The Sweetest Spots in Adelaide

Sweet-tooths, look no further. Here is your definitive list of Adelaide’s best desserts and dessert destinations.

d’Arry’s Verandah Restaurant

This passionfruit soufflé could have its own social media account, so significant and dedicated is the dessert’s following. It’s been on the menu at d’Arry’s since 2004 and restaurant manager Jo Reschke estimates that, since then, almost 40,000 soufflés have risen to perfection. Overseas visitors even email to check it’s still on offer before booking.

Mayflower Restaurant and Bar

A delicate swan-shaped choux pastry might be the prettiest creation on the Mayflower dessert trolley but trust us, the decadent Sachertorte, caramel-chocolate Bretons, tiramisu and Bee Dessert (a concoction of white-chocolate mud cake, lemon curd, Italian meringue and honey) also demand serious attention.

50sixone Kitchen & Dessert Bar

At 50sixone treats come layered, loaded, decked and drizzled with an abundance of sweetness. The Insta-Famous Shakes, with jocular names like Oreo Glad to See Me? and Meringue a Tang, take 20 minutes to prepare when they aren’t busy but can take up to an hour when it’s pumping. There’s a second outpost in Mount Barker and a new 50sixone opening in Prospect in November.

Press*

You heard it here first: bombe Alaska – that fabulous ice-cream and toasted meringue creation – is making a comeback and Press’s version is to die for. Flavours change with the season: think pear and vanilla or rhubarb and yoghurt in the wintery months; this spring, it will be zippy peppermint and chocolate.

Eggless Dessert Cafe

Why eggless? Because everyone should be able to eat dessert. Yes, at this charming dessert bar every delicious cake, tart and pastry is vegetarian and egg-free, plus there’s a range of options for vegans on the menu, which changes monthly.

Steven ter Horst

One of Adelaide’s finest chocolatiers also has a delightfully chic café in the heart of the East End. The hardest thing here is choosing between artisan chocolates (the salted caramel is a favourite) and the mini gateaux – we like the Hazelnut Heaven, a hazelnut praline mousse and rum-and-raisin Bavarois with a dark milk glaze.

Shirni Parwana

Hailing from the family behind Parwana Kitchen, one of Adelaide’s most-applauded restaurants, the traditional and Afghan-inspired cakes, doughnuts and pastries at Shirni Parwana feature delightful flavour hits such as cardamom, rose, chai and orange blossom.

Red Cacao

Adelaide Hills’ boutique chocolatier Red Cacao morphs into a dessert bar every Friday and Saturday night. Menus change seasonally but our current favourite dish is the Blossom Pot, a chocolate mousse and mandarin curd creation topped with a macaron. Naturally, Red Cacao’s signature Chocolate Coffee Experience, which matches confections to your single-origin coffee of choice, is also on offer.

St Louis House of Fine Ice Cream & Dessert

The ice-cream alone is worth a visit but once inside, it’s very easy to be tempted by St Louis’ mouth-watering Belgian waffles – try the Wild Strawberry served with white chocolate and berry coulis or the Ferrero which is topped with crushed hazelnuts, melted Nutella and chocolate drops. The churros are also a standout.

Africola

If fried dough filled with sweet ricotta glazed with a sticky syrup sounds appealing, make a beeline for Adelaide’s Africola, where the traditional South African dessert, koeksister, glistens with a coating of burnt honey. The sweet doughnut is a fitting end to a meal that combines South Australian ingredients with African flavours.