The 5 Best Italian Restaurants in Adelaide, Rated!

From the name itself, The River Cafè is set on a pavilion floating over Adelaide’s River Torrens. Boasting modern and stylish architecture with huge glass walls, the diners can enjoy a stunning view of the river and the cityscape from all the seats within the restaurant.

In case you’re dining solo or in a group, The River Cafè offers various courses in à la carte and grouped items. You can order a set of personal choices or a multi-course meal for a fixed price. 

We don’t really recommend the place for special dates or intimate celebrations. When booking, try to choose a date that’s not set on a holiday. 

The restaurant can easily be loud and noisy once full. It will definitely be a hard time hearing your company. 

Food-wise, you might want to ask the staff first about what certain dishes are made of. If you’re up for anything, just note that some of their Mediterranean dishes are not really one-recipe-fits-all.

Some meals can come either flat or tangy for one’s taste buds. They come in small servings too. 

On the upside, they have an extensive selection of wines, beers, and cocktails—but all for an expensive price.

Worry not, though. Stay tuned for promos online, as The River Cafè offers up to 50% discount on their menu. This would be a great deal considering the high dining value and other additional charges. 

Chianti takes pride in their long-running reputation of serving Italian cuisines since 1985. 

They are also one of the first restaurants to be awarded by the Italian Government and the Italian Chamber of Commerce the Ospitalità Italiana accreditation—living up to the standards of true Italian welcome and hospitality.

As part of their tradition of hospitable service, you may request to be seated at your preferred table. 

We highly recommend this restaurant for all sorts of occasions, may it be for private meetings, intimate celebrations, or large parties.

Chianti has a retro, classic Italian interior with weather-proof alfresco dining, a restaurant on the ground floor, and private function rooms on the second floor.

The tables are fairly distanced from one another, so noise will not be an issue if you are in for a cozy and pleasant dining experience. 

Now we know that the service is top-rated, let’s dig into the menu. 

If you are looking for a wide variety of authentic Italian gourmet, look no further. Chianti’s menu varies every season—very much like in Italy. 

With goals to fuse the traditional and modern Italian gourmet excellence, Chianti’s chefs love to showcase new delectables every season. Their all-time classics, Beef Carpaccio, Shark Bay Scallops, and Whipped Ricotta are all to die for. 

If you’re planning to order a three-course meal for two, you might want to reconsider, as servings come in small portions for a high price point. 

But if you’re willing to overlook the small serving, you’ll enjoy their reserve list of good-tasting wines.

Get to experience authentic Southern Italian dining without having to leave Adelaide.

If you’re craving for a taste of homestyle Italian dishes, Borsa Pasta Cucina is for you. Their menu doesn’t change, but it’s the exact reason why patrons love to come back. 

Its low-light red-carpeted interior with a touch of wood and brass elements definitely adds up to the overall Mediterranean atmosphere. 

This place is highly recommended for casual dining with friends and family. The service may not be as hands-on as the previous high-end restaurants, but the crew are very friendly and attentive. 

Everything on their menu is handmade. You may even watch their chefs create their pasta from scratch at the open kitchen counter. 

They have a wide variety of dishes—from Antipasto, Fresh Pasta, Dry Pasta, to meat-heavy courses. Their Gnocchi con Pomodoro, Tagliatelle con Salsicce in Bianco, and Linguine Tutto Mare are a must-try. 

The food comes in generous portions too, so it definitely brings good value for its price.

We recommend booking a reservation well before your preferred date. It’s a busy restaurant, and it may take quite a while if you opt to walk in.

But no worries, though, they offer extras when they keep you waiting for too long. 

For this reason, we think it’s a good thing that they have a home delivery option for their three-course meal specialties, featuring mainly their handmade pasta. You may also choose your preferred delivery time. 

Along with the Festa package, you will also receive step-by-step instructions on how to prepare and serve the dishes. This way, customers can have easy, uncomplicated Southern Italian gourmet in the comfort of their homes. 

Established in 1975 by two brothers, La Trattoria continues to serve fresh Italian specialties for Adelaide folks. 

We recommend this place for business lunch meetings or casual dining with friends and family. Giving off the old Italy nostalgia, La Trattoria’s interior resembles old Italian restaurants back in the ’70s. 

Their menu includes a wide variety of pizza, gourmet pizza, antipasti, pasta dishes, and more. You can also choose from their eight-page list of wines, cocktails, and other beverages. 

Choosing from their 15-page menu can be daunting, so you might want to ask the waiter for suggestions of the best combination of courses. 

You can try La Trattoria’s signature classics, like Pizza La Trattoria, Mediteranio, and the award-winning Andy’s Marinara Gourmet Pizza, all for a fair price. 

However, if you have requests or add-ons to your food, get ready to pay extra. They charge around $5 to $20 dollars on other services, such as dietary options, corkage fees, holiday dine-in fees, vegan cheese, takeaway containers, and more.

Luigi Delicatessen was founded by Luigi, a man of Italian origin with a strong passion for sharing his home’s dishes with top-quality service.

Luigi was a finalist in the 2020 Restaurant and Catering Hostplus Awards for Excellence, specifically in the Best Breakfast – City category. 

What makes Luigi different is that they don’t really have a set menu. Delivering full course flexibility, they offer varied specialties every day.

The waiter will just casually say what they have for that day and explain what each dish is made of. You can also decide what to add to your plate. 

If you want, you can also leave the selection to the waiter and expect a commendable food suggestion.

One thing to keep in mind, since they don’t have a set menu, they also don’t have a set price for each dish. Dining at Luigi can be a bit pricey, so we suggest asking the waiter how much each dish costs so you have an idea on how much your bill will be.

The servings come in large portions and are always beautifully presented. 

Perfect for intimate gatherings with friends and family, Luigi’s sets the bar high with its live music performances every Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights that very much compliment the good food.