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Marina Pier is easily one of the most beautiful wining and dining strips in Adelaide — sitting right on the waterfront, all the restaurants, bars and cafes have A-Grade views overlooking the harbour, the boats and even the odd pod of dolphins. We’ve been lucky enough to explore Marina Pier time and time again, and while you can’t go past sipping a cold glass of wine while sitting in the sunshine during summer, we also love to visit in winter.

Why’s that, you ask?

There is something so cosy and romantic about hiding away from the weather as it rushes around you, feasting on belly-warming dishes and enjoying a hearty glass of SA red. Marina Pier is one of the best spots to sit and watch the day go by in winter… morning, noon and night! With secure parking available directly underneath your dining options from just $3 at lunch and $10 at night, you really can’t go wrong!

Here are some of our fave spots that we love to visit. We’ve even done the hard yards and tasted just enough dishes to be able to give you some recommendations on what to order. But let’s be honest, it’s VERY hard to go wrong when you’re at the Pier.

MORNING

First stop on the agenda — VELOCE Paninoteca! These guys do coffee, and they do it sooo well. On top of your morning caffeine hit, you can also waste away your house savings on smashed avo, or indulge your sweet tooth with waffles.

NOON

The Oyster Bar is the ideal starting point for an entire day spent at Marina Pier! With an impressive display of local beers and wines stacked directly into ice and a huge range of share platters and nibbles, this iconic venue is more than just oysters. Personally, we’re huge fans of the halloumi fries — delicious.

If you’re a meat buff, wander your way down to Seafire and choose from their dry aged steaks or a giant Tomahawk that’s perfect for sharing with friends and family. They also have lovely seafood on offer too, that is almost too pretty to eat! If you’re looking to celebrate a special event, you can also book our their event space free of charge — boom! And keep your eyes peeled for their upcoming events — Bubble & Paint on August 16, and a Yalumba Wine Dinner on August 20.

Image credit :: Seafire

If you’d like to be right out on the waterfront, book into The Wharf and sit in their undercover waterside dining section. In winter, you just can’t go past a hearty Shanks & Shiraz deal, for only $32. B-E-A-UTIFUL!

NIGHT

While a delicious dinner is enough to keep us happy, it’s an added bonus when you get a front-row seat to a very impressive show! The super talented team at Tomiko Japanese Steakhouse are the best in the biz at creating mouthwatering dishes right in front of your very eyes — complete with flames and a helluva sizzle!

You’ve probably heard of Sammy’s on the Marina — an exquisite seafood restaurant with views the whole way around, from the marina right to the open seas. Boasting fresh seafood  for daaaaays, beautiful cocktails, and A-grade service, there’s a reason that Sammy’s has been an SA institution for years now. Ordering at Sammy’s couldn’t be easier, with their 2-course and 3-course winter warmer specials enjoyed either upstairs or downstairs!

If you’re a huge fan of Greek food, thank you can’t go past the delightful Ellenika, a family owned restaurant offering incredible food (can we talk about how stunning the plating is!?) as well as a fun atmosphere. Time your visit for a weekend, and you’ll even find yourself immersed in live Greek entertainment! On the cooler nights, you can’t go past their super special dish — the Winter Warmer Scallops.

When we think of winter, a steaming bowl of delicious ossobuco comes to mind — and the best spot to find this is Luciano’s! Featuring a modern Italian menu and a stunning interior space, you can dine at Luciano’s and feel a little bit fancy while you’re there.

Is there anything more satisfying than a really, really good Asian feast? Nope, we didn’t think so. Asian Flavour House is the kind of establishment where you want to wear your stretchy pants and bring some friends so you can all get a taste of their best dishes. From August 1 through to September 30, you can enjoy the Poet’s Pork, Steamed Scallops, Seafood Casserole, Salmon Fried Rice, and a glass of pinot grigio for just $55 per person. We’re calling to make our bookings NOW.

The final stop on your Marina Pier journey simply has to be the Sunset Bar. As well as your traditional cocktails, mocktails, beers and wines, we find it incredibly hard to say no to a $35 fishbowl cocktail the size of our heads. When its backed up by live music Friday, Saturday and Sunday, its the perfect atmosphere to let your hair down and enjoy the rest of your night.

And on that note, we say “sayonara”, and wish you luck on your next cafe / restaurant / pub crawl along Marina Pier!

Millie Looker

Millie Looker

Writer, Content Creator, Events Manager and Operations sensation, she’s the backbone to ensuring Adelady runs like clockwork.

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