Adelaide Central Market voted Australia’s delicious. 100 favourite foodie experience

The delicious. 100 reader votes are in – and Australia’s favourite food experience is right here in Adelaide.

Salvatore and Julietha Pittelli from Cumbia Bar Kitchen celebrating Friday nights at the Adelaide Central Market. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Friday nights at the Adelaide Central Market has been voted Australia’s favourite food experience in the 2025 delicious. 100 awards.
The annual list had previously focused on restaurants, but expanded for the first time to include everything from markets to country pubs. Out of 100 entries from around the country, Adelaide’s historic public market took out the national reader vote.

South Australia featured prominently in the list, with other homegrown success stories like the Watervale Hotel in Clare Valley and Aldinga’s Little Rickshaw also ranking highly in the public vote.

While the markets have long been one of the city’s biggest tourist hotspots – attracting more than eight million people through the doors each year – the now-not-so local secret is to round out the working week with dinner at the icon.

Head there on a Friday night and you’ll witness late-night trading transform the market into a roaming dinner party until 9pm.

Friday nights at the Adelaide Central Market has been voted Australia’s favourite food experience in the 2025 delicious. 100 awards. Picture: Kelly Barnes

“We are so thrilled our traders have been recognised and the Adelaide Central Market has been awarded the most delicious food experience in Australia,” said general manager Fabienne Reilly.

“Friday nights at the market has such a vibrant atmosphere with something for everyone – the best of SA, food from around the world, cheap eats and live music all under one roof.”

The largest undercover market in the Southern Hemisphere has been going strong for more than 150 years. For generations, families have done their shopping here, thanks to the huge range of fruit, vegetables, meat, seafood and smallgoods supplied largely by South Australian producers.

Over the years, the dine-in options have also mushroomed, with local legends like Lucia’s Pizza and Spaghetti Bar, Sunmi’s Sushi and Asian Gourmet joined by newcomers like seafood bar SiSea and Real Falafel.

Extended trading hours on Friday nights create a carnival-like atmosphere, with live music and tastings at popular stalls. It’s best to arrive with an appetite and empty market basket.

The ongoing renovations are set to double the market’s size by 2026, with the $400m expansion of the Central Market Arcade.

The redeveloped arcade will include a community, diversity and culture hub, a nine-storey commercial tower for more than 750 staff, a 248-room hotel and 231 residences.

The market hall will include an impressive glass atrium and space to host pop-ups and community events. Plus, there’ll be more outdoor dining and a new laneway with shops.

Originally published as Adelaide Central Market voted Australia’s delicious. 100 favourite foodie experience