Your guide to your local sensory-friendly dinners in South Australia.
Going out for dinner is a great way to enjoy time out in the community, but what options are available for those with sensory processing sensitivities? For most neurotypical individuals and families, a nice dinner out doesn’t require a second thought beyond what’s open or what cuisine they like. But for autistic and other neurodivergent individuals, finding somewhere to eat out can be a challenge.
58% of autistic individuals avoid dining out due to large crowds, high noise levels and lighting. These factors can be distressing for autistic and neurodivergent individuals and can make something that might seem simple to a neurotypical individual a challenge.
No one should have to miss out on enjoying a nice dinner out on special occasions due to a lack of accessibility. To bridge this gap in accessibility, several South Australian pubs have collaborated with Autism SA to regularly host accessible, sensory-friendly dinners to accommodate the needs of autistic individuals and their families.
To help take the guesswork out of planning your sensory-friendly night out for dinner, read our KompleteCare guide to local autism and sensory-friendly dinners in South Australia.
Sensory-friendly Dinners: Quiet Dinners at the Arkaba Hotel
The Arkaba is proud to be the first pub in Adelaide to collaborate with Autism SA in hosting regular sensory-friendly, Quiet Dinners. Their Quiet Dinners are hosted on the first Monday of each month from 5 pm until 9 pm. One of their break-out function rooms is set up specifically with dimmed lighting, reduced sound, and no TV. There is also a private bar specifically for Quiet Dinner attendees to order food and drinks, allowing them to do so while avoiding the noise and busyness of the main dining areas and bars.
The next Quiet Dinner at the Arkaba will take place on Monday, the 1st of July, and they are taking bookings both via phone and online. Reservation is not mandatory, however, so it’s also an option if you’re after a spontaneous night out.
Sensory-friendly Dinners: Quiet Dinner at The Oak & Iron Tavern
For Adelaide Hills locals or visitors, The Oak & Iron Tavern in Mount Barker hosts a Quiet Dinner on the second Tuesday of each month. The Quiet Dinners occur in their Robert Charles room, with reduced lighting and sound, table service, and a private bar for patrons. In addition, they also have a specially designed sensory-friendly menu, where diners have the ability to pick and choose their own ingredients based on their own sensory needs.
Diners can choose a main option from either chicken nuggets or a plain beef pie (both served with chips) or build their own from the protein, carbohydrate and vegetable options provided. All meals are served plain, with the option of seasoning and sauces on the table, which they can add at their own discretion. The next Quiet Dinner (which, on this occasion, is a Quiet Lunch rather than dinner) at the Oak & Iron Tavern is on Tuesday, the 9th of July, and bookings can be made online.
Sensory-friendly Dinners: Sensory-Friendly Dinner Series at the Brompton Hotel
On the last Tuesday of each month, the Brompton Hotel hosts a sensory-friendly dinner in their award-winning restaurant. The restaurant will be serving Brompton Hotel favourites and dishes from their specially curated sensory-friendly menu, which has been crafted by the hotel’s chefs alongside experts at Autism SA. The venue will also incorporate other accessible elements to accommodate individual needs, such as dimmed lighting, reduced noise levels, customised food plating and customised seating arrangements.
Their sensory-friendly dinners take place from 5 pm to 10 pm, and they are currently taking bookings for their next dinner on Tuesday, the 30th of July.
Sensory-friendly Dinners: Quiet Dinners at Bridgeport Hotel
For Murray Bridge locals and beyond, Bridgeport Hotel hosts a regular Quiet Dinner on the last Monday of each month. The dinners will take place in their Charles Stuart Room, which will have low lighting, reduced sound, and tables adequately spaced apart to accommodate individual needs. There will also be a sensory-friendly menu, with simple dishes for those with sensory needs, and the kitchen is open to making modifications to accommodate individual preferences.
Additional sensory equipment has been incorporated in collaboration with Autism SA, and, if needed, the hotel is also available to provide a small reset room in their Boardroom for those needing some space away from others. They also encourage guests to bring personal devices if needed, and take-home fidgets may be available. Guests are able to order food and drinks through a QR code on their table, so they won’t need to go through the busier dining rooms to do so. The next Quiet Dinner will be on the 29th of July, and you can book a table online or via phone.
Sensory-friendly Dinners: How KompleteCare can support you
At KompleteCare, we understand that maintaining social connections and community engagement can be increasingly challenging for those living with a disability such as autism. Having a healthy social life plays a crucial role in both physical and mental health, and we are here to ensure that you don’t miss out on social activities you might enjoy, including enjoying a meal at a sensory dinner. Our friendly and caring support workers at KompleteCare can offer you a wide range of social support to suit every need. Give our office a call at (08) 8265 5696 or fill out an online enquiry form.
