Pub with big crowd
Photograph: Supplied | New Sydney Hotel
Photograph: Supplied | New Sydney Hotel

The best pubs in Hobart

Where to drink, dine and unwind in Tassie’s capital

Madeleine Gasparinatos
Contributor: Melissa Woodley
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Hobart has enjoyed a long love affair with pubs. In 1803, it boasted 50 of them… that’s one pub for every 200 residents. Fast forward 200-odd years, and the city's pub scene is bursting with charm, craft drinks and great food

Our local writers devised this list of Hobart's best pubs, including places where you’ll not only find perfect pints, but golden schnitties, cosy fireplaces and live tunes, too. From old-school legends like the Shipwrights Arms and the Hope and Anchor to newer favourites like the revamped Moonah Hotel and Preachers’ beloved beer garden, these are the best pubs in Hobart for good times and laidback vibes.

For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines.

🍷 Hobart's best bars
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Best pubs in Hobart

  • Pubs

The Shipwrights Arms, aka ‘Shippies’ to locals, is a Battery Point icon that’s been serving mariners and civilians for more than 177 years. From the nautical memorabilia on the walls to the fresh seafood on the menu, this pub honours its harborside heritage. Relax with a pint by the fire or book a table in Shoal, their light-filled garden pavilion featuring an indoor rainforest and a rare Huon Pine. Don’t miss their granita oysters, fall-apart lamb shoulder or the indulgent espresso parfait to round out your visit.

Time Out tip: Shippies is just a short walk from Salamanca, making it a great op for a pint and a parmie if you're based in the city. 

Address29 Trumpeter St, Battery Point 

Opening hours: Daily noon-11pm

  • Breweries

Set against the majestic backdrop of kunanyi/Mt. Wellington, this South Hobart gem celebrates 200 years of brewing history. Cascade Brewery Bar is more than a pub – it’s an institution, complete with a brass bar, roaring fireplace and sprawling heritage gardens. Sip a Cascade classic or local cider while enjoying menu highlights, like their famous parmi, wallaby burger or pork cutlet on the bone. 

Time Out tipDon’t visit without taking a stroll through the lush, three-acre grounds that really put the ‘garden’ in beer garden.

Address140 Cascade Rd, South Hobart

Opening hours: Daily 11am-9pm

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  • Pubs

As the second oldest city in Australia, it checks out that Hobart is home to the country's oldest continually licensed pub. Its rooms overflow with history – so much so that you could easily mistake the pub for a museum. Just take a look at the vintage rifles, antique mirrors, maritime memorabilia and even the wall-mounted deer heads. The Hope and Anchor is proudly Tasmanian, offering a variety of local craft beers on tap, along with a well-curated range on Aussie wines and spirits. On a chilly winter evening, nothing beats sipping a hot buttered rum by the fireplace. Pair it with a hearty beef cheek wellington, comforting seafood chowder, tender lamb rump or the special roast of the day. 

Time Out tip: A legendary pub like this gets busy, especially on weekends – so you'll want to arrive early to claim a table.

Address65 Macquarie St, Hobart

Opening hours: Sun-Thur noon-9pm; Fri-Sat noon-10pm

Melissa Woodley
Melissa Woodley
Travel & News Editor, Time Out Australia

Moonah Hotel

Recently revamped, the Moonah Hotel is the epitome of a great locale. With a graffiti-covered beer garden that’s dog-friendly and brimming with atmosphere, this Main Road favourite features a menu of classic pub fare, including their standout eggplant parmi. Pair it with one of 12 rotating beers or a glass of minimal-intervention wine, and you have yourself a great day out. 

Time Out tip: The Moonah also has a cellar where you can pick up a bottle to pop at home! However, it's only open on weekdays from noon to 7pm.

Address99 Main Rd, Moonah

Opening hours: Sun-Thur noon-9pm; Fri-Sat noon-10pm

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  • Craft beer

Part luxury dive bar, part brewery, Manky Sally’s has settled nicely into Hobart’s pub scene after opening its doors in mid-2023. Owned by MONA’s David Walsh, the space fuses retro charm with artistic flair. The front bar features wooden veneer panelling, tiled bar frontage and vinyl menus, while a mirrored walkway leads to a cosy back lounge adorned with 3,000 bottles glowing with LED lights. Manky Sally's food is impressive pub nosh with local produce informing the seasonal menu. Standouts include the wallaby cheeseburger and sesame prawn toast drizzled with sticky truffled honey. Moo Brew staples and seasonal specials dominate the beer list, and you can opt for a tasting flight served on a retrofitted table tennis bat. The Tassie wines go down a treat while the Spicy Yuzu Margarita on tap is a crowd favourite. 

Time Out tipManky Sally's is located right near the MONA ferry terminal, making it a fab stop after a trip to the kooky art museum.

AddressGround floor, 25 Salamanca Pl, Battery Point

Opening hours: Wed-Thur 4pm-9.30pm; Fri-Sat noon-11pm; Sun noon-9.30pm

  • Craft beer

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 vegan cheeseburgers, double decker beef burgers and a fried chicken number. 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.

Time Out tipOne of Hobart’s top veg-friendly pubs, The Winston lets you sub in fried tofu, vegan chicken or a Beyond patty on any burger, sandwich or baguette.

Address381 Elizabeth St, North Hobart 

Opening hours: Mon 4pm-10pm; Tue-Thur 4pm-10.30pm; Fri-Sat 4pm-11.30pm; Sun 4pm-10.30pm

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  • Craft beer

Tucked in an unassuming, quiet side street in Battery Point is one of Hobart’s best bars and most beloved beer gardens. (Sure, it's not technically a pub, but it's so good we had to include it on this list). Preachers keep 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.

Time Out tip: The burgers here are legendary. Try The P.F.C. for a crispy, cheesy, bacon-loaded hit, or The Halloumi for a veg-friendly winner.

Address5 Knopwood St, Hobart

Opening hours: Daily noon-12am

New Sydney Hotel

Dubbed “the best little pub in town”, the New Sydney Hotel delivers top-tier pub grub and a rotating lineup of craft brews across its 18 taps. It’s a proud supporter of local breweries, boasting more than 200 whiskies and a stellar selection of gin. The pub’s laneway beer garden, with sunny nooks and plenty of heating for cooler days, is a great place to down a pint. Whether you’re after the best Guinness in Hobart or something adventurous, this pub oozes authentic charm and has bucked the trend of having a big modern makeover. We’re here for it!

Time Out tip: Love live tunes? The New Sydney delivers the goods with old-school bangers on Friday nights, Irish trad sessions on Saturday arvos and a legendary Sunday night blues set with the legendary Mr Billy Whitton.

Address: 87 Bathurst St, Hobart

Opening hours: Mon-Thur noon-10.30pm; Fri-Sat noon-11.30pm; Sun 4pm-10pm

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Crescent Hotel

Tucked off the main drag in North Hobart, The Crescent Hotel is all Tudor-style on the outside and gastro-pub on the inside. The pub’s menu champions fresh, locally sourced ingredients while still delivering on classics, like their chicken schnitty with red wine jus, rolled porchetta with apple puree and sweet onions, or 250g sirloin steak with your choice of sauce. Head upstairs to the stunning, forest-green bathed dining area or bask in the sunlit beer garden with a pint. With an ever-rotating lineup of ales, sours and hazy IPAs on tap, there’s always something new to sip.

Time Out tip: If you're after a breath of fresh Tassie air, the Crescent has a lovely little rooftop terrace. Cross your fingers for a sunny day!

Address100 Burnett St, North Hobart

Opening hours: Sun-Thur noon-10pm; Fri-Sat noon-12am

Longley International Hotel

This old-school pub tucked in the bush just south of Hobart boasts the world’s longest Huon Pine bar and a quirky, retro vibe. If you’re wondering why it’s called ‘International’, that’s something you’ll have to have to ask publican Jack Brereton about. Known for its friendly service, cosy fires and live music every Friday and Sunday, this beer garden goes off year-round with some excellent gigs. Having had a cameo or two on ABC’s comedy Rosehaven, the Longley International Hotel feels like a warm hug of a pub. The cheesy garlic bread is legendary, and you can’t go wrong with a classic parmi or steak. 

Time Out tip: The cherry on top? There’s a free camping site across the road (for when you've had one too many beers).

AddressHuon Rd, Longley

Opening hours: Daily 11am-8pm

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