The 9 best foodie experiences in Hobart right now

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Be sure to pack your appetite for a gastronomic tour of our southernmost city.

With its footings in the cool and enlivening waters of the Tasman and its back to Kunyanyi/Mount Wellington, Hobart/Nipaluna’s position on the Derwent River lends itself to a convergence of incredible produce and culinary talent. Radiating from the city to the fringe, you’ll find a proliferation and distillation of Tasmanian flavour within easy reach.

From exceedingly fresh seafood to meticulously compiled plates at fine dining establishments and artisanal treats, these are the best foodie experiences in Hobart right now.

1. Barilla Bay Oyster Farm Tour

For lovers of briny bivalves, take a 20-minute drive from town to Barilla Bay, where you can join a one-hour farm tour. You’ll get to slurp on six freshly shucked oysters as you learn about how these shelled delicacies go from spat to table, as well as try the local Gillespies Ginger Beer and see how abalone is dried.

an oyster farmer Barilla Bay Oyster Farm

Join a one-hour Barilla Bay Oyster Farm Tour. (Image: Tourism Tasmania & Nick Osborne)

If that little taster has only served to prime your palate for more saltwater creatures to savour, follow up the tour with a lunch and the restaurant that overlooks Pittwater and Kunyanyi/Mount Wellington.

the restaurant at Barilla Bay Oyster Farm

Dine at the local restaurant afterwards for lunch. (Image: Tourism Tasmania & Bill Bachman)

Address: 1388 Tasman Highway, Cambridge

2. Salamanca Markets

Hobartian weather is not permitted to dampen the spirits of this historic market, which runs stoically through rain, hail or shine every Saturday between 8.30am to 3pm. Anybody who is anybody with anything to sell can be found here at the award-winning market peddling their Tassies wares, many of them delicious.

the Salamanca Market in Hobart

Pop by the Salamanca Market every Saturday. (Image: Tourism Australia)

The 50-plus-year-old market unravels with around 300 stalls along the heritage Salamanca Place, funnelling some of the state’s most incredible eats into one area where you can buy and try.

fresh produce on display at Salamanca Market, Hobart

Shop bundles of freshly harvested fruits and veggies at Salamanca Market. (Image: Tourism Australia)

From spirits to truffles and honey to baked goods, there’s plenty to snack on while you peruse the range of stalls. Once you’ve had your fill, scan Hobart’s hit list of markets for more edible finds to fill your itinerary.

a man ordering at an empanada stall along Salamanca Market, Hobart

Salamanca Market serves up some affordable eats and drinks. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Address: Salamanca Place, Salamanca, Hobart

3. Sirocco South Forage and Feast

Join foraging fanatic and chef Mic Giuliani on his Sirocco South tour to literally unearth some of Tassie’s deliciously edible treasures.

arranging foraged finds on plates at Sirocco South Forage and Feast

Go foraging with Sirocco South. (Image: Harrison Candlin – Vagary)

From wild asparagus to fungus, pluck and pick what’s good to eat guided safely by Mic’s enormous wealth of knowledge.

enjoying foraged food at Sirocco South Forage and Feast

Feast on foraged finds. (Image: Harrison Candlin – Vagary)

The small group of six people will then enjoy a beautifully crafted six-course lunch finessed from their foraged finds and local ingredients and served with hand-selected wine while overlooking Frederick Henry Bay.

foraging food from trees at Sirocco South Forage and Feast

Unearth some of Tassie’s deliciously edible treasures. (Image: Harrison Candlin – Vagary)

4. Mona Wine + Art

The Museum of Old and New Art graces many a Hobart hit list, naturally for its namesake collection of said old and new art, but also as a foodie destination.

the Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart

MONA occupies a prime waterfront spot best for admiring harbour views. (Image: Jesse Hunniford)

You can dovetail some cultural appreciation with a dining experience at the onsite fancy Faro Bar and Restaurant, The Source Restaurant, the fire-fuelled Heavy Metal Kitchen, the Moorilla Wine Bar and the cavernous Void Bar, or you can opt for the curated Wine + Art excursion that includes wandering the Moorilla vineyard and the museum, enjoying a tasting at the cellar door and then lunch with a glass of wine.

a spread of food at The Source Restaurant, Hobart

The Source Restaurant is a temple for seasonal Tasmanian dining. (Image: Mona and Rémi Chauvin)

It makes for a well-rounded day for appreciators of the visual and vine art forms.

a pink infused drink at Void Bar

Raise a glass at Void Bar. (Image: Mona and Jesse Hunniford)

Address: 655 Main Road, Berriedale

5. Bruny Island

Let’s not skirt around the island here, let’s drive right onto it, because if you love food and you’re visiting Hobart, you’ll want to wash ashore on Bruny. It’s a short, 30-minute drive and ferry ride onto Bruny and once here, a car is a good idea so you can get about to all the producers and sample their delicious wares.

beers and cheese plates at Bruny Island Cheese Co

Enjoy a cold pint with a cheese platter at Bruny Island Cheese. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Not to be missed is legendary dairy sorcerer Nick Haddow and his Bruny Island Cheese, where you can enjoy a cheese platter and some local brews at the restaurant.

fresh oysters at Get Shucked Oysters

Savour shelled delicacies at Get Shucked Oysters. (Image: Tourism Tasmania & Rob Burnett)

Add to your roaming antipasto plate with a visit to Get Shucked Oysters and slip the plump, salty treats into your mouth followed by a swirl of sparkling.

the Bruny Island Chocolate in Hobart

Head to Bruny Island Chocolate for a taste of the sweet life. (Image: Julia Smith)

Follow on with a spoonful of sweetness at Bruny Island Honey and Bruny Island Chocolate, before swinging by the Bruny Baker for a loaf to go and finish with a tipple at Bruny Island House of Whisky and Bruny Island Premium Wines. This will require the entire day.

a man preparing bread at The Bruny Baker, Hobart

Swing by The Bruny Baker for a loaf to go. (Image: James Vodicka)

6. Taste of Hobart

If you’d like to offset your gluttony with a moderate amount of exercise, book Premier Travel Tasmania’s half-day Taste of Hobart private walking tour. You’ll get your steps up roaming from Battery Point to the waterfront while sampling treats from local providores. Enjoy chocolate, oyster and whisky tastings plus morning tea on this four-hour guided experience through the city.

7. Omotenashi

The Japanese concept of omotenashi means to wholeheartedly look after guests, and that is what the petite and highly awarded, two-hatted Omotenashi in Hobart does so well.

heirloom tomato, fig, shiso and dashi jelly at Omotenashi

Omotenashi serves up intricately prepared Japanese cuisine. (Image: Sophie Pope)

The 10-seater housed in Hobart’s Lexus showroom is a must-reserve experience for those who love the intricacy of flavour and devotion to craft that is Japanese cuisine. You’ll be seated around the counter for a prompt 6.30pm start to embark upon a 15-or-so degustation course that includes tea and sake and concludes at 9.30pm in true Japanese-style punctuality.

an Ice plate with sashimi, (tuna, silver trevally, swordfish and barramundi) along with wasabi, pickled magnolia and garden flowers at Omotenashi

Their ice plate with sashimi is a must-try. (Image: Sophie Pope)

Chefs Sophie Pope and Lachlan Colwill shape the menu around seasonal Tasmanian produce and will cook, serve and narrate your experience throughout for a truly memorable evening.

Chefs Lachlan Colwill and Sophie Pope in the kitchen at Omotenashi

Meet Chefs Lachlan Colwill and Sophie Pope behind Omotenashi. (Image: Sophie Pope)

Address: 4/160 Elizabeth Street, Hobart

8. The Agrarian Kitchen

This incredible institute of culinary cleverness has been one of Australia’s premier food destinations since opening in 2008. Co-founders Rodney Dunn and Severine Demanet began The Agrarian Kitchen in an old school house in Lachlan, but in 2022 joined the restaurant and kiosk at the much larger former mental asylum, Willow Court.

women participating in a cooking class at The Agrarian Kitchen, Hobart

Hone your cooking prowess in The Agrarian Kitchen. (Image: Tourism Australia)

Food lovers can come for cooking, gardening or lifestyle classes amid the sprawling grounds, partaking in lessons on everything from cheese to charcuterie and cooking with a range of ingredients.

a man enjoying his meal at The Agrarian Kitchen

Enjoy a paddock-to-plate lunch at The Agrarian Kitchen. (Image: Tourism Australia)

There’s also a rotating roster of tuition by Australia’s top chefs, from Peter Gilmore to Danielle Alvarez and Nadine Ingram, so it’s worth planning your trip around the class that whispers to your inner gourmand.

roasting marshmallow in fire at The Agrarian Kitchen, Hobart

Swing by The Agrarian Kitchen for some s’mores. (Image: Ros Wharton)

Address: 11a The Avenue, New Norfolk

9. Deep to Dish: Tasmanian Wild Seafood Cruise

The refreshingly frigid waters of the Tasman teem with wild seafood waiting to be hoisted aboard on this seafaring seafood experience.

two women enjoying wine on a cruise with Tasmanian Wild Seafood Adventures

Cruise along the refreshingly frigid waters of the Tasman with Tasmanian Wild Seafood Adventures. (Image: Dearna Bond)

You’ll push the boat out on the half-day ‘deep-to-dish’ Tasmanian Wild Seafood Adventures sightseeing and culinary tour that reels in good times for ardent seafood lovers.

cooking a rock lobster at sea during the Tasmanian Wild Seafood Adventures

Witness lobsters being prepared aboard. (Image: Dearna Bond)

Watch as your diver harvests periwinkles and sea urchins to be prepared alongside abalone, rock lobster, oysters, mussels and Atlantic salmon all served onboard the luxury vessel. Along the way, you’ll spot towering sea cliffs and secluded coves, and be sure to keep an eye out for dolphins, whales and seals.

preparing a rock lobster aboard Tasmanian Wild Seafood Adventures cruise

Feast on wild seafood. (Image: Dearna Bond)

For more tried and tested tips for visiting Hobart, read our travel guide to Tassie’s capital city.
Working for many of Australia’s top publications, Lara Picone has had the distinct pleasure of writing, editing and curating content about the finer things in life for more than 15 years. Graduating from Macquarie University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, her editorial foundation began at Qantas: The Australian Way magazine, before moving on to learn the fast-paced ropes of a weekly magazine at Sunday Magazine and picking up the art of brand curation at donna hay magazine. Pivoting a near-problematic travel lust into a career move by combining it with storytelling and a curious appetite, her next role was as Deputy Editor of SBS Feast magazine and later Online Editor of SBS Food online. She then stepped into her dream job as Editor of Australian Traveller before becoming Online Editor for both International Traveller and Australian Traveller. Now as a freelancer, Lara always has her passport at-the-ready to take flight on assignment for the Australian Traveller team, as well as for publications such as Qantas Magazine, Escape and The Weekend Australian. As ever, her appetite is the first thing she packs.
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Is this sleek home Hobart’s most underrated stay?

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Find modern convenience and comfort in this picture-perfect holiday home.

Hobart is a city that effortlessly blends historic charm with contemporary edge. From the convict-era sandstone warehouses lining its historic wharf to the cutting-edge MONA and a thriving food and arts scene, there’s much to discover in this small but mighty waterfront capital.

Capturing this dual aesthetic perfectly is the work of award-winning Tasmanian architectural firm Rosevear Stephenson, which has worked on four separate accommodations in the city. One of their standout projects, The Conservatory, is a hidden gem that deserves a spot on your itinerary next time you visit the heart of the Apple Isle.

the sandstone building at The Conservatory Hobart

The Conservatory Hobart sits behind a historic sandstone building.

Tucked just behind a beautifully restored heritage sandstone building – also available to stay in and designed by the same team – The Conservatory is a light-filled, modern holiday home that offers a striking counterpoint to its historic neighbour, both thoughtfully conceived to meet the needs of today’s travellers.

the exterior of The Conservatory Hobart

The modern townhouse is designed with striking Tasmanian architecture.

This four-person property is designed for comfort and convenience, whether you’re heading down for the Dark Mofo festivities or you’re looking for a quiet weekend enjoying the best of Tassie produce. Just a 10-minute walk from the action of the CBD, it’s perfectly positioned to access all the city’s highlights.

an open-plan living area at The Conservatory Hobart

The light-filled, modern holiday home is equipped with cosy amenities.

Spacious enough for families, a group of friends or two couples, you’ll find an open-plan living area that invites you to unwind after a day of exploring, two bathrooms with walk-in showers and two stylish bedrooms with plush bedding and thoughtful finishes that make it feel like home.

Elevated details such as under-floor heating in the bathrooms are a welcome feature on chilly Hobart days, while the terrace is an idyllic spot to relax in the sun with some local gin.

the bedroom at The Conservatory Hobart

Elevate your stay in Hobart with stylish bedrooms that are dressed with plush bedding.

You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to dining in Hobart. But if you’d rather enjoy some moreish baked goods from Pigeon Whole Bakers in the comfort of your own space, or cook up a meal with fresh produce from the Salamanca Market (a short walk away), this home has you covered with a fully equipped kitchen. Here you’ll find high-end appliances, including a state-of-the-art Smeg touchscreen cooktop and a spacious dining table, making home cooking both stylish and effortless.

the exterior of The Conservatory Hobart

The Conservatory Hobart is classically restored into a contemporary home.

For longer stays, the in-house washer and dryer add extra convenience, while the EV charger is a welcome feature for electric vehicle drivers. And with code-only access, check-in is a breeze – no keys to collect, just a smooth, hassle-free arrival.

Our advice? Book early before the word gets out about this underrated gem.