Top 5 Adelaide (city guide)

While I’m a Sydney girl born and bred, Adelaide is my other favourite Australian city – I’ve always loved its more human scale. Perhaps it’s the diverse and picturesque wine regions on its doorstep that has led to such a serious food and wine culture. Home of the Australian Wine Research Institute, one of the few Aussie universities to treat food and wine seriously (Uni of Adelaide), and Australia’s best food market, it gives its larger eastern neighbours a run for their money as an international food city. Plus it hosts one of Australia’s best food festivals, Tasting Australia. Here are five of the reasons this is the only other Aussie city I could imagine living in.

Eat Magill Estate Restaurant
As much a showcase for some of Australia’s most iconic wines, as for great produce, this is an outstanding dining experience. A glowing planetarium above echoes the distant Adelaide lights, while complex, balanced dishes show Grange, Yattarna, and other Penfold greats, at their best.

Drink East End Cellars Tasting Room
One of Australia’s best independent bottle shops goes beyond the usual wine tastings with a casual café offering great wines by the glass, $15 corkage on any bottle bought there, plus good toasties and cheese & charcuterie platters.

Shop Adelaide Central Market
This is what a food market should look, smell and feel like – it reminds me of a mini-version of London’s wonderful Borough Market. Shops and stalls packed with all manner of fresh produce, smallgoods, cheese, bread and deli staples, alongside good coffee and some great eats.

Drive Adelaide Hills
Just fifteen minutes’ drive from Adelaide city centre and you begin the climb up into the wonderful Adelaide Hills – one of Australia’s most delicious wine regions, with great food, a European climate (think four seasons) and gorgeous scenery. What’s not to love?

Stay The Mayfair Hotel
Centrally located on the corner of King William and Rundle Streets, the heritage-listed, art-deco Colonial Mutual Building provides the perfect shell for Adelaide’s ritziest hotel. Chefs take guests from the rooftop Hennessey Bar to see their urban bee hive, the honey from which features in their Honey Trap cocktail.