Images: Duy Dash
SkyCity is about to unveil its next big play in Adelaide’s dining scene. On October 24, Huami will open, a celebration of Chinese culinary artistry where food, design and theatre come together.
Meaning “nectar,” the name Huami sets the tone. It speaks to sourcing the best ingredients, a connection to natural elements, and “a passion to deliver guests a premier dining experience.” And set inside SkyCity’s curving glass form with panoramic views, it doesn’t get much more premier than this.
The first thing that draws the eye is the oven. Adelaide’s only openly displayed commercial wood-fired duck oven, glowing in full view of diners. Here, Huami’s signature dish, a bronzed fruit-wood roasted Peking duck, is fired every opening day. A dish of legendary status in Beijing, it’s set to be the centrepiece of the restaurant.
The menu, led by Shanghai-born Head Chef Johnny Zhong, spans from the refined to the indulgent, showcasing Chinese flavours through locally sourced ingredients and modern techniques.
There will be Manuka honey-glazed char siu pork, South Australian Wagyu, and live seafood presented with precision. On weekends, yum cha takes over, with delicate, hand-folded dim sum made for sharing.
“Huami is not just a restaurant, it’s a celebration of Chinese culinary artistry, reimagined for South Australia’s vibrant food scene,” says the SkyCity team.
Zhong’s story is part of the drawcard. Raised in Shanghai and inspired by his mother’s cooking, he moved to Melbourne in 2010 and gradually carved out his own path in Australia’s kitchens. His time working under chefs like Max Sharrad and Tristran Steele refined his technique, but Adelaide’s produce and wine culture are what convinced him to stay.
At Huami, he’s brought together what he calls “Adelaide’s most dynamic culinary ensemble”, a team united by a love of tradition and innovation, and led under his philosophy of “happy chef, happy food, happy job, happy life.”
The drinks program is equally lavish. A wine wall holds up to 700 bottles, from Burgundy and Barossa to Bordeaux and beyond, while the tea list honours Chinese tradition with a curated selection. Baijiu, cocktails, spirits and non-alcoholic options round out the offering.
Then there’s the venue itself, envisioned to embody the opulence core to SkyCity Adelaide’s identity. The restaurant’s interiors lean heavily into drama. Designed by Hong Kong studio Paring Onions, the space nods to Cantonese opera, with careful detail and beautiful grandeur, and where “every guest becomes part of the story.”
Guests arrive through a wall of antique smoking pipes, each detailed with jade, wood, tassels and brass that “tells the story of a Chinese tycoon’s “spoilt” history – a prelude to the luxury that awaits,” the team tells us.
Then enter the main dining room, anchored by four dragon columns, sculpted in metallic tones. Overhead, a 20-metre run of custom paper fans sweeps across the bar and open kitchen, while private dining rooms are framed by floating glass tiles. Despite the spectacle, warm hazel leather seating and charcoal carpet soften the mood, creating an atmosphere the team calls “refined comfort.”
“Huami offers a spatial and sensory experience that is both distinct and unified within the overall architectural narrative of SkyCity Adelaide,” they explain.
Between the food, the design, and views across the Festival and Riverbank precinct, Huami is set to truly define destination and experience dining in Adelaide. A place where “world-class cuisine, design, and hospitality converge,” right on our doorstep.
Huami is slated to open October 24
What: Huami
When: From October 24, Dinner Thursday to Monday 5-10pm, yum cha on weekends 11am–3pm
Where: Level 1, SkyCity Adelaide
For more info, click here.
@huami.adelaide
