Josie Rozenberg-Clarke

Any time of the year is the perfect time to visit Tasmania. If you’re from the mainland, particularly the top half, you’ll love the fact that Tassie actually has four distinct seasons, including a proper winter. But don’t let the cool weather deter you – Tasmania is set up for the cold, and most Airbnbs (and pubs!) come complete with a cosy wood fire. In autumn, you’ll be treated to a majestic palette of fiery-coloured foliage; in summer you can paddle in the impossibly azure waters of Tassie’s beaches; and in spring, the flowers and baby animals will delight. Now that we’ve convinced you to book a plane ticket to Hobart, the next step is to choose your accommodation. From upscale beachside cabins to rural properties and architect-designed award winners, here’s a list of the best Airbnbs in Hobart. RECOMMENDED: These are the best things to do in Hobart right now.

Look, it really isn’t a secret that we Aussies love a good pub. Whether you're tearing it up on the local dance floor on a Saturday night or downing pints with a hearty Sunday roast, pub culture has something for everyone, every day of the week. These venues see it all: post-work bevvies, celebration dinners, darts competitions and even Hollywood movie crews. Whether it’s a schooner or a glass of wine you’re after, in the city or the outback, we’ve got a list of the country’s grooviest pubs that are a welcome sight to tourists and locals alike. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Australia newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox.  Hungry? These are the best pies in Australia worth travelling for.

Tasmania’s capital city isn’t exactly heaving with activity after dark like its bustling mainland counterparts. But if you know where to look, Hobart’s bar and pub scene is lively, with plenty of drinking holes for the curious and thirsty. From dive bars to underground cocktail joints, the upscale to the casual, no matter what kind of establishment you’re looking to pull up a stool at, you’ll find it in Hobart. It helps that the local booze, like the food, is world-renowned – the beer, the wine, the whisky, the gin. Whatever your poison, it all adds up to a good time. So whether you are a dirty gin martini person or partial to a tinnie (or three), cheers to our list of the best bars in Hobart. After a bite? These are the best restaurants to book in Hobart.

From big hitters (*coughs* MONA) to tiny independent spaces, Hobart is full of incredible museums and galleries. Tasmania’s capital is a city rich in history and culture, and both have plenty of representation here.  If you’re in the mood for learning, head to one of the many museums dedicated to preserving Tassie’s past. If you’re an art connoisseur, there are large and small galleries filled to the brim with the work of established and emerging local talent. With almost too many to choose from, we’ve narrowed down the best museums and galleries in Hobart for your next history or culture hit. RECOMMENDED: Here are 11 of the best things to do while you're in Hobart.

Hobart’s best hotels make the most of the city’s assets – the glittering Derwent River, the imposing majesty of kunanyi / Mount Wellington, fascinating convict history and world-class food and produce.  You’ll be spoiled for choice when looking for a hotel in Hobart. Do you want sweeping harbour views, original heritage architecture, luxe interiors, proximity to the city’s best restaurants and bars, or all of the above? Whatever kind of Hobart stay you’re looking for, you’ll likely find several spaces that suit. We’ve rounded up some of the most-loved hotels in Hobart to make your choice a tiny bit easier. But sorry, it’s still going to be tough…  Looking for things to do while you’re here? Here are the best ways to entertain yourself in Hobart.

Potentially due to spiking rent prices on the mainland, chefs have flocked to Hobart in recent years to launch their restaurants. This influx of talent combined with Tasmania’s naturally bountiful fresh produce has led to Hobart becoming quite the destination for food lovers.  From tiny hole-in-the-wall bars with 20 seats to a bustling Tokyo-inspired eatery and a French restaurant that sits at the front of MONA, Hobart’s best restaurants are wildly varied and there’s a plate to suit every palate. Eating out is truly one of the best things to do in Hobart, so here’s our list of the best restaurants to score a reservation (or a walk-in table) at. RECOMMENDED: Here are the 11 best things to do in Hobart right now.

Hobart may be tucked all the way down the bottom of Australia, but it’s a destination not to be slept on. Tasmania’s capital city is blessed with natural beauty, with the glittering waters of the River Derwent on one side and the rugged peak of kunanyi / Mount Wellington on the other, and there’s plenty to do both outside and inside. From mountain walks and self-guided history tours to some of the country’s top-tier restaurants and the incomparable MONA, everyone will find something they like about this place. Whether you’re headed to Hobart for a quick weekend getaway or you’ve got time on your side, we’ve rounded up the must-dos of this waterfront town.

Tucked in an unassuming, quiet side street in Battery Point is one of Hobart’s best bars and most beloved beer gardens. Preachers keeps it low-key, serving great craft beers and local spirits from the bar within the heritage-listed cottage, as well as tasty burgers and pub snacks. What makes this place unique is the full-sized bus that is 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.

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.  

Walking into North Hobart’s The Winston is like stepping into an American dive bar: US licence plates lining the walls, beer ads hanging above the bar, a pool table at the back and an old-school pinball machine in the corner. This corner pub boasts a huge selection of beers on tap and a burger menu featuring experimental specials, like the Mozza-hella: a quarter-pounder-style burger topped with mozzarella sticks and spicy bacon jam. A favourite with locals, you’ll find the Winston buzzing with drinkers and dogs, which are not only welcome but celebrated with a Dogs of the Winston photo wall.  

Manky Sally’s is located right on Salamanca Place and is 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, it serves elevated, Tassie-themed pub classics – think wallaby rump steak and a venison cheeseburger – as well as a wide selection of Moo Brew beers and Moorilla wines.

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 and drag bingo nights. This place means business with its fried chicken (you can also order beef or vegan options). You can choose between six different seasonings, eight different sauces and ten different sides.

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. After all, there’s a brewery on-site! Outside you’ll find a large courtyard with food trucks and live music. It’s a family-friendly, all-year-round kind of destination – just make sure you wear layers and grab a spot near the fire pit.

Delightfully grungy inner-city spot Grinners 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 jalapeno poppers. 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. The lively, chatty vibe is what makes Grinners a must-visit – you won’t want to leave.

Lark Distillery’s sleek downtown tasting room turns into a bar by night. The renowned distillers created the space for both enthusiasts and casual drinkers to pop in and sample their wares, from award-winning whisky to the brand’s Forty Spotted gin varieties. But the bar isn’t biased and also stocks spirits from other Tasmanian distilleries. So a visit to the Still means you can go on a truly well-rounded journey of what Tassie has to offer. In winter, it’s a treat to cosy up in the bar’s booths and enjoy a slow evening of cocktails and good company.

Underground bar Society is located in buzzy Salamanca, and if you love cocktails it’s a must-go. Descend the steps into the bar and you’ll be greeted with a huge wall of spirits – the biggest range in Hobart, in fact – complete with a sliding, library-style ladder. The cocktail list is large and heavily features local gin and whisky, but the bartenders can whip up anything that takes your fancy. If you want to kick back and settle in, Society serves pizza until midnight, so there’s really no reason to leave.

You’re in the Apple Isle, so why not visit an apple museum? There are several in Tassie, but here’s a local’s tip: head to the one at Willie Smith’s Apple Shed, which just so happens to be a top-tier cidery and restaurant as well. Stroll through the small but enlightening displays detailing the long history of apple farming in the lush Huon Valley, then head to the bar to taste the literal fruits of this labour in the form of an ice-cold cider. Follow it up with a slice of warm apple pie and you’ll really be supporting the local apple industry. If you go on a Saturday, you can also enjoy the local artisan market held on Willie Smith’s grounds.

For a more conventional but equally fascinating Hobart museum / art gallery experience, head to the CBD’s Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG). A more family-friendly experience than MONA, there are dedicated kids' exhibits and spaces, which makes it a popular rainy-day activity for local parents. On any given day, you can head in to learn about the state’s intriguingly brutal convict history and rich First Nations culture, then stroll through an exhibition of sumptuous colonial art featuring Tasmania’s famous wilderness and renowned personalities. With its mix of history and art, TMAG is a true feast for the mind.

A one-stop shop for all your art appreciation needs, Salamanca Arts Centre (helpfully located in the picturesque inner-city enclave of Salamanca) is a large heritage building filled with small galleries and design stores. A fabulous way to spend an afternoon is to wander up and down the stairs to check out work by local artists at the Nolan Gallery, Quoll Artists’ Gallery, Spacebar Gallery, Long Gallery and loads more. From painting to printmaking, ceramics and jewellery design to photography and textiles, basically every medium is represented in this sprawling cultural hub.