Header image photography: MONA & Jesse Hunniford

You might be daydreaming about a trip to Tasmania to immerse yourself in its renowned natural wonders, but we’re here to tell you: don’t skip its capital city.

I recently escaped for a long weekend in Hobart, and I left eager to spend more time in this quirky, historic, laid-back city and its stunning surrounds.

In fact, I loved it so much that I couldn’t wait to write up a guide to Hobart for those looking for their next weekend away. Although it might seem a long way to go for a weekend, Hobart’s only a two-hour flight from Sydney. You don’t necessarily need to hire a car either – we based ourselves in Battery Point and pretty much walked everywhere.

Here’s where to eat, drink, and play in Hobart for a weekend.

Photography: Fin Matson

Eat and drink

Berta

Berta was delightful for a filling brekkie on our rainy first morning. The menu changes up seasonally, driven by what the cafe can source from its local suppliers. I picked the brioche French toast with whipped vanilla ricotta, berries, rhubarb, and pistachios, and was stoked to find that it wasn’t sickeningly sweet, which can be the downfall of a promising French toast for me. My partner chose the Mediterranean breakfast – a hefty and flavour-packed spread of poached eggs, fried eggplant, pickled vegetables, labneh, hommus, and sourdough toast – and was a very happy customer. Some other spots we would’ve liked to make it to for breakfast included Ginger Brown, Room for a Pony, and Born in Brunswick.
Where: 119 Liverpool St, Hobart

In the Hanging Garden

A visit to In the Hanging Garden is worth it to just admire the space alone, so the tasty food on offer feels like an added bonus. It’s hard to think of something to compare this incredible precinct to – it hosts stacks of live music and events, has five resident eateries and bars to choose from, and it’s all contained in an oasis-like space in the middle of the CBD. Seeing is believing – go and order a pizza, grab a cocktail, and soak it all up.
Where: 112 Murray St, Hobart

Jackman and McRoss

Located on the main road of the historic Battery Point, Jackman and McRoss is a must-visit in this gorgeous suburb. It feels like a mix between an old-school Australian bakery and a Parisian boulangerie, and made for a lovely breakfast stop. Jackman and McRoss aren’t necessarily trying to reinvent the wheel when it comes to baked goods, but what they’re doing, they do very well. Don’t stop at just one pastry – trust us, grab a few things to try!
Where: 57 Hampden Rd, Battery Point

Photography: Tourism Tasmania & Gabi Mocatta

Pigeon Whole Bakers

The pastries and bread from Pigeon Whole Bakers are well-known in Tassie, and for good reason. The temptation to order one of everything was hard to resist, but in the end, I chose a coffee and walnut pastry, while my partner got a lemon and poppyseed cake. We purchased them after a hearty breakfast and saved them for an afternoon pick-me-up, and boy was the wait to devour them worth it.
Where: 32 Argyle St, Hobart

Preachers

Preachers is known for its excellent beer garden and great beers, and while we visited on a quiet, drizzly Thursday evening, every other time we walked past on our remaining sunny days the beer garden was pumping. Order a burger, order a beer, and settle in for the afternoon. Don’t forget to have a peek inside the old school bus parked in the beer garden (there’s even seating inside).
Where: 5 Knopwood St, Hobart

Photography: Tourism Tasmania & Arcade Publications

Sonny

Sonny was the spot I was most looking forward to dining at on our trip, and it did not let me down. I can’t rave about this 20-seat wine bar enough – the wine was unreal (order a bottle of Sonny’s own House Cat pinot noir if you can), the food low-key but delicious, and the atmosphere buzzy yet intimate. Considering you will have likely had to line up for a table at this walk-in only spot, make the most of your table and linger for a while over wine, pasta, and excellent tunes. Some other spots on our list that we didn’t make it to for dinner or drinks included Lucinda, Bar Wa Izakaya, Mary Mary, La Sardina Loca, Ogee, and Dier Makr.
Where: 120a Elizabeth St, Hobart

Suzie Luck’s

Suzie Luck’s serves up Asian-inspired dishes and cocktails in a fun, lively space just behind Salamanca Place. From the get-go, our waiter looked after us so well and made our evening really enjoyable, and that was before any of the food had even arrived. We had the crispy shiitake and wood ear mushroom spring rolls with nuoc cham, local mushroom and water chestnut dumplings with szechuan chilli dressing, and the show-stopping (and huge) serving of tempura eggplant with chilli lime caramel, cashews, herbs, and roasted rice powder. It was all delicious, but the tempura eggplant was a firm favourite, even if it meant we rolled out of the restaurant when we were done. Make sure you book ahead, Suzie Luck’s can get packed on a weekend evening.
Where: 2 Salamanca Square, Battery Point

Photography: Alistair Bett

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Battery Point

Hobart’s first suburb and one of the best preserved colonial-era suburbs in the country, Battery Point feels as if you might have stepped back in time. Dedicate a morning or afternoon to wandering around its streets and marvelling at the pretty buildings while you catch glimpses of the River Derwent below or kunanyi/Mount Wellington towering above.

MONA

No trip to Hobart is complete without a visit to MONA, billionaire David Walsh’s Museum of Old and New Art. It’s thought-provoking, it’s impressive, it’s unbelievable, it’s funny, and it’s certainly the most unique museum I’ve ever set foot in. I don’t think there’s much I can say about MONA that hasn’t already been said, except to say just go, allow plenty of time to get lost, plus extra to kick back with a cheese plate and a glass of Moorilla wine while you absorb everything you’ve just seen.
Where: 655 Main Rd, Berriedale

Photography: MONA & Jesse Hunniford

kunanyi/Mount Wellington

Although we were short on time, we still made it to the summit of kunanyi/Mount Wellington (since we didn’t have a car, we used the kunanyi/Mount Wellington Explorer Bus). Between the cloud cover at 1,271m above sea level, we were treated to gorgeous views of Hobart below. If we had more time, we definitely would have done some of the bush walks on the mountain.

Salamanca Markets

If you’re in Hobart on a Saturday, make sure you wander through Salamanca Markets. The huge markets have been running between Salamanca’s historic sandstone warehouses and the Hobart waterfront since 1972, selling everything from clothing and jewellery to pottery, gin, jam, and art. Take your time perusing the stalls, chatting to makers and producers, and trying all the delicious food on offer. Afterwards, take a stroll around Hobart's waterfront and admire the merging of old and new architecture.

Photography: Tourism Australia