10 Of The Best Restaurants In Launceston To Try On Your Next Tassie Trip

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Stillwater, one of the best restaurants in Launceston.

Launceston, Tasmania. Well known for being the island’s ‘other’ city. 

But the north Tassie town, one of Australia’s oldest cities and one of only two in the country to be named a ‘UNESCO City of Gastronomy’, is well worth the short road trip from Hobart.

The city sits at the top of the Tamar Valley, renowned for its cool-climate wines and boasts a bustling cafe and restaurant scene. It’s also home to sprawling nature, parks and gardens – and some of the most beautiful architecture in all of Australia – making it the perfect spot to walk off a good meal.

Here are 10 of the best restaurants in Launceston.

Stillwater

One of Tasmania’s most awarded restaurants, Stillwater is set in a beautiful heritage-listed flour mill on the banks of the Tamar River. The menu evolves with the seasons, featuring fresh ingredients sourced from Tassie farms. The current spring offering includes Tasmanian wallaby, charcoal grilled quail, Southern Rock Lobster, Stanley octopus with udon noodles, and a coconut panna cotta for afters. The venue also doubles as a boutique 5-star accommodation, and offers special wine, dine and stay deals.

Stillwater, one of Launceston's best restaurants.
Image credit: Stillwater | Facebook

The Black Cow Bistro

Launceston’s go-to for steak lovers, The Black Cow Bistro are the local specialists in premium Tasmanian beef. Claiming “beef like you’ve never experienced it before” this charming city-centre venue offers delicate and lean eye fillet, fat studded scotch fillet, hearty rib-eye and slow-cooked rump. There’s also non-cow dishes, such as baked market fish, crispy-skin pork belly and Tassie oysters, for those in the mood for something different. The former butcher’s shop also has an extensive wine list, focused on Tasmanian and Australian varietals, including a bunch of local Tamar Valley gems.

Black Cow, one of the best restaurants in Launceston.
Image credit: Black Cow | Website

Cataract On Paterson

Located on the edge of Launceston’s CBD, Cataract on Paterson is a stylish bistro set inside a converted warehouse.  The menu focuses on fresh Tasmanian produce, featuring high-quality grass-fed beef from Great Southern Pinnacle and a seafood-tasting plate, containing locally caught fresh Tasmanian oysters and scallops. For the peak experience, try a stone grill of steak, prawns, scallops, or salmon, cooked on a 400-degree(!) volcanic stone at the table. A la carte options include a beef Wellington with a Tasmanian eye fillet and beetroot leaves, Tasmanian whipped brie with chilli honey and sesame lavosh, and an “affo-ga-tini” – a joyful union of the espresso martini and affogato. 

Cataract on Peterson, one of the best restaurants in Launceston
Image credit: Cataract on Peterson | Instagram

Alida 

Known for perfect steaks and sumptuous seafood, Alida has a tantalising dinner menu featuring beetroot or beef carpaccio, grilled porterhouse steak with café de Paris butter, and fennel and orange semifreddo. Set inside the Penny Royal, a former colonial-era theme park, Alida has recently relaunched as a wine bar and restaurant, complete with a sit-up seafood and charcuterie bar with unrivalled water views. Make sure you try one of their selection of prohibition-era cocktails, too, with sours, modern classics and mocktails at the ready.

Alida, one of the best restaurants in Launceston.
Image credit: Alida | Website

Mudbar Restaurant

Overlooking the River Tamar, Mudbar Restaurant has been serving up fresh seafood for more than 20 years. One of Launceston’s favourite eateries, Mudbar is all about paddock-to-plate dining fused with modern pan-Asian flavours. Featured plates include tempura lamb, soy roasted duck, Chinese twice-cooked pork, and Korean Marion Bay chicken. There’s also an entire veggie menu, with tempura sesame pumpkin, buttered honey mushrooms, and sticky soy cauliflower to get stuck into. 

Mudbar Restaurant, one of the best restaurants in Launceston.
Image credit: Discover Tasmania

Grain Of The Silos

One of Launceston’s fanciest affairs, Grain of the Silos is set inside the Peppers Silo heritage building, the site of converted grain silos. With small plates like abalone fritters and artichoke terrine, through to larger feasts of potato gnocchi with stracciatella and the lamb rump with garlic yoghurt, Grain of the Silos champions sustainable Tassie produce with every dish. There’s also a local wine list and even a separate vegan menu so everyone’s covered.

Grain of the Silos, one of the best restaurants in Launceston.
Image credit: Disocver Tasmania

Rupert & Hound

Located on the banks of the North Esk River at Launceston’s Seaport, Rupert & Hound has a lot to shout about. Known for its modern seafood cuisine, diners can gorge on local Gummy shark in a crisp soda batter, Thai-inspired seafood Tom Yum Nam Khon and crumbed Tasmanian scallops – as well as a bunch of other a la carte options and daily chef’s specials. All the seafood is sourced from around Tasmania, with local, seasonable and sustainable produce at the restaurant’s core. 

Rupert & Hound, one of the best restaurants in Launceston
Image credit: Australian Good Food Guide

Turkish Tukka 

Turkish Tukka combines authentic Turkish cuisine and fresh Tasmanian produce in their beautifully blue-and-white tiled dining room. Having started life as a food van, the restaurant is filled with the smells of the charcoal grills, serving up succulent charred meats, salads and hand-made falafel. There are also a bunch of other treats inspired by owner Yusuf Karazor’s Turkish heritage, including gozleme, halal snack packs, kebabs, baklava and traditional Turkish tea and coffee. 

Turkish Tukka, one of the best restaurants in Launceston.
Image credit: Launceston Central

Halivah

Havilah opened its doors in 2020 as a place for locals and visitors to learn, taste and appreciate Tasmanian wine. But as well as offering an incredible list of local and international wines (including its own labels), Havilah brings a delicious, produce-driven, continental food menu to the table. Its charcuterie list is based on sustainably produced meats from Australia, while there are also European and Tasmanian cheeses and fresh seasonal produce from local producers. On Sundays, the bar also doubles as a cellar door where visitors can enjoy wine tastings from Two Tonne Tasmania and Havilah made by winemaker Ricky Evans.

Halivah, one of Launceston's best restaurants.
Image credit: Philp Lighton Architects

Saint John Craft Beer Bar

Saint John Craft Beer Bar is a beerhouse first and foremost. Featuring 18 taps with a range of international, Australian and Tasmanian craft brews, patrons also get the pitch of over 100(!) bottled and canned beers, as well as craft ciders, wines and spirits. But there’s also a permanent food van out back, slinging burgers and bar snacks well into the night for the perfect boozy dining experience.

Saint John Craft Beer Bar, one of the best restaurants in Launceston.

Want more Tassie tips? You might like these:

Image credit: Stillwater | Instagram

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