Launceston’s drinking scene has quietly evolved in recent years. Historic pubs share streets with confident cocktail bars and compact wine rooms, many of them just a short hop from one another in the city centre.

The result is a bar scene that rewards wandering. You might start with a tasting paddle at Du Cane Brewery & Dining Hall, move on to a glass of Tamar Valley pinot at Havilah Wine Bar, then finish the night with a carefully mixed cocktail at the Barrel Collective. Whether you’re after a relaxed pub, a polished wine bar or somewhere with vinyl playing, these are the best places in Launceston to pull up a stool.

In short

If you only visit one bar in Launceston, make it Dill Pickle Club. Tasmania’s first listening bar pairs studio-quality sound with thoughtful cocktails, vinyl spinning late into the evening and one of the most atmospheric rooms in the city.

BARS

Dill Pickle Club

Music-driven sanctuary tucked upstairs on St John Street, Dill Pickle Club is Launceston’s first listening bar – a softly lit, timber-lined room designed for vinyl and reel-to-reel tapes played through a carefully tuned sound system. Local blackwood, acoustic panelling and mid-century touches shape the space, while gauzy curtains soften the city lights outside.

Drinks are just as considered as the music. Expect classic cocktails, local wines, beer and a tight whisky list, with bartenders happy to mix something timeless like a Corpse Reviver No.2. It’s a place to settle in, listen properly and let the soundtrack carry the evening.

Address: Level 1/78 St John St, Launceston

Felix Espresso & Wine

By day Felix pours espresso; by evening it shifts easily into one of Launceston’s most relaxed wine bars. Sitting opposite City Park on the edge of the CBD, the room mixes terracotta tones, warm timber and the gentle crackle of a vinyl record player spinning in the background.

Wine is the focus, with a well-curated list spanning Tasmania, Australia and a few European favourites. Aperol spritzes flow freely, and the staff are happy to guide you through the bottles if you’re lingering for a glass or two. Fresh pasta and small plates round out the menu, but the real draw is the easy rhythm of the place – good music, good wine and no rush to leave.

Address: 4/112 Cimitiere St, Launceston

Havilah

Opposite the clipped lawns of Princes Square, Havilah brings a dose of European city energy to Launceston. It’s compact and polished, all concrete floors and bespoke local timber furniture. Wine is the point. Everything else follows. The wall of bottles stretches high, a considered mix from near and far, and you’re invited to choose directly from it. Among the house labels are Havilah Wines (self-described as “fun stuff, fizzy stuff, orange stuff") and Two Tonne Tasmania, a Tamar Valley pinot noir.

The food is designed to be shared: oysters to start, a classic Gilda with anchovy, olive and guindilla pepper and wallaby skewers. Four Italian-leaning mains round out the menu. You can take a bottle home, but the low lighting, the hum of conversation and the comfort of a second glass suggest staying put. Walk in for drinks or dinner. If you’re eight or more, book ahead.

Address: 178 Charles St, Launceston

The Barrel Collective

In the heart of the city, The Barrel Collective is a compact cocktail bar. Take a seat by the window and watch Brisbane Street drift past. Inside, it’s all warm wood panelling and low light, with indie tracks humming at exactly the right volume. Owner Michael Bernhagen is encyclopaedic when it comes to Tasmanian distillers.

The shelves are lined with Tasmanian whisky, rum, gin and bourbon, alongside local wines and beers. Cocktails lean both playful and precise. Try the fig and honey sour for something bright and balanced or a hazelnut martini if you’re in the mood for dessert.

Address: 63A Brisbane St, Launceston

Cinco Passiones

Cinco Passiones sits one level above Brisbane Street, a low-lit lounge bar with a relaxed, late-night feel. Inside, leather seating and window tables overlooking the street set the scene for slow drinks rather than quick rounds.

The bar specialises in cocktails and Tasmanian spirits, with a solid selection of whisky, sparkling wine and classic mixed drinks. Bartenders are confident behind the bar and happy to guide you through the list if you’re unsure what to order. Order a cocktail and a plate of Tasmanian cheese and settle in by the window – it’s one of the better spots in the city for a quiet drink above the street.

Address: Level 2/47A Brisbane St, Launceston

Bar Stelo

Cocktails are a focus at Bar Stelo in the centre of Launceston. The menu shifts with the seasons, but you might find the Cilento Sour (gin, Galliano, rockmelon, olive oil, lemon and egg white) or the Margarita Italiana with mezcal, Espolòn reposado, amaretto, grapefruit and lime.

The wine list leans Italian and Tasmanian, while beer drinkers can opt for Boag’s on tap or Italian beers and ciders. There’s also a solid mocktail list. The room is polished but relaxed, with Italian marble tiles, leather bench seats and Tasmanian oak chairs. Pop next door for dinner at sister property Stelo at Pierre’s Restaurant and expect handmade pasta, gnocchi, burrata, focaccia and tiramisu.

Address: 88a George St, Launceston

Nomy Bar & Kitchen

Friendly and quietly confident, Nomy Bar & Kitchen is one of Launceston’s newer spots for a good drink. The venue comes from Michael Bernhagen, the owner behind Barrel Collective on Brisbane Street, and carries the same easy attention to detail. Lighting is low, the service relaxed and the room quickly fills as the evening settles in.

Cocktails are the main draw. The list moves between classics and house favourites – think spicy margaritas with jalapeño-infused tequila, a Closing Argument built on mezcal and Chartreuse, or a silky olive oil martini with Four Pillars Olive Leaf gin. There’s also a solid Negroni, espresso martini and mai tai, alongside wine, beer and a few small plates designed for grazing.

Address: 91 George St, Launceston

Midnight Rambler

Hidden down an alley off Earl Street, Midnight Rambler is one of Launceston’s more elusive late-night bars. Inside, the mood is dark and low-lit, with retro furniture, blues and rock on the speakers, pool tables and a crowd that tends to settle in for the night.

The focus is firmly on drinks, with cocktails, whisky and local spirits behind the bar. It’s a good spot to duck into on a cold evening, especially once the room fills and the music turns up. Open late, often until 2am. It’s one of the few places in Launceston where the night stretches well past midnight.

Address: Earl St, Launceston

Reggies

Opened in 2024, Reggies brings a disco-lounge pulse to the centre of Launceston. The room leans moody after dark, with DJs steering the soundtrack and staff who keep the energy buoyant.

The drinks list is built for a fun night, with signature cocktails, craft beers and a solid wine selection. On warmer evenings, the laneway fills early; bar stools spill out beneath the lights as the DJ plays into the small hours. The weekly lineup keeps things moving: trivia on Wednesdays, burger nights on Thursdays, drag bingo, vino-and-vinyl sessions and Saturdays that tip fully into disco territory.

Address: 63 Brisbane St, Launceston

PUBS

Du Cane Brewery & Dining Hall

If you’re chasing woodfired pizza with a side of bushwalking lore, Du Cane is your table. The building used to house Allgoods Tent City. I remember coming here as a kid, weaving between camping gear and hiking packs. Now it’s louder, warmer, full of families. I’m back with my own kids, who are attempting to scale the indoor climbing wall for children while the adults select pizza and beer.

The woodfired oven turns out a confident list of pizzas: classics done properly, plus others that lean local. The Good-Game is the one to order: wallaby salami, mozzarella, parmesan, oregano – available on a gluten-free base if needed. It’s rich without being heavy. Beer is brewed on site. Expect a clean German-style pilsner, pale ale, stout and a raspberry-laced number made with fruit from nearby Hillwood Berries. Order a tasting paddle and settle in. And if the huge maps on the wall sketching out local hiking routes stir something ambitious, you can buy a Tasmanian Parks Pass or fishing licence at the counter before you leave. Book ahead for larger groups – especially at dinner.

Address: 60-64 Elizabeth St, Launceston

Saint John Craft Beer

In the heart of the city, inside a handsome historic building, Saint John Craft Beer strikes the right balance between serious and sociable. The atmosphere is easy, the couches are comfy and the lighting flatters everyone.

The beer list is the drawcard. Eighteen taps pour a considered rotation of Tasmanian craft alongside interstate and international brews, while more than 100 bottled beers line the shelves behind the bar. Add craft ciders and an impressive collection of whiskies and gins, and there’s reason to linger.

Make sure you come with room for the fried pickle platter, followed by the spicy chicken burger or the smoky eggplant with a crusted corn chip crumb. Buzzing with locals come Friday and Saturday nights; go for the alfresco tables in summer and the worn brown leather sofas in winter.

Address: 133 St John St, Launceston

Brady’s Tavern

At the mouth of the Cataract Gorge, Brady’s Tavern pairs old-world pub charm with the energy of Penny Royal’s adventure playground. The setting is unexpectedly picturesque – leafy surrounds, heritage façades and the low hum of activity from nearby zip lines and cliff walks. Inside, round tables dressed in green gingham and dark timber details give it a cosy, almost storybook feel; outside, long wooden tables are made for lingering in the sun. The drinks list leans local, spanning Tasmanian wines, craft beers, ciders and spirits.

Address: 1 Bridge Rd, Launceston

The Royal Oak Hotel

Punters have been gathering at this pub beside City Park since the 1850s, and it remains one of Launceston’s most reliable spots for a drink. Inside The Oak you’ll find antique timber tables and bentwood chairs in the bistro, a cocktail bar with board games upstairs, a rooftop bar with a firepit and a band room dedicated to supporting live Australian music.

The bar pours a strong lineup of local drops, along with a growing range of zero alcohol beers, ciders and cocktails. It’s the kind of place where you can settle in for a quiet afternoon drink or arrive later when the band room kicks into gear.

Address: 14 Brisbane St, Launceston