The 15 best bars in Hobart

After a hugely popular Dark Mofo pop-up, this New York-inspired cocktail lounge is now a permanent fixture in Hobart’s drinking scene. Gotham is brought to us by Lark Distilling Co – the legends who overturned Tasmania’s 150-year ban on distilling – and is basically a quietly rebellious sibling to their original whisky hub, The Still. Naturally, whisky is the star of the show, but the craft cocktails shouldn't be overlooked – they’re spiked with everything from wattleseed and maple syrup to coffee from Pigeon Whole Bakers next door.

Time Out tip: Swing by during happy hour (Wednesday to Sunday, 4-6pm) to score half-price Martinis and freshly shucked oysters, then hang around on Wednesdays for live jazz from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.

Address: 30 Argyle St, Hobart

Opening hours: Wed-Thur 3-10pm; Fri-Sat 1-11.30pm; Sun 1-10pm

Vinyl DJs, New York slices and ice-cold Martinis – here are just three of many reasons we’re obsessed with Don Frico. Word on the street is that when the venue opened, people queued for up to seven hours – and we’re not surprised, given the owners are big dogs in Hobart’s bar scene, having spent eight years running Grinner’s dive bar. Their latest joint takes over the Society bar space behind Salamanca, and is part pizza shop, part cocktail bar and part late-night vinyl lounge. Head to the counter for thin, foldable New York-style slices or thick, crispy-edged Detroit deep-dish squares topped with spicy sausage, smashed potatoes and smoky eggplant. Keep the night rolling with creative cocktails, featuring funky twists like rhubarb toffee and banana meringue. Then let the vinyl DJs guide your night all the way through to 2am.

Time Out tip: It’s walk-in only, and with only 62 seats, you’ll want to get there early to grab a spot.

Address: 22 Montpelier Retreat, Battery Point 

Opening hours: Tue-Thur 3pm-12am; Fri-Sat 3pm-2am

Collins Street haunt, Lucinda Wine Bar, comes in hot and fiery as the sibling venue of beloved restaurant Dier Makr – one of the tip-top spots for Tasmanian fare in town. But despite its ‘wine bar’ status, it’s not just a pre-drinks locus for the neighbouring eating house. Lucinda’s ever-changing and incredible, made-to-be-shared bar menu makes it a must-visit Hobart venue in its own right. Treat your taste buds to a French-swaying spread of oyster mignonette, whipped anchovies and crudités, artful pies called pâté en croûte filled with pork, fig and black pudding, as well as market-fresh beef tartare alongside roasted pink eye spuds. And if that isn’t making you salivate already, let the knowledgeable staff pair you with the perfect drop for sensational mouthfuls each and every time. Hailing from around the world, the wine list is ever-changing; you might come across bottles with the likes of grenache blanc and macabeau in sparkling form, or perhaps a delicate cocktail with amari and vermouth and a touch of lemon for good measure.

Time Out tip: Venture to Lucinda Wine Bar if you like drinking and dining within heritage-looking rooms complete with pressed ceilings, globe chandeliers and checkered tile floors.

Address: 123 Collins St, Hobart

Opening hours: Wed-Thur 4-10pm; Fri-Sat 4-11pm

It’s not a list of Hobart’s best bars without Sonny – this place has vibes almost as big as its wine list. Sonny is like heading to a friend’s house for dinner, albeit a mate with serious chops in the kitchen. There are just 20 seats for walk-ins along the centre table, with diners on one side and chatty staff pouring wine and handing out food from the other. The theme here is communal, from the layout of the venue to the plates of pasta you can share with your mates. Whet your appetite with fare that sounds a little like asparagus fusilli, prosciutto toast, and kingfish crudo. The rustic plates are simple yet effective and certifiably jam-packed with garden-fresh flavours. Following that, trust the process with a mystery wine chosen by Sonny’s clued-up bartenders – you’re in good hands here. With tunes spinning all evening on the record player, you might even feel the urge to share your dance moves, too.

Time Out tip: Sonny only accepts walk-ins, so we suggest getting there early – heck, even before the doors open if you’re feeling particularly peckish. It’s one of the best restaurants to do it.

Address: 120a Elizabeth St, Hobart

Opening hours: Thur-Mon 4-11.30pm

Voted Tasmania's favourite bar in Time Out's 2026 Food & Drink Awards, Bar Wa Izakaya is the perfect taste of Tokyo with its buzzy atmosphere, incredible food and long list of Japanese beer, whisky and sake. You’ll want to share food at this North Hobart venue to maximise the number of dishes you try, like Bar Wa’s signature oysters, a big plate of okonomiyaki (savoury pancake), free-range karaage chicken (fried, without batter), pink eye potatoes and moreish pork gyoza. If ramen’s your thing, make a lunch booking as it’s only available between noon and 3pm, and you’ll be able to slurp bowls of noodles that are bathed in house-made stock that’s been on the boil for hours, for an ultimate ramen experience that Bar Wa claims you wouldn’t have come across since your last trip to Japan. Go there between 4pm and 6pm daily for half-price oysters. No matter what time you go, cheers to your excellent meal with a whisky highball. Bar Wa Izakaya has them on tap, so you'd be impolite to say no.

Time Out tip: For groups of four or more, opt for the set menu to diversify your palate. Oh, and the menu changes daily, so it’s not posted online, but let your gluten-free buddy know that there's chicken ramen up for grabs and a vegan bowl to demolish no matter what.

Address: 216-218 Elizabeth St, Hobart

Opening hours: Daily 12am-2am

Drinking whisky in a room full of dinosaur fossils might sound eerie, but that’s all part of the charm of Evolve Spirits Bar. This stylish and historic lounge, located in Hobart’s chic MACq 01 hotel (one of the most fab accommodations in town), snagged the top gong for Australia’s Hotel Bar of the Year and Tasmania’s Cocktail Bar of the Year in 2021 – and like a fine wine, it’s only improved with age. Light beams from Evolve’s golden bar shelf, which showcases more than 600 premium spirits – but that’s not even the main attraction. The bar doubles as a fascinating fossil museum, featuring an extraordinary collection of global artefacts, with some fossils dating back 550 million years to the Cambrian period. It’s a dinner and show – the show being the shakin’, pourin’ and stirrin’ going on behind the bar, with the endgame being a fine glass of their Brand New Fruit cocktail with apricot brandy, Drambuie, lime, chilli and raspberry.

Time Out tip: Evolve’s solids menu is short but sweet in comparison to the tipple listing, with fare such as Bruny Island oysters and pasta alla vodka.

Address: 18 Hunter St, Hobart

Opening hours: Tue-Thur 5.30-10.30pm; Fri-Sat 4.30-11:30pm

No, this Salamanca Place cocktail bar isn’t named after the ‘Shackles (Praise You)’ one-hit wonders of the early 2000s, but after the old St Mary’s Hospital building that it’s housed in. Mary Mary transports drinkers to a bygone era with its leather detailing, marble table tops, gold leaf mirrors and brass and timber touches – the hospital’s former coal chute is even on display out front. The exposed sandstone wall is a pleasant reminder, however, that you’re in the present-day historic harbour town. Mary Mary’s cocktail menu is Tasmanian-forward, with ingredients of local fruits and indigenous botanicals. Sip on thought-provoking numbers with the likes of the True Local, a combination of apple brandy, pommeau, Mary Mary vermouth and apple juice. Wine and brews aren’t off the cards either, with the menu enlisting Tasmanian beers and ciders only. 

Time Out tip: If you’re looking for somewhere with the whole package, fear not, you can order small plates from nearby Italian institution Peppina’s – it’s one of the best restaurants in Hobart, we’ll have you know.

Address: 2a Salamanca Pl, Hobart

Opening hours: Sun-Wed 5-10.30pm; Thur 5pm-12am; Fri-Sat 4pm-12am

The legends behind Australia’s best craft beer have just opened their first Tassie brewery and taproom – and that calls for a cold one. Wife-and-husband duo Harriet and DJ McCready had one main aim when they first started brewing beer in NSW's Blue Mountains back in 2019: to make really good beer. Mission accomplished. Mountain Culture Beer Co has won gold four times in a row at GABS Hottest 100 (basically the Olympics of craft beer) for their thirst-quenching Status Quo Pale Ale. At their fifth nationwide brewery, they’re pouring all the Mountain Culture favourites daily, plus two brand-new beers released every Thursday. Wash it all down with burgers, hot dogs, chicken wings – you know the drill.

Time Out tip: Furry friends are most welcome to join the party.

Address: 105 Murray St, Hobart 

Opening hours: Mon-Thur 12-9pm; Fri-Sat 12-10pm; Sun 11am-9pm

If you want to gawk at kunanyi / Mt Wellington without going full tourist, a trip to Cascade Brewery Bar is a must. The site of the oldest working brewery in Australia, this historic South Hobart venue offers an excellent vista of the brewery building and the mountain beyond. Explore the lush grounds and gardens before you nab an outdoor table to enjoy the view in all its glory while sampling a Cascade lager, bitter or draught. But if you’re not a beer drinker, you’ll be pleased to know that there are lots of local wines and spirits on the menu too, plus plenty of fun to be had when their now annual Harvest Festival comes around. You won’t be going hungry either at the brewery with a menu boasting pub classics with a Tassie twist – the stout-braised brisket and pan-fried ocean trout are highlights. And if you’re braving the Tassie winter, cosy up near the roaring fireplace for frostbite evasion.

Time Out tip: A brewery tour might just be up your alley – you’ll learn about Cascade’s history and how they go about their yeasty work, too.

Address: 140 Cascade Rd, South Hobart

Opening hours: Daily 11am-9pm

Delightfully grungy inner-city spot Grinners Dive Bar keeps it simple with its tagline: tacos and booze. The bar has Mexican street food down to a fine art, from ten types of tacos to quesadillas, burritos, loaded fries and jalapeño poppers. But it’s the house-pressed yellow corn tortillas that set these puppies apart from your local fast-food chain. Booze-wise, Grinners isn’t reinventing the wheel: whether you want wine, beer or a cocktail to accompany your spicy snacks, this place has you covered. Out the back, there’s another bar that brims with mezcal and tequila, ideal for those who like it punchy. The lively, chatty vibe is what makes Grinners a must-visit – you won’t want to leave. 

Time Out tip: No doubt Grinners Dive Bar plays host to Taco Tuesdays, where you can get your grubby little hands on the entire menu’s offerings for just $6 a pop. Margarita Mondays also go off with $12 gulps up for grabs.

Address: 132-134 Elizabeth St, Hobart

Opening hours: Mon 4pm-12am; Tues-Thur 12pm-12am; Fri-Sat 12pm-3am; Sun 3pm-12am

Manky Sally’s is located right on Salamanca Place – hence the name. It's the taphouse of popular local beer, Moo Brew, which is owned by David Walsh, the man behind MONA. It has everything you’d expect from a venue connected with MONA – it’s cool and a little bit subversive, calling itself a ‘luxury dive bar’. Dark but not dingy, the fit-out is one to admire, from the decor to the overall design. Marvel at the retro yellow-stained glass, over-the-top wall-to-wall vintage carpet (that’s also made useful via the means of bar mats), heaps of head-scratchy mirrors and polished timber, plus lots of plush textures too. It’s a lot to take in, but we like it, as do locals and tourists alike, it seems. The on-site microbrewery right in the middle of the bar turns things up a notch too, churning out a rotation of unorthodox tap brews. Sometimes the taps are a little eccentric themselves, namely and more recently, a fluorescent sculpture of Jesus pouring Moo Brew’s Hefeweizen banana-y Bavarian. But a Spicy Yuzu Margarita is right next door on tap too, if you’re not feeling all that blessed in the moment. When it comes to nibbling, Manky Sally’s serves a combination of modern small plates along with elevated, Tassie-themed pub classics – think wallaby rump steak and a venison cheeseburger – curiouser and curiouser. 

Time Out tip: Before you leave Manky Sally’s, make sure to check out the back wall that features almost 3,000 illuminated Moo Brew bottles. 

Address: 25 Salamanca Pl, Battery Point

Opening hours: Wed 4pm-12am; Thur 4-9pm; Fri-Sat 12pm-12am; Sun 12-10pm

Rude Boy’s thing is cocktails and fried chicken, and it does both spectacularly well. This fun and inclusive inner-city rum bar is kitsch and fabulous, with an extensive cocktail list, talented bartenders (who are far from rude) and drag bingo nights to boot. The vibes are cool with the bar’s name illuminated in neon green signage, a scattering of foliage and a disco ball that watches the bar’s shenanigans from above – there’s a bit of a Caribbean flair going on ‘ere. Award-winning and adventurous cocktails (with local produce in mind) are hot off the press at Rude Boy, with libations including tons of seasonal specials and classics. Along with the tipple, this place means business with its fried chicken (you can also order beef or vegan options, which we love to see, too). Just choose between different seasonings, sauces and sides and Bob’s ya uncle.

Time Out tip: Tell your gluten-intolerant friends about Rude Boy – the team here will make sure you're well fed.

Address: 130 Elizabeth St, Hobart

Opening hours: Tues-Sat 4pm-12am

A fave with the Friday post-work drinks crowd, Rosie in My Midnight Dreams boasts some glorious views from its prime spot on the Brooke Street Pier. Despite its rather swish location, this lively spot is fun and casual, with a great Australian wine list and some of Hobart’s best margaritas. With its floor-to-ceiling glass windows and early-ish closing time, it’s the best spot to soak up the last of the arvo sun before you head off to dinner in the nearby CBD or Salamanca Place. And while Rosie is a café by day that serves up divine cakes and coffees that are complete with latte art, the sunny hotspot welcomes you at all hours for local wines by the glass. Delve into Tasmanian drops and those from distant places alike, leaning a little towards Italy and France. The cocktails are a no-brainer, which complement the rotating snacks etched onto the blackboard daily. Think either lighter things like three-cheese toasties and heavier things like gnocchi with oxtail.

Time Out tip: Those nearby dinner spots we mentioned include Aløft, perched right above Brooke Street Pier, or Frank Restaurant, which hits on heaps of South American flavours. Take your pick.

Address: Brooke Street Pier, Hobart

Opening hours: Mon & Thur 8am-4pm; Fri 8am-5pm; Sat-Sun 8.30am-5pm

Tucked in an unassuming, quiet side street in Battery Point is one of Hobart’s best bars and most beloved beer gardens. From the outside, you’d think that Preachers is just a cute, heritage-listed cottage still standing from days gone by, but what makes this place unique is the full-sized bus just casually hanging out in the large courtyard. Yep, you read that right: there’s a disused bus that you can sit inside (food and drinks are allowed), which is a real bonus for Hobart’s chilly months. Back inside, Preachers keeps it real with age-old wooden floorboards, Chesterfield couches, antiquated fireplaces and a rotating selection of paintings that show off local artists’ works. The low-key furnishings match the low-key menu too – craft beers and burgers – simple yet effective.  

Time Out tip: Keep an eye on Preachers’ Instagram for tasty specials, like vego Peking duck bánh mi, as well as pineapple fritters with a dash of paprika and lime.

Address: 5 Knopwood St, Hobart

Opening hours: Daily 12pm-12am

One of Hobart’s best bars and beer gardens is right on Macquarie Point in Hobart Brewing Co’s red shed. A place for froth lovers, the bar is stocked with beer, beer and more beer – and by that we mean 16 fresh brews on tap. After all, there’s a brewery on-site! Outside, you’ll find a large courtyard with food trucks and live music where you can expect to chow down burgs while listening to original tunes by local artists. Gathering around the wood firepits is a must during the frosty months, but wearing layers is definitely advised to make it a year-round kind of destination, family-inclusive too. After more than a decade in business, trust that your taste buds are in safe hands at Hobart Brewing Co.

Time Out tip: Keep an eye on Hobart Brewing Co’s website for upcoming gigs, comedy shows and events.

Address: 16 Evans St, Hobart

Opening hours: Wed-Thur 3-9pm; Fri 3-10pm; Sat 12-10pm; Sun 12-9pm