The Feed | Hobart Food News To Bookmark For Your 2026 Tasmanian Holiday
The food and drink news has been coming in thick and fast in Hobart, so we're dropping the latest openings, pop-ups and culinary buzz in one spot.
Read on for all the latest food and drink news in Hobart.
Hobart's Royal Botanical Gardens has a stunning new cellar door restaurant
Bird in Hand winery has opened their stylish new bar and restaurant in the Royal Botanical Gardens, beside the chic daytime Kiosk. This massive refurb has transformed the space into a breezy, bright bar and bistro with soaring ceilings, elegant lines, a palette of creams and neutral tones and wide glass doors leading to a verandah overlooking the gardens, with character features like the original stone fireplace and local artworks. Set amidst the trees and lawns, this bar gives South Australian-founded winery has a new home to hero their established Tasmanian vineyards, in Seymour and Rowella in the Tamar Valley, as well as their South Australian releases. The bar will operate as a Hobart cellar door, with wine tastings and guided flights, alongside a menu of Modern Australian dishes with Tasmanian produce.
This bar will also be one of the exclusive locations for enjoying their whiskies, marrying spirits with their own wine barrels. Leaning towards the Japanese style, their blend is finished in their Shiraz casks, while the single cask single malt has the character of their Chardonnay cask.
Award-winning authors, free readings and pro writing workshops at Hobart's new literary festival
The first Island Readers & Writers Festival (28 May - 1 June) is kicking off with a bang, as world-renowned authors and local Tasmanian talent converge for five days of storytelling. Renowned writers, including Hannah Kent, Robbie Arnott, Shaun Tan and Garth Nix, join an exciting program of panels, workshops and theatrical performance. From poets to novelists and essayists, this is a mix of beloved authors and rising stars. Join workshops and masterclasses to hone your craft, hear from creatives on every topic from crime writing to ghost writing, attend free readings or get the kids on board with the schools program.
The Rice Corner brings vibrant That-Viet flavours to Battery Point
For co-owners of Battery Point’s new restaurant, The Rice Corner, rice is so much more than a simple dish. Rice is a welcome, a central base for so many flavours and stories. Carl Nguyen, Tommy and Kai Sanwong offer many dishes centred around rice and rice noodles, inspired by flavours of family cooking and shared meals from their Thai and Vietnamese upbringing. Their menu spans comforting homestyle cuisine and street food, from naem, the Northern Thai fermented pork sausage, to Cóm Niêu, Vietnamese clay pot rice dishes, Thai-style ceviche, Street food skewers from the grill, Pad Thai, sizzling Vietnamese pancakes and curries with jasmine, saffron, sticky or ginger rice. Desserts like chiffon cake with Thai tea ice cream, jackfruit and palm seeds offer a sweet touch, and local Tasmanian wines bring it home.
Skewers, small plates and rooftop-to-table produce hits the bar at Smith Street
One of North Hobart’s most anticipated new spots is finally open. Smith Street is your friendly neighbourhood izakaya-style bar at the corner of Smith and Argyle. Slip inside this casual walk-in only affair, slide up to the Tasmanian oak bar overlooking the kitchen where skewers sizzle and ferments line the shelf. On the menu, “small plates, big taste”, izakaya-style snacks with Tasmanian produce. It’s a mingling of Japanese and Thai touches, agedashi tofu on one hand, fermented pork sausage on the other. Chicken-stuffed chicken wings and oyster mushrooms are grilled as you snack on pork crackle and sip local vino, skewers served hot off the hibachi with housemade touches like kimchi and wasabi.
For co-owners and Glass House alums, Savayos ‘Teddy’ Malayanod and James Winter, this is their dream of blending local produce with Asian-inspired technique. And some of those local ingredients are really, really local: think, herbs and veg from the rooftop greenhouse, honey from their hives, quail eggs from the home backyard. Teddy, also the owner of All Thai, is on the grill, while James is on the bar, slinging easy-drinking $12 wines and vibrant cocktails like a Basic Baddie of matcha, strawberry and white rum. They’ve renovated the space into a sleek little kitchen bar, but kept rustic touches, including the wood-fired baker’s oven.
Derwent Distillery Tasting House opens in Battery Point
Purveyors of local-focused gins, liqueurs and whisky, Derwent Distillery finally has a brick and mortar foothold in Battery Point. Distilling couple Robbie and Emma Gilligan have opened a new Tasting House, bringing the spirit(s) of the Derwent to Hobart for curious drinkers. Robbie cut his teeth in Tassie whisky at Lark and Redlands distilleries and produces Derwent’s own characterful single malts matured in the micro climate of mountain and river. With an award-winning commitment to sustainability, Derwent Distillery is tuned into the land, highlighting Tassie flavours like rhubarb, elderflower, foraged native botanicals and their delicious hazelnut liqueur. Popup pairing dinners are on the cards for the Tasting House - keep an eye on their socials for updates. Fancy a day trip to get a bit deeper? They’re still running tours of their Derwent Valley distillery.
Drink and dine In Good Company in Sandy Bay
Sandy Bay’s new day-to-night eatery, In Good Company, is housed in a facelifted former servo (they like to say that a place that once fuelled cars now fuels people). It's newest venue from Alicia Liu and Viv Xiao, the team behind Bear With Me in South Hobart. It’s a place to gather over good food, good coffee and good wine, casually shifting from brunch into drinks and dinner.
“More than anything, In Good Company is about people, the team, the customers, the neighbours, the friends and family who helped bring the venue to life. It’s a place built to be shared,” Viv says.
BWM fans will be glad to know the Benedict with crispy layered potato and braised smoked ham hock has a home here, alongside brioche breakfast rolls and ramped-up banana bread with with salted caramel, brûléed banana and mascarpone. Dinner dishes have fusion twists, like beef tartare with gochujang and pear, crispy school prawns with yuzu kosho mayo and caramelised sticky pork with chili vinegar and herb salad. Zest coffee, house sodas and cocktails and a thoughtful wine list (available all day!) round out the offering. The stylish aesthetic is the work of Melbourne-based State of Play and design studio Futago with fitout by VOS.
Kanpai, Hobart! There’s a hot new izakaya to watch
Manpuku Izakaya only started in October, but this little popup is generating a buzz around town. Anthony Luk and Karen Ng are the team behind Manpuku Izakaya. They both came to Melbourne from Hong Kong, but fell in love with Tasmania - especially the spectacular ingredients on offer.
“We’re passionate about Japanese cuisine and its focus on seasonality and balance,” Karen says. “The izakaya was created to bring those elements together with Tasmania’s local produce, in a cozy, welcoming space where people can come to relax, connect, and enjoy more than just food and drinks.”
They already have a few signatures: Calamari, squid ink housemade udon with scallop XO, and sake poached abalone with liver sauce. Dishes are paired with personally selected unique or rare sake. If that sounds like your kind of night, keep an eye on their socials for the next popup (rumoured to be in May).
Taste Tasmania’s Most Famous Whiskies at Lark’s Reopened Cellar Door
Following a swish refurb, Lark Distillery has reopened their Davey Street cellar door. Down by the waterfront, the whisky-curious can discover the flavours, history and legacy of Lark right where it began, 33 years ago. This is not just a bar, it’s a story of whisky to be explored through everything from casual tastings to bespoke whisky flights, masterclasses and the Lark museum experience. You’ll even find rare releases and cellar door exclusives. The refreshed decor and design reflects the Tasmanian landscape at the heart of every glass: modern lines, earthy tones and timber with splashes of colour in deep sea blue and mossy green.
Walk-ins welcome, open daily from 11am-7pm.
Pancakes And Milkshakes: Gigi’s Brings The All-American Diner To Salamanca
Salamanca’s newest cafe is all about keeping it casual: “No rules, just really good food”. Gigi’s is styled on the all-day American diner, with red booths as bright, bold and picture-perfect as the dishes. Think, stacks of golden fluffy pancakes with butter and lashings of Canadian maple syrup, crispy fried chicken and waffles and a breakfast muffin with folded egg, American cheese and a sausage patty. The brave and hungry can tackle an OG Combo with breakfast muffin, classic pancake stack and two hash browns with Gigi’s sauce.
It’s not all brunch, you can tuck into a spicy vodka chicken burger, Caesar salad, steak frites or triple mac and cheese with bacon jam. Need a sweet treat? Save room for their mega sundae smash. Gigi’s is comfort food and diner classics, just made primo with local Tassie ingredients. Top it off with a cup of Sensory beans coffee or an American soda or milkshake.
Open 7 days, 7am-2:30pm, but they’ve hinted that late night snacks are on the horizon…
Low Waste, All Taste, Seasonal And Sea-Seasoned Cafe Dining At Fresh-Faced Brine
It’s in the name, Brine. Everything at this new cafe-wine-bar has a play on salt, anchoring the concept to their seaside suburb. Lauderdale’s petit 30 seater takes a minimal waste approach: eating seasonally and locally, and preserving, pickling and turning produce into house-made sodas. Jars of preserves line the shelves and feature in dishes like the ‘Brine Plate’ as “last season’s pickles” and “surprise relish” alongside sea salt house focaccia, cheese, greens and cured meat. Light, bright and simple, this seemingly unassuming spot is much more than a standard suburban cafe. Where else in town do you find breakfast udon with brown butter, speck and confit egg yolk? Or the delight of Brine’s ‘Happy Meal’ of fried olives, chippies and a dirty martini, for just $35? They make as much as they can in house, including golden crumpets, freshly baked bread, sweets and tarts. It’s not just for brunch either, with later evenings on Friday and rotating popups with their favourite winemakers.
Iconic East Coast Winery Expands With Devil’s Corner Kitchen
One more reason to visit Devil’s Corner cellar door. With the opening of Devil’s Corner Kitchen, Head Chef Jack Bennett (ex-The Chophouse Falls Creek, Trentham Hotel) ushers in a new dimension to your east coast wine adventure. The cuisine mirrors the qualities of the wines: “wild, elemental and full of character”. The menu will focus on fire, smoke and local produce, with a rotating specials board of mains and bougie woodfired pizzas, such as duck with local mushrooms, confit garlic and parmesan, and fresh pastas like venison pappardelle or wallaby and Pinot Noir spaghetti bolognese. You can also expect a regular appearance of the renowned fresh seafood of the east coast. All dishes are made to pair perfectly with their crisp, cool climate wines. Devil’s Corner Kitchen is open Tuesday-Sunday, 11am-4pm.
Old Bones, New Flavours: Clyde Mill Distillery And Restaurant Offers A Fresh Take On Heritage
The former site of the Nant Distillery has been reborn as Clyde Mill, complete with distillery, restaurant and the original 1823 flour mill (open for tours, if you’re a history buff). Clyde Mill uses water and barley from their Central Highlands surroundings to craft distinctive single malts and bright, citrus-forward gin. To pair with your local whiskies, the finest local produce showcases the region on a plate - what else would you expect with a Bothwell farming family at the helm? Expect lush snacks like potted hare and prune terrine or whole baked Coal River brie with marinated figs, walnuts and Tasmanian honey, wholesome mains with hyperlocal produce like 24 hour-braised Nant Farm lamb with house-made gnocchi and whisky-infused specialties like Tasmanian raspberry and Clyde Mill apera whisky crème brulée with amaretti biscuit. The Mill Kitchen is open Saturday to Thursday, 11am-5pm and Fridays 11am til late.
Experience Stargazer Wines Beside The Vines At The New Cellar Door Tasting Room
Add this to your wine-hopping map: local favourites Stargazer (a tribute to ‘star-gazing’ explorer Abel Tasman) have opened their new tasting room. Owner and winemaker Samantha Connow fosters sustainable and regenerative vineyard practice in the Coal River Valley to produce characterful, small batch wines, especially famed for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling. In the new tasting room, you’ll overlook rows of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes on the Palisander vineyard as you’re led on an intimate guided journey of Stargazer’s expressions (sessions are limited to 12 people). Explore their collection of current releases and perhaps even something extra special rustled up from the cellar… Tasting sessions run three times a day, Friday through Monday. Make sure you book - spots are limited.
Master culinary arts at Agrarian Kitchen’s 2026 classes
Agrarian Kitchen have revealed the schedule for their much-anticipated 2026 classes. From mastering cake decorating to composting, gardening, handmade pasta, truffle cooking and puff pastry, there’s a lot to sink your teeth into. Agrarian Kitchen Executive Chef Rodney Dunn is leading a few sessions personally, including cheesemaking, charcuterie and even a tomato specialty class. Their guest chef series is stacked with the likes of Andrew McConnell, Annie Smithers, Matt Moran, Thi Le, Peter Gilmore, Danielle Alvarez and Rosheen Kaul. You can learn baking from Natalie Paull (Beatrix Bakes) and household name Belinda Jeffery, the art of fermentation from Adam James (Rough Rice) and game cooking from Analiese Gregory and Jo Barrett.
Take To The Streets For 10 Years Of Franko
Image Credit: Street Eats Franko | Instagram
The summertime sessions are back, celebrating a decade of music and street food at Franklin Square! From December 5 ‘til April 24 2026, every Friday is a Franko party with an ever-changing lineup of live music and DJs, drinks and delicious eats. You can sample everything from American to Filipino BBQ, street foods from Mexico, Indonesia and Thailand, dumplings and vegan specialties, with beer, wine and G&Ts on the bars. Swing by Hobart’s most beloved street party when you’re in town and join in with the locals. See more
New Menu With A Nod To Dalí Hits The Table At Faro
Deep within the heart of Mona, Faro restaurant has come alive for spring with a new à la carte offering: a ‘greatest hits’ of their most iconic past dishes. Exec Chef Vince Trim has refreshed the Faro faves into his collected works of fine dining. Faro is famously perched between art and cuisine, and this new ‘Les Dîners de Faro’ menu is a nod to the cookbook by surrealist artist Salvador Dalí (the lavishly illustrated and somewhat sexy ‘Les dîners de Gala’). Each Faro dish a burst of colours and sculptural plating, with their signature unique tableware. Taste Tasmanian oysters, abalone, wallaby and venison from local producers with herbs, vegetables and flowers from Faro’s ‘Victory Garden’. Pair it with wines from Tasmania and Australia’s most iconic and interesting producers (including some special exclusives).
Hobart Now Has An Exclusive Golden-hour Sunset Club
Image Credit: Aurora Suite Terrace | Website
Travelling to Hobart for a big celebration? Give it a touch of gold. Guests at The Tasman can book golden hour experiences on the Aurora Suite terrace. For two hours, you and your party can enjoy the finer things with the Aurora Sundown, complete with a private chef and bar and stunning views over Hobart to Mount Wellington and the River Derwent. Charge your glasses (spritzes, of course) as the sun goes down and snack on seafood canapes straight from the hibachi. Slip into the evening by the firepit while a live DJ fills the air with music. There’s no more luxurious way to enjoy the twilight. Ideal for groups of 8-30, $295pp plus a room reservation (to be eligible for the package).
Share A Meal With Meaning At The Sunlight Kitchen Project
One of Hobart’s most diverse menus, all for a good cause. Every Friday at the Kickstart Arts Centre, women from refugee backgrounds share the flavours of their homeland as part of the Sunlight Kitchen Project. For 4-6 week stints, women (and occasional mother-son duos) feed crowds and tell their stories while raising money and building skills. The menu changes, so keep an eye on socials. Sometimes it’s Eritrean stews on injera teff pancakes, Syrian dishes like Dawoud Pasha beef, Afghani bolani flatbreads and samosas with curries, or glass noodle dishes with fragrant lemongrass and ginger from Karen women of Myanmar. They also run one-off special events, like a recent Palestinian fundraiser.
“I think a lot of barriers are crossed with food,” organiser Niccola Mudge says. “It’s a really good place to have a conversation. People are really excited to hear stories about food and where it comes from, it’s a great way to share culture. It’s a great gateway.”
The Sunlight Kitchen Project works with Friends of Refugees Tasmania, Migrant Resource Centre and Catholic Care Tasmania. Coffee is served from 9am, and lunch from 11:30am-2pm.
New Whisky Experience Hits The Waterfront
Image Credit: Callington Mill Distillery | Instagram
Whisky distillery Callington Mill have just opened their new cellar door and restaurant in MACq 01. Enjoy guided tastings through their award-winning whiskies and gins or make your very own single malt to take home. Swing by for a casual cocktail at the bar, or sit in at the restaurant for lunch or dinner. Dine on local fresh produce with international twists, like Tasmanian rock lobster with togarashi butter, Cape Grim fillet with calamansi juice and scallop on pecorino donut with jalapeno salsa. For dessert, you can have your whisky and eat it too, with an infused Callington Mill Tiramisu or Bombe Alaska with a whisky flambé.
Image Credit: Calling Mill Distillery At MACq 01 | Instagram
And if wetting your whistle here whets your appetite, head out to the distillery in Oatlands for the full experience and guided tour.
Keep Exploring Hobart
16 Of The Best Breakfasts In Hobart (2026 Edition)
12 Of The Most Beautiful Road Trips In Tasmania
