All the Adelaide Openings We Got Excited About in 2025

We’ve just wrapped up our end-of-year “best of” coverage, but beyond those lists, there are so many new venues to celebrate this year.

Here’s your cheat sheet to all the restaurant, cafe and bar openings we covered in 2025.

New restaurants

• Bank Street Burger, CBD: a late-night joint serving smash burgers until 3am on Friday and Saturday nights.

• Buta Yama Ramen, CBD: a ramen shop which gained a cult following for its traditional shio tonkotsu ramen. On December 20, it will close, reopening in the new year with a new Japanese-Italian concept.

• Elliniko Eatery, Malvern: a homely Greek spot serving classic comfort food.

• Fall From Grace, Aldinga: a much-loved spot which was given a new lease on life by Jo Leal and ex-Salopian Inn head chef Jimmy Toone.

• Icardis, North Adelaide: a bistro serving woodfired Mediterranean fare.

• Joe’s at Sabella, McLaren Vale: an Italian joint in a refurbished 1860s church, which hosts a $20 pasta night with free BYO every Wednesday.

• Mensa, Kent Town: an Italian spot with some serious hospitality DNA.

• Mini Lokanta, North Adelaide: a 10-seat Turkish restaurant that’s only open Saturday nights, run out of Enver Tugrul and Gökçe Özbecene’s front room.

• Mr Mario’s, CBD: an old-school takeaway joint from the Louca’s team serving burgers and fish’n’chips.

• Pinco Italo, CBD: the old Jumbo space pivoted to become a contemporary Italian joint with a grown-up fit out and a menu of classics.

• 88 Pocha, Norwood: a dedicated dak galbi spot from the team behind several of Adelaide’s most popular Korean diners.

• Staguni, Marananga: star chef Clare Falzon’s ode to Maltese cuisine in a converted schoolhouse.

• Taco José, McLaren Vale: three days a week, Joe’s at Sabella transforms to serve tacos in the courtyard.

• Tarantino’s, CBD: an old-school New York-Italian restaurant from the Anchovy Bandit team.

• That’s Enrico, Lobethal: a pizzeria led by flour technician Enrico Sgarbossa.

• Vasili’s Table, West Beach: an Ikaria-inspired taverna from chef Vasili Petropoulos, with an on-site garden and chicken coop.

New cafes

• Bora, Grange: a Jetty Street cafe serving Brazilian-inspired fare.

• East Mediterranean Eatery, CBD: a Med-inspired spot serving packed pita pockets and crisp zucchini chips to a hungry CBD office crowd.

• Falafel Station, St Morris: after two years in Prospect, the Falafel Station team and its excellent Lebanese fare moved to bigger digs in St Morris with eat-in capacity.

• Gabagool, Flinders Park: a corner spot with a bold red and white design bringing vintage New Jersey nostalgia to town with capocollo and deli sandwiches.

• Homeboy, CBD: Tom Oswald’s viral cinnamon scrolls have found a new home beneath a city student tower.

• Meli on Hutt, CBD: “non-traditional” Greek twists served in a sunny CBD spot.

• Pompom, Forestville: the Part Time Lover crew is serving stuffed pita pockets in Forestville.

• Shadow Baking, Glenelg: the Messina team’s much-loved Sydney bakery opens its first Adelaide location, serving creative pastries.

• Super Americano, Frewville: pizza sits alongside baccala croquettes, garfish crudo and slow-roasted beef rib served with Russian salad at chef Peter De Marco’s all-day spot.

• Ways Coffee, Hampstead Gardens: a coffee shop from Cheeky Grin owner Stefan Iannace.

• Yuku Do, CBD: a Japanese-inspired cafe serving fluffy shokupan sandos and onigiri.

New ice-creameries and dessert shops

• Cha-no-wa, CBD: the first Australian outpost of a specialty matcha shop opened in Adelaide in January, serving matcha and matcha-flavoured desserts.

• Shmochi, CBD: festival fave Shmochi serves chewy mochi doughnuts and nostalgic gelato.

• Sugar Man Gelato, Adelaide: after a three-month hiatus, the Sugar Man team has pivoted from pastries to gelato made with high-quality ingredients.

New bars

• Bar Bar, CBD: pick up smoky and spicy cocktails at this tiny tequila and mezcal spot from the Jennie crew.

• Bottle Shock, Gumeracha: a bottle shop and wine bar in the Hills from the Unico Zelo and Applewood Distillery team that flips the concept of wine tasting and education on its head.

• Canopy Bar, CBD: the former Stem space got a new lease on life with a killer wine list. It’s also hosted topnotch chef and restaurant takeovers.

• Honeydripper, CBD:  a retro hi-fi bar serving creative cocktails and spinning vinyl records.

• Lola’s, Norwood: the East End Cellars Norwood space has been reborn as Lola’s, a wine bar with “proper” share plates and room to dance.

• Prospect Hotel & Cellars, Prospect: Prospect Road’s first pub in over 100 years.