Kiin has been included in the inaugural MICHELIN Guide South Australia 2027, marking a proud moment for founders Ben Bertei and David Wickwar and the Adelaide restaurant they have built together.
The recognition was announced at the MICHELIN Guide ceremony at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Wednesday 14 October 2026. For the pair, whose careers have taken them interstate and overseas, it is a chance to share with the world what brought them to Adelaide and keeps them here, a city with the produce, people and appetite to support exceptional dining.
Kiin began with a shared ambition to create the kind of restaurant they love to spend time in. Its name means “eat” in Thai, and that simple invitation runs through the experience with generous food, something good in the glass and a team who make you feel welcome. Bertei’s personal style of Thai-inspired cooking gives Kiin its character, with bold flavours and a sense of discovery at the table.
Owner and Executive Chef Ben Bertei brings experience from Longrain, Spirit House, LONGTIME and SAMESAME. Alongside Head Chef Daniele Passaretta, he channels that experience into a kitchen with its own Adelaide identity.
“We’ve both worked in some incredible places, but we have always believed in what can be created here in Adelaide,” Bertei said.
“Kiin brings together everything we love about food and restaurants: bold flavours, generosity and the energy of a dining room full of people having a great time.
“This recognition belongs to our whole team. They bring enormous skill, care and heart to Kiin every day, and David and I could not be prouder of them.”
Co-founder, maître d’ and sommelier David Wickwar brings the same care to the dining room. The founders’ international and interstate careers have shaped their belief that Adelaide diners should have access to world-class experiences in their own city.
That ambition extends to Kiin’s Cooks’ Tours and special events, opening up new conversations around food and giving guests more reasons to return.
“Adelaide deserves dining experiences that stand alongside the best anywhere in the world, and that belief has driven us from the beginning,” Wickwar said.
“Through Kiin, our Cooks’ Tours and special events, we have tried to create experiences with ambition and a real sense of place, experiences that excite local diners and give visitors another reason to come to this city.
“To see Kiin recognised on this stage is incredibly meaningful. We hope it puts the restaurant, our team and Adelaide more firmly on the international dining map. We also congratulate every South Australian restaurant recognised; together, they show just how much talent and originality exists here.”
WHERE: 73 Angas Street, Adelaide
