In Adelaide, Italian food isn’t too difficult to come by if you know where to look.
This article was written because there are a lot of Italians who live in Adelaide now and they will want to go out for dinner with their friends, family or significant other at least once per week. You can find quite a few very good restaurants that serve wonderful food here.
However, it is possible to continue trying new places until you feel like you’ve found the best one; I’m only going to list the absolute best places (in my opinion) here so this article doesn’t become tedious or monotonous.
These are generally called “Italian Restaurants” but some also serve up European dishes as well as pasta and pizza; note that these may be (and usually are) the best places to eat out in Adelaide. Also note that these restaurants close early, around 8:30pm on weekdays and 9:00pm on weekends; obviously I haven’t included any restaurants that close later than these times.
It should also be noted that Italian food is really good (both the preparation and the taste). There’s a lot of variety and experimentation with different meats and cooking styles here, so you’ll never get bored!
Adelaide’s Best Italian Restaurants
Here we go! This list will hopefully include all of your favourites; if not then please add them into the comments section at the end or message me to let me know 🙂 I’ll eventually add more places as they come along.
– Arianna Osteria Lanzasale Lanzasale is this really nice restaurant located in the centre of Adelaide near North Terrace. Their house red wine is absolutely delicious and they have a menu full of delicious traditional Italian dishes to choose from! They also have outdoor seating if you want to dine al fresco during the warmer months, which is great because you can watch people walk by on their way home from work or just out for an evening stroll around the city center! Service at this establishment is very good; staff are attentive and helpful when you need them but otherwise leave you alone whilst still being close enough should you require anything else. I’d recommend eating there at least once if only to try Sangiovese, the house red wine! If you really don’t want to leave then stay there for dinner and then drink at their little bar that they have outside; it’s called “Tanto” and I recommend the cocktails they serve there.
– La Terrazza Located in Kilburn (off Port Road) is my favourite all time Italian restaurant in Adelaide! The food here is out of this world delicious, so much so that I’d almost consider moving nearby just to eat it more often. Seriously though, try their prosciutto with melon for an appetizer (and if you’re feeling adventurous their foie gras) and then order anything else; I’ve never had a bad meal or meal combination here. Oh yeah, and they have a large wine list with some really tasty choices; try the house red and white wines I recommend you’ll be spoiled for choice. Also, they have a really good dessert menu if you still have any room left after your meal! La Terrazza is quite expensive so it isn’t somewhere to go every week but definitely visit at least once per month.
– Cibo These guys are experts in all things Italian – from ingredients to preparation and cooking, this place has got it down to a fine art. If you’re new to eating Italian food then there’s no better place than Cibo for your first experience. They’ve got an extensive pizza menu as well as daily pasta specials that will blow your mind! Plus their desserts are lovely and they have a really nice selection of wines available to suit all budgets. For a slightly cheaper option but still fantastic quality try Il Solito Posto, which is practically next door.
– Cavallino The first time I visited Cavallino I felt as though I’d been taken to Italy for the night! The atmosphere and decor as well as the staff’s dress were all very authentic which made me feel as though I was actually in Europe somewhere. They’ve got a lovely wine list too so if you’re going for dinner then definitely ask your waiter what kind of wine you should be having with your meal, especially if it’s your first time trying Italian food because it makes a real difference! Anyway, enough about the atmosphere, let’s talk about food! They have all of your favourite Italian dishes on their menu, prepared the way you would expect to find them in Italy. This is great for people who are unfamiliar with Italian food because it provides a familiar experience should you visit an authentic place over in Europe sometime. If you’re looking for somewhere that serves real Italian quality cuisine then this is definitely the place I recommend!
– Di Stasio’s Another one of my favourites just off Rundle Mall, Di Stasio’s has some really mouth wateringly delicious food at bargain prices! Their lunch menu is particularly good value if you can make it during lunch hours (11am – 4pm) but dinner there is also lovely if not quite as affordable. Their pizzas are absolutely fantastic and they have a really tasty selection of beers and wines available, I particularly recommend the Novello by the glass if it’s available when you go 🙂
– Trattoria Vittoria If you’re looking for somewhere that’s quiet enough to have a conversation with friends then this is the perfect place! Located in Waymouth Street, close to Adelaide Central Markets. Consistently rated as one of Adelaide’s best Italian restaurants too! The staff are very good at what they do here – attentive but not annoying – which is just what I want from my waiters/waitresses. Their menu has lovely pasta dishes on offer as well as plenty of other traditional Italian food along with their pizza oven producing some seriously delicious pizzas. They’ve even got some great desserts to finish off your meal too 🙂
– Trattoria Della Nonna I have no hesitation in recommending this place if you’re looking for somewhere to take someone special. It’s quiet enough inside so that you don’t feel as though everyone is listening intently to every word you say, or watching your table awkwardly as they wait for you to leave so they can move in! The staff are attentive but not annoying, the menu has a great selection of traditional Italian dishes and their gelato counter always has plenty of mouth watering flavours available. Oh yeah, and their tiramisu is absolutely divine!
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