The 11 best hotels in Hobart

Anchored to Hobart’s buzzing waterfront precinct, this charming historic hotel was well worth the six-year wait. The original sandstone facade houses 152 rooms in three buildings of starkly different eras. You can pick from park-facing Heritage rooms facing the leafy St David’s Park, Pavilion suites with views of the water and kunanyi / Mount Wellington, or Art Deco rooms with bold colour palettes and decor.

Time Out tip: Make friends with The Tasman's chief concierge, James Nobleza, who is Tasmania’s only concierge certified by Les Clefs d'Or. Ask him to help curate your day exploring Hobart’s most captivating attractions.

MACq01 is perched right on the River Derwent in Hobart’s famously stunning waterfront district. The former shipping shed now houses a luxury Hobart hotel boasting either views of the water or historic wharf buildings from its 114 rooms. Nope, there are no ugly car park vistas at this place! Book a premium waterfront suite to score one of the hotel’s famous third-floor private terraces, wood-panelled with sweeping wharf views and kitschy fake lawn. Leaving your room each day will be a chore.

Time Out tip: If your room doesn’t have a water view, head to the hotel’s Story Bar for a sundowner. It’s got one of the best vantage points in Hobart.

Australia’s first dedicated art hotel delivers much more than just a place to crash from its optimal location on Hobart’s historic waterfront. Staying at Henry Jones is like staying at an art gallery, with 400 pieces of contemporary Tasmanian art displayed throughout the hotel lobby and suites. You can wine and dine at one of the hotel’s two sophisticated restaurants, each spotlighting Tasmania’s finest local produce, or settle in for a drink at the hotel’s intimate cocktail bar.

Time Out tip: Henry Jones runs guided art and history tours most days at 4pm. Tours are complimentary for in-house guests and you’ll enjoy a glass of wine or beer, as you hear the narrative of the site and its art unfold.

The Mövenpick is the third-tallest building in Hobart, so the sweeping views from this hotel are serious postcard material. The hotel’s deluxe rooms make the most of the building’s height with floor-to-ceiling windows and guaranteed water views. All rooms have plush beds, rain showers, luxe linens and Nespresso machines for your AM caffeine hit. You’ll find the Mövenpick on the fringe of the CBD, right near the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery and steps from the waterfront precinct.

Time out tip: From 3.30pm until 4.30pm each day, it’s Chocolate Hour at the hotel. Head down to the lobby to sample complimentary choc-themed treats made from Tasmanian chocolate.

Handily situated in Midtown, The Rox is the perfect spot if you want to enjoy the restaurants and bars that North Hobart is famous for, while also being literal steps from the CBD. The complex itself is an interesting mix of the old and the new. Its accommodation options include two cosy, sandstone-walled heritage apartments and two bright, airy modern suites. They all have kitchens and three have more than one bedroom, meaning The Rox is a great Hobart hotel option for families or groups.

Time Out tip: The Rox offers guests priority access to one of Hobart’s best wine bars, Institut Polaire. It’s notoriously hard to get a table here, so make the most of it.

Another excellently-located Hobart hotel is Lenna of Hobart, situated at the end of Salamanca Place where Battery Point begins. This prime position means you can explore the historic Battery Point area on foot but are also close to the action down on the waterfront. Originally built as an opulent mansion in 1874, this heritage building gives guests views of the waterfront as well as kunanyi / Mount Wellington. Lots of the local restaurants offer room service for Lenna guests, so you won’t even have to venture out for a good meal.

Time Out tip: Keep an eye out for the Bobby’s Footsteps QR codes on the streets of Battery Point. They’re part of an excellent walking tour you can do using your phone as the guide.

If the convenience of opening your front door and stepping right out onto Salamanca Square appeals to you, then you can’t do better than Moss Hotel. Consisting of two buildings, number 39’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it entrance is smack bang on Salamanca and number 25 is just one block up. One of the most popular spots in all of Hobart, the area is full of galleries, shops, restaurants, bars, historic tours and of course, the world-famous Saturday markets from 8am. Despite its bustling location, the inside of Moss Hotel is a quiet sanctuary, with some rooms looking onto hanging gardens and others boasting huge green soak tubs.

Time Out tip: Number 39 (the Salamanca Place building) is right on top of The Whaler, a pub boasting one of the best chicken parmigianas in Hobart.

A strictly over-18s property, the Islington is a boutique luxury hotel located at the foothills of kunanyi / Mount Wellington in South Hobart. Since it’s a little further out of the CBD (but only a five-minute drive away) and only has 11 rooms, the Islington feels like a peaceful oasis – the hotel’s sprawling heritage gardens also help. The accommodation is luxe, with heated-floor marble bathrooms and some rooms opening out onto the gardens. Eclectic art lines the hotel’s walls, including an original Matisse.  The food at the Islington’s restaurant is top-tier, made using the best Tassie produce. Plus, eating with an unobstructed view of the mountain is a pretty unforgettable Hobart experience.  

Time Out tip: Make sure you request a cheese board on arrival – stacked with local cheese and accompaniments, it’s the ultimate indulgence to kick off your stay.

Right in the heart of the CBD, the Crowne Plaza is the perfect Hobart hotel if you want to check out local shopping malls and boutiques, inner-city restaurants like Sonny and Dier Makr, and the wonderful Farm Gate Market held every Sunday just a block away from the hotel. A relatively new property, the Crowne Plaza’s rooms and amenities (including a gym and several meeting rooms) feel fresh, clean and modern. There are serval dining options on-site, including buffet breakfast and The Deck, a casual indoor-outdoor bar on level four.

Time Out tip: As the sun goes down, treat yourself to Champagne and locally-sourced oysters at the hotel’s rooftop lounge Aura, which is exclusively available to guests who book a club room.

Another Salamanca Place gem, the family-owned Waterman’s Hotel is on top of a restaurant and has some of the most charming accommodation you’ll find in Hobart. The original exposed sandstone brick walls are as the convicts built them, and while it once attracted some notorious punters to its public houses, 180 years later it is a cosy space to settle in after a long day of exploring Hobart and surrounds. The views of Salamanca Place and the wharf area beyond are a bonus, as are the generously-portioned meals at the restaurant downstairs.

Time Out tip: Look out for small bricked-over patches in the sandstone walls. 180-odd years ago, these were escape doors used by criminal types to evade police.

Situated in Sullivan’s Cove between Salamanca Place and Hobart’s wharf district, this architect-designed property is flanked by two original sandstone warehouses. Despite its modern exterior, the acoustically-insulated rooms with their double-glazed windows are pleasantly cosy. The hotel contains many nods to its southern location, with custom-made Tasmanian oak and sassafras furnishings and walls lined with Laurent Dick’s photography of Antarctica, Tassie’s famous neighbour.

Time Out tip: You don’t need to venture far for good food and drink. Hotel guests rave about the coffee at the hotel’s downstairs cafe, and some of the best pizza in Hobart is a few doors down at Ti Ama.