Help me find... The best pre-show dining spots this Adelaide Fringe

Five pre-show eats you HAVE to try this Adelaide Fringe season

Looking for a speedy and delicious bite before your next Adelaide Fringe show? We’ve scoped out the best pre-show eats in every corner of our fabulous city — and there’s an option for every taste bud and price point. Discover where with Experience Adelaide.

Want a pre-show dining experience that feels luxe but won’t break the bank? Pay a visit to Luma, one of the latest additions to the West End dining scene. Located on North Terrace opposite the train station, this beautifully designed restaurant and bar serves cocktails, snacks and sharing plates that look almost too good to eat.

Slide into one of the private booths or score a spot at the bar and order snacks to share. Highlights include the Coffin Bay oysters, Boston Bay mussels, leek croquettes, and vanilla creme brulee. Pair with a cocktail made by one of their expert bartenders before dashing off to see your show.

If a bowl of pasta is your idea of a good night out, look no further than Ruby Red Flamingo. Located on Tynte Street in North Adelaide, this family-run Italian restaurant has a warm and buzzing atmosphere and a 50s style decor that sparks nostalgia.

Take a seat inside next to the vintage-inspired Italian artwork or outside in the lush garden and order from their extensive menu of Italian classics. Highlights include the mezze maniche (ring shaped pasta with prawns, pancetta and zucchini) and the duck ravioli pasta. Rest assured the food will be served pronto and while you wait, enjoy some sharing starters. We recommend the octopus carpaccio and antipasto plate.

Need a bite before seeing a show in The Garden of Unearthly Delights, Gluttony, Rhino Room or down the East End? Room 19 is the place to be. Located amongst the hustle and bustle of the Fringe festivities, this Asian-inspired cafe has quickly become a crowd favourite for its fusion menu, which also caters for vegan and gluten free requirements.

Try pairing their BBQ short ribs noodles with a house-made passion mango soda or their moorish Tokyo fries with an iced matcha latte. The food is delicious, comes out fast, and is served with epic views of the buzzing East End.

Retro diner Two Bit Villains may be 100% plant-based but the burgers are meaty enough to fool even the most dedicated carnivores. You’ll find this American-style restaurant upstairs in Rundle Mall’s historic Adelaide Arcade, conveniently located halfway between the East End and West End.

Pull up a chair inside or score a seat on the balcony where you can enjoy extensive views overlooking Rundle Mall while you wait for your meal. Choose from homemade cheeseburgers, sloppy joes, hot dogs, mac and cheese ... and more. All menu items are vegan with dairy-free and gluten-free options available, and all completely delicious.

The food is as comforting as the cafe’s interior, which is filled with knick-knacks, mismatched retro furniture and trailing potted plants. 

The Original Coopers Alehouse is the place to be in the city's South East. Treat yourself to a pub classic like bangers and mash, salt and pepper squid, Kangaroo fillet salad, an alehouse dry aged steak, or whatever tickles your fancy on the extensive menu.

Pizza fans will also be right at home, with the pub specialising in woodfired pizzas that range from the traditional (margherita, BBQ chicken) to the adventurous (hot smoked ocean trout, anyone?). You’ll also find some of the best Coopers on tap in the city, and an extensive list of South Australian wines and spirits.

Running low on time and need to grab a bite next door to your Fringe venue? Head inside Fringe hubs The Garden of Unearthly Delights, Gluttony or Fool's Paradise and be spoilt for choice with food options ranging from delicious pizza and pasta to inventive naan nachos, fragrant butter chicken and more at one of the many food courts.