HOW TO SPEND A WEEKEND IN ADELAIDE
All the things you have to see, do and taste
20 NOV 2023
Rundle Street, Adelaide's East End
Looking to make a weekend escape to Adelaide’s boutique capital? We’ve got you covered. Swim with dolphins, hike through nature, sip world-class wine and dive into Adelaide’s nightlife with our action packed 48-hour guide.
While your trip might be short, that doesn’t mean it can’t be sweet. Adelaide comes alive from Friday to Sunday as market stalls pop-up, our footpaths crowd with alfresco brunchers and festivals flood our city squares. Want to know how to make the most of your trip to Adelaide? We’ve compiled all the best things to see, do and taste for the weekend warriors.
Friday - Arrive in Adelaide
Check-in to your stay
Jet or drive into Adelaide on Friday afternoon and prepare for your weekend of frivolity. Book a stay in the heart of the city, so you can make the most of Adelaide’s nightlife. Easy and accessible weekend stays include:
Get a birds-eye view of Adelaide
Get a birds-eye view of your weekend playground by ascending to the rooftop of 2KW Bar and Restaurant, boasting unparalleled views of Adelaide’s most iconic landmarks – including the Adelaide Oval, North Terrace, Government House and the parklands along the River Torrens / Karrawirra Parri. You can also get above the throng of the city streets at Hennessy rooftop bar, perched atop the Mayfair Hotel, or – for a different viewpoint (and an IG-worthy backdrop) – Merrymaker Rooftop Bar.
Sip and eat your way to the East End
From here, we suggest you migrate through the heart of the CBD to Rundle Street. Nestled between the lush gardens of Rymill Park/Murlawirrapurka and the beating heart of Adelaide lies the East End. A microcosm of the best Adelaide has to offer, if you want to really measure the vibe of our city, then spend a night flitting about this melting pot of scrumptious food, award-winning wine and contemporary art. Fairy lights are often strung up between shopfronts, Vardon Avenue is overtaken with terrace table settings and end-of-the-work-week revelry. You can’t walk past East End Cellars or nearby Mother Vine if you want to learn why Adelaide is the Wine Capital of Australia. Or you can forget you are in Australia all together when you step through the doors of NOLA – a New Orleans inspired haunt dishing up Cajun and Creole cuisine and an extensive whiskey menu. After you’ve sufficiently wet your thirst, it’s time to make room for a decadent first night dinner. In the East End, you are spoilt for choice:
- Daughter In Law
- Eros Kafe
- Africola
Writers tip: If you are willing to book ahead, you could cut out your East End jaunt and jump straight into a sitting at one of Adelaide – and the country’s – best restaurants. After you’ve caught some of the best city views from a rooftop bar, grab a table at one of the best restaurants in Adelaide. Fugazzi, Garcon Bleu and Shobosho are all nearby, no matter what rooftop you are descending from. Back it up by exploring some of Peel Street’s eclectic bars and beer gardens.
Saturday - Explore Vineyards and Villages
Breakfast at the Adelaide Central Markets
The Adelaide Central Markets are the lifeblood of Adelaide’s foodie culture – supplying many of our local restaurants. The markets are also the best way to taste your way across the state, without ever having to leave the city! With over 70 stalls under the one roof, the Adelaide Central markets are one of the largest undercover fresh produce markets in the Southern Hemisphere. Jump on a market breakfast tour and sample coffee beans, nuts, fresh fruit and yoghurt, or check out our guide to the Adelaide Central Markets to see our picks.
Embark on a winery tour
The beauty of Adelaide is in our accessibility – some of the best wine regions are just 15 minutes from the CBD. Rolling green hills, a patchwork of vineyards and valleys home to storybook towns. Welcome to the Adelaide Hills. Don’t have a car? You can either catch a taxi or a bus up to Stirling or Hahndorf before spending your day meandering through the romantic streets, cellar doors and art galleries that make up these villages. Alternatively, jump on a tour with Bike About, Hahndorf Walking Tours or Touring Adelaide South Australia. Hiring a car or driving to Adelaide? Then the hills are yours to uncover. The best and quickest way to balance beautiful views and crisp cool climate wines is by following the Piccadilly Valley Wine Trail. It connects five iconic wineries on the edge of the city and, if you purchase a bottle from each, you’ll get a complimentary set of two Riedel Pinot glasses to take home in your carry on!
Catch the sunset over the ocean
Come back down the hill and into the heart of the city, before hopping on a tram to the coastline. Adelaide is one of the only cities in Australia where you can watch the sun melt into the ocean’s horizon. Plus, the city is just minutes away from the ocean – so you can be catching a front row seat to Mother Nature’s nightly light show within the hour. For a truly magical experience, hop on a twilight cruise from Glenelg with Temptation Sailing and cheers to a day of adventure.
Writers tip: Temptation Sailing also offer daytime dolphin swim tours that will see you feel part of the pod – you could always swap out a trip to the Adelaide Hills for a morning spent swimming with these playful creatures in their natural habitat.
Hit up a beach bar before settling in for dinner
If you are visiting in summer, immerse yourself at Australia’s only official bar on the beach – the Moseley Beach Club. Drink in the summer party vibes surrounded by white sand and the sound of lapping waves as the world around you awakes for the night. Enjoy a cocktail before retiring for dinner along Jetty Road. Alternatively, we’d suggest going one beach over, to Henley, for a vibrant cluster of trendy restaurants and bars (both Jetty Road and Henley beach restaurants are open year-round, except for the Moseley Beach Club). Pull up a blue bar stool at Mia Margarita before continuing the Mexican theme with street food from Taco Libre, or head to Adelaide institutions Cheeky Greek, Melt or Hnly. Be warned though – all it takes is a day of sunshine for Saturday nights to get packed, so book ahead at these eateries if the weather is looking fine.
Sunday- a slow day for culture
Taste the best breakfast in Adelaide
We suggest checking out of your accommodation early and asking if you can leave your bags at reception, freeing you up to make the most of your last day in Adelaide. Start your morning with a caffeine hit and all the local trimmings, when you order breakfast at one of our favourite city haunts:
- My Grandma Ben
- Bloom
- Peter Rabbit
- Hey Jupiter
- Abbots and Kinney
- My Kingdom For A Horse
- Crack Kitchen
Visit two of the world’s most unique glasshouses at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens
South Australia is the world’s second National Park City, behind London, thanks to the ring of parklands and lush gardens that encircle our CBD. After fuelling up at breakfast, grab a take away coffee, lace up your sneakers and head for a stroll through the Adelaide Botanic Garden. We recommend checking out the Palm House, a restored Victorian glasshouse that was imported from Bremen, Germany in 1875. It’s thought to be the only glasshouse of its kind left in the world. Also worth a walk-through is the Bicentennial Conservatory, a semicircle shaped glasshouse and the largest single span conservatory in the Southern Hemisphere. Step inside and navigate the walkway that takes you through a magical rainforest canopy.
Walk down North Terrace and visit the South Australian Museum
North Terrace is arguably the most beautiful city street in Adelaide – and one of the most historic in Australia. Exit the Botanic Gardens via North Terrace and take your time strolling up the ‘cultural boulevard’, admiring the grand facades that frame the terrace. You could spend hours trapsing up North Terrace, ducking in and out of Adelaide’s cultural houses – but we suggest stopping in at the South Australian Museum, the Art Gallery of South Australia and continuing down to MOD (a future-focused museum of science, art and innovation). If you are short on time – the state museum houses the most comprehensive collection of Australian Aboriginal artifacts in the world, it’s must-see.
The last lunch
Follow North Terrace down to the Riverbank Promenade and toast to your weekend escape over lunch. For a final hoorah, we suggest checking out the below lunch options situated in and around the River Torrens, so you can soak up some of our favourite city views while savouring your last taste of the state (for now). Our suggestions:
Start Planning...
Ready to plan your weekend in Adelaide? Why not check out our Trip Planner tool, an easy way to save your favourite suggestions, search for restaurants, tours or accommodation and build your own itinerary. When you are done, you can save your personalised itinerary and download it as a PDF before departure.
