Simple dishes cooked using only the finest quality of ingredients, crafted with love – this characterises Italian cuisine and explains why it’s one of the most loved cuisines worldwide. Adelaide is home to some stellar Italian spots serving delicious Mediterranean food ranging from wood-oven pizza and homemade pasta to more complex meat, seafood and vegetarian delights. From date night destinations to casual brunch spots, family-friendly joints and trendy aperitivo hotspots, the best Italian restaurants in Adelaide promise a memorable time.
In Unley, you can experience the legendary three-cheese pasta wheel, cooked right in front of you at one of the best Italian restaurants in Adelaide. In Prospect, you can find light and fluffy wood-fired pizzas and handcrafted artisan pasta. McLaren Vale boasts a restaurant where you can dine at Nonna’s table, and Campbelltown is home to one of the most popular alfresco Italian aperitivo to soak up the sun with an Aperol spritz.
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Check out 10 of the best Italian restaurants in Adelaide
For must-try, legendary pasta served in a cheese wheel – take a trip to Godi La Vita in Unley
The melted cheese wheel pasta from Godi La Vita has fast become legendary among locals and visitors to Adelaide alike – three different cheeses and pastas, expertly blended by chef Federico and cooked right in front of you. Or try soft and fluffy gnocchi – pillow-like potato that melts in the mouth – or the house special deep pan pizza, perfect for sharing. The sourdough garlic bread stuffed with moist and creamy buffalo mozzarella is a must-try to start, with a side of charred broccolini with almonds and creamy anchovy. Or perhaps the pan-fried duck breast with fennel salad and orange sauce – the options are endless. The welcome is not the only thing that is warm at Godi La Vita – watch as the chefs melt giant wheels of cheese before your eyes, theatrically creating that gooey goodness we all love. A great sense of community and fun, be sure to book as this place is popular.
For one of the best Italian restaurants in Adelaide for date night – book at Tutto Cucina + Bar in Central Adelaide
Real retro Italian with a cheeky wink to contemporary technique, Tutto Cucina + Bar turns everyday Italian cuisine into something that is “grande speciale”. Enjoy a nostalgic Italian feast for the senses, where the food takes centre stage. New takes on classic dishes, designed to weigh the table down and let everyone dig in. Try the signature blue swimmer crab casserece with chilli and rocket, or the chef’s favourite arancini with saffron, tomato and aioli. Move on to the chef-recommended Scotch fillet – 100 days grain-fed and rosemary and garlic roast potatoes. Rich sweet treats include Nonna’s favourite “Tutti” misu – savoiardi with fresh espresso, mascarpone and couverture chocolate – be sure to leave room. Complete your night with a glass or two from the carefully curated wine list, sourced from Italy, Southern Australia, France and New Zealand.
For traditional Italian just like Nonna used to make – visit Fiore at Down The Rabbit Hole Wines in McLaren Vale
Foodies with a passion for trying new things will love Fiore at Down The Rabbit Hole Wines – no a la carte menu, just a table filled with dishes crafted with love. Let executive chef Nick Tadija and the team take you on an Italian journey in the heart of Adelaide, with the feed me menu, designed for you to enjoy leisurely as a group over two hours. Take a seat in the ambient dining area, which is full of natural light during the day and lit with a roaring fire in the evening. Fiore is only open for lunch from Thursday to Sunday and for the Nonna’s table special on Friday evenings, so bookings are essential. The menu changes seasonally and according to the freshest available ingredients. The chefs will simply bring you the best of the day, for the table. The focus is always on local, organic, nourishing and wholesome – and of course, delicious.
For the best Italian restaurant in Adelaide for budget-friendly meals – visit Stella Restaurant in Henley Beach
A mainstay of the area and favourite with the locals for over two decades, Stella Restaurant brings you classic Italian favourites in a laid-back atmosphere. Situated right on the beach, take advantage of sunny waterside views from the window, or enjoy the sunset while you dine alfresco. Functions and events are a specialty, so book your next occasion at Stella for an unforgettable experience. Alternatively, simply pop along for a casual lunch or post-work dinner with friends. From the breakfast to the dinner menus, you’ll find Italian staples put together perfectly. Try the ham and cheese croissant or mushroom bruschetta to start your day, or choose from a huge selection of classic pizzas, pasta, starters and mains from the lunch and dinner menus. Standout options include the chicken breast, thinly sliced and pan-seared with lemon, herbs, butter and white wine and the chef’s special platter, perfect for sharing over drinks.
For one of the best Italian restaurants in Adelaide for outdoor dining – book your seat at JIBBI & CO in Broadview
For your next special occasion or family night out, try JIBBI & CO – Italian and Mediterranean cuisine with a neighbourhood vibe. Take a seat outdoors and enjoy the reflection of the sunset over the lake while you eat your evening meal or in the vibrant European-influenced dining area. It’s open for coffee from 7 am daily, with the kitchen open from 8 am until 9 pm. Sunday to Tuesday evenings are dedicated to pizzas only, with a wider menu throughout the rest of the week. The freshly baked pizzas are a delight – try the pork and fennel with fresh basil, Spanish onion and chilli. If pasta is more your style, perhaps the marinara with prawns, mussels and squid tossed in a chilli and parsley linguine. Or pop in early and start the day with a Jibbi brekkie – poached eggs, smashed avocado, sauteed kale and mushrooms on sourdough, drizzled with chilli oil.
For the best Italian restaurant in Adelaide for brunch – check out Balthazar Café in Central Adelaide
First-rate European-style family dining can be found at Balthazar Café, one of the best Italian restaurants in Adelaide. Relax amid lush verdant plant life in a bistro setting, with attentive waitstaff on hand to see to your every need. Whether it’s lunch with the family, post-work nibbles or a romantic meal with a loved one, there’s something for everyone at Balthazar. Classic dishes crafted from the finest ingredients, with almost every dish offering gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan alternatives. Enjoy great deals on pizzas in the evening from Sunday to Tuesday every week. Breakfast menu highlights include the Biscoff waffles with fresh strawberries and the truffled mushrooms on sourdough toast with griddled halloumi and poached eggs. If it’s lunch you’re after, choose from a range of burgers, salads and Italian-style sandwiches. Or pop in for dinner – risotto al mare with Australian prawns, mussels and crab, or marinated Tuscan lamb cutlets served medium rare.
For Mediterranean fusion food – pay a visit to Olive in Central Adelaide
One of Adelaide’s newest and most vibrant restaurants, Olive will transport you to the heart of the Mediterranean. The menu takes inspiration from around the Med, from Italian to Greek, Egyptian, Moroccan and more. The light and airy dining room has a distinctly coastal European vibe, while the food fuses the best of Italian with neighbourly influences. Seasonal, generous and bold are the watchwords in the kitchen at Olive. Start your meal with some warm rosemary focaccia straight from the oven and add a couple of freshly shucked oysters with a gin and lime vinaigrette. Move on to kingfish crudo with blood orange oil or broccolini with lemon and crispy chilli oil, followed by creamy ricotta gnocchi with a pork sausage and fennel ragu. For tables of seven or more, the feed me menu offers seven or eight carefully chosen courses for the table.
For a casual, laid-back Italian meal – pull up a chair at Café Va Bene in Campbelltown
In true Italian style, the chefs at Café Va Bene focus on using only the freshest seasonal ingredients and making everything to order in-house. Pop in any time of day or night, from breakfast to dinner and everything in between, including a private function room for your next special event. Gluten-free and dairy-free diets can be catered for with ease, just let the waitstaff know. Then sit back and relax in the Mediterranean-inspired dining area or on the outdoor terrace and await a meal that will delight the senses. Try a Va Bene omelette for breakfast – light and fluffy with Barossa ham, spring onions and melted cheese. For lunch, a Nonna’s garden focaccia topped with grilled eggplant, roast capsicum and artichoke and finished with spinach leaves and bocconcini cheese. In the evening, sample the veal pescatore – thinly sliced and topped with baby spinach and marinated prawns, or keep it simple with a hand-stretched pizza.
For one of the best family-friendly Italian restaurants in Adelaide with bottomless pizza – try Basilico Café in Prospect
Basilico Café is a neighbourhood gem loved by locals with a lot to offer. Enjoy wood-fired pizzas with a glass of local or imported wine, or artisan pasta and creamy risottos with gluten-free rice every evening from 5 pm until 9 pm. Or let that belt buckle out a couple of notches and test yourself with bottomless Wednesdays – all-you-can-eat pizza for a set price. Pizza choices range from classic toppings such as margarita and calabrese to internationally inspired creations like the Australiana with leg ham or the roast lamb with tzatziki and spinach. If pizza is not your go-to, don’t worry – there’s plenty on the menu for everyone. Try the blue crab and prawn pasta with rose sauce, the creamy Florentine risotto with chicken and mushrooms, or the slow-cooked osso bucco with roasted Mediterranean vegetables. Most dishes also have vegan or gluten-free alternatives.
For one of the best Italian restaurants in Adelaide’s Chinatown – head on over to Aces
Aces is a brand-new Italian restaurant in the heart of Adelaide’s Chinatown, serving classic Italian with a modern twist. While the iconic Chinatown precinct is of course best known for Asian food, Aces is a hidden gem that brings you something a little bit different. The concept has a 30-year history, originally based in Adelaide’s Central Market – this new venue delivers old-school Italian with extra sparkle. Pop in for a drink in the 80s themed bar, with party vibes and late-night cocktails with nostalgic glamour – get your night started with a lychee bubble tea with strawberry pearls or an Italiano martini with coffee and Grey Goose vodka. The dining menu focuses on serving a handful of dishes well – perhaps try the southern rock lobster ravioli with crispy chilli to start, followed by pasta with a duck and fig ragu, or grass-fed rump steak with bone marrow butter sauce.
There’s a reason Italian food is so popular wherever you go in the world. The freshest ingredients cooked with love, served in a welcoming atmosphere where spending time with friends and family over dinner is the highlight of the day. The best Italian restaurants in Adelaide offer all this and more.
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If you’re looking for the best restaurants in Adelaide but don’t fancy Italian, perhaps these guides will help you find the ideal venue for your next meal out:
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- The 10 best family restaurants in Adelaide for kids and adults alike
- The 10 best spots to try today for the best brunch in Adelaide
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