The 15 best bars in Hobart

It’s not a list of Hobart’s best bars without Sonny, the CBD favourite that attracts queues of locals and tourists alike. The tiny space only seats about 20 people, and it’s a first-in, best-dressed kind of situation. Pull up a stool and you’ll be face-to-face with hyper-friendly staff who know their stuff when it comes to wine. And because you won’t want to relinquish your spot, it helps that Sonny is also known for its shareable plates of pasta and other Italian-inspired delights. With records spinning in this cosy atmosphere, vibes are always high.

Drinking whisky in a room full of dinosaur fossils might sound eerie, but that’s all part of the charm of Evolve Spirits Bar. This stylish and historic lounge, located in Hobart’s chic MACq 01 hotel, snagged the top gong for Australia’s Hotel Bar of the Year and Tasmania’s Cocktail Bar of the Year in 2021 – and like a fine wine, it’s only improved with age. Light beams from Evolve’s golden bar shelf, which showcases more than 600 premium spirits – but that’s not even the main attraction. The bar doubles as a fascinating fossil museum, featuring an extraordinary collection of global artefacts, with some fossils dating back 550 million years to the Cambrian period. 

Underground bar Society is located in buzzy Salamanca, and if you love cocktails it’s a must-go. Descend the steps into the bar and you’ll be greeted with a huge wall of spirits – the biggest range in Hobart, in fact – complete with a sliding, library-style ladder. The cocktail list is large and heavily features local gin and whisky, but the bartenders can whip up anything that takes your fancy. If you want to kick back and settle in, Society serves pizza until midnight, so there’s really no reason to leave.

No, this Salamanca Place cocktail bar isn’t named after the ‘Shackles (Praise You)’ one-hit wonders of the early 2000s, but the old St Mary’s Hospital building that it’s housed in. The cocktail menu heroes Tasmanian flavours, from local gin and whisky to the generous use of native botanicals. The intimate, wood-lined, marble-topped space is perfect for pre-drinks, but if you’d rather settle in you can order small plates from nearby Italian institution Peppina’s. 

CBD spot Lucinda is the sister bar of beloved restaurant Dier Makr (you have to walk past Lucinda to get to it), but it’s not just a pre-drinks spot. Lucinda’s ever-changing selection of wines from around the world and incredible, made-to-be-shared bar menu make it a must-visit Hobart venue in its own right. Order oysters mignonette, whipped anchovy and crudités, and let the knowledgeable staff pair you with the perfect drop.

A fave with the Friday post-work drinks crowd, Rosie in My Midnight Dreams boasts some glorious views from its prime spot on the Brooke Street Pier. Despite its rather swish location, this lively spot is fun and casual, with a great Australian wine list and some of Hobart’s best margaritas. With its floor-to-ceiling glass windows and early-ish closing time, it’s the best spot to soak up the last of the arvo sun before you head off to dinner in the nearby CBD or Salamanca Place.

Manky Sally’s is located right on Salamanca Place and is the taphouse of popular local beer Moo Brew (which is owned by David Walsh, the man behind MONA). It has everything you’d expect from a venue connected with MONA – it’s cool and a little bit subversive, calling itself a “luxury dive bar”. Dark but not dingy, it serves elevated, Tassie-themed pub classics – think wallaby rump steak and a venison cheeseburger – as well as a wide selection of Moo Brew beers and Moorilla wines.

If you want to gawk at kunanyi / Mt Wellington without going full tourist, a trip to Cascade is a must. The site of the oldest working brewery in Australia, this historic South Hobart venue offers an excellent vista of the brewery building and the mountain beyond. Explore the grounds before you nab an outdoor table to enjoy the view in all its glory while sampling a Cascade lager or draught. If you’re not a beer drinker there’s lots of local wine and spirits on the menu, as well as pub classics with a Tassie twist – the stout-braised brisket and Cascade lager fish and chips are highlights.

Tucked in an unassuming, quiet side street in Battery Point is one of Hobart’s best bars and most beloved beer gardens. Preachers keeps it low-key, serving great craft beers and local spirits from the bar within the heritage-listed cottage, as well as tasty burgers and pub snacks. What makes this place unique is the full-sized bus that is just casually hanging out in the large courtyard. Yep, you read that right: there’s a disused bus that you can sit inside (food and drinks are allowed), which is a real bonus for Hobart’s chilly months.

Lark Distillery’s sleek downtown tasting room turns into a bar by night. The renowned distillers created the space for both enthusiasts and casual drinkers to pop in and sample their wares, from award-winning whisky to the brand’s Forty Spotted gin varieties. But the bar isn’t biased and also stocks spirits from other Tasmanian distilleries. So a visit to the Still means you can go on a truly well-rounded journey of what Tassie has to offer. In winter, it’s a treat to cosy up in the bar’s booths and enjoy a slow evening of cocktails and good company.

Walking into North Hobart’s The Winston is like stepping into an American dive bar: US licence plates lining the walls, beer ads hanging above the bar, a pool table at the back and an old-school pinball machine in the corner. This corner pub boasts a huge selection of beers on tap and a burger menu featuring experimental specials, like the Mozza-hella: a quarter-pounder-style burger topped with mozzarella sticks and spicy bacon jam. A favourite with locals, you’ll find the Winston buzzing with drinkers and dogs, which are not only welcome but celebrated with a Dogs of the Winston photo wall.

Rude Boy’s thing is cocktails and fried chicken, and it does both spectacularly well. This fun and inclusive inner-city rum bar is kitsch and fabulous, with an extensive cocktail list, talented bartenders and drag bingo nights. This place means business with its fried chicken (you can also order beef or vegan options). You can choose between six different seasonings, eight different sauces and ten different sides.

Bar Wa Izakaya is the perfect taste of Tokyo in Tassie, with its buzzy atmosphere, incredible food and long list of Japanese beer, whisky and sake. You’ll want to share food at this North Hobart venue to maximise the amount of dishes you try, like Bar Wa’s signature oysters (available four ways), a big plate of okonomiyaki, free-range karagé chicken, pink eye potatoes and moreish pork gyoza. No matter what time you go, cheers to your excellent meal with a whisky highball. Bar Wa Izakaya has them on tap, so you’d be rude not to.

One of Hobart’s best bars and beer gardens is right on Macquarie Point in Hobart Brewing Co’s red shed. A place for froth lovers, the bar is stocked with beer, beer and more beer. After all, there’s a brewery on-site! Outside you’ll find a large courtyard with food trucks and live music. It’s a family-friendly, all-year-round kind of destination – just make sure you wear layers and grab a spot near the fire pit.

Delightfully grungy inner-city spot Grinners keeps it simple with its tagline: tacos and booze. The bar has Mexican street food down to a fine art, from ten types of tacos to quesadillas, burritos, loaded fries and jalapeno poppers. Booze-wise, Grinners isn’t reinventing the wheel: whether you want wine, beer or a cocktail to accompany your spicy snacks, this place has you covered. The lively, chatty vibe is what makes Grinners a must-visit – you won’t want to leave.