The Ultimate Food & Drink Guide for Adelaide Fringe Festival 2025

If we know anything about the Adelaide Fringe Festival, it's that you could spend countless hours discovering shows, creative workshops, pop-up parties and immersive experiences. Time flies as you flit between Gluttony and the Garden of Unearthly Delights and traipse through the city seeking your next Fringe Fest adventure.

Another thing we know for sure? You're bound to work up a healthy appetite. Lucky for you, the food and drink offerings at the Adelaide Fringe Festival are top-notch and open throughout the season for pre or post-show feeds, cheeky midweek dinners or weekend catchups. From food trucks and pop-up bars to special Fringe offers at participating CBD venues, we've gathered the best of the best to ensure you're well-fed this festive Fringe season!

Garden of Unearthly Delights

The Garden of Unearthly Delights takes over Rundle Park at the East End of the CBD, using up every inch of space to immerse visitors in a world of creativity, imagination, self-expression and fabulous food. We're talking world-class magic shows, comedy gigs from big names and emerging talent, family-friendly fun, carnival rides and an epic lineup of food and drink vendors.

Set your sights on any foodie destination, and chances are you'll find a vendor to match within The Garden. Bravo La Parilla delights in the vibrant flavours of Argentina, best shown in the choripán, a grilled chorizo sausage topped with Chimichurri. Heading north on the map, Smalltown Smash Burgers brings the carb-loaded goodness of the USA, while Senor Taco is the go-to for an authentic taste of Mexico.

Gyoza Records churns out some of the best festival gyoza money can buy, and Bao Bao provides a quick fix of pillowy bao buns loaded with homemade sauces, salads and your choice of protein. For something sweet, Donut Diner was born in The Garden, and the circus entertainers running this 50's style diner handmake the most lip-smackingly good classic cinnamon donuts. They're so good, they're often all you find on the menu!

New Additions to the Garden Food Scene

With the welcome return of old favourites, 2025 will see an exciting injection of fresh new faces and experiences on the foodie front in The Garden, including live cooking shows over open fire, Japanese BBQ and sweet Dutch pancakes. 

SHOSHO Yakitori chef Chester Chan will bring premium ingredients and bold charcoal to Burnt Bird, creating perfectly grilled skewers, while The Flamin' Galah by Africola Canteen is the hottest (literally) event of the season. Duncan Welgemoed will captivate audiences as he displays his signature cooking style over South Australia's biggest fire pit. Bookings essential!

When you've had your savoury fix, head over to The Poffertjes Carousel to score a plate of freshly-made bite-size poffertjes, and stick around long enough to see the stage transform and put on a show.

Sip & Swill 

Keep the good times rolling with tasty drops, creative cocktails and non-alcoholic bevvies in The Garden. For an injection of caffeine, the ever-reliable Baker Boys Coffee van has all your latte (and Espresso Martini) needs sorted, and icy cold slushies covering every flavour of the rainbow are never hard to find.

Step into a magical garden and unwind with summertime favourites and outdoor games at the Butterly Bar, spend an afternoon listening to live music and sipping on exceptional wines at the Hesketh Wine & Piano Bar, or enjoy expertly crafted premium drinks in the chic Cocktail Bar.

Back by popular demand, explore the vibrant nightlife of Tokyo at Maho Magic Bar. Sip on cocktails in the dedicated neon-lit space, and prepare to be amazed by tableside magic shows!

Gluttony

Discover the epicentre of the Adelaide Fringe Festival at Gluttony, with a show, event or experience happening at all hours of the day. As you make your way through the open-air festivities taking over Rymill Park, you'll notice you're never far from a buzzing bar or premium food offering at Gluttony. With cuisines to suit just about any craving and dietary requirements, you'll want to arrive hungry!

Whether you need something sweet, a quick bite to go or a hearty dish packed with nutrients and flavour, there is a food truck with your name on it! Enfez Gözleme brings its delicious Turkish gozleme, Hahndorf's Comida will be setting up its station to fire up the paella pan and sling sangria, Staazi & Co. are pros at festivals with their delicious Greek street food, and Pizzateca has pizza down to an art.

Jumping continents, the flavours of Asia can be enjoyed with Phat Head's delish dumplings, while The Thai Guy offers an authentic piece of the Bangkok Markets.

Hubba Hubba and Let Them Eat are on hand for healthy rice bowls, salads and proteins, and Cakeboy's vegan donuts and 48 Flavours creamy scoops are our top picks for a sweet treat fix!

Enjoy a Tipple or Two

Making warm weekends at Fringe even better, the pop-up bars at Gluttony call for long and leisurely catchups beneath the lanterns. Pick your poison, from gin at the evergreen Tanqueray Bar, bubbles from Alpha Box & Dice and South Australian drops from The Local.

To take it up a notch, visit Club Curious - an adults-only bar for late-night sips, games, dancing with DJs and a whole lot of fun after dark. 

The Garden Feast

Coming to The Garden for three nights only, The Garden Feast is your chance to experience an exceptional outdoor feast celebrating South Australia's regional food heroes led by iconic chefs. Diners will enjoy a complimentary drink on arrival, before taking a seat in the heart of The Garden on long communal tables to enjoy a multiple-course meal. Throughout the evening, unexpected performances and encounters synonymous with The Garden will make this a magical evening you won't soon forget. 

February 24th - Showcasing South Australian produce with Mark Best (Marque, Sydney) & Kirby Shearing (Elementary by Soul Co., Mt Gambier)

March 3rd - Modern Australian with Duncan Welgemoed (Africola, Adelaide) & Mitch Orr (Prince Dining Room, Melbourne)

March 10th - South Asia/Philippines with Benjamin Cooper (Chin Chin, Melbourne) & Kaysy (CK Confectionaire, Coober Pefy)

The Garden of Unearthly Delights, Rundle Park, Adelaide

Kangaroo Island Spirits x Popeye: Gin Tasting River Cruise

All aboard the iconic Popeye for a tasting on the Torrens! Swap the high-energy atmosphere for a leisurely river cruise, enjoying three smooth gins from Kangaroo Island Spirits as you go. Each tasting is paired with a morsel of food to compliment the drink, with sweet, savoury and fresh bites on the menu. The Popeye will depart from and return to Elder Park, so you'll be well placed to carry on the good times long after the cruise has come to an end.

February 21st - March 22nd

Popeye III, Elder Park, Adelaide

Pour, Fizz & Sip - Get Spritzy! with Prohibition Liquor Co.

Spice up your Fringe plans with a gin cocktail-making class. Hosted by Prohibition Liquor Co. at Next Door Cocktail Bar, this exclusive event is all about learning the secrets to crafting your own spritzy creations. You'll shake up two signature Prohibition Gin Spritz cocktails using award-winning gin while enjoying a delicious antipasto platter, and score $15 off any bottles you purchase on the day... it's a win-win.

Saturday 8th and 22nd of March 

Next Door at Prohibition Liquor Co. 22 Gilbert Street, Adelaide

Disco Bottomless Brunch

Sublime Cafe has been a long-standing favourite for a boozy bottomless brunch, but they're stepping it up a notch for Fringe with some funky disco flair on March 1st. Over two wonderful hours, the bubbles, mimosas, beers, teas and coffees will flow freely, complemented by shared plates to graze on. Your brunch will be soundtracked by foot-tapping disco beats, setting you up for a whole lot of fun.

Saturday, March 1st at 11:45am

Sublime Cafe, 55 East Avenue, Clarence Park

If you loved our roundup of the best food and drink at Adelaide Fringe Festival 2025, you'll love our guides to the best Italian and Japanese restaurants in town. If you are ready to up the ante, check out the best rooftop bars for summer sips.