The 20 best restaurants in Hobart

What is it? An intimate ten-seater wine bar and restaurant serving a short, seasonal menu of Japanese-inspired à la carte snacks – with a strong focus on local seafood. 

Why go? Set inside a heritage confectionery shop – no larger than your average sauna – this cosy Liverpool Street diner is the latest venture from acclaimed chef Luke Burgess (ex-Garagistes). Scholé takes its name from the Greek word for leisure, which is fitting for a space that encourages creativity and conversation, all centred around a communal ten-seater table. The share-style menu sways with the seasons, featuring biodynamic and local produce in elegant snacks like steamed wild angasi oysters from St Helens with fresh wasabi oil and hemp seed froknäcke (cracker) topped with salt-cured pike and pink radish. Larger plates are seafood-centric, where you could enjoy anything from smoked eel and raw scallops to albacore tuna and grilled swordfish. Complete the experience with a natural wine, considered cocktail or a pour of premium Japanese sake.

Time Out tip: On Tuesday nights, Scholé transforms into a buzzy tachinomi – a casual Japanese-style standing bar serving a tight selection of snacks and drinks. It’s walk-in only, so rock up early to secure a spot.

Address: 227 Liverpool St, Hobart 

Opening hours: Tue 4pm-12am; Wed-Sat 6pm-12am

Expect to pay? A minimum spend of $100 per person

What is it? MONA’s most avant-garde restaurant, suspended over the River Derwent.

Why go? “Look but don’t touch,” said no one ever at Faro Bar and Restaurant. Here, you’re encouraged to touch, play and even eat the artful creations, as opposed to the rest of the famed locale’s Museum of Old and New Art. When we said that Faro is suspended over the River Derwent too, we meant it. The chic A-frame dining room boasts floor-to-ceiling glass walls that invite the outside in, with expansive views across Hobart’s waterlined hillsides. Yet, Faro’s decorated plates topped with the utmost detail manage to steal the show. Wild-caught and feral meats are a feature on Faro’s menu, but given that the guy who owns MONA is vegetarian, you’ll find plenty of ingenious plant-forward options too, along with fun twists on classic cocktails and local drops from on-site winery, Morilla.

Time Out tip: Make your visit to Faro even more memorable by catching the 25-minute ferry from Hobart’s Brooke Street Pier directly to MONA’s doorstop. The River Derwent’s flora-laden banks will butter you up just nicely for an equally fantastic feast.

Address: 655 Main Road, Berriedale

Opening hours: Sun-Mon and Thurs 12pm-3pm; Fri-Sat 12pm-10pm

Expect to pay: More than $50 a head for a proper meal and drink

What is it? A fine dining restaurant boasting vast River Derwent vistas.

Why go? It’s up, up and away at this sleek waterfront eatery, serving up one of the most exceptional degustation menus in Australia. Aløft, meaning ‘attic’ or ‘high place in the sky’, is perched on the top floor of Hobart’s award-winning Brooke Street Pier. The elongated dining room is contemporary, but encourages you to feel as relaxed as can be, reminiscent of the calm waters below. And as much as we love a good window seat, Aløft’s open kitchen is an experience in itself. Here, you can watch co-owner and Head Chef, Christian Ryan and his team transform seasonal produce, local seafood and small-farm poultry into an extravagant, nine-course tasting menu with a pan-Asian flair. Think lamb ribs with gochujang and sesame, as well as considered vegan treats like wood ear mushroom dumplings. Tasmanian wines are a highlight on Aløft’s menu too, with curated pairings that suit each dish to a tee.

Time Out tip: For the ultimate experience, we’d fight for one of the prized bar seats overlooking Aløft’s open kitchen.

Address: Pier One, Brooke Street, Hobart

Opening hours: Tues-Sat 5:30pm-10pm

Expect to pay: $140 a head for the degustation menu, plus $99 for the wine pairing

What is it: A tiny CBD wine bar and Italian restaurant that elicits a queue every evening.

Why go? This place has vibes almost as big as its wine list. Sonny is like heading to a friend’s house for dinner, albeit a mate with serious chops in the kitchen. There’s just 20 seats for walk-ins along the centre table, with diners on one side and chatty staff pouring wine and handing out food from the other. The theme here is communal, from the layout of the venue to the plates of pasta you can share with your mates. Whet your appetite with fare that sounds a little like asparagus fusilli, prosciutto toast, and kingfish crudo. The rustic plates and simple, yet effective and certifiably jam-packed with garden-fresh flavours. Following that, trust the process with a mystery wine chosen by Sonny’s clued-up bartenders – you’re in good hands here. With tunes spinning all evening on the record player, you might even feel the urge to share your dance moves, too.

Time Out tip: Sonny’s only accepts walk-ins only, so we suggest getting there early, heck, even before the doors open if you’re feeling particularly peckish.

Address: 120a Elizabeth Street, Hobart

Opening hours: Thurs-Mon 4pm-11:30pm

Expect to pay: More than $50 a head for a proper dinner and wine

What is it: A set menu of newly harvested, provincial produce located in a former asylum.

Why go? Located 40 minutes out of Hobart in New Norfolk, The Agrarian Kitchen is truly a hyper-local dining experience. A huge chunk of the ingredients for the set menu’s dishes are grown at the kitchen’s on-site farm, while the rest are sourced from nearby growers, farmers and fishermen. So you can rest assured knowing that someone has just-picked the herbs and plucked the fish upon your plate straight out of the river. The Agrarian team also make their own cheese and is big on practicing pickling, smoking, fermenting, whole-animal butchery and bread-making, too. The dining room is minimalist, but the plating does all the talking in its elegant formation. Expect to see ever-changing, seasonal dishes with the likes of green corn tostada topped with crayfish and avocado, lamb with cauliflower and mustard leaf, as well as parsnip miso caramel for dessert. Now that’s a winning combo.

Time Out tip: The exclusive Agrarian Kitchen experience is only open for a short window of time during lunch, three days a week. We highly recommend reserving your spot so your cravings don’t go unfulfilled.

Address: 11a The Avenue, New Norfolk

Opening hours: Fri-Sun 11am-2pm

Expect to pay: $220 per person from 1 April 2025

What is it? A pint-sized, ten-seat restaurant slinging a 15-course Japanese degustation three nights a week. 

Why go? Tucked down a back lane, this intimate dining experience takes place around an open kitchen at the back of the Lexus of Tasmania showroom (the boot of these prestige cars make for a very novel cloakroom). No two sittings are the same at the Kaiseki-style eatery, but you can expect minimal-intervention seafood and in-season produce that is elevated beyond belief. Those who book during tomato and stone fruit season are in for a treat, however Omotenashi is a remarkable affair year-round. Your menu could enlist fare that sounds a little like snapped and shiitake-filled zucchini flower dumpling that floats atop kombu-sake dashi, and zunda mochi (sweet, mashed edamame over a glutinous rice cake) which is a specialty confectionery, popular in Miyagi Prefecture of Japan. Paired drinks are part of the night, and the narrating chefs expertly curate sake and tea to accompany your degustation.

Time Out tip: Don’t bring your vegetarian, vegan or gluten-intolerant friends – Omotenashi do not accommodate these dietary requirements.

Address: 4/160 Elizabeth Street, Hobart

Opening hours: Fri-Sun 6:30pm-10:30pm

Expect to pay: $312 a head for the set 15-course menu

What is it? A picturesque winery that optimises food and drink from the land alike.

Why go? At Frogmore Creek Cellar Door and Restaurant, let the fruit take to the limelight. This will be your go-to for sampling Tasmania’s renowned, cool-climate wines, along with the still-crisp local produce. Sip a silky pinot noir or a zippy sauvignon blanc with hints of honey at their flourishing vineyard in the Coal River wine region –  just 20 minutes from the city centre. Pair your drop of choice with hearty mains from the land, sea and garden that are cut from the same cloth when it comes to bold flavours. Relish the likes of tamarind-glazed Scottsdale pork belly with kimchi, apple purée and pulled pork croquette (that’s the land part), alongside oysters with ponzu and yuzu gel (that’s the sea bit), plus pan-seared king oyster and wood ear mushrooms with tofu parfait with caper vinaigrette (that’s the land element). They all go down a treat.

Time Out tip: If you’re thinking that you’ll pop in to Frogmore’s CBD outpost for a gander of what it’s all about – don’t. Sorry to be the bearers of bad news, but as of 29 March 2025, Frogmore Creek Wine Bar will be no more.

Address: 699 Richmond Road, Cambridge

Opening hours: Wed-Mon 10am-5pm

Expect to pay: More the $70 a head for a proper meal and drink

What is it? A waterside dinner hotspot that takes inspiration from circa 1960 in the Mediterranean, with mid 2024 beginnings.

Why go? Hobart might be known as the ‘gateway to Antarctica’, but you can now journey there via Lisbon and Lebanon at one of the city’s newest waterfront haunts. Taking up residency at Hobart’s historic Brooke Street Pier, just below sister eatery Aløft, Restaurant Maria is a love letter to the Mediterranean’s coastal countries with a corrugated iron ceiling reminding you that you’re more or less in a shed. Polished marble tops and considered mood lighting set the scene, along with a vinyl corner which hints that you’re at a trendy, yet up-scale joint. Local seafood, meats and veggies are cooked over a centrepiece wood-fire grill, then ramped up with punchy sauces and hand-foraged Indigenous ingredients. Finish the night with a Lebanon Martini or a house-made Limoncello Spritz, or pick your poison from the post-dinner aperitif trolley.

Time Out tip: Opt for the chef’s menu, for $130 you’ll luxuriate in flavours from Greece to Italy with citrus and spice at the forefront of the offerings.

Address: Brooke Street Pier, Hobart

Opening hours: Tues-Sat 5:30pm-10pm

Expect to pay: More than $70 for a proper dinner with drinks

What is it? A sexy restaurant reminiscent of something you’d see in New York with the spiciness of South America.

Why go? Let’s be frank – this restaurant might not shout for attention with its dimly lit facade, but its South American-style is anything but shy. Dark nooks are illuminated by red neon lights and dining sections are partitioned with artful curtains and coloured glass panels. Enticing cushioned booths welcome you to stay a while, and the window seat views capture the harbourside activity aptly. When it comes to Frank Restaurant’s fare, delve into fire-roasted oysters, whipped cod roe tostadas and the non-negotiable three cheese empanadas. Meats are fired over an asado grill (open-flame Argentinian barbecue) and dressed in tangy salsas and best enjoyed with chipotle-vinegar fried potatoes. It’d be rude not to wash it all down with a Pisco Sour (classic Peruvian and Chilean cocktail) which hits all those sweet-tart notes just nicely.

Time Out tip: If you’re stuck for choice, Frank Restaurant’s staff are well-acquainted with the menu and can lead you in the right direction (to the ‘feed me’ menu, that is).

Address: 1 Franklin Wharf, Hobart

Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 12pm-10pm; Fri-Sat 12pm-10:30pm

Expect to pay: More than $120 for a proper dinner without drinks

What is it? A busy Japanese eatery slinging share plates and cocktails.

Why go? 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 (savoury pancake), free-range karaage chicken (fried, without batter), pink eye potatoes and moreish pork gyoza. If ramen’s your thing, make a lunch booking as it’s only available between noon and 3pm, and you’ll be able to slurp bowls of noodles that are bathed in housemade stock that’s been on the boil for hours, for an ultimate ramen experience that Bar Wa claims you wouldn’t have come across since your last trip to Japan. 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 unmannerly to say no.

Time Out tip: For groups of four or more, opt for the set menu to diversify your palette. Oh and the menu changes daily so it’s not posted online, but let your gluten-free buddy know that there's chicken ramen up for grabs and a vegan bowl as well for them to demolish no matter what.

Address: 216-218 Elizabeth Street, Hobart

Opening hours: Mon-Sun 12am-2am

Expect to pay: More than $20 for a bowl of ramen

What is it: A wine bar and upscale eatery which personifies the word ‘cool’.

Why go? Institut Polaire is a wine bar and restaurant that celebrates the colder side of life, from its icy white interiors and stainless steel decor, to its menu focused around alpine food traditions and cool-climate produce. Close your eyes and you’ll be well on your way to Antarctica, or perhaps the laplands of the Arctic Circle or Siberian snow storm, minus the long-haul. As for the coldhearted fare, think southern mud oysters from chilly south-east Tassie, seafood caught in the Southern Ocean, pickled and fermented vegetables (a particular interest in these practices drives the Institut Polaire team), and local goat milk gelato. Smoked and cured bits and bobs are also a menu highlight along with plenty of caper and dill accents. Team these with a drop chosen from a truly epic list featuring more than 100 wines. Just be wary of spillage if you opt for a red, as the interior of this restaurant truly is all white. 

Time Out tip: Settle for a Süd Polaire Antarctic dry martini, it has caught the attention of drinkers from near and far.

Address: 1/7 Murray Street, Hobart

Opening hours: Thurs-Sat 4pm-12am; Sun 4pm-10pm

Expect to pay: More than $90 for a proper dinner without drinks

What is it: A lively corner wine bar and bistro boasting good tunes and great food.

Why go? Chef and restaurateur, Matt Breen is the master of small, intimate Hobart venues (he’s also the man behind the aforementioned Templo and Sonny) and Ogee is his latest venture. A corner space in the abuzz North Hobart neighbourhood, you’ll hear the signature sound of records spinning and wine glasses clinking as soon as you get near the lunch and dinner haunt. Another staple of any Breen offering? Flavourful Italian-inspired dishes created with local produce, a hefty wine list, welcoming staff and relaxed, friendly vibes. Hey, if it ain’t broke, right? Elevated cream of the crop ingredients are elevated to dishes with the likes of calamarata (that’s the pasta shape) tossed through calamari ragu, as well as gnocchi with parmesan cream, prosciutto and fresh truffle. The pretty plates are worthy of a snap, as is the cornerstore’s somber facade and moody interior.

Time Out tip: Ogee is a delight spot if you’re looking for a chill, but elegant date night stop accompanied by dishy dishes.

Address: 374 Murray Street, North Hobart

Opening hours: Wed-Thurs 5pm-9:30pm; Fri-Sat 12pm-2:30pm, 5pm-9:3pm; Sun 12pm-2:30pm, 5pm-8:30pm

Expect to pay: Mandatory set menu for $100 a head on Friday and Saturday evenings

What is it: An lowly lit, intimate space with an experimental menu heavy on local produce and inventive cocktails to boot.

Why go? Despite being one of the most highly-regarded restaurants in Hobart, Dier Makr is as unpretentious as it is excellent. The CBD space is small but relaxed, the staff knowledgeable but friendly. Dining at Dier Makr is a wild ride for your taste buds; a twelve-course degustation of small plates big on local produce, which you can pair with wine from the venue’s huge cellar. While the menu is ever-changing, recent dishes from Chef Kobi Ruzicka include sweet corn gelato with blackberries and pumpkin seed dulce de leche (sweet milk), southern rock lobster and carrot escabeche tart, celeriac with southern calamari and seaweed, and preserved strawberries with lavender ice cream. The delicate dishes are put together super skillfully that play on patterns and unusual shapes – they truly are almost too ornamental to eat.

Time Out tip: Don’t hit up your friends that adhere to FODMAP, vegan, dairy-free, kosher, egg-free, halal, paleo or keto diets – Dier Makr aren’t about it.

Address: 123 Collins Street, Hobart

Opening hours: Thurs 6:45pm-11pm; Fri-Sat 6pm-11pm

Expect to pay: $180 a head for the set, tasting menu

What is it: A lively North Hobart bistro with lunch and dinner dining options.

Why go? A relative newcomer to the North Hobart food scene, Trophy Room may be tucked away on a residential corner with Venetian blinds blocking out its windows, but looks can be deceiving. Inside, it’s a bustling café-restaurant that got its start serving brunch, before leaving that in the past and expanding into lunch then eventually as it became more popular, dinner from Wednesday through to Saturday. Trophy Room’s emphasis is on house-made, and much of the menu’s baked goods are produced within its four walls, as well as their charcuterie, pickles, pasta and cheeses – all from scratch! A favourite dish with diners is the mortadella cruller – house-made pastry filled with cheese and pepper, served with mortadella sliced fresh on the Trophy Room meat slicer. Bellissimo (beautiful, grandé, handsome – you get it).

Time Out tip: Wine is a big deal at Trophy Room, with the bottles on full display. So if you fancy a tipple with your wine aficionado friend, this bright North Hobart is the spot you’ve been looking for.

Address: 342 Argyle Street, North Hobart

Opening hours: Wed-Sat 12pm-3pm, 5pm-10:30pm

Expect to pay: More than $50 for a proper meal without drinks

What is it: A tiny Italian eatery with a set menu that changes weekly.

Why go? The premise of Templo is clever, really: seat 25 people and serve them all the exact same thing. You get what you’re given at Templo, but luckily what you’re given is incredible. Six courses (four, and à la carte if you’re dining at lunch) featuring handmade pasta bursting with flavour, like sweet corn agnolotti or dory and potato cappellacci, as well as vegetable-based dishes using produce from local growers. There’s an extensive wine list scribbled on the chalkboard and the staff are happy to help match your choice with the night’s menu. Dessert is the perfect finale, whether it's a lemon semifreddo or custard tart with gingerbread ice cream. And an Earth-loving, Tasmanian diner, you’ll be pleased to know that Tempo also are committed to not dishing out farmed salmon or ocean trout. It’s all about doing what you can, and in the hospitality world, that’s one small step for a local business, one giant leap for sustainability.

Time Out tip: Templo is a wee nook, so we recommend booking ahead to secure your foodie desires.

Address: 98 Patrick Street, Hobart

Opening hours: Wed 6pm-11pm; Thurs-Mon 12pm-2:30pm, 6pm-11pm

Expect to pay: $120 a head for the mandatory set dinner menu

What is it? A stylish neighbourhood wine bar and bistro in the city.

Why go? “Please wear something that makes you feel fabulous.” That's the dress code at this highly coveted ‘fun-dining’ restaurant in Hobart. The menu remains a mystery until you’re seated in Fico’s close-quarters, 40-seat dining room, as it evolves depending on the day’s best produce. Throughout the nine-course tasting extravaganza, chef-owners Federica Andrisani and Oskar Rossi weave their magic, marrying local Tasmanian ingredients with sophisticated European techniques, with a bit of a tendency to lean towards Italian flavours. Organics are an essential at Fico too. And while the specifics aren’t disclosed until the day you nab a seat, recent concoctions entail liquid tomato-stuffed tortelli (pasta) with torched béchamel, black olive and fresh oregano – oh my. House-made oils with the likes of fig leaf are a seasonal delight, and handmade sourdough is a Fico cornerstone. Wild game and seafood come as no surprise either, as the team plans on filling you almost to the brim – or ‘hara hachi bu,’ which translates to ‘stomach eight parts out of ten’ and encourages mindful eating. 

Time Out tip: Fico’s robust wine list ensures your dining experience is nothing short of extraordinary, so dive right in.

Address: 151A Macquarie Street, Hobart

Opening hours: Thurs-Sat 6pm-12am; Sun 12pm-3pm

Expect to pay: $185 a head for the mandatory nine-course set menu

What is it? An elegant waterfront steak restaurant that doubles as an art gallery showcasing the works of Australian colonial landscape painter, John Glover.

Why go? Housed in the historic IXL Jam Factory on Hobart’s waterfront, Landscape is firing on all cylinders. Chef Nathaniel Embrey and his team light up the asado grill (open-flame Argentinian barbecue), with seasoned cask timber from the Tasmanian Cask Company. So, if you’re tasting notes of sherry, bourbon or port, then you have a very refined palate. This kind of attention to detail is what elevates Tasmania’s most famous beef to a memorable experience at Landscape. The gold-gilded John Glover paintings are also a paramount detail that makes for a backdrop that’ll have you stepping back in time to the almost unspoiled Tasmanian bushland of the 1830s and important documentations of Indigenous culture – a reminder of the land on which you’re dining and the bountiful resources of Tasmania. The steak restaurant’s 25-page drinks list feels just as fruitful, and a glass of the Deep Valley pinot from Tasmania’s Huon Valley really hits the spot.

Time Out tip: If you choose to book out the private dining room, you’ll be witnessing a selection of the annual John Glover Prize award winners' works as you feast – ooh la la.

Address: 23 Hunter Street, Hobart

Opening hours: Mon-Sun 6pm-9:30pm

Expect to pay: More than $90 a head for a proper dinner without drinks

What is it? An upscale Italian restaurant with an encyclopedic wine list, located inside the luxury hotel, The Tasman.

Why go? Named after his nonna, dining at Massimo Mele’s Peppina could feel like dinner at your Italian grandmother’s house – if your grandmother was a celebrated chef who lived in a light-filled atrium complete with mature olive trees, that is. The name of the game here is feast, so ‘more is more’ is a solid ethos when ordering. Expect house-made gnocchi, succulent braised meats, a selection of just-caught seafood and desserts to savour. Start with the burrata on a bed of grilled peppers, currants, pine nuts and charred bread for a party in your mouth. Next up, all homemade pasta is worthy of your attention –  we love the ricotta cavatelli with Italian sausage, broccoletti, chilli and lemon. Follow it up with a menu mainstay, the tiramisu modo mio of coffee mousse, liqueur and mascarpone cream – you know you want to. With a focus on high-quality Tasmanian produce, this seasonal menu is packed with winners. 

Time Out tip: Peppina’s open kitchen is an absolute treat and we recommend pulling up a seat close by.

Address: 2b Salamanca Place, Hobart

Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 7am-10:30am; 5:30pm-8:30pm; Fri-Sat 7am-10:30am, 5pm-8:30pm

Expect to pay: More than $60 a head for a proper dinner without drinks

What is it? A Spanish-inspired tapas bar on Hobart’s Salamanca waterfront at MACq 01.

Why go? With sweeping views across Constitution Dock and Kunanyi/Mount Wellington, The Black Footed Pig’s position is hard to resist – and the whole vibe contributes to this standout relaxed, yet fine dining experience. This dimly lit eatery flaunts an open-kitchen, so you’re appetite will only grow once seated within the fabulous interior – even the ceiling is a thing to appreciate. But if you’re a big on the great outdoors, hop on over to the balcony where views over the harbour and its boats are on the cards. The vistas aren’t secondary to The Black Footed Pig’s fare either. The menu is designed for sharing, starting with para picar (snacks) and tapas, before moving onto larger share plates, like paella and slow-roasted lamb shoulder weighing in at a hefty 1.2 kilograms. Pair your feast with the Spanish Garnacha or a 2010 Moorilla Muse Cabernet Merlot from Tasmania to maximise the experience. The sherries are a must too.

Time Out tip: The Black Footed Pig’s locale calls for a post-dinner walk along the harbourside.

Address: 18 Hunter Street, Hobart

Opening hours: Wed-Thurs 4:30pm-9pm; Fri-Sat 12pm-10pm; Sun 5pm-9pm

Expect to pay: More than $100 for a proper dinner without drinks

What is it? Café by day and pizzeria by night, this North Hobart gem is a great spot for all occasions. 

Why go? With heaps of outdoor picnic table-style seating, Room for a Pony is the perfect place for casual summertime snacks and sundowners, with spritzes and cocktail jugs on the menu. Scents of coffee waft through the low-key indoor space, while ice-cool tap beers demand a pozzie out the front where people watching is a major pastime. You can keep things relaxed from the AM to the PM with cheese toasties and sardines on toast (it’s the simple things), or share a spread of their legendary sourdough pizzas. We recommend the Fonduta of fondue sauce, ham, mozzarella, fried potato rösti, provolone, basil and parmesan, or the Bob Brown with broccoli, kale, green olives, provolone, mozzarella, chilli and garlic oil – named for the father of the Tasmanian Greens party. 

Time Out tip: If you’re feeling a little chilly (likely at Tasmania’s altitude), cosy up beneath one of the heaters, or ponder life through the misty windows and Bob should be your uncle.

Address: 338 Elizabeth Street, North Hobart

Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 7am-9pm; Fri 7am-10pm; Sat-Sun 8am-10pm

Expect to pay: More than $25 for a pizza