A Guide to Adelaide's Best Markets

Adelaide has always been a city that eats well and values local produce to the point of obsession. Its markets prove it. Across the suburbs and city centre you’ll find growers who will talk to you passionately about their soil, bakers who treat sourdough like an artform, and makers who quietly produce some of the best small-batch goods in South Australia.

Adelaide markets are one of the best things to do in Adelaide and provide a shortcut to the city’s character. They offer a mix of cultures that celebrate the state’s immigrant history, a pipeline of local produce from the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula, and a level of quality control only South Australian grandmothers truly enforce. Luckily, they shop here too.

From the buzzing Central Market Adelaide to Sunday staples and low-key suburban favourites, this guide rounds up the best places to eat, browse and people-watch your way across the city. Bring reusable bags and a healthy dose of appetite.

Few Australian food institutions inspire the level of weekly devotion that the Central Market in Adelaide does. Operating since 1869, it remains the city’s biggest culinary drawcard for locals and visitors, where cheesemongers, florists, bakers and fishmongers all seem to know exactly what you need.

More than 70 traders pack the market’s covered aisles, many of them family-run and several operating here for generations. You’ll find proper Barossa smallgoods, crusty continental bread warm from the oven, seasonal fruit from the Hills and Vietnamese snacks that will make your taste buds sing.

What makes this place special is the consistency. The produce turns over quickly, the seafood is fresh, the veg is often picked the day before, and the energy is high even mid-week. Start with The Smelly Cheese Shop, a South Australian institution with affineurs who can tell you exactly which farmhouse Brie is at peak ripeness today.

Nearby, Barossa Fine Foods handles smallgoods with the confidence that comes from four decades in the business, and Lucia’s Fine Foods still produces some of the best pasta sauces and Italian deli staples in the state.

When: Open Tuesday to Saturday, see hours on the Adelaide Central Markets' website

Where: 44-60 Gouger Street, Adelaide

Sunday mornings at the Adelaide Showground Farmers Market are essentially a weekly reunion for growers, bakers and families. Spanning more than 80 stalls, this is the city’s biggest farmers market and a showcase of what South Australia does best: fresh, seasonal and grown with a level of pride you can taste.

The line-up changes slightly with the seasons, but several long-standing producers draw loyal queues. The Dairyman Barossa is famous for its Jersey cream, cultured butter and small-batch yoghurt; it’s the sort of dairy you start planning breakfast around. Paris Creek Farms, another regular, brings biodynamic milk, quark, kefir and cheese from the Adelaide Hills.

Fruit and veg devotees make a beeline for Bull Creek Organic Farm (excellent greens and herbs), Soul Growers (stone fruit and apples when in season), and Forest Range Vegetables, which is known for its crisp Hills-grown produce. Mushroom lovers know to head to Murray Bridge Mushrooms, while Garden Street Greens sells some of the freshest salad mixes in the city.

On the bakery front, The Baker St Andrews draws a committed fanbase for its sourdough and buttery pastries. Coffee is handled by Dawn Patrol Coffee, whose mobile set-up moves quickly enough to keep the Sunday masses fuelled. For condiments, Sky Dancer Honey brings beautiful raw honey varieties, and Fiaje sells small-batch jams, relishes and chutneys that disappear fast.

Almost everything here is producer-grown or producer-made. You’ll see apples from Lenswood, leafy greens from the Plains, Jersey milk from Hills dairies, and glorious heritage tomatoes in summer.

When: Open Sunday, from 8:30am - 12.30pm

Where: Adelaide Showground, Rose Terrace, Wayville

Not every market completely revolves around food. Gilles at the Grounds leans heavily into fashion, design and creative talent, making it one of Adelaide’s most vibrant shopping events. Hosted regularly at the Wayville Pavilion, it’s known for its vintage racks, independent labels, handmade accessories and homewares you don’t spot in chain stores.

A few stalls have become unofficial headliners. SWOP Clothing Exchange is a favourite for pre-loved fashion that actually feels curated, not chaotic. Lace n’ Lovett sells handmade polymer-clay earrings in colourways that change with the seasons, while Little Maisy Blue brings beautifully made kids’ clothing that doesn’t fall apart after a wash.

For homewares, Isla Clay is a must-stop for pottery that sits somewhere between functional and artful, and Humbug Designs offers hand-poured candles with a cult-like Adelaide following. Vintage hunters know to check The Vintage Curve for plus-size retro fashion, and Good Vibes Vintage for denim that looks gently lived-in.

Stalls rotate often, so you’re never browsing the same line-up twice, and the quality is consistently high – this isn’t your average second-hand rummage. Add a handful of food trucks, DJs and great coffee, and you’ve got the perfect slice of Adelaide creativity.

When: dates vary, see the Gilles at the Grounds website for the latest dates

Where: Adelaide Showground, Brick Dairy, South Boulevard, Wayville

At Bowden, the old industrial buildings have been remade into one of Adelaide’s most impressive urban renewal precincts, and Plant 4 captures that spirit perfectly. Part food hall, part makers’ market, part community hangout, it runs weekly and fortnightly market days with stalls selling fresh produce, small-batch goods and boutique food and drink.

Regulars include The Almond Farmer, who brings roasted almonds, butters and snack mixes straight from their Riverland farm, and Riverland Fruit & Veg, a dependable source of seasonal produce. For fresh pasta and sauces, locals head straight to Fresh Pasta Co., while Red Cacao from the Adelaide Hills pops up with handmade chocolates that take no convincing.

Let Them Eat serves hearty vegetarian and vegan dishes, Marrakech Express offers fragrant Moroccan plates, and Dough BAO draws long queues for fluffy bao buns. Coffee is reliably handled by My Kingdom for a Horse, and Mollydooker Wines occasionally sets up shop for tastings that pair a little too well with the market’s baked goods.

The space is modern, airy and brilliantly sociable. There’s plenty of seating, pram-friendly corners and a mix of indoors and outdoors that suits any weather. A rotation of musicians and small-scale makers keeps things fresh, making this one of the easiest places in Adelaide to lose an afternoon.

When: see what's on at the Plant 4 Bowden website

Where: 5 Third Street, Bowden

The Adelaide Hills reward anyone willing to drive 20–25 minutes from the CBD, and the Stirling Market, held on the fourth Sunday of each month, is the village at its most charming. The streets fill with stalls offering artisan goods, produce, plants and all manner of beautifully made pieces you won’t find in the city.

Among the regulars are Red Cacao (their hot chocolate alone is a reason to visit), The Kangaroo Island Ligurian Honey Co., known for its rare single-origin honey, and Carina’s Kitchen, which turns out pastries, cakes and baked goods with an almost fanatical following. Locals head to McLaren Vale Orchards for seasonal fruit and La Vera Fine Cheese for handmade, small-batch ricotta and mozzarella.

Homewares lovers know to check Willow Pottery for ceramics that disappear early, and Bright Threads for hand-dyed textiles that brighten any table. Gardeners crowd around The Greenhouse Cottage Nursery, which brings Hills-grown plants, herbs and flowers that actually survive Adelaide’s summers.

Autumn is particularly spectacular, with Stirling’s legendary foliage turning the whole village into a patchwork of red, gold and orange.

When: monthly, see the Stirling Market website for upcoming dates

Where: Druid Avenue, Stirling

Once a weekly institution, Market Shed on Holland now operates as a monthly event but still draws serious crowds with its focus on organic produce, eco-friendly goods and Adelaide’s growing community of plant-based food producers.

Long-time favourites such as From the Wild (raw, gluten-free and vegan desserts), Soulfruit (cold-pressed juices and smoothies), and Botanic Chocolate (ethical bean-to-bar chocolate) anchor the food side of the market. Scull Kombucha pours small-batch kombucha, and The Pie Shop pops up with savoury pastries that punch well above their weight.

Fresh produce often comes from Bull Creek Organic Farm, while Hillside Herbs & Succulents appears with edible and medicinal herbs that leave your kitchen smelling better for weeks. Eco-conscious shoppers head straight to BiobiN Home, which sells reusable homewares and compostable products.

Live music, street food and a laid-back city-fringe location keep the vibe relaxed but lively. If your ideal market has an ethical backbone and a focus on sustainable, local production, this one deserves a firm spot on your Adelaide itinerary.

When: dates vary, see the Market Shed on Holland website for upcoming dates

Where: The Market Shed, Holland Street, Adelaide

For food, start with Central Market Adelaide, which has the biggest range of fresh produce, cheese, meat, seafood and multicultural eateries. On Sundays, the Adelaide Showground Farmers Market offers the city’s best direct-from-grower experience, with seasonal fruit, vegetables, dairy and baked goods.

Several markets run on Sundays, including the Adelaide Showground Farmers Market, Plant 4 Bowden (on some weekends), and monthly events like Market Shed on Holland. These are popular with families, so arriving early helps avoid crowds and gives you first pick on produce.

Yes. Central Market is one of South Australia’s most important food institutions and an essential stop for travellers. It has more than 70 traders offering fresh produce, smallgoods, baked goods, seafood and multicultural meals. It’s open several days a week and offers a reliable snapshot of how Adelaide eats.

Yes. Adelaide’s farmers markets are family-friendly, with plenty of space for prams and casual eating areas. The Showground Farmers Market is especially suited to kids, with cooked breakfast options, open walkways, and a relaxed community feel. Many markets also offer shaded areas and seating.