I’ve lived in Adelaide for the majority of my life, and I absolutely love it. Yeah, I may be biased, but when you take a good look at this little town there’s a whole lot to love.
One of my favourite things about this city is the forever growing food and coffee scene. The last few years have seen an influx of new cafes, co-working spaces and laneways turn into pop-up bars – and let’s just say, I’m very excited.
When it comes to the CBD, I’m head-over-heels with the East End of Adelaide. You’ll find some of the best hidden gems in the east, and some of the best brunches that will grace your lips (and hips). Coffee fiends will love the range of brews on offer – lattes, cold drip, cold brew – they have you sorted. If you’re after a sneaky after work drink, then East End Cellars is a winner with a cracking wine collection.
Venture a little further into the city, or towards the outskirts, and the foodie haunts just keep coming. Café Troppo is a firm favourite for a solid breakfast that will easily turn into lunch. On Hindley and Gillies Streets you’ll find two of my favourites, that have a friendly corner store vibe- one café even has resident pet rabbits.
Adelaide also has an abundance of markets selling some of the finest fresh produce. The Adelaide Central Markets is the food hub of the city and has been since 1869. There you will find some of the best fresh produce and handmade goods, being sourced from all of South Australia. If organic is your thing then venture towards Market Shed on Holland Street on Sundays, where you can eat your way through the morning and into the afternoon.
The city aside, I’m a big fan of suburban Adelaide. They’ve followed suit in terms of cafes, with suburbs like Magill, Glenelg and Port Adelaide bursting with new eateries and coffee haunts. I’m from the South of Adelaide and spend a majority of my time on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Sleepy towns like Aldinga and Willunga are full of surprises in terms of fresh food – the Willunga Farmers Market has to be one of my favourite producers markets I’ve ever visited, and Old Coach Road at Aldinga is a gem for bakeries, organic groceries, cafes and summer pop-up markets.
After dark the Fleurieu has also got you covered, boasting several restaurants that are known for high-class food and an all-round brilliant dining experience. One restaurant in particular (The Salopian Inn) has to-die-for dumplings and a gin bar worth driving the extra kilometres for. If you feel up to a drive along the coast, then you’ll find some crackers in Second Valley, Normanville and Yankalillav – why not stay the weekend and eat your way through every town?
I could rave on about our food scene for ages, but really, the best thing to do is to go and immerse yourself in it. You’ll find it’s highly addictive, and well worth the extra potential kilos.