Josie Rozenberg-Clarke

Hobart’s best hotels make the most of the city’s assets – the glittering Derwent River, the imposing majesty of kunanyi / Mount Wellington, fascinating convict history and world-class food and produce.  You’ll be spoiled for choice when looking for a hotel in Hobart. If you're after sweeping harbour views it's hard to overlook MACq01; original heritage architecture is all the rage at Waterman’s Hotel; while luxe interiors plus proximity to the city’s best restaurants and bars is all-encompased at The Tasman. Whatever kind of Hobart stay you’re looking for, you’ll likely find several spaces that suit. Time Out Australia's Travel & News Editor, Melissa Woodley, and local expert writer, Josie Rozenberg-Clarke (who know all the nooks and crannies of Hobart inside and out), have rounded up the very best abodes in the quaint Tassie town to make your choice a tiny bit easier, but be warned, it's going to be a tough pick. ☀️ All the best things to do in Hobart🍽️ The best restaurants in Hobart🖼️ Hobart's best museums and galleries Time Out makes a small commission from the affiliate links included in this article. These links have no influence on our editorial content, but they do help us to bring you more recommendations every week. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Tasmania’s capital city isn’t exactly heaving with activity after dark like its bustling mainland counterparts. But if you know where to look, Hobart’s bar scene is lively, with plenty of drinking holes for the curious and thirsty. From dive bars to underground cocktail joints, the upscale to the casual, no matter what kind of establishment you’re looking to pull up a stool at, you’ll find it in Hobart. It helps that the local booze, like the food, is world-renowned – the beer, the wine, the whisky, the gin. Whatever your poison, it all adds up to a good time. So whether you're a Dirty Martini person or partial to a tinnie (or three), cheers to our list of the best bars in Hobart, as picked by our local expert drinkers and writers. For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines. 🍽 The best restaurants in Hobart🍕 Hobart's best pizzas🍣 Where to go for Japanese in Hobart

You know what’s finally trending in 2025? Self-care. While a warm bubble bath or 15-minute face mask is a nice pick-me-up, nothing beats a full-on pamper session at the spa. And boy does Australia have some pretty phenomenal pamper palaces that’ll leave you glowing from head to toe. Whether you’re treating yourself to a five-star massage while on holiday or searching for a local bathhouse to add to your weekly routine, we think you should add these day spas to the top of your to-do list. Here are the best and most luxurious day spas in Australia right now. ⭐️ Australia's best health and wellness retreats🌳 Here are all the best things to do in Australia🖼️ Art exhibitions you need to see this year

Saturday sleep-ins are great, but nothing beats a weekend amble to the farmers market. A mandatory stop on almost any regional holiday, these outdoor marketplaces buzz with local producers selling the freshest flowers, most seasonal produce and tastiest street food.  You've undoubtedly heard of the big players (hello Queen Victoria Market and Adelaide Central Market), but there are plenty of smaller (and equally spectacular) markets waiting for you to explore. Our Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley has ticked off almost every market on this guide to the best markets in Australia – from the big names to the charming regional treasures. Visit your locale or find a new favourite around Oz! 🚘 The most epic Australian road trips to do before you die🍔 The best food and drink festivals in Australia🎨 Australia's best art galleries

Australians have a love affair with art, and with incredible galleries dotted throughout the country, it’s also one of the top reasons we travel interstate. Every year, our nation welcomes blockbuster international exhibitions, along with major showings of our most colourful and creative local talents.  Whether it’s contemporary Aboriginal art in Alice Springs, delicate glassworks in Wagga Wagga, topical portraits in Canberra or 21st-century Chinese art in Sydney, these are the top public galleries worth visiting in Australia. The best part is that most offer free entry to the permanent galleries! As a bonus, our Arts & Culture Editor, Alannah Le Cross, along with Travel & News Editor, Melissa Woodley, have also put together a guide on the best art exhibitions to see in Australia right now. 🌳 The 20 top tourist attractions in Australia👀 Australia's finest museums☀️ The best things to do in Australia

Hobart’s food scene is undoubtedly one of the best in Australia, and the locals will happily back that up. As will Time Out Australia’s Travel & News Editor, Melissa Woodley, who, after dining across every state and territory, can confidently vouch for it.  Tasmania’s food scene is spectacular for a number of reasons. In recent years, spiking rent prices on the mainland have prompted chefs to flock to Hobart to launch their own restaurants. This influx of talent, combined with Tasmania’s naturally bountiful fresh produce, has led to Hobart becoming quite the destination for food lovers.  From tiny hole-in-the-wall bars with 20 seats to a bustling Tokyo-inspired eatery and a French restaurant that sits at the front of MONA, Hobart’s best restaurants are wildly varied, and there’s a plate to suit every palate. Eating out is truly one of the best things to do in Hobart, so here’s our list of the best restaurants to score a reservation (or a walk-in table) at. March 2025: Since our last update, we've added up-to-date opening hours, addresses and how much you should expect to pay at each spot, along with our tips for each restaurant for your research needs. For more about how we curate our reviews and guides, see our editorial guidelines. 🍷 The best bars in Hobart☕️ Hobart's cutest cafés🌳 All the best things to do in Hobart right now

You know the landmarks and the laid-back culture, but there are plenty more things to do in Australia than kissing koalas and yelling ‘g’day mate’. Australia is a nature lover’s paradise, with highly sought-after food experiences and an impressive cultural heritage to boot. Our team (including Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley) have sifted through every attraction, experience, event and landmark our nation has to offer and put together the only Aussie bucket list you'll ever need. Whether you want to get amongst art parties in small coastal cities, see fairy penguins scurry across sandy beaches or watch the sunrise over Sydney Harbour from a kayak, there’s so much to explore across this incredible country. Here's our guide to all the best things you need to do in Australia right now. 🇦🇺 The top tourist attractions in Australia🌈 Australia's most beautiful destinations🌊 The best beaches in Australia

If there's one thing that Australia does right, it's really beautiful beaches – and a lot of them, to be precise. With a whopping 12,000 fringing our island continent, it would take you a wild 32 years to see them all – if you tackled one beach per day. Assuming that your 32-year plan doesn't singularly involve beach hopping around Australia (although, we can of course, dream), we've put together a list of the best and prettiest beaches in Australia that you should visit this year – or at least once in your life. Each beach on this list has been selected for its remarkable beauty, prime swimming conditions (read: you won't see anywhere with saltwater crocs on this list), and proximity to other incredible activities, so your adventure out doesn't end with just one dip. Take the breathtaking Bay of Fires, crowned Tourism Australia's best beach for 2025, or the picturesque Whitehaven Beach, recently named the world's best. Now, all that’s left is for you to see them for yourself. 🌊 The best nudist beaches in Australia🏄 Australia's top surf beaches🌈 All the best places to visit in Australia

From big hitters (*coughs* MONA) to tiny independent spaces, Hobart is full of incredible museums and galleries. Tasmania’s capital is a city rich in history and culture, and both have plenty of representation here.  If you’re in the mood for learning, head to one of the many museums dedicated to preserving Tassie’s past. If you’re an art connoisseur, there are large and small galleries filled to the brim with the work of established and emerging local talent. With almost too many to choose from, we’ve narrowed down the best museums and galleries in Hobart for your next history or culture hit. RECOMMENDED: Here are 11 of the best things to do while you're in Hobart.

Whoever said “nothing in life is free” clearly hasn’t been to Australia. Our Great Southern Land is full of bucket list experiences that won’t hurt or even touch your bank account. Hiking through some of the world’s most beautiful national parks? Free! Spotting fairy penguins on the beach? Free! Sampling your way through a world-class market? You guessed it – free! Our Travel and News Editor, Melissa Woodley, has backpacked all around the globe, so she knows a thing or two about savvy travel. With the help of her trusted team of Aussie travel writers, she’s curated this list of the best free things to do in Australia’s major cities. Whether you’re into soaking up the sun outdoors with swims, picnics and hikes, or cooling off inside with free exhibitions, chocolate tours and tram rides, there’s a budget-friendly activity to make you feel filthy rich with happiness.  🌊 All the best things to do in Australia🎢 The coolest things to do with kids⭐️ Tourist attractions in Australia that are worth it

Despite its small size, Hobart is big on activities – and we’re talking fun for the whole family, not just bougie restaurants and gin distilleries. In fact, whether you’re visiting the Tasmanian capital or you’re a full-time Hobartian, you’ll never be at a loss for things to do with kids in Hobart. Even if your kids are balls of constant energy, with nature on all sides of this waterfront town there’s almost too much great outdoors to explore. And luckily there’s plenty of culture and history to soak in on a rainy day, too. We’ve rounded up the best things to do with kids in Hobart, so grab your extended team and dive right in. 🌳 More fun things to do in Hobart🖼️ Hobart's best museums and galleries🚗 The coolest day trips from Hobart

Hobart may be tucked all the way down the bottom of Australia, but it’s a destination not to be slept on. Tasmania’s capital city is blessed with natural beauty, with the glittering waters of the River Derwent on one side and the rugged peak of kunanyi / Mount Wellington on the other, and there’s plenty to do both outside and inside. From mountain walks and self-guided history tours to some of the country’s top-tier restaurants and the incomparable MONA, everyone will find something they like about this place. Whether you’re headed to Hobart for a quick weekend getaway or you’ve got time on your side, our local writers have rounded up the must-dos of this waterfront town. 🍽️ The best restaurants in Hobart🖼️ Hobart's best museums and galleries🚗 The coolest day trips from Hobart

Another local favourite café that gives itself away with a line of folks outside, Island Espresso clearly makes good coffee – given the fact that city workers brave the morning cold to wait for their pre-work takeaways outside. But if you pop in for a sit-down breakfast, you’ll find not only top-notch caffeine and a friendly family-run vibe, but also hash brown fries (with housemade tomato relish) on the menu. It’s a scientific fact that hash browns complement every breakfast dish and make your day infinitely better, so for that reason, Island Espresso will always hold a special, deep-fried place in our hearts.

Not to be confused with Pigeon Whole Bakers (a great place to grab a takeaway coffee and pastry, not so much an actual café), Pigeon Hole is a must-visit Hobart café, especially if you’re a paddock-to-plate foodie type. Everything at Pigeon Hole is locally sourced, right down to the chairs that diners sit on – made by a craftsman in the Derwent Valley. Food-wise, the owners of Pigeon Hole also own Weston Farm, which provides plenty of the menu’s fresh produce. Any dish with honey, apples, veggies, pickles and preserves is likely to be sourced from the farm, and anything the farm hasn’t provided comes from local producers. It’s a true Tassie brunch experience.

A stalwart of Salamanca Square, this bright and welcoming spot has been serving the people of Hobart for decades. A must-visit for breakfast, it’s especially pleasant to take refuge in this brightly-coloured, retro-tinged space when the Tassie weather is at its most bleak. If the decor isn’t soul-warming enough, the hearty breakfasts – like chunky sourdough heaped with avocado and perfectly squeaky halloumi, or the breakfast chicken cassoulet with a fried egg – certainly will. And yep, you can literally do a load of laundry here at the coin-operated machines.

A sister café of long-standing inner-city staple Machine Laundry, Plain Jane has been bringing cheerful vintage goodness to the northern suburb of Moonah for a couple of years now. Locals flock here for the top-tier coffee, huge takeaway three-cheese toasties, and plentiful indoor and outdoor seating for those dining in. The tunes are always good, the decor is pure joy and so are Nonna’s baked eggs on the menu. Bellissimo.

Tucked in a narrow one-way side street in Hobart’s CBD, this café is a favourite with locals, but a very badly kept secret given it’s always packed with diners spilling out onto the footpath seating. We challenge you to walk past on your way to the Elizabeth Street Mall shops without gazing longingly at someone’s stack of corn fritters heaped with avocado smash and popping in to try your luck at a free table. The super-friendly staff will always do their best to find you a spot, and trust us, the food makes any kind of wait worth it.

Pilgrim is one of the best cafés in Hobart CBD for brunch, with a commitment to pouring the best coffee in the city, as well as serving the kind of obscenely good food you’ll feel mildly guilty for indulging in (before your enjoyment takes over). Think four types of toasties stuffed full of goodness, sloppy joes, crispy potatoes, a quesadilla stack and more. With the space’s exposed brick, exposed light bulbs and exposed floorboards, the upscale industrial feel teamed with the expert-level brunch menu will make you feel like you woke up in Brooklyn rather than Hobart.

On the other side of the Tasman Bridge is Bellerive’s Marla Singer, named for the character in Fight Club. But the name is where the similarities end, as this Eastern Shore eatery is as far from chaotic as you could get. Situated in a quiet waterfront suburb, this cool yet welcoming café serves up brunch treats like housemade crumpets with whipped ricotta and preserved fruit, pecorino omelette, nduja baked beans, and the muffuletta – a New Orleans-style breakfast sandwich layered with meat, pickles and cheese.

The definition of hidden gem, Dandy Lane is one of Hobart’s best cafés and best-kept secrets. You’ll find it down the end of a pedestrian laneway called Collins Court, serving all-day brunch with a hefty side of Tassie friendliness from the staff. Treat yourself to French toast, fried chicken benny or the baby Dutch pancake served in its own little cast iron pan. All of it pairs perfectly with Dandy Lane’s excellent coffee and warm, welcoming atmosphere. It’s tough to brave the winter air after brunch at this place.

Not to be overlooked, the southeast of the state offers up some beaut beaches to visit, too. There’s a bunch of lovely little spots dotted around the Tasman Peninsula – Pirates Bay Beach and Lagoon Beach are highlights – but if you’re an outdoorsy type, add Fortescue Bay to your list. Tucked within Tasman National Park, this remote spot is bordered by towering forests but is worth the hike – or drive – to get there. You can camp nearby, or simply stop off for a dip as you navigate the popular Three Capes Walk. Good for: Adventuring, kayaking, camping, walking.

The waters on the wild West Coast of Tasmania aren’t the most ideal for a safe swimming session, but that’s not why you visit Ocean Beach. A trip to see this majestic landmark is all about taking in its rugged beauty – a huge 40km stretch of sand, some of the biggest waves you’ll see in Tassie, and the howling winds of the Roaring Forties. Plus, you’ll experience something you won’t find if you’re from the East Coast of Australia: a sunset over the ocean. Good for: Long (and we mean long) walks along the beach, marvelling at giant waves, sunset watching.

Surfers love Clifton Beach, as its south-facing position brings in some decent swells. It’s not just for hanging ten, though. The shallows are perfect for a paddle and a splash – watch out for rips near the rocks – and the cliffs provide lots of shelter for all-day beach hangs and picnics. It’s patrolled on weekends and public holidays, and can be busy with locals in the warmer months as they defrost post-winter. Good for: Surfing, picnics, beachcombing in the sand dunes.

Up in the north-east of Tasmania are the calm, clear waters of Waterhouse Point. Just east of the popular holiday town of Bridport, the beaches around Waterhouse Point are hugely popular with Taswegians who enjoy fishing and family beach holidays. Camping around the area is free, and lots of locals and tourists take advantage of not only this, but the perfect swimming and snorkelling conditions. Check out Waterhouse Point, Croppies Beach and the beautiful and secluded Ransons Beach. Good for: Fishing, rockpools, snorkelling, family beach holidays.