Thing To Do & See

Sparrow Kitchen & Bar

Sparrow is no nervous little brown bird − more like a sassy culinary kestrel. Fabulous tapas and creative contemporary mains in a hip O'Connell St nook, with a long marble-topped bar and flowerpot-strewn courtyard for those hot Adelaide nights. The tapas is affordable, the mains less so (but worth every penny).

Amalfi Pizzeria Ristorante

This Adelaide institution, just off Rundle St, seems perpetually buzzing with contented diners munching their way through piping hot pizzas and al dente pasta. It's often difficult to get in, but hang around because it's worth the wait.

Austral

You'll feel like a local after your first beer at the bar here. High ceilings, simple seating and spartan walls complement the long bar and wooden floors which are good for toe-tapping when live tunes are being played. Excellent food options include Coopers ale beer-battered fish and chips, and Mediterranean lamb cutlets marinated in oregano and lime. There's a tapas menu on weekends.

Central Market

Adelaide's main market, near Victoria Sq, is good value for all types of food. For fresh meat, including seafood and gourmet poultry, try Angelakis Bros. Tacked on the market's western end is Chinatown, with a collection of cafés doing fast and furious trade (especially Friday night) and bursting with contented diners slurping soup and noodles.

Ying Chow Chinese Restaurant

Behind the utilitarian décor hides a culinary gem. It's not your typical Chinese restaurant - rather than ubiquitous Cantonese, the cuisine is styled from the Guangzhou region and the flavours are delightful. Try the stir-fried crocodile with snow peas or aniseed tea duck. It gets packed nightly, but it's worth the wait - or you can grab a takeaway.

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