contemporary food and exemplary service, your dining experience is complemented by the finest collection of Penfolds wines from their cellar door. The restaurant boasts a spectacular setting, sitting along the foothills of Mount Lofty Ranges with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the dazzling city lights.

Bold wood interiors are adorned with spectacular lighting overhead, reminiscent of a galaxy, and plush red furnishings seem inspired by their famed Barossa Valley reds. Offering decadent degustation experiences, Executive Chef Scott Huggins takes diners on a culinary expedition across the region and beyond, favouring fresh, contemporary dishes.

78 Penfold Road, Magill

LVN at Bird in Hand 

The unveiling of Bird in Hand’s reimagined on-premises dining room, LVN Restaurant, completely blew us away! It fast became a favourite thanks to a brilliant tasting menu and fine wine complemented by spectacular sunsets, world-class art and breathtaking terraced gardens. 

The menu at LVN centres around fresh and high-quality seasonal ingredients, with much of the produce showcased plucked directly from the onsite kitchen garden, or sourced, as it has been for generations by Indigenous communities, from the surrounding Adelaide Hills region, Finniss River on the lower lakes of South Australia and Seymour in Tasmania. How magical!

150 Pfeiffer Road, Woodside, South Australia

Best Fine Dining in Adelaide: McLaren Vale

Maxwell Wines

There is more than just immaculate interior design and vineyard views at Maxwell Wines. This award-winning winery and restaurant is as pleasing to the eye as it is to the taste buds. The chic and modern dining room boasts floor-to-ceiling windows to take in your spectacular surroundings, impeccable dining and top-tier service.

An outstanding spot to celebrate a milestone, this elegant venue is complemented by a curated tasting menu showcasing the best South Australian produce. Head Chef Fabian Lehmann brings world-class experience from Michelin-star restaurants throughout Europe to create a degustation that explores intricate flavours and textures, supported by a passionate and talented staff that craft magic in every dish. 

19 Olivers Road, McLaren Vale

d’Arry’s Verandah

Wine and dine at d’Arry’s Verandah, the multi-award-winning foodie mecca in McLaren Vale’s rolling hills. Breathing new life into a 19th-century homestead, the landmark venue teams incredible vistas and exceptional cuisine with d’Arenberg’s illustrious wine portfolio. Diners can choose their adventure with a lavish 8-course degustation or select from the seasonal à la carte menu.

An impressive list of awards and accolades supports d’Arry’s as one of the best fine dining restaurants in Adelaide, including Delicious SA’s top 50 most delicious restaurants in South Australia, along with multiple wins of Chef’s Hat, and 13 points from the Australian Good Food Guide.

Osborn Road, McLaren Vale

Best Fine Dining in Adelaide: Barossa Valley

The Atrium at Hentley Farm

The Atrium at Hentley Farm dazzles with its exceptional Discovery Menu. The boutique winery is set in the heart of the Seppeltsfield vineyard, and The Atrium is your ticket to sweeping views over the Greenock Creek and the prized Shiraz block.

The team work closely with local producers and the land, creating dishes that will impress the most serious of foodies. The Atrium offers a display of seasonal goodness, with dishes that change as required to ensure the best use of hyper-local produce. And the wine? Fabulous, of course! Feeling extra fancy? Grab a seat by the chef’s table and witness the magic unfold before your eyes.

Allow up to 3 hours for the Discovery Menu

Corner of Gerald Roberts Road and Jenke Roads, Seppeltsfield

FINO at Seppeltsfield

If you’re looking for a taste of a decadent lunch in the Barossa Valley, you will find it at FINO, where the art of regional dining takes centre stage. With a focus on using fresh and seasonal produce, Head Chef David Swain has curated an exceptional culinary experience through blending passion with perfection. With standout dishes like Kingfish with Geraldton wax, lamb croquettes or Wagyu brisket, this is no ordinary meal. With a wine list showcasing Barossa’s finest varieties plus tempting and creative cocktails catering to all, it’s hard to beat a long and luxurious lunch in the suntrap courtyard at Seppeltsfield. 

730 Seppeltsfield Road, Seppeltsfield

Had a taste of all the best fine dining in Adelaide, and after more foodie inspo? Head down to the glistening bay in Glenelg and enjoy a sunset meal overlooking the ocean. Or if you’re after a pre-dinner cocktail, discover the best rooftop bars in Adelaide for a drink under the stars.