While it might not get the recognition of Australia’s other capitals, Adelaide is more than deserving of some cred with its Melbourne-style laneway bars and cafes, stunning beaches (sorry, Bondi, but Glenelg is coming in hot), and surrounding landscape and wineries!
Morning
Drop your bags at your accom so you can get straight to the eatin’! For something affordable but fun, the Majestic Minima (an easy walk to the middle of the city) is a colourful and convenient spot to sleep off a food baby, while those looking for something more high-key will enjoy the classic styling and primo location of The Mayfair.
First thing’s first – fuelling up with breaky! Luckily, Adelaide’s cafe scene is booming, and Exchange Coffee is a quick walk from the CBD! She serves up smooth brews using Melbourne’s Market Lane roasters alongside a lip-smacking menu with plates like French toast with berries, pistachio cream, and tuile, and some unbeatable pastries from local baker, Abbots and Kinney.
Midday
Once you’re fuelled up and caffeinated, take a stroll through the picturesque city towards the Art Gallery of South Australia and South Australian Museum – the jaw-dropping collections of indigenous art, perfectly-preserved animals of all shapes and sizes, and rotating contemporary collections are up there with the best in the world.
After all of that #culture, you’ll be more than ready for lunch! Stroll over to the Adelaide Central Market for 150 years’ worth of history and delicious eats! Grab some slippery shuckers to start from the oyster bar at Samtass Seafoods, a loaded porchetta roll from Marino Meat and Food Store, and a perfect chocolate tart from Dough for dessert (and obviously take something with your for later!).
Evening
It’s a Saturday night in Adelaide, and you’re hungry! Time to get dressed up and head to Gondola Gondola for dinner (because 2018’s Gourmet Traveller Restaurant of the Year, Restaurant Orana, was booked out). Located on the super trendy Peel Street, Gondola Gondola is a funky fresh contemporary Asian joint, starring dishes like crispy quail with lemongrass, garlic and chilli jam, and whole de-boned and chargrilled barramundi in betel leaf with special green chilli sauce.
If you thought dinner was tempting, wait til you see Gondola’s cocktail list, featuring South East Asian flavours and stunning garnishes, like the N*A*S*H*I with nashi pear, rosemary shrub, vodka, sencha tea syrup, vermouth and soda. Gond-ooh-la-la.
After
Once you’re ready to boat on out of there, pull up a seat at one of the emerald green booths at Maybe Mae, conveniently located up the lane on Peel Street! Let the expert bar staff do their thing – cocktails are founded in the classic but have refreshing twists depending on your preferences!
Continue your Radelaide night out by crawling (not literally… maybe?) to neighbouring joint Clever Little Tailor for yet more impressive sips. The focus at Clevers is on whiskey and wine – what better way to round out a night?
Morning
Probably Adelaide’s best-known morning joint, Crack Kitchen is a minimal and open spot screeeeeeeaming for you to ‘gram their breakfasts and interior. Choose from healthy-ish options like Bounty granola (chocolate and cacao nib buckwheat with coconut panna cotta, coconut flakes, and fruit) and The Great Chilli Scam (scrambled eggs with roasted garlic, confit chilli, and fresh coriander with grilled tomatoes on sourdough.
Once you’re done gramming your breaky, have a browse of Rundle Mall and its surrounding historic arcades, and maybe grab another brew from the cute Monday’s Coffee Store when your feet, tired from last night’s dancing, need a rest.
Midday
Getting hungry again? Borrow/book/steal a car and drive about a half hour out to the town of Uraidla – trust me. This sweet and sleepy little spot is home to the best pizza in the south, care of the stunning Lost in a Forest, a wood-fired pizza venue housed in an old stone church, complete with stained glass windows!
Once your jaw has finished dropping, fill it with the Buzzbomb pizza – featuring house-made passata, mild soppressa and mozzarella, and finished off with the team’s own chilli-infused honey! The pizza (and local wine) is great, and the surrounding yards featuring barrels of veggies and herbs are well worth an explore (and a nibble).
It wouldn’t be a trip to Uraidla without stopping by the Uraidla Hotel – which is so, so much more than your standard small town pub! With a bakery, brewery, and impressive cafe/restaurant all under the same roof, you’d be crazy to leave without a house-made stout brownie for the drive back to Adelaide!
Evening
Flight home not til later? Jump on the tram and head out to Glenelg, where you can see the sea eat the seafood at the locally-loved Sammy’s on the Marina. Grab some Coffin Bay oysters (when in S.A.), a tomato and basil mussel pot, and chargrilled local octopus to pair with the wine list heavy on local SA drops.
We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s time to head home! Luckily additional belly weight doesn’t incur carry-on charges, because you’re going to be a little heftier after this foodie weekend away.
