A thrifty guide to Tasting Australia

May 02, 2025, updated May 08, 2025

As Tasting Australia kicks off its 2025 program, CityMag has curated a selection of free and budget-friendly ways to experience South Australia’s premier food and beverage festival.

The city’s foodie festival has begun as Tasting Australia opened its kitchen today. If you’ve failed to snag a ticket to one of its events – they’re notoriously hard to get a hold of  – CityMag’s got you covered.

We’ve scoured the program and found the best events on offer that won’t break the bank.

Read on to see how we’d enjoy Tasting Australia for $50 or under.

PAID EVENTS

LOT.100 x Kitchen Farm

Expect a cosy autumn night of firepits, live music and s’mores in the heart of the Adelaide Hills at Kitchen Farm.

There will be LOT.100 wood oven pizzas, salads, a barbeque offering along with local juices, sodas, Ngeringa wine, Mismatch Brewing beers and 78 Degrees gin. The ticket gets you a s’more by the fireplace and a drink on arrival.

When: Friday, May 9 at 5pm
Where: Kitchen Farm at 162 Flaxley Road, Adelaide Hills
Cost: $25
Tickets

Image: Tasting Australia

Beer and Tacos

Independent brewer Little Bang Brewery – which started with two friends and a gaming turned home brewing obsession – is launching its Mexican Dark Cerveza.

The ticket gets you a first sip of the newly poured beer and three tacos. There will also be additional food stations with a wider selection of beer available for purchase.

When: Saturday, May 10 at 12pm
Where: Little Bang Brewing at 25 Henry Street, Stepney
Cost: $35
Tickets

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FREE EVENTS

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Town Square

Tasting Australia’s Town Square in the middle of the city is its hub and offers food, drink and fun for visitors of all ages.

It features 15 vendors – among them returning favourites Gang Gang, Shibui and Braising Boy, plus newbies Comida Hahndorf and Dolly – four bars and live music.

Town Square will be open the entire festival and is free to enter.

When: May 2-10, Monday to Wednesday at 11am-9pm, Thursday 11am-11pm, Friday and Saturday 11am-midnight, Sunday 11am-9pm, Sunday, May 11 11am-8pm

Where: Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga

Town Square at Tasting Australia 2024. This picture: supplied.

Adelaide Central Market

An associated event program of this year’s festival, the Adelaide Central Market will host a series of cooking demonstrations in the Community Kitchen.

Presented by food and media identity Mandy Hall, the series will collaborate with some of South Australia’s most talented chefs, including Gabriele Pezzimenti, executive chef at Market & Meander, Terry Intarakhamhaeng, executive chef at Soi 38 and more.

The cooking demonstrations will be open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.

When: Friday, May 2 and Friday, May 9
Where: Community Kitchen, Adelaide Central Market