The top 5 quirky restaurants in Adelaide to make dinner epic
If you’re like me, you’re probably bored of the same restaurants that offer nothing new. Thankfully, Adelaide’s dining scene is a treasure chest of surprises if you know where to look.
Somewhere between laneways and heritage buildings lie restaurants that serve as much personality as they do food. These unique places will surely make your dinner feel like a new adventure.
Imagine glow-in-the-dark cocktails and spice explosions. Those are just a few of the things we have in store. These gems in Adelaide know how to keep things interesting, satisfying not just your appetite for food, but your craving for life.
1. Pink Moon Saloon
– Media credit: pinkmoonsaloon
Website: https://www.nearmint.com.au/pink-moon-saloon
Address: 21 Leigh St, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
Contact Details: [email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Sundays and Mondays: Closed
- Tuesdays to Thursdays: 4 PM – 11:30 PM
- Fridays and Saturdays: 4 PM – 2 AM
You could walk past Pink Moon Saloon and not know it’s there. It’s hidden between two city buildings, and it looks like a little cabin misplaced in a laneway, with timber walls and a narrow entrance. It gives the place an overall exclusive feel, like you’re meeting with your private cool club.
The exterior isn’t the only thing unique. Inside, the lighting is low, music is mellow, and the drinks are whimsical to say the least. Some drinks have smoked herbs, infused syrups, and quirky glassware that will make you want to pause and take a photo because you might not see anything like it again.
Every visit is unique, too, because bartenders like to spice it up. They improvise depending on what you request or what you feel like, and conjure something uniquely yours.
Pro tip:
- Sit near the bar for the full experience. Drinks are the highlight here.
2. Fugazzi Bar and Dining Room
– Media credit: fugazzi.bdr
Website: https://www.fugazzi.com.au
Address: 27 Leigh St, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
Contact Details: +61 8 7089 0350
Operating Hours: Open Daily: 11:30AM – 11PM
From the outside, Fugazzi already gives off a unique vibe. It has a sleek facade and a softly lit lounge feel. Once you step inside, you’ll wonder whether you’re in New York or Italy. There are velvet seats and marble accents.
The menu plays it bold with a modern Italian backbone (imagine a taglierini with blue swimmer crab, chili, and salmon roe). Steaks are cooked with precision, and the pasta is shaped with character. On top of that, the wine and cocktail list is also something to check out.
The team behind Fugazzi talks about it as something that transports people to a different place, and something that Adelaide hasn’t seen before.
Pro tip:
- If you go, dress up and treat it like an event. Because it is.
3. Market and Meander
– Media credit: marketandmeander
Website: https://adelaide.hotelindigo.com/marketandmeander/
Address: 23-29 Market St, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
Contact Details: +61 8 8472 2400
Operating Hours: Open Daily: 6:30AM – 9PM
Centrally located in Adelaide’s CBD, Market & Meander is surrounded by the city’s bustle. The interior has modern furniture and unique decorations that are surely a treat to the eyes of anyone who walks through it.
The menu mixes Italian food with Adelaide’s fresh ingredients, a nod to the multicultural energy of the area. The place offers pasta lunches, high teas that feel playful, dinner options that are as fun as they’re unique.
It’s not the loudest and flashiest of the quirky places, but it hits the sweet spot: smart, accessible, different. So if you’re not yet ready to go all out weird, this is a perfect entry point.
Pro tip:
- Dine early and spend the rest of the night in the bar lounges.
4. Africolo
– Media credit: africola_soundsystem
Website: https://www.africola.com.au
Address: 4 East Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
Contact Details: +61 8 8223 3885
Operating Hours:
- Mondays to Saturdays: 6PM – 11PM
- Sundays: Closed
Africola doesn’t hide its character. Right from the beginning, it hits you with its bold style, character, and music. Their grill-and-smoke kitchen is also visible and dynamic against the restaurant’s facade.
The chef/owner returned to his South African roots and it shows in the restaurant’s menu: dishes inspired by African flavors, barbecue traditions, and fearless approach to vegetables, ferments, and grill works.
Overall, the atmosphere is lively, the interior is comfortable, but bold in a way that reminds you that there is other food out there. And that dining should be fun too.
Pro tip:
- Grab a seat by the benches to see the “action.”
- Ask the staff what they’d pick, to get a full experience.
5. Restaurant Botanic
– Media credit: restaurantbotanic_adl
Website: https://restaurantbotanic.com.au
Address: Plane Tree Dr, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
Contact Details: +61 8 8223 3526
Operating Hours:
- Mondays to Wednesdays: Closed
- Thursdays to Saturdays: 6PM – 12AM
- Sundays: 12PM – 5PM
Tucked inside the peaceful setting of the Adelaide Botanic Garden, Restaurant Botanic serves a moment more than food. The location alone invites you to slow down, since you’re overlooking the main lake and surrounded by native flora.
Inside, you’ll find native Australian ingredients gathered thoughtfully. The most common experience is a multi-course degustation where each dish speaks of the land, the sea, the sky.
If you’re celebrating or simply want a meal that marks the moment, this is one to book ahead for. Picture yourself among soft lights, native greenery, and plates that unfold in sequence. That’s what Restaurant Botanic gives you.
Pro tip:
- Dress smart but comfortable.