Snippets: 8 must try restaurants and cafes in Hobart, Tasmania

Posted on April 18, 2017 by theRantingPanda in Snippets

Hobart, Tasmania – Mention Hobart and the first reaction from most people we asked is that they have no idea where it is located. As the capital of Tasmania, the southern island state of Australia, we must confess that researching for places to eat in this city wasn’t the easiest of all, as compared to say, Melbourne or Sydney. That said, the food scene in Hobart is opening up the past few years fortunately, where we managed to try a good mix of old-timers and new restaurants during our visit to the island last Autumn (here are also some of our Top Places and Attractions to Visit in Tasmania). From Daci & Daci Bakery to Franklin, don’t miss out on the below restaurants and cafes if you ever visit this charming island, including the obligatory visit to Salamanca Market!

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Daci & Daci Bakery

Mention a good bakery cafe in Hobart and Daci & Daci will invariably come to most people’s mind. The Bakery serves a wide selection of cakes, pastries, desserts and brunch fares in the heart of Hobart. The interior remains me of those in France – classical old-school French furnishing. I love the savoury tart and lemon tart here, one of the better ones I have had. This place is great for any meal at anytime of the day.

Where: 9-11 Murray Street, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
Tel:+61 3 6224 9237

Opening Hours
Monday to Saturday: 7am to 6pm

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Franklin

If I were to design my house, I want it to be like Franklin. With minimalist and modern touches, the concept of Franklin is modern progressive cuisine with fusion elements. The concise menu is mainly made up of small and big plates, with a good mix of local Tasmanian produce and imported ingredients. We had one of the best grilled fish, bone marrow risotto, wild mushrooms and even the salad, cabbage seasoned with sesame and seaweed was stellar. This is by far our best dining experience in Tasmania, so good we returned for its breakfast menu the next day.

Where: 28-30 Argyle Street, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
Tel: +61 3 6234 3375

Opening Hours
Monday, Thursday to Sunday: 5.30pm to 11pm
Closed on Tuesday and Wednesday
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Smolt
Opened only in January this year, Smolt is strategically located in Salamanca Square, serving modern plates with a focus on local wines and ingredients. The wooden and sleek interior of Smolt gives it an edgy Scandinavian vibe, best for an informal and intimate dinner meal in the heart of Hobart. Expect Italian and Spanish centric dishes where there is different menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Other than pizza and pasta, we had the pork shoulder slow-cooked in almond milk and porterhouse steak which were delish.

Where: 2 Salamanca Square, Battery Point TAS 7004, Australia
Tel: +61 3 6224 2554

Opening Hours
Monday to Saturday: 8.30am to 10pm

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Tricycle Cafe

Located in a small alley in Salamanca Square, it is hard to chance upon Tricycle Cafe unless you know of its existence. The small and cosy cafe has been a staple for many locals, serving decent coffee and breakfast fares such as croissant and toast with scrambled eggs. This is a good option for breakfast or brunch if you crave for some good toast and bread in an unpretentious setting.

Where: 77 Salamanca Place, Kellys Steps, Hobart TAS 7004, Australia
Tel: +61 3 6223 7228

Opening Hours
Monday to Friday: 8.30am to 4pm
Saturday: 8.30am to 3pm

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Pilgrim Coffee

The award winning Pilgrim Coffee has a good reputation of serving good coffee, and we can understand why from the incessant morning crowd on a weekday we visited. The cafe is split into a takeaway and dine-in sections, offering a good space and seating capacity. The interior is a combination of rustic and vintage, where we observed that the croissants are popular for breakfast.

Where: 48 Argyle Street, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
Tel: +61 3 6234 1999

Opening Hours
Monday to Friday: 6.30am to 4.30pm
Saturday to Sunday: 8am to 2pm

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Fish Frenzy

Touted as the best fish and chips in Hobart, we had to give Fish Frenzy a try. Located beside the harbour in a former warehouse, Fish Frenzy serves various types of fish prepared in different ways. We went for the classic Fish Frenzy option, served with fries and calamari. I wouldn’t say it is outstanding, but decent enough for an inexpensive meal in Hobart. You can also get some fresh Tasmanian oysters here.

Where: Elizabeth Street Pier, Sullivans Cove, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
Tel: +61 3 6231 2134

Opening Hours
Monday to Sunday: 11am to 9pm

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Honey Badger Dessert Cafe

There doesn’t seem to be much dessert options in Hobart city but one cafe you shouldn’t miss out to satisfy that sweet tooth craving is Honey Badger Dessert Cafe, a short distance from Smolt in Salamanca Square. Desserts take centrestage here even though there are savoury items available in the day. Go for the Black Panookie, made up of chocolate chip cookie, chocolate ice cream and cookie crumbs served in a mini pan. Otherwise, the Sugar & Spice has a good mix of berries and waffles.

Where: 7 Salamanca Square, Battery Point TAS 7004, Australia
Tel: +61 3 6109 4943

Opening Hours
Tuesday to Thursday: 10am to 10pm
Friday to Saturday: 10am to 11pm
Sunday: 10am to 10pm
Closed on Monday

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Salamanca Market

While technically not a restaurant, a trip to Hobart or Tasmania is not complete without checking out Salamanca Market, which is an outdoor market in the heart of Hobart with a mix of about 300 stalls of food and retail. The biggest rant for us is that the outdoor market is only opened once a week, every Saturday from 8am until 3pm. That said, we love the nice cool weather and it was absoliutely pleasant to walk through the myriad of stalls. Take your time, grab a coffee and simply try whatever you feel like having. Bliss.