Adelaide Central Market: Everything You Need To Know

The Adelaide Central Market is the perfect place for the culinarily curious; colourful, chaotic and with community at its core.

Adelaide Central Market draws in more than nine million visitors per year for its mounds of fresh fruit and vegetables and endless variety of artisan produce. Located in the heart of Adelaide’s CBD, Adelaide Central Market is one of the city’s most iconic treasures; it’s also rated as one of the best fresh produce markets in Australia, and indeed, the world.

gourmet cheese at The Smelly Cheese Co, Adelaide Central Market — Adelaide Central Market is home to The Smelly Cheese Co. which produces the best cheese from around the world. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

With over seventy produce stalls and freshly cooked delicacies from around the world, let your stomach be your guide during your visit.

a woman buying fresh flowers at the Adelaide Central Market — Check out the flower stalls selling vibrant blooms. (Image: Melissa Koh)

Founded in 1869, the Adelaide Central Market is the heart and soul of the Adelaide food scene. The magic of the market is the community who have come from all corners of the world to make Adelaide, or Kaurna country, home. Food connects us – to place and to each other – and there’s no better place to do that in Adelaide than this bustling food hall.

people dining near a vibrant wall art in Adelaide Central Market — Come for the vibrant art and food scene at Adelaide Central Market. (Image: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Getting to Adelaide Central Market

The central market is located between Gouger and Grote St in Chinatown on the western side of the CBD. Stop at Victoria Square on the tram and it’s an easy five-minute walk. The free City Connector bus has stops located on Grote St.

Central Market UPark is located just above the market and offers the first hour free to shoppers (T&C’s apply)

a couple walking out of the Adelaide Central Market — Walk into the bustling Adelaide Central Market. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Getting Around Adelaide Central Market

To navigate the market, grab a map from the information desk near the Grote Street entrance or look up at the signage that marks each row of stalls with avenues.

fresh produce sold at one of the many stalls in Adelaide Central Market — Adelaide Central Market is rated as one of the best fresh produce markets in Australia. (Image: Tourism Australia)

The market can be a sensory overload, so if you’d like someone else to lead the way consider booking one of Mark Gleeson’s tours . As an ex-chef and market stallholder he shares his passion and knowledge with visitors from all over the world. To whet your appetite before your visit, listen to the audio tour of the market on Spotify.

a food art at Adelaide Central Market — Whet your appetite with so many options to choose from. (Image: Tourism Australia)

What to See at Adelaide Central Market

Shopping and food options

With a smorgasbord of culinary delights to choose from, here are some places (and people) not to miss.

a vibrant wall painting in Adelaide Central Market — Adelaide Central Market is the centre of Adelaide’s food scene. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Lucia’s Italian restaurant founded in 1957 is now run by Lucia’s children and grandchildren, who serve up homely Calabrian comfort food. You might not be able to replicate the oh-so-soft gnocchi, but you can always take home some of Nonna’s sauce from the deli next door.

Si Sea is a European-style seafood and wine bar that began serving lunches and will soon expand to Saturday night suppers. With signature dishes like Thai mussels cooked fresh while you wait and handpicked South Australian wines, this is an ideal option for seafood lovers.

people dining at Si Sea in Adelaide Central Market — Swing by Si Sea if you’re craving seafood.

Owned by former AFL player Daniel Motlop, Something Wild Indigenous foods focuses on ethical and sustainable native Australian ingredients. The store showcases the breadth of local proteins and botanicals with fresh game meats from camel to kangaroo, native herbs like karkalla and strawberry gum and bush fruits like muntries and quandong. If you’ve finished your shopping, you can even pull up a seat at the bar to enjoy a taste of green ant gin or native yam vodka.

If you meet the Mushroom Man selling chanterelles, ask for a taste of the black garlic and truffle salt – it has enough flavour to make any dish pop.

Shoppers with a sweet tooth should head for Turkish Delight where Mona and Mohammed Hassan showcase their handmade and colourful sweets, or stop at Saudade for a warm Pastéis de Nata Portuguese tart.

the Middle Eastern Real Falafel restaurant at Adelaide Central Market — Head to Real Falafel for an authentic taste of the Middle East.

Real Falafel owner Mitch Aldaswari came from Saudi Arabia as a refugee, and today offers market-goers an authentic taste of the Middle East with one of the best falafels you’ll ever try. If North African cuisine is more your style, Le Souk cooks up Berber tagine dreams inspired by owner Azou’s Algerian roots.

close up of a Middle Eastern dish at Real Falafel — Real Falafel serves up vegan and gluten-free dishes.

Don’t be fooled by the name – Sun Mi Sushi also serves very affordable Korean dishes like mung bean pancakes and bibimbap. Asian Gourmet makes Malaysian Sarawak laksa for those in the know; it’s not on the menu (shhh…) and is served on Fridays and Saturdays only.

Central Organic brings a cocoon of calm in the middle of the market with a range of certified organic products. Bring a container to refill your shampoo or soap from their flagons and help reduce single-use plastic.

If you don’t have time to visit Kangaroo Island during your stay in SA, the Kangaroo Island Shop is a great option for gifts showcasing over 450 products from island producers. Maybe stop for an award-winning KI gin while you’re here?

a couple walking around Adelaide Central Market near Kangaroo Island Shop — Stop by Kangaroo Island Shop for a KI gin. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Look out for the ‘Producer in Residence’ of the month, showcasing the very best local food businesses like Masa Bakery specialising in delectable Latin American pastries.

Events and Activities

The market turns up a notch on Friday evenings with live musicians and late-night trading. Why not try cheese after dark with whisky and wine tastings or watch a cooking demonstration in the community kitchen while the kids get their faces painted?

Tips for Visiting Nearby Attractions

Tartanyangga, or Victoria Square comes alive with events year-round from the Tour Down Under to the Adelaide Fringe so keep an eye out for what’s on. The recently restored Her Majesty’s Theatre has been welcoming audiences since 1913, and you can still catch the latest musicals at Adelaide’s most haunted theatre. To recoup your energy or extend your stay after a day at the markets, stroll a couple of blocks over to the vibrant Hotel Indigo, where the lobbies are inspired by the red brick arches of the Market.

Opening Hours

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 7:00am – 5:30pm
Wednesday: 9:00am – 5:30pm (Selected Stalls open)
Thursday: 9:00am – 5:30pm
Friday: 7:00am – 9:00pm
Saturday: 7:00am – 3:00pm
Sunday: Closed

Looking for more markets? These Adelaide markets should be on your radar.

Originally written by Carla Grossetti with updates by Louisa Norman

WA might be enormous, but the right insider knowledge brings its mysteries a whole lot closer.

“Western Australia is a land of record-breakers,” says Carolyn Tipper, a Travel Director working on AAT Kings Western Australia tours. “It has the second-longest fault line, the second-largest meteorite crater, the second-fastest flowing river—it just keeps surprising you. And every area has its charm.”

From tropics to deserts, Australia’s largest state is a land of extremes. You can’t see all of Western Australia in a lifetime, but with the right guide, you can discover its hidden pockets of magic.

Carolyn wishes to reach her guests’ hearts. “I want them to enjoy and be in awe,” she says. “I want them to have the holiday of a lifetime.”

1. Mimbi Caves

You wouldn’t expect a Great Barrier Reef in the outback – but that’s what you’ll find at Mimbi Caves. Once part of a 350-million-year-old reef, these caves hold marine fossils, ancient Indigenous rock art, and Dreamtime stories shared by a Gooniyandi guide.

“That’s when the real connection happens,” says Carolyn, who has taken guests through on the AAT Kings Wonders of the West Coast and Kimberley tour . “When guests connect, not just with the land, but with the people who have called it home for tens of thousands of years.”

Eye-level view of traveller exploring Mimbi Caves. — Walk through ancient limestone passages. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

2. Kalbarri National Park

Nothing prepares you for the Kalbarri Skywalk: a 25-metre platform jutting over Murchison Gorge, 100 metres above the red cliffs and river below. From July to October, join the AAT Kings Untamed Pilbara and West Coast tour to see over 1000 wildflower species paint the park, and listen as an Indigenous guide shares their uses, bush foods and medicine plants.

“I want our guests to have an emotional experience,” says Carolyn. “It’s not just about seeing the land, it’s about stepping into the stories.”

An aerial view of the Kalbarri Skywalk, one of the secret places in Western Australia, with visitors on the edge. — Stand on the Kalbarri Skywalk in Western Australia. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

3. Hamelin Bay Wines

Margaret River isn’t just a top wine region – it’s a winner in every category. Where the Indian and Southern Oceans collide, granite cliffs rise, limestone caves sprawl and Karri forests tower. It almost distracts from the world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.

Almost.

Out of over 100 cellar doors, AAT Kings pick Hamelin Bay Wines as a favourite. Hosted tastings of small-batch wines on the Western Wonderland tour end with a group meal. The menu shifting with the seasons.

“Get off the beaten track to one of WA’s most relaxed venues for some amazing red and white signature wines,” explains Carolyn, “accompanied with upmarket pub food.”

Spectacular views.

A person raising a glass of Chardonnay against a glowing Western Australia sunset. — Sip world-class wines at Hamelin Bay in Western Australia. (Image: Getty)

4. Wildflower Guided Walk, Kings Park

Western Australia is home to 12,000 native plant species – 3000 bloom in Kings Park’s Botanic Garden. Stroll past Kangaroo Paw, Banksia and blooms from the Goldfields, Stirling Ranges and Kimberley. “The diversity of Western Australia is immense,” says Carolyn, who leads guests through on the South Western Escape tour .

Couple enjoying the view from the Lotterywest Federation walkway at Kings Park and Botanical Garden. — Wander among thousands of native plant species. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

5. Hoochery Distillery

Did you know that between Kununurra and Emma Gorge lies the state’s oldest continuously operating distillery? Well, the oldest legal one. Set on a family farm, Hoochery Distillery was hand-built using materials found on the property, conjuring up award-winning rum from local sugarcane, wet season rainwater and yeast.

Today, visitors can sample a hearty nip of rum, along with whiskies and gins – all crafted using traditional, labour-intensive methods. It’s the ideal way to soak up the ‘spirit’ of the Kimberley on the AAT Kings’ Untamed Kimberley tour .

People enjoying a rum tasting at one of the secret places in Western Australia. — Sample award-winning rum. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

6. Geraldton

The wildflowers of the Midwest will make your heart blossom. In Geraldton, the Helen Ansell Art Gallery brings the region’s botanicals to life in vivid colour and intricate detail. In nearby Mullewa, wander bushland trails lined with everlastings and native blooms. Further afield, Coalseam Conservation Park bursts into carpets of pink, white, and yellow each spring. Do it all on the Wildflower Wanderer tour with AAT Kings.

woman walking through Wildflowers, Coalseam Conservation Park — Chase vibrant wildflower trails. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

7. El Questro

Wake up after a night under the stars at Emma Gorge Resort, ready to explore the mighty beauty of the El Questro Wilderness Park. With deep gorges, thermal springs, and cascading waterfalls, time slows here.

Join the AAT Kings’ Wonders of the West Coast and Kimberley tour to drift through Chamberlain Gorge, where sheer sandstone walls glow burnt orange in the sun, archer fish flick at the surface, and rock wallabies peer down from ledges above. Then, step into Zebedee Springs, a secret oasis of warm, crystal-clear pools among prehistoric Livistona palms – a moment of pure, wild stillness.

Emma Gorge Resort at El Questro. — Wake to adventure at Emma Gorge Resort. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

8. Lake Argyle

Once vast cattle country, Lake Argyle now sprawls like an inland sea – Western Australia’s largest freshwater lake, created by the damming of the Ord River. Scattered with over 70 islands, its glassy waters teem with life, like freshwater crocodiles, barramundi, bony bream, sleepy cod and over 240 bird species. That’s nearly a third of Australia’s avian population.

Glide across the lake’s surface on a cruise as part of AAT Kings’ Untamed Kimberley tour , where the silence is only broken by the splash of fish and the call of birds. For Carolyn, this place is a perfect example of how WA’s landscapes surprise visitors. “Lake Argyle is a big puddle of water that became a game-changer,” she says. “Seeing it from a boat, coach, and plane is mind-blowing. It puts time, isolation and the sheer scale into perspective.”

Aerial View of Triple J Tours on the Ord River, near Kununurra. — Glide past islands on Western Australia’s largest freshwater lake. (Image: Western Australia)

Discover more of Western Australia’s hidden gems and book your tour at aatkings.com.

The ultimate guide to visiting Adelaide Central Market