on 23 Dec 2021
Looking for a tipple in Tasmania? We’ve got you covered with this list of locally recommended watering holes
After a year-long hiatus, the annual Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is back up and running. In the run-up to this year’s contest, Asia-Pacific Boating begs the important question: where’s the best place to grab a drink in Tasmania’s capital city? Following in-depth research by our team – who procured knowing nods to certain pubs and bars near marinas, the coast and otherwise – here are our recommendations, for avid sailors and casual tourists alike.
Evolve Spirits Bar
MACq 01 Hotel, 18 Hunter St, Hobart TAS 7000
Photo: Evolve Spirits Bar and Adam Gibson
Stationed near Hobart’s waterfront, Evolve’s premium food and drink won it two awards at this year’s Australian Bar Awards. Long-established restaurant and bar guide – and online magazine publication – Good Food Australia highlights its eccentric atmosphere; the interior is adorned with dozens of fossils, some of which date back to over 550 million years ago. If you do decide to go there, we’d suggest that you chow down on one of their signature pork belly bao buns.
Hobart Brewing Co.
16 Evans St, Hobart TAS 7000
Photo: Hobart Brewing Co.
A stone’s throw away from Constitution Dock – the endpoint of the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race – Hobart Brewing Co. offers a plethora of expertly-crafted, independently-prepared beers. Enjoy a refreshing pint of their original Harbour Master brew whilst listening to the live music that they’re famous for.
Society Salamanca
22 Montpelier Retreat, Battery Point TAS 7004
Photo: Society Salamanca
Nestled within the city’s cultural beating heart – Salamanca Place – this establishment offers imbibers Hobart’s largest spirit library. For exhausted sailors or other visitors, the bar’s warm and cosy atmosphere makes it the perfect place to relax; enjoy a glass of whisky, gin, or fine cocktail while you’re there.
The Shipwright Arms
29 Trumpeter St, Battery Point TAS 7004
Photo: The Shipwright Arms
“Shippies”, as it’s colloquially known, is a traditional pit stop for competitors in the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. They’ve got heaps of local wine and whisky on offer for visitors. Specialising in quality seafood, the maritime pub is located in Battery Point: a charming suburb and heritage-building hotspot.
Hope and Anchor Tavern
65 Macquarie St, Hobart TAS 7000
Photo: Tourism Tasmania and Adam Gibson
It’s the oldest continuously licensed pub in Australia, having opened its doors to Hobartians all the way back in 1807. Their classic beef cheek and beef Wellington aren’t the only things to watch out for. We’d recommend you take a look at the model ships and boat paintings that you’ll find inside, or the massive antique rifle and sword collection that resides in their upstairs museum.
www.hopeandanchortavernhobart.com
New Sydney Hotel
87 Bathurst St, Hobart TAS 7000
Photo: New Sydney Hotel
A popular hub for live entertainment, you’ll love it here if you’re looking for a casual dining experience and amazing craft beer selection. According to The New York Times, their menu is one to watch out for; it’s a perfect marriage of hearty pub classics and modern fare, with everything from chicken parmigiana, an Aussie pub favourite, to tender porterhouse steak.
The Glass House
Brooke Street Pier, Franklin Wharf, Hobart TAS 7000
Photo: Tourism Tasmania
Panoramic views of the harbourfront await you when you enter The Glass House: a dining room and bar that’s only two minutes away from the downtown waterside focal point of Constitution Dock. According to Aussie online lifestyle guide Hunter and Bligh, its exterior glows at night, illuminating the surroundings and acting as a beacon for the boats that berth nearby.¬†Their menu changes on the regular, but one constant is their delectable seafood.
Preachers
5 Knopwood St, Hobart TAS 7000
Photo: Tourism Tasmania and Arcade Publications
According to renowned Australian food and drink magazine Delicious, you’ll definitely want to come here if you’re looking for a relaxed and easy-going outing. Their beer garden is perfect for a bright summer’s day. Make sure to sink your teeth into one of their many juicy burgers, such as the Preacher Burger, which contains a special housemade sauce.
www.instagram.com/preachershobart
Customs House Hotel
1 Murray St, Hobart TAS 7000
Photo: Customs House Hotel
Chock full of colonial-era history, “clearing Customs” is a traditional rite of passage for sailors after they’ve completed the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Reminisce about your journey on the high seas while savouring their fabulous list of Tasmanian beers and wines. According to the eminent and well-established Aussie daily newspaper The Sydney Morning Herald, celebrities are often in attendance, so do be sure to check it out.¬†
Rude Boy
130 Elizabeth St, Hobart TAS 7000
Photo: Rude Boy
Smack bang in the middle of Hobart’s central business district, Rude Boy serves up a Jamaican twist on your traditional drinking experience. Offering drinkers oodles of rum and exciting cocktails such as their Dark ‘n’ Stormy, they’ve also got an extensive fried chicken menu. The Australian Bartender, a publication dedicated to the country’s bar industry, gives a special mention to the establishment’s spicy ribs.