When we think of the Apple Isle, fresh produce comes to mind, along with spectacular scenery, wine and good times.
Tasmania is also a hotbed of great restaurants – from fresh seafood, meat and produce sure to tempt all palates to a distinctively Tassie take on dining, hospitality and service.
There are also many Chef-hatted dining destinations that you need to have on your holiday bucket list. Here are seven we think we should try:
Aura Lounge Bar and Event Space (14) sits in the heart of Hobart, just above eye-level on the top floor of Crowne Plaza Hotel on Liverpool Street. Positioned in Hobart’s natural amphitheatre, Aura’s soft industrial space is sunlit by day and ignited by city lights at night; delivering a relaxed approach to dining whether for a short drink and light bite, or collated for a shared effortless dining experience.
Sample starters like scallops, tiger’s milk and compressed cucumber, or Cape Grim tartare, fermented chilli sauce, Reggiano and a mushroom cracker, before mains of lamb, charred onion and pepperberry.
Enjoy a fresh take on Mediterranean dining at Geronimo Aperitivo Bar and Restaurant (13) on Launceston’s Charles Street. A simple, sophisticated interior in deep hues is furnished with pieces handcrafted from the recycled timbers of the old Seaport boardwalk, adding history to the stylishly refined decor.
A paddock-to-plate philosophy ensures fresh Tasmanian produce is always on the menu like Misty Meadows Farm beetroot salad, goats’ curd, radish and pomegranate, followed by crispy roasted pork cheek, parsnip, mushrooms and sour cherries.
Josef Chromy Wines Restaurant (13) on Relbia Road in Relbia is a stunning location to experience superb Tasmanian wines and fine cuisine made with fresh local produce. Set among old English gardens, stands of 100-year-old oak trees overlooking a picturesque lake, winery and a 61-hectare vineyard, the property is a 15-minute drive south of Launceston.
Cured Tasmanian wallaby, pickled mushrooms, celeriac cream, raspberry, hazelnut and wild fennel tempts to start, best paired with a glass of 2021 Pepik Pinot Noir.
Born from a love of good food, Brisbane Street Bistro (12) delivers the flavours and textures of Tasmania to Launceston locals and visitors. Housed in a building with old-world charm, expect elegance from the brick façade to intimate dining spaces where embossed wallpaper, white napery and velvet chairs add refinement to deep maroon walls, adorned with an eclectic mix of artwork.
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Embracing an ethos that good food – like good thoughts – is best when concise, expect plates like barbequed Tasmanian lamb rump, sweet African spices, tahini, carrot slaw, dried fruit and hazelnut.
Celebrate some of life's greatest pleasures with a wining and dining experience at Home Hill Winery Restaurant (12), located onsite at family-owned and run Home Hill Estate in Ranelagh. Inside a rustic building nestled among the lush landscape of a Tasmanian vineyard, this venue offers comfort and class with a tastefully appointed dining area and welcoming ambience.
Delve into lamb ribs, local honey, eggplant, saltbush and Tongola goats’ curd to start, followed by larger plates of roast chicken, duck leg roulade, carrot, mustard jus and macadamia dukkah.
Enjoy fine dining on Launceston’s waterfront at the Mudbar Restaurant (12), situated at the Old Launceston Seaport. Patrons gather around the bar to enjoy harbour views through sleek floor-to-ceiling windows, while excited guests sink into dark chocolate-toned cushioned seats under warm mood lighting.
Opt for aperitifs at the elegant bar, or go straight for an innovative menu starting with oysters, Mudbar’s ponzu sauce, pickled ginger and wakame; don’t go past Mudbar Farm lamb as a main, with ginger, mint, coriander and white miso curd.
For local produce through an Italian lens, head Stelo at Pierre’s (12) on George Street in Launceston. Part of the city’s rich and diverse history, Stelo spreads across two grand dining rooms, a bar and a private dining space; appointed with locally crafted leather bench seats, Tasmanian Oak and leather chairs and crisp linen, the venue feels warm, luxe and intimate.
Dine on scallops in the shell, potato foam, focaccia crumb and leek oil to start, then delve into squid ink campanelle, nduja, lemon, shallot and pangrattato, or lamb rump, house ricotta, caponata, beets, herbs and lamb jus.
