Heralding a new era of destination dining, Adelaide Festival Centre is thrilled to welcome guests to its new restaurant, Angry Penguin, which opens on Friday, February 27 coinciding with the reopening of Adelaide Festival Centre, after an extensive redevelopment and the start of the iconic 2026 Adelaide Festival.
Under the lead of Executive Chef, Alex Katsman, Angry Penguin offers an evolving seasonal menu that showcases the finest ingredients from South Australia, artfully crafted with European technique. From the freshest seafood to premium beef and dairy to the very best local produce, every bite and sip is intentionally created to savour and delight.
Summer menu highlights include freshly shucked Coffin Bay Oysters with Cucumber and Gin Sorbet, Smoked Beef Tartare, Kingfish Sashimi, Chargrilled Coonawarra Eye Fillet with Baby Gem Lettuce, and a contemporary take on dessert favourites such as the Melting Moment and Chocolate Crackle. An extensive range of South Australian wines complements the menu.
Angry Penguin Executive Chef Alex Katsman: “The menu tells a story. It’s modern Australian at heart, but with nostalgic notes that remind guests of moments from another time. Whether that’s a dish inspired by the 1920s or a reinterpretation of something familiar from the 1970s. We celebrate classical foundations while applying modern techniques, bringing refinement and balance to every plate. With strong European influences and deep respect for local South Australian produce.
“The team is genuinely energised to be part of Adelaide Festival Centre. The theatre, the arts, and the history of the building inspire our creativity. We feel privileged to cook in a space where culture and food meet.”
Angry Penguin channels the fierce spirit of South Australia’s arts history. Born from Max Harris’ modernist art magazine from the 1940s, the Angry Penguins movement was shaped by artists including Sidney Nolan, Joy Hester, Danila Vassilieff, Dorrit Black, Albert Tucker and Arthur Boyd.
Artworks from Adelaide Festival Centre’s Works of Art Collection will grace the walls of Angry Penguin with Sidney Nolan’s original portrait of the fictitious Ern Malley taking centre stage. On loan from Art Gallery of South Australia, Nolan’s Ern Malley was painted in 1973, the same year that Adelaide Festival Centre, Australia’s first purpose-built arts centre, officially opened. Nolan painted Ern Malley, 30 years after the Ern Malley/Angry Penguins literary hoax.
Angry Penguin’s interiors have been brought to life through the design team at Studio Nine Architects who were inspired by the colours of Nolan’s Ern Malley. Furniture pieces were commissioned from South Australian designer-makers Andrew Carvolth and Jon Goulder. Their blue leather Festival Chairs and sideboards draw inspiration from the iconic Barbara Hepworth sculpture visible from the restaurant.
Guests can visit Angry Penguin for coffee and fresh pastries in the morning, linger over a long lunch, celebrate over dinner and drinks, or enjoy pre-show dining, all while taking in views of the picturesque Karrawirra Pari/River Torrens and surrounds from the restaurant’s indoor and outdoor seating.
Adelaide Festival Centre CEO Kate Gould: “The culinary arts and the performing arts share much in common. At Angry Penguin, our culinary team has designed a menu to match the creativity and artistry found on our stages.
“The scene is now set for Angry Penguin to make its debut at Adelaide Festival Centre. We look forward to welcoming everyone to this exciting new restaurant and celebrating what South Australia does best — art, food and wine.”
