Beloved city restaurant Parlamento, on North Terrace, will close its doors in April

After almost four decades in its celebrated city location, an Adelaide dining institution will close its doors for the final time in April.

Parlamento owners Gabriele Bibbo, front left, and Raffaele Simeone, Danny Rattenni, back, with new owner David Basheer, front right. Picture: Ben Clark

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Beloved North Terrace dining institution Parlamento will close its doors for the final time in April.

After almost four decades in the famed city location, the acclaimed Italian bistro has been sold by co-owners Raffaele Simeone, Danny Rattenni and Gabriele Bibbo to hotelier David Basheer.

Mr Basheer, the longtime owner of the nearby Strathmore Hotel, will transform the venue into an all-day restaurant and bar in May.

Parlamento has been at the centre of some of the state’s biggest news events, and played host to countless big-name celebrities and tourists, both interstate and international, since opening in 1988.

Mr Simeone, 65, said there was a mixture of joy and sadness, but the time was right to try something new.

“We’re going to miss the place to death but nothing is forever,” he said.

“We just thought we’ve done everything we can do here at Parlamento and the time has come for us to go our separate ways.”

Gabriele Bibbo, front left, Raffaele Simeone and Danny Rattenni, back, with David Basheer, front right, at North Tce restaurant Parlamento. Picture: Ben Clark

Autographed photos adorn the walls of the restaurant, with celebrity guests over the years including sporting stars Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Boris Becker and Shane Warne, to legendary entertainment figures such as Burt Bacharach, Suzi Quattro, John Mayer, Harry Connick Jnr, Peter Allen, John Farnham and Guy Sebastian, just to name a few.

John Mayer with staff at Parlamento.

Guy Sebastian with Danny at Parlamento. Pic: Supplied.

Singer John Farnham at Parlamento for dinner with his band.

Photos on the wall at the North Tce restaurant Parlamento. Pictured on Tuesday 11th Feb 2025. Picture: Ben Clark

Bob Hawke with staff. Picture: Ben Clark

Political powerbrokers have been regular diners, including several SA premiers, which isn’t surprising given its proximity to parliament across the road.

Seismic news events have also played out inside its four walls, including the privatisation of ETSA in 1999 and the landmark agreement to shut down the Holden factory.

“When Holden was closing, we had (Federal Minister) Ian McLachlan and (Premier) Jay Weatherill here, and they had a backroom powwow to nut out the final deal,” Mr Simeone said. “Then Treasurer Rob Lucas also did part of the deal for ETSA here.”

The restaurant temporarily closed in 2008 to allow developers to demolish the prime site. Building delays turned an 18-month hiatus into three years, with the venue finally reopening in 2011.

Mr Simeone said the secret to their decades of success has been “good food, good service and a good location”.

“It’s been lots of hard work, and we were a bit lucky at times. You have to be lucky with restaurants sometimes,” he said.

“It hasn’t always been easy. It’s not easy now for the industry with escalating food, water and power costs.”

Danny Rattenni and Raffaele Simeone at Parlamento in 2011.

Jim Courier with Raffaele. Picture: Ben Clark

Photos on the wall at the North Tce restaurant Parlamento. Pictured on Tuesday 11th Feb 2025. Picture: Ben Clark

New owner Mr Basheer admitted it’s going to be tough to follow in the footsteps of such an “iconic” family-owned business.

“We know we can’t reproduce what they’ve done here for so long, so our intention is to bring a fresh, new look,” he said.

They will refurbish the site and re-open the business in May as a new restaurant serving up breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus after-dinner drinks.

“We hope the people who have loved Parlamento will love our product as well,” Mr Basheer said.

The curtain will come down on Parlamento on April 13, with the last dinner service on the Sunday night of AFL’s Gather Round.

Mr Simeone said it will be difficult to say a final goodbye to their loyal customers.

“It’s the people, the wonderful people, that I’ll miss the most.. It’s a unique blend of clientele from opera and theatre to celebrities, tourists, and politicians,” he said.

“We’ve told a few of our regular patrons already who are really sad.

“It’s hard to believe after all these decades it’s finally happening. We’ve been here for so long, but the time is now right for us.”

Originally published as Beloved city restaurant Parlamento, on North Terrace, will close its doors in April