Top spots to eat on the Fleurieu Peninsula
With stunning coastlines, world-renowned wine and top tier produce, it’s no wonder some of the state’s best places to eat can be found on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Here are our top picks.
Maxwell Wines
Strap in for a journey of exquisite flavour, mind-boggling technique and gasp-worthy presentation that’s sure to spark table conversation. Maxwell’s degustation, overseen by executive chef Fabian Lehmann, is one for the bucket list. Dishes might include an “edible oyster”, where even the shell is able to be consumed, and will instantly transport you to the salty shores of the Eyre Peninsula. Set within a contemporary, light-filled dining room at the McLaren Vale winery cellar door, you’ll enjoy rolling vineyard views and sharp hospitality, along with a range of Maxwell wines. Short on time? You can also enjoy a range of snacks on the terrace.
Fall From Grace
Hospitality duo Jimmy Toone and Jo Leale have taken the reins to Fall From Grace, adding a relaxed yet refined food offering to the Aldinga wine bar. Diners are invited to pop in for a drink and snack or linger over a progression of plates. Travels across Europe and Asia influence much of the pair’s cooking – on the menu, you might find tuna tartare with an aerated tonnato sauce, nannygai with Indonesian sambal and expertly filled pasta. Friday nights are for pizzas (the pair formerly operated pop-up, Secret Pizza Club), while themed dinners – think Japanese sake nights – will be held in the intimate fireplace-lit dining room.
Salopian Inn
Sustainability, seasonality and championing local is at the heart of McLaren Vale’s The Salopian Inn. Headed by passionate chef and green thumb Karena Armstrong, the restaurant sets the bar for produce to plate cooking, with much veg and leafy greens plucked from its own organic kitchen garden. Then there’s the grass-fed local beef, kangaroo and wild shot venison. Cuisine-wise, think contemporary Australian with nods to Asia – their dumplings and steamed buns are cult-loved. Add warm hospitality, a sharp wine list and standout gin collection of more than 200 labels, and it’s easy to see why this McLaren Vale institution continues to be a must-visit for regional dining.
The Little Rickshaw
What started as a local secret has evolved into one of the region’s most sought-after restaurants, booking out weeks in advance. The South East Asian diner is set in a 190-year-old former blacksmith’s workshop in Aldinga, its rustic construction adding to the venue’s unassuming charm. Run by husband-and-wife team Mike Richards and chef Trinh Richards, food comes as an inspired set menu, dancing between bright and zesty flavours and belly-warming fare. With a considered wine list and excellent cocktails – plus warm, unpretentious service – it’s no wonder diners continue coming in droves.
Lost Phoenix Farm
A relaxed destination diner from Adelaide restaurateur Andre Ursini (of MasterChef fame) and accomplished chef Will Doak, Lost Phoenix Farm is well worth the picturesque drive to Hindmarsh Valley. Originally a dairy and farmer’s market, the space retains its country charm – with hanging greenery, wooden ladders and wide open views – while offering a contemporary, crowd-pleasing menu designed to bring people together. Think share-style snacks like whipped ricotta with smashed pea, honey and crispy shallots, and larger dishes like Middle Eastern-inspired lamb shoulder. The property also boasts plenty of grass for younger diners to stretch their legs.
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Our Place
There’s no menu – simply book and roll up at noon for an Italian long lunch that epitomises la dolce vita. Run by beloved local identity Andy Clappis, Sunday lunches at Our Place in Willunga Hill are a true Italian affair. It’s shared-style eating, showcasing traditional dishes including pasta, risotto – cooked fresh from start to finish – and hearty roasts, with meat usually sourced from Andy’s own farm. Say hello to Andy’s dad while you’re there – the original Enzo of South Australia (he opened the first Enzo’s restaurants in Burnside Village and Kent Town). For sweets, you can expect traditional cannoli Siciliana – bellissimo.
Pizzateca
It’s a pizza party at Pizzateca – and everyone’s invited. This ever-popular McLaren Vale dining destination is a rollicking good time, where some of the state’s best Neapolitan-style pizzas are served amid a riot of Italian tunes, clinking glasses and an unapologetically loud, feel-good atmosphere. As well as wood-fired dough, the restaurant serves up tender arrosticini – lamb skewers traditional to Italy’s Abruzzo region – and excellent antipasti. Finish the meal with a limoncello, and swoon-worthy gelato from the onsite gelateria, Gelateca.
Kuti Shack
For many beach holiday-goers, a trip to Goolwa isn’t complete without a pipi foraging expedition – the pale-shelled beauties revealed with a gentle dig of feet or fingers in the sand. But for those who prefer to beeline to the tasty reward, lunch at Kuti Shack is a must. Tucked into the sandhills, this laid-back eatery puts pipis centre stage alongside native ingredients harvested by Ngarrindjeri-owned KutiCo. They might arrive swimming in a punchy XO sauce or tangled through silky strands of linguini. Other crowd-pleasers include crisp fish and chips and tender Cape calamari. The experience is complete with uninterrupted coastal views and a deep sense of place.
This article first appeared in the 2025 issue of SALIFE Food+Wine+Travel magazine.
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