Your guide to the best dining and drinks around the state

Feeling peckish? Need a cold beer, fine wine or a swanky cocktail? Tasmania is a haven for food lovers. Here are our top picks of new offerings as well as some old favourites.

Robert Pennicott’s Seafood Seduction tour at Bruny Island is a day-long experience.

Feeling peckish? Need a cold beer, fine wine or a swanky cocktail? Tasmania is a haven for food lovers. Here are our top picks of new offerings as well as some old favourites.

ASIAN EATS

SHANGHAI KING BUN

Stand outside this bustling eatery in Hobart’s CBD and watch the staff expertly handcraft dumplings in the glass-fronted kitchen. Step in and treat your tastebuds to an assortment of steamed buns, dumplings, noodle and rice dishes — everything from stir-fried cauliflower and chilli to spicy braised pig trotters. 97 Elizabeth St, Hobart. Open seven days from 11am-3.30pm and 5pm-9pm. 0434 788 569

SENSES PLUS

This Asian bakery in Liverpool St serves Japanese-style bread, pastries and cakes. The bakery’s name intends to reflect “the multiple layers of sensory perception” diners can expect when tasting the food, with cupcakes, swiss rolls and cookies among the sweet offerings. Wash it down with a bubble tea from Gong Cha next door. 74 Liverpool St, Hobart. Open Monday to Friday 9.30am-6pm, and Saturday 10am-4pm. Closed Sunday. 6236 9875

Kalbi’s Korean fried chicken. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

JA&JON BANH MI

This new eatery in Elizabeth Mall (next to Dome) serves tasty Vietnamese street food including pho and bahn mi. Perfect for lunch. Specials include meat balls with a signature tomato sauce, barbecue chicken with house-made hoisin dressing and pork belly. 33 Elizabeth St, Hobart. Open from 7am-7pm Mon-Fri, 9am-7pm on Saturday, and closed on Sunday

BUN BAR

The former Little Salama in Harrington St has transformed into a tiny lunch hotspot offering favourites such as chicken satay, pulled pork buns and Thai beef salad. 82a Harrington St, Hobart. Open Monday to Friday, 11.30am-2.30pm. Closed on weekends

KALBI

Nestled on North Hobart’s restaurant strip, this Korean restaurant has a huge fan base due to its tasty affordable food, good service and casual atmosphere. Our recommedation is Kalbi’s Korean-style chicken, twice fried and served in a sweet and spicy sauce. Share a feast with friends. 396 Elizabeth St, North Hobart. Open Tues-Wed 5-9pm, Thurs-Sat 12-2 and 5-9pm, Sunday 5-9pm, closed Monday. 6236 9725

COOL BARS

BOODLE BEASLEY

This cocktail bar and beer garden on North Hobart’s dining strip matches cocktails with food. Recent offerings include a spiced watermelon and basil tequila cocktail, raspberry cheesecake beer and chicken wings drizzled in buffalo sauce and a side of house-made blue cheese dip. Perfect for hair of the dog with a bao bun, bloody mary and bellini breakfast menu each weekend, as well as coffee and kombucha. 315 Elizabeth St, North Hobart, open weekdays from noon until late and from 8.30am on weekends. 6234 2849

LUCINDA

Hailed as Dier Makr’s “big sister”, this new wine bar is nestled at the front of the Dier Makr building in Collins St and provides a hidden oasis for city-goers after fine wine or scrumptious food plates to share. 123 Collins St, Hobart. Open from 3pm daily. 6288 8910

Emily Gardam serving a champagne at The Den in Salamanca. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

EVOLVE SPIRITS BAR

Equal parts museum and spirits bar, Evolve is adorned with artefacts from across the globe, dating back 550 million years. You can take a look at a triceratops’ nose horn or megalodon teeth while bar manager Dan Gregory and his team of bartenders present the world’s best whiskys, vodkas and gins. MACq 01 hotel building, 18 Hunter St, Hobart. Open Monday-Wednesday from 5pm-1am and Thursday-Sunday from 4pm-1am. 6210 7656

THE DEN

A timber-lined cocktail bar and eatery reminiscent of a hip Swedish sauna, The Den is one of Salamanca’s best locations for a lazy lunch or after-work drink. The outdoor dining area fronts Salamanca Place, getting plenty of sun, while glowing fire pits and overhead heaters make the coolest day a joy. Home to Friday night jazz, Saturday night DJs, inspired cocktails and perfect calamari. 63 Salamanca Place, Hobart. 0499 888 233. Open daily from 11am until late

Botanica’s lofty interior.

BOTANICA

Long-standing Salamanca hangout Bar Celona has gone and in its place is Botanica, a leafy bar with eclectic spirits, share plates and comfy outdoor lounges. Botanica is “inspired by the beautiful surrounds and mystique of Salamanca”, showcasing “the best local distilleries, breweries and delicacies” with DJs Friday and Saturday nights. 23 Salamanca Place, Hobart. 0488 666 404. Open daily from 11am

SOCIETY SALAMANCA

Feeling uninspired to leave the house? Check out the photos on this cocktail, gin and whisky bar’s active Facebook page and you’ll be hot-footing it to taste their delicious limited-edition cocktails. There’s also Tacos + Trivia and Bao + Bingo nights to keep life interesting. 22 Montpelier Retreat, Battery Point. 6223 1497. Open Tues-Thurs from 5pm-11pm and Friday and Saturday from 4pm-1.30am

METROPOLITAN PIZZA

This new pizza bar in Hobart’s Mid-town precinct, has an interior inspired by underground transport systems in some of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities. There’s a departure lounge, a platform bar and a beer garden as well as a home delivery service bringing artisan pizza, fine wines and beer to your door. 154-156 Elizabeth St, Hobart. 6287 7095. Open Monday to Saturday, 3pm until late

EXPERIENCES TO BE HAD FURTHER AFIELD

ROB PENNICOTT’S TASMANIAN SEAFOOD SEDUCTION TOUR

National food critic John Lethlean raved about this eco-tour last year, telling readers the best restaurant in Australia was on a boat. “Is there a heaven?” he said after a day cruising D’Entrecasteaux Channel and Bruny aboard Rob Pennicott’s Sea Dragon, a 12m rigid inflatable. “I’d like to think so. Simply the best.” As part of the day-long experience for a maximum of 12 guests, the skipper and crew dive for abalone and urchin before preparing it onboard for guests with local beer, wine and cider, while offering insight into the landscape and its animal inhabitants. $685 per person. Departs Constitution Dock Sunday to Friday at 9.30am and Saturdays at 10am. 6234 4270. pennicottjourneys.com.au

Robert Pennicott’s seafood bounty. Picture: ANGELA SAURINE.

AUSTRALIAN WILD HARVEST

Go off the beaten track and gain an understanding of where Tasmania’s best produce comes from during gourmet food tours of the North West run by Australian Wild Harvest. You can taste-test your way through the region, sampling food from farms, providores and wineries, choosing from an assortment of gastronomic paddock-to-plate tours showcasing everything from beef and beer to walnuts and wasabi. From $185 per person. australianwildharvest.com.au

TASMANIAN BOAT CHARTERS

Pieter van der Woude is so passionate about Tasmania’s South-West wilderness that he launched his own cruise operation, Tasmanian Boat Charters. His custom-built boat, Odalisque, is a 20m floating hotel/restaurant, with onboard guest chef (borrowed from Hobart’s best restaurants) preparing fare. Your journey begins with a flight from Hobart to Melaleuca. On landing, the crew takes you by tender through the mirrored waters of the inlet to your floating home. Four-day cruise starts from $5000 per person, twin share. The boat is available for Derwent River charters from $550 per hour. tasmanianboatcharters.com.au

NORTHERN OFFERINGS

GERONIMO APERTIVO BAR AND RESTAURANT

Situated in the popular Charles St restaurant precinct, Geronimo recently featured in the Australian Good Food Guide’s list of the best eateries in the city. With a focus on share plates and woodfired pizzas, the menu has a distinctly European flavour to match its stylish decor.

With a paddock-to-plate philosophy, the menu features highlights such as: chargrilled skirt steak; eggplant and potato croquettes; beef tartare with fried leek; labnah and pickled beetroot ravioli; and their signature Spiced Red Wine Sangria.

186 Charles St, Launceston. Open daily 5pm-late. Set menu on Sundays. 6331 3652

GRAIN

One of the city’s newest restaurants, Grain opened last year led by food director Massimo Mele at the newly renovated Peppers Silo Hotel. With its high ceilings and walls of windows, it is a spacious and bright dining space for a lunch featuring great Tasmanian produce. In the evenings, the dinner menu features chargrilled calamari in chilli, lime and squid ink dressing; grilled Flinders Island lamb; rolled pork belly with roasted heirloom carrots and salsa verde; and their Frangelico affogato with sourdough ice cream might sound unusual but is quite a treat.

89/91 Lindsay St, Invermay. Open 11.30am-3pm for lunch, and from 5.30pm for dinner daily. 6700 0600

Grain of the Silos’ food director Massimo Mele likes to work with fresh Tasmanian produce.

BREAD AND BUTTER

This popular eatery builds a delicious cafe menu around the simple premise of the state’s best butter. Their menu is full of rich and tasty bakery treats all made using their own small-batch butter, which they make using cultured cream and traditional methods such as churning and hand-working. And of course the purest way to enjoy great butter is spread on handcrafted bread, such as their own traditionally made sourdough. Pair any of the buttery pastries with a coffee for the full experience.

9 Cimitiere St, Launceston. Open 7am-3pm Monday-Saturday, and 8am-3pm on Sundays. 6124 2299

A busy day of trading at Bread + Butter in Launceston. Picture: SCOTT ATKINS OF LUSY PRODUCTIONS

BLACK COW BISTRO

Specialising in premium Tasmanian grass-fed, free range, aged beef, this bistro earned the thumbs up from famous foodie Nigella Lawson on one of her visits to Tasmania, and with good reason. Located in an art deco former butcher shop at the corner of George St and Paterson St, Black Cow is an institution now, with dishes designed around local produce and served in a warm bistro-style atmosphere.

70 George St, Launceston. Open for dinner 5.30pm-late daily. 6331 9333

STILLWATER

Created by the same team, Stillwater in the old Richies Mill building is also an established icon of Launceston dining and remains popular with good reason. Their seasonal menu includes local delicacies such as black lip abalone, wallaby, southern calamari, and pork from Mount Gnomon, all prepared with a Tasmanian twist.

2 Bridge Rd, Launcesont. Open from 8am for breakfast and from 12pm for lunch daily. Dinner is Wed-Sat from 6pm (autumn/winter) and Tues-Sat (spring/summer) 6331 4153

JOSEF CHROMY WINES

If you’re looking for a solid performer it is hard to go past Josef Chromy Wines, with the winery’s restaurant being a Chef Hat winner in the Australian Good Food Guide for the past three years running. The beautiful restaurant looks out across the picturesque Relbia vineyard and is one of the most pleasant dining experiences the city has to offer. Head Chef Nick Raitt curates the menu specifically to compliment the vineyard’s award-winning wines, with dishes such as: wood-grilled lamb rump with rosemary labna and roasted fennel; and the rich and hearty baked beef cheek with sour cherries, cabbage and parmesan.

370 Relbia Rd, Relbia. Open for lunch 11.45am-2.30pm daily. 6335 8700