South Australia’s best pubs, hotels and hospitality venues have been revealed at the 2026 AHA|SA Awards for Excellence, with a newly opened Adelaide hotel taking out the night’s biggest honour.
Hotel Panorama was named Overall Hotel of the Year in the General Division, capping off an impressive debut for the venue, which also collected awards for its outdoor facilities, sporting entertainment and retail liquor offering.
More than 1,000 guests attended the awards at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, celebrating the venues and hospitality professionals setting the standard across the state.
Regional South Australia was also well represented, with Naracoorte’s Kincraig Hotel named Overall Hotel of the Year in the Country Division. The historic venue, which dates back to 1930, has undergone a major transformation and collected four awards, including Best Redeveloped Hotel – Country, Deluxe Pub Accommodation and Bistro Casual Dining – Country.
In the Accommodation Division, Mount Lofty House continued its winning streak, claiming the Overall Hotel title for the fourth consecutive year. The Adelaide Hills property also won Best Restaurant in the Accommodation Division, while its chef Alessandro Mangione was named Chef of the Year.
Among the night’s biggest performers was COLAC Port Adelaide, which collected five awards, including Best Bistro Casual Dining – Outer Metropolitan and a joint win with Lockleys Hotel for Best Redeveloped Hotel – Metropolitan.
AHA|SA CEO Anna Moeller said the results reflected the strength of South Australia’s hospitality industry.
“South Australia is the Destination State and each of these winners is a destination in themselves,” she said.
The awards also recognised some of Adelaide’s favourite dining destinations, with East End Cellars taking out Best Bistro Casual Dining – Inner Metropolitan, Payneham Tavern winning Best Family Dining and 2KW Bar & Restaurant named Best Restaurant – Metropolitan in the General Division.
Hotel Renmark secured Best Restaurant – Country in the General Division, alongside the WT Spurr Award for Tourism and Regional Promotion.
Live entertainment was another major focus, with The Gov named Best Live Music Venue after hosting more than 500 gigs, selling over 100,000 tickets and recording 47 sell-outs during the past year.
The Arkaba Hotel was named Best Entertainment Venue, recognising its continued investment in live music, events and entertainment across its various spaces.
Individual excellence was also celebrated, with Matthew Sherriff from the Strathmore Hotel named Chef of the Year in the General Division. Taylor Dowd from the Marryatville Hotel and Adrian Cerbo from Sofitel Adelaide received the industry’s Rising Star Awards.
AHA|SA President David Basheer acknowledged the investment being made by hospitality businesses despite rising operating costs.
“Many of these winners are small and family businesses. They have invested in their pubs and in their people,” he said.
Other notable winners included Sequoia Lodge for Luxury Hotel Accommodation, Adelaide Marriott Hotel for Deluxe Hotel Accommodation, and Penneshaw Pub on Kangaroo Island for Innovation, Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Practice.
All South Australian winners will now progress as finalists to the AHA National Awards, to be announced on 30 November 2026.
Overall hotel awards
Category Winner
Overall Hotel – General Hotel Panorama
Overall Hotel – Country Kincraig Hotel
Overall Hotel – Accommodation Division Mount Lofty House
Accommodation awards
Category Winner
Deluxe Pub Accommodation Kincraig Hotel
Apartment/Suite Accommodation Durham Serviced Apartments
Mid-Range Hotel Accommodation Marion Hotel
Superior Hotel Accommodation Adelaide Oval
Deluxe Hotel Accommodation Adelaide Marriott Hotel
Luxury Hotel Accommodation Sequoia Lodge
Dining and restaurant awards
Category Winner
Family Dining Payneham Tavern
Bistro Casual Dining – Country Kincraig Hotel
Bistro Casual Dining – Inner Metropolitan East End Cellars
Bistro Casual Dining – Outer Metropolitan COLAC Port Adelaide
Restaurant – Accommodation Division Mount Lofty House
Restaurant – General Division, Country Hotel Renmark
Restaurant – General Division, Metropolitan 2KW Bar & Restaurant
Bars, entertainment and facilities
Category Winner
Draught Beer Quality COLAC Port Adelaide
Bar Presentation & Experience – Accommodation Division Noky at the Henty
Bar Presentation & Experience – Country Loxton Hotel
Bar Presentation & Experience – Metropolitan COLAC Port Adelaide
Retail Liquor Outlet Crown Inn Kingston and Hotel Panorama (joint winners)
Outdoor or Non-Enclosed Facility – Country Loxton Hotel
Outdoor or Non-Enclosed Facility – Metropolitan Hotel Panorama
Sporting Entertainment Venue Hotel Panorama
Entertainment Venue Arkaba Hotel
Live Music Venue The Gov
TAB Licensed Venue Morphett Arms Hotel
Gaming Venue – Country Middelton Tavern
Gaming Venue – Metropolitan Lockleys Hotel
Events and functions
Category Winner
Meeting & Events Venue – Specialist Division Adelaide Oval
Meeting & Events Venue – Accommodation Division Crowne Plaza Mawson Lakes
Meeting & Events Venue – General Division Arkaba Hotel
Individual and staff excellence
Category Winner
Chef of the Year – Accommodation Division Alessandro Mangione – Mount Lofty House
Chef of the Year – General Division Matthew Sherriff – Strathmore Hotel
Employee Excellence in Service – Accommodation Division Ryan Nguyen – Crowne Plaza Mawson Lakes
Employee Excellence in Service – General Division Tim Moseley – COLAC Port Adelaide
Hotel Industry Rising Star – Accommodation Division Adrian Cerbo – Sofitel Adelaide
Hotel Industry Rising Star – General Division Taylor Dowd – Marryatville Hotel
Redevelopment, marketing and industry excellence
Category Winner
Redeveloped Hotel – Accommodation Division Atura Adelaide Airport
Redeveloped Hotel – Country Kincraig Hotel
Redeveloped Hotel – Metropolitan COLAC Port Adelaide and Lockleys Hotel (joint winners)
Marketing & Promotion – Accommodation Division Sofitel Adelaide
Marketing & Promotion – General Division Warradale Hotel
Innovation, Sustainability & Energy Efficiency Practice Penneshaw Pub
Outstanding Achievement in Training Adelaide Oval
Community Service & Support Vine Inn Barossa
WT Spurr Award AO for Tourism & Regional Promotion Hotel Renmark
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