Adelaide wears its creative soul on its sleeve and is home to an abundance of makers. From fresh produce and gourmet food to artisan works of art.
Take a tour of the iconic Adelaide Central Market to sample the produce and meet the stallholders behind it all. Or visit a family-owned butcher, Meat at the Mount, who specialise in hormone and GMO-free grass-fed meats.
Adelaide Farmers’ Market
The heart of South Australia’s vibrant food scene is the local markets. Fill your wicker basket at a farmers market with produce hours plucked from the tree and freshly scrubbed veggies or unearth treasures made by talented artists at a makers market.
Mosey your way around the stalls at Adelaide Central Market and find fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices, breads, pastries and cakes, Barossa smallgoods, honey, olive oil and wine. You’ll also find a delicious selection of artisan treats and coffee. The food stalls are all run by independent local producers and many offer tastings too.
Alternatively, head to Mann Street in Mount Barker for the Stirling Market, which is held on the second Sunday of every month (except January and December). It’s not as big as Adelaide Central Market but offers a more laid back experience with an emphasis on local artisan producers selling everything from fashion and plants to jewellery, ceramics and homemade honey and olive oils.
There’s also a range of food and drink options to enjoy including deli goods, salads, breads, cheeses, meats and fish and a Veggie Velo stall with fresh, healthy eats for vegans and vegetarians.
For something a little different, head to Market in the Mall at Rundle Mall. This monthly Sunday market takes a fresh outlook on shopping and showcases a curated selection of products from 200+ Australian creatives. Make a day of it with friends and family and take advantage of the pop up stalls that weave in and out of the laneways and walkways of the shopping centre. You can even grab a bite to eat with a choice of Turkish gozleme and stuffed arepas on the menu.
Willunga Farmers’ Market
Established in 2002, Willunga Farmers’ Market was created to help local family farms and artisan food producers connect with consumers who care about provenance, sustainability and the local community. It’s been a success story from the start and today it boasts over 80 stalls bringing agricultural diversity and fresh seasonal choices direct to you.
You can do your entire grocery shop here (minus loo paper, toothpaste & some things you need to buy online): Fresh fruit & veggies; meats & seafood; artisan bread & pastry; herbs and leafy greens; wines, ciders & olive oil; brews, syrups & jams; chocolate & cakes; deli produce like smoked salmon and pate; nut butters; artisan cheeses; cured meats; chutneys & relishes; gourmet condiments; coffee; take away food (pizza, crepes etc); and more. It’s also where you’ll find a plethora of foodie wares to gift yourself or others.
While at the market be sure to try some of the local favourites. For instance, Barossa Fine Foods has been operating in the region for 23 years and specialises in traditional, handmade whole foods including a range of premium stone milled pasta, flour and lavosh that you can order through their website and have delivered to Adelaide Metro. Similarly, Rio Vista Olives is a proudly Australian owned and operated business producing artisan extra virgin olive oils. They are available for online purchase and free shipping is offered on your first order.
Great growers are part of Adelaide’s DNA and to meet them at the source is a real treat. Whether you’re shopping at Willunga, the weekly Adelaide Hills Farmers Market in Angaston, or one of the many other regional markets, you’ll discover the best South Australian artisanal foods on offer.
McLaren Vale Farmers’ Market
The McLaren Vale Farmers’ Market is a local showcase of South Australian food producers and makers, including fruit and vegetable suppliers, cheese and dairy producers, meat and fish mongers, bakers, and health foods. There is a dedicated succulent and terrarium stall, and artisan wares and crafts including jewellery, hand knitted items, copper art and children’s clothing.
The market was established so small-scale producers on the Fleurieu Peninsula could sell their goods directly to the public. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbourhood and support the small guys.
There are also plenty of other markets to explore in the surrounding regions. Adelaide’s well-established Adelaide Central Market is one of the largest undercover markets in the Southern Hemisphere, with a myriad of fruit and vegetables, butchers, bakers, smallgoods makers, and fishmongers, along with cafes to keep you fed while you shop.
If you’re driving out of the city, be sure to stop at the famous Penfolds Magill Estate winery, home to Australia’s iconic ultra-premium wines. It’s possible to enjoy a gourmet lunch, grazing menu or dinner at the restaurant, which celebrates regional and seasonal produce in the historic underground tunnels that make up the cellar.
In the heart of the Adelaide Hills, a family-owned butcher, Meat at the Mount, specialises in 100 per cent grass-fed, free-range and hormone-free South Australian beef. Their online shop carries their delicious range of meats, plus other local and artisan products, all delivered to your door.
Enchanted Fig Tree
With a modern vibrant city framed by sandy beaches and vineyards, South Australia is a magnet for foodies with discerning palates. It’s one of the world’s wine capitals but it’s also blazing a culinary trail with chefs at their finest and a thriving range of markets, festivals and restaurant experiences.
Taking a page from Italy, where low food mileage and traceability are paramount, Etica (ethical in Italian) in Adelaide’s CBD puts sustainability at the heart of its pizza menu with dishes like green ants, paperbark parsnip pie and bunya bunya branches. Similarly, at award-winning Botanic Gardens Restaurant, Tom Bubner and Shannon Fleming’s plant-based fine dining menu focuses on the region’s flora and fauna with a garden to plate philosophy.
More than just a place to grab a quick lunch, Adelaide’s thriving market scene is full of stalls where you can discover local artisan producers and experience their products first-hand. The city’s most famous market is Adelaide Central Market, which has been operating for more than 150 years and showcases a wide variety of produce from the state’s leading farmers and providores. Join a Food Tours Australia market-hopping experience to uncover the highlights, sample the best stalls and learn about the local producers behind the delicious delicacies on offer.
Adelaide’s laneways are booming too, with Leigh and Peel streets vying for top spot as the city centre’s new go-to food precinct. From mod Japanese at Shobosho to pet-nat from The Little Lamb, these boutique laneways are brimming with a Melbourne-esque ambiance and an eclectic mix of restaurants, bars and cellar doors.
Cellar Doors
With a modern vibrant city framed by sandy beaches and vine-dotted hills, South Australia’s regional food scene offers the perfect mix of delectable dining experiences and gourmet products. Take a culinary journey to discover the best of the state’s artisan producers, from fine foods and wines to rich coffees and handmade sweet treats. Join a tour with Food Tours Australia and uncover the market highlights while you visit the top stalls and enjoy tastings.
As part of the global ‘return to local’ movement, artisanal practices are becoming increasingly important for some consumers and producers. Artisanal production is often viewed as a way to counteract the negative impacts of globalisation and mass production, while also celebrating cultural ideals of authenticity, retreat and slow living.
Adelaide’s artisanal products are on full display in a multitude of places, from farmers markets and farmers’ stalls to independent boutiques and restaurants. At Café Troppo, a sustainable ethos is complemented by the restaurant’s use of only home-grown produce. The menu features free-range eggs from Clare Valley, vegetables grown on the biodynamic Ngeringa Farm, Fleurieu Peninsula dairy and artisan breads. The cafe even recycles its own food waste to make compost!
You can also stock up on artisanal products at the thriving Adelaide Central Market. Some 70 traders set up their stalls at this historic landmark in the heart of the city, selling everything from fresh fruit and herbs to local wine and handcrafted deli fare. Some artisanal producers offer online shopping options. For example, Charlesworth Nuts sell a range of nuts and chocolates, which can be shipped Australia wide. Eleven Labs is another artisanal producer that specialises in health foods. They have a variety of vegan, gluten-free, dairy free and refined sugar free products that can be delivered all over Australia.