Hobart’s Top 5 Food & Drink Spots: A Tasty Review

Hobart, a city often cradled by the majestic Mount Wellington and the expansive Derwent River, actually has a surprisingly delicious food and drink scene, and so it’s more or less a true culinary delight. Really it’s just teaming with spots that promise, and almost always deliver, quite the treat for your taste buds. From rather quaint cafes dishing out your standard smashed avo on toast with coffee crafted like art, to very upscale restaurants that highlight Tasmania’s very freshest produce, there’s absolutely a bit for everybody. This review, is more or less, actually all about my personal top 5 spots that I always point people to when asked “where’s some of the better eating establishments in the area?”.

1. Franklin: Where Innovation Meets Local Fare

Franklin might be an obvious spot to begin with, so too its reputation rather precedes itself. It’s not just dining; that is that it’s an encounter. The venue itself, that has some rather lovely exposed brick, basically it highlights this unique blend of both rustic appeal and a slightly, industrial elegance. Chef David Moyle does what he does rather seamlessly and that’s crafting very inventive dishes that hero Tasmanian ingredients. Basically he cooks food that Tasmania is well known for. Everything feels a bit new and a bit special.

I always am telling other folk to watch for Franklin’s ever changing menu – just so you know its rather important to note this aspect to it. So, with dishes rather dictated by seasons and what’s available locally. On a very warm summer evening, there’s almost nothing nicer than sitting around one of Franklin’s tables partaking in some wine with pals as you’re enjoying a couple of delicious seasonal treats. This location does indeed come at a price – literally and metaphorically. Bookings are nearly totally essential, that actually highlights the joint’s local and international popularity. Yet the spot has some worth – for some people it really has some worth – but sometimes there’s other restaurants, other venues, that may leave a more favourable impression. You be you though.

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2. Fico: An Intimate Italian Getaway

I really find that Fico sort of exemplifies how very powerful simplicity may actually be. This rather unassuming Italian bistro, slightly in the heart of Hobart, punches above its weight with that absolutely charming and warm atmosphere. So too the location really only adds to its rather intimate environment; you might feel at home almost instantly. The joint actually serves that slightly simple Italian food that uses some very delicious Tasmanian produce – you might feel a world away from what is available and served elsewhere.

One of my rather more favoured dishes would include handmade pasta with seasonal mushrooms, or also maybe you would rather favour their seafood stew – everything always has a touch that bit of “Mamma’s special touch.” The service feels so on the nose – never intrusive yet it still is warm and rather engaging – and just is adding this authentic dimension to your dinner. Booking ahead actually feels like common knowledge and you have to do it (pro-tip). So, Fico is absolutely ideal for some of your more cosy dinner dates, or possibly that smaller get together where conversation and seriously tasty food will do rather nicely.

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3. The Glass House: Cocktails with a View

If you want a drink – not too dissimilar from other holiday-goers or locals looking for similar – basically, actually get on up to the top level to this. Perched out on the pier is very easily a contender, if not more, as quite possibly being the rather premium cocktail bars located anywhere in Australia – I’d even suggest beyond these shores. This spot showcases some totally mind blowing panoramic waterfront perspectives. This makes the venue somewhat appealing at most times of the calendar year.

Anyway the menu itself – actually forget the views for a second (I know, nearly impossible, but, just bear with me) – but they are definitely showcasing cocktails rather meticulously prepared by bar folks. So, the establishment’s also known for this actually. Their wine collection showcases some pretty decent local drops that all scream “drink me” once you actually go looking at the selection yourself. The bar feels somewhat perfect for celebrating something kind of notable or maybe actually a place that is great for when you need to totally impress someone. Be advised that popularity definitely means that table bookings are somewhat essential if you would like the choice, that you might not get otherwise, of potentially securing this premium waterside sitting for yourself and some others.

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4. Pigeon Whole Bakers: Baked Fresh Daily

For the breakfast-loving types – that aren’t me personally but you might like a different opinion anyway so hear me out on this one. Maybe try something baked at Pigeon Whole Bakers. Located actually very near the Hobart city centre, it’s sort of, at first appearances at least, just any of several small neighbourhood bakeries that also may prepare some great drinks (a latte with a cheese twist?). Anyway you really should consider taking a brief visit! A whole heap of delicious breakfast foods actually gets served here.

With the bakery operating almost from within a see-through hole on that venue you know and expect, actually from viewing such, that it may be a fairly solid location to buy some of the more scrumptious artisan breads and bakery things that you might have just seen prepared. Anyway the crew at Pigeon Whole Bakers likes to go a little further than this and makes their customers happy by crafting their rather delicious foods only with that rather organically grown Tasmania’s flours. That place that provides these flours is named ‘ কমি ‘, but that’s another tale entirely, so just remember the bakery for this spot. All of their croissants that they can offer there are – somewhat incredibly, unbelievably or remarkably – really simply divine and a favourite by most customers. Be certain, when at all on offer that you would, to also actually order one of the sourdough loaves made right in that shop to go. After actually testing all of their items from this food spot you almost can ensure and can understand yourself – but, hey, don’t quote me actually if my assumptions aren’t holding up as always, okay?

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5. Institut Polaire: A Unique Bar Experience

This may just well be my secret weapon to show any and every individual, and probably even those who don’t fully love Hobart. Not very dissimilarly to my own attitudes toward the area. So, in recent years this is indeed a rather cool location, located somewhat near the harbour. You find the cosy – kind of extremely – Institut Polaire that basically always comes filled – with a selection mostly, only or usually mostly composed from a totally cool group that you might want, really – that will almost just have to impress you once there and will even make your trip feel pretty great – especially since it’s going so great already (probably?)

A cocktail that I’ve tasted – probably among very, very many, to say the least – will have that very special, that rather very singular feature, being almost like it might had it brought yourself, only directly. Anyway there you’d be with its bartender really simply trying something special and a tad too weird almost, that would very much seem to have had you thought to buy and concoct something really special for, almost as some experiment in your chemistry courses. With beverages usually served for you inside beakers – something you may consider somewhat odd on first visit- which it’s so a somewhat totally mad but brilliant cocktail idea for doing a drink that probably seems so crazy to concoct elsewhere or in the regular run of things!

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