The 10 best hotels in Hobart

Anchored to Hobart’s buzzing waterfront precinct, this charming historic hotel was well worth the six-year wait. The original sandstone facade houses 152 rooms in three buildings of starkly different eras. You can pick from park-facing Heritage rooms with Georgian touches like vaulted doors and restored fireplaces overlooking the leafy St David’s Park; Pavilion suites that boast floor-to-ceiling window panes with views of the harbourfront and kunanyi / Mount Wellington; and Art Deco rooms with bold colour palettes and decor that are regal in all their yesteryear glory. So if you’re after a spot of luxury, luxury is what you shall get. The award-winning Tasman also delivers the goods via their adjoining eatery, Peppina – serving up divine Italian fare with the likes of house-made gnocchi, succulent braised meats, a selection of just-caught seafood and desserts to savour. It’s easily one of the best restaurants in Hobart, and you’d be silly to pass it up. The hotel’s central locale is hard to beat too, with Derwent Harbour, Salamanca Place, Battery Point and Hobart’s CBD on The Tasman’s doorstop.

Time Out tip: The Peppina Pantry offers a European-style breakfast spread that's well worth the $55. It's centred around a large wooden table overflowing with local charcuterie, artisan cheeses and fresh salads. On the sweet side, there’s housemade granola, pot-set yoghurts (I highly recommend the cereal panna cotta), buttery pastries, pancakes and honey straight from the comb.

Address: 12 Murray Street, Hobart
Price: Starting at $269 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop Q Murray Street

MACq01 is perched right on the River Derwent in Hobart’s famously stunning waterfront district. The former shipping shed now houses a timber-clad, luxury hotel boasting views of the beautiful briny sea, historic wharf buildings as well as kunanyi / Mount Wellington from its 114 rooms. Each of these said rooms at MACq01 features differing doors that pay homage to 114 of Tasmania’s greats, past and present – it’s all part of the hotel’s focus on storytelling – the first of its kind in Australia. Six on-site restaurants and bars have you spoiled for choice when hunger sets in, including one of Hobart’s best eateries, The Black Footed Pig – a Spanish-inspired tapas bar that’s sure to take you straight to flavourtown. Or hit the decked out gym, if that’s more your thing. Book a premium waterfront suite to score one of the hotel’s famous third-floor private terraces, wood-panelled with sweeping wharf views and kitschy fake lawn. Leaving your room each day will be a chore. But if you do muster up the enthusiasm to venture out into the world, MACq01 is right in Hobart’s epicentre, meaning that perusing by foot is most certainly on the cards.

Time Out tip: If your room doesn’t have a water view, head to the hotel’s Story Bar for a sundowner. It’s got one of the best vantage points in Hobart.

Address: 18 Hunter Street, Hobart
Price: Starting at $231 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop 1, Campbell Street and Macquarie Street

A strictly over-18s property, the Islington is a boutique luxury hotel built in 1847 in a Regency style, located at the foothills of kunanyi / Mount Wellington in South Hobart. Since it’s a little further out of the CBD (but only a five-minute drive away) and only has 11 rooms, the Islington feels like a peaceful oasis – the hotel’s sprawling heritage gardens also help with a 100-year-old willow tree aiding the tranquility. The five-star accommodation brings an old-world charm while incorporating cream of the crop luxe, with features like heated-floor marble bathrooms and some rooms opening out onto the gardens. Cosy fireplaces invite you to get comfy and admire the eclectic art that lines the hotel’s walls, including an original Matisse, too. The food at the Islington Kitchen is top-tier, made using the best Tassie produce with a focus on foraging. Plus, eating with an unobstructed view of the mountain is a pretty unforgettable Hobart experience. 

Time Out tip: Make sure you request a cheese board on arrival – stacked with local cheese and accompaniments, it’s the ultimate indulgence to kick off your stay.

Address: 321 Davey Street, South Hobart
Price: Starting at $298 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop 9 Davey Street

Australia’s first dedicated art hotel delivers much more than just a place to crash from its optimal location on Hobart’s historic waterfront. Staying at Henry Jones is like staying at an art gallery, with 400 pieces of contemporary Tasmanian art displayed throughout the hotel lobby and suites. As you absorb the visual delights of Henry Jones, you can also wine and dine at one of the hotel’s two sophisticated restaurants –  Landscape and Jam Packed – each spotlighting Tasmania’s finest local produce, or settle in for a drink at the hotel’s intimate cocktail lounge, IXL Long Bar. As for Henry Jones’ rooms and suites, they all underwent a facelift in 2018, so rest assured (and comfortably) knowing that you’re snoozing in sophisticated style. The dual-level Corporate Studio will get you by if you’re on a budget, and the Peacock Terrace awaits your splashing-out. This particular room is the oldest standing building on Old Wharf and the original home of the Jam Factory founders. Expect a smooth blend between industrial coolness, timber allure and hand-cut stone walls, with red a common theme between the rooms. It’s the whole package at Henry Jones Art Hotel.

Time Out tip: Henry Jones runs guided art and history tours most days at 4pm. Tours are complimentary for in-house guests and you’ll enjoy a glass of wine or beer, as you hear the narrative of the site and its art unfold.

Address: 25 Hunter Street, Hobart
Price: Starting at $290 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop 1 Campbell Street and Macquarie Street

The Mövenpick is the third-tallest building in Hobart, so the sweeping views from this hotel are serious postcard material, or perhaps Insta-worthy, in this day and age. The hotel’s deluxe rooms make the most of the building’s height with floor-to-ceiling windows and guaranteed water views. All 221 of the elegant rooms and suites have plush beds, rain showers, luxe linens, pillow menus and Nespresso machines for your AM (maybe even PM) caffeine hit. You’ll find the Mövenpick on the fringe of the CBD, right near the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery and steps from the waterfront precinct – ideal if you’re all about that city life. But if you’re planning on staying in, Mövenpick Hobart has you covered with a fitness centre, bar and restaurant too – Tesoro Modern Italian, that is – where you can expect to devour fresh-made pasta, fine pizza pies, and flame-grilled meats that all highlight Tasmanian produce.

Time out tip: From 3:30pm until 4:30pm each day, it’s Chocolate Hour at the hotel. Head down to the lobby to sample complimentary choc-themed treats made from Tasmanian chocolate.

Address: 28 Elizabeth Street, Hobart
Price: Starting at $168 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop B1, Hobart Interchange, Elizabeth Street

Sitting pretty right in the heart of the CBD, the Crowne Plaza is the perfect Hobart hotel if you want to check out local shopping malls and boutiques, inner-city restaurants like Sonny and Dier Makr, and the wonderful Farm Gate Market held every Sunday just a block away from the hotel. Being a relatively new property, the Crowne Plaza’s rooms and amenities feel fresh, clean and modern, including the gym and meeting rooms for your next business trip. Both sea and cityscape views are on the forecast from the Crowne’s contemporary rooms and suites – floor-to-ceiling windows bring Hobart’s natural landscape in – a welcome sight in contrast to the mostly greyscape abodes. Sit back and relax with the ever-so-tempting, 24-hour room service or head up to The Deck on level four where you can relish the casual indoor-outdoor bar and adjoining Core Restaurant – perhaps as the sun sets beyond Hobart’s hilly horizon.

Time Out tip: As the sun goes down, treat yourself to Champagne and locally-sourced oysters at the hotel’s rooftop lounge Aura, which is exclusively available to guests who book a club room.

Address: 110 Liverpool Street, Hobart
Price: Starting at $163 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop 2 Liverpool Street

Another excellently-located accommodation is Lenna of Hobart, situated at the end of Salamanca Place where Battery Point begins. This prime position means you can explore the historic Battery Point area on foot, which is by far the best way to explore the cottage-spotted and manicured-garden suburb. Take a whiff of the lavender bushes, read the plaque-labeled homes and admire superb views of the mountain. But here, you’re also close to the action down on the waterfront, and just a hop, skip and a jump from the renowned Salamanca Market hosted every Saturday of the month. Circling back to the main event though – Lenna of Hobart was originally built as an opulent mansion in 1874, this heritage sandstone building gives guests views of the waterfront as well as kunanyi / Mount Wellington. Expect traditional elegance combined with modern facilities, aka original chandeliers and a turret where the former owner kept watch for ships, plus wifi and Nespresso machines. Treat yourself to a stay in the penthouse where you’ll be greeted with 360-degree, panoramic rooftop views. Lots of the local restaurants offer room service for Lenna guests too, so you won’t even have to venture out for a good meal. 

Time Out tip: Keep an eye out for the Bobby’s Footsteps QR codes on the streets of Battery Point. They’re part of an excellent walking tour you can do using your phone as the guide.

Address: 20 Runnymede Street, Battery Point
Price: Starting at $196 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop A Davey Street and Salamanca Place

Handily situated in Midtown, The Rox is the perfect spot if you want to enjoy the restaurants and bars that North Hobart is famous for (queue Bar Wa Izakaya and Trophy Room), while also being literal steps from the CBD. The complex itself is an interesting mix of the old and the new. Its accommodation options include two cosy, sandstone-walled heritage apartments dating back to the 1880s and two bright, airy modern suites in a new Art Deco building. They all have kitchens and three have more than one bedroom, meaning The Rox is a great Hobart hotel option for families or groups. So whether you’d like to take a step back in time in a historic room or keep it present upon an extra large balcony, The Rox is here to keep you grounded. Being a short way from the CBD bustle means that peaceful neighbourhood walks are on the cards too, with plenty of niche stores along the way.

Time Out tip: The Rox offers guests priority access to one of Hobart’s best wine bars, Institut Polaire. It’s notoriously hard to get a table here, so make the most of it. You can even lay back and order exclusive room service from the coveted bar.

Address: 160/162 Elizabeth Street, Hobart
Price: Starting at $356 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop 3 Elizabeth Street

Here we have another Salamanca Place gem – the family-owned Waterman’s Hotel is on top of a restaurant and has some of the most charming accommodation you’ll find in Hobart. The original exposed sandstone brick walls are as the convicts built them, and while it once attracted some notorious punters to its public houses. Remnants of the hotel’s rowdy past can still be seen by means of the bricked-over doorways which were once used as escape hatches for those evading police raids on the adjoining pub where all kinds of frivolity went down. 180 years later, Waterman’s is a cosy (and less hazardous) space to settle in after a long day of exploring Hobart and its lush surrounds. The rooms are refined with minimalist touches – the chronicled brick walls and exposed beams do most of the talking here, along with the Salamanca Place views. Step right outside on any given Saturday morning and find yourself among the market action, or pop across the road to Princess Wharf for a harbourside stroll. 

Time Out tip: Add the downstairs restaurant to your to-visit list too for generously-portioned meals of seasonal Tasmanian fare that’s a hit with locals and tourists alike.

Address: 27 Salamanca Place, Hobart
Price: Starting at $221 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop A Davey Street and Salamanca Place

Situated in Sullivan’s Cove between Salamanca Place and Hobart’s wharf district, this architect-designed property is flanked by two original sandstone warehouses. Despite its modern exterior, the acoustically-insulated rooms with their double-glazed windows are pleasantly cosy. The self-contained hotel contains many nods to its southern location, with custom-made Tasmanian oak and sassafras furnishings and walls lined with Laurent Dick’s photography of Antarctica, Tassie’s famous neighbour. The boutique accommodation’s main objective is to make you feel at home, and with all 22 rooms equipped with kitchens to amp up the convenience and comfort levels, at home you shall feel. Floor-to-ceiling windows are a no-brainer, but the sheeny timber flooring in some rooms add a contemporary touch that old grey carpets just can’t compete with. Treat yourself to a penthouse loft that boasts five-metre-high windows that open onto Salamanca Place for some of the best views of Hobart.

Time Out tip: You don’t need to venture far for good food and drink. Hotel guests rave about the coffee at the hotel’s downstairs cafe, and some of the best pizza in Hobart is a few doors down at Ti Ama.

Address: 17a Castray Esplanade, Battery Point
Price: Starting at $190 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop A, Davey Street and Salamanca Place