Time Out's guide to Hobart

A heritage listed cottage in Battery Point, with a large beer garden and an old bus parked outside. (The Retro Metro, as it’s known locally, is the venue for their hugely entertaining Tuesday night bingo sessions). This a relaxed and low-key bar with comfy lounge chairs, board games and a huge selection of beers on tap.

Housed in a building that’s over 180 years old, this is a centrally located boutique but budget hotel with 17 rooms, each decorated with original art and vintage touches. There’s a small bar and lovely plant filled balcony overlooking Liverpool Street which are available for guest use. Bathroom facilities are all shared.

A luxury hotel set in a restored 1847 house with a large garden and spectacular views of Mount Wellington. Decorated throughout with fine art, Islington has 11 rooms and suites with custom beds and antique décor, as well as minibars and iPads. There is an excellent restaurant and library both available for guest use only.

A welcoming Federation Home which has been converted into a luxury five-bedroom guesthouse, with each room themed around an author. There’s also a library with floor to ceiling bookshelves, a media room with large television and restored heritage fireplace, original artworks, and a garden full of fruit trees. Sleeps eight.

Built in an historic stable and drinking establishment, The Pickled Frog is a super-friendly backpackers place providing cheap, clean and comfortable accommodation. They offer free shuttle buses to several out-of- town attractions, including Mount Wellington, MONA and Bonorong Wildlife Park, along with free WiFi, a welcoming lounge, and lots of local travel expertise.

Based in North Hobart, just 15 minutes walk from the CBD, is one of the city’s most exciting art spaces. Contemporary Art Tasmania provides a supportive platform for emerging and experimental artists, and they run nine exhibitions each year in their gallery, as well as other projects offsite. A little further out of the city is the recently redeveloped Moonah Arts Centre, which runs visual art exhibitions, screen events, workshops and live performances, and has fast become a major resource for arts and cultural development in the area. A final place worth a visit is the Plimsoll Gallery, which is tucked underneath the University of Tasmania’s art school on Hunter Street. They run a rotation of three week curated exhibitions, featuring both Australian and international artists. Check the venue websites for current artists.

Tassie has long held a great reputation for wine and whisky, but it’s not until recently that the beer scene has finally caught up. Gone are the days when Boags and Cascade

were the only pints on offer: there are new microbreweries opening every few weeks at the moment. Hobart is a particular hotspot, with Shambles, The Winston and the Hobart Brewing Company all launching their operations in recent months. Following the Tasmanian Beer Trail is a great way to explore the state and get your hop fix, but even if you’re not venturing out of the city, there is plenty hospitality to be had.

The Republic in North Hobart is a hugely popular bar and eatery, but also has live music seven nights a week. They feature an eclectic range of artists at all stages of their careers, from local acoustic bands to visiting jazz musicians. If the line-up at the Republic doesn’t appeal, it’s worth checking who’s playing at The Brisbane Hotel. It might not look like much from the outside, but it’s a welcoming venue which is committed to showcasing home-grown artists, and definitely ranks as one of the state’s best live music venues.