What’s On in Hobart: The Latest Arts, Culture and Food News

Hobart’s cultural calendar is in full swing, with new eateries, exhibitions, festivals and local events popping up across Tasmania every week. Whether you’re hunting for the latest food news, planning a weekend of art and live music, or simply keeping up with what’s on in Hobart, this is your go-to guide for everything happening now.

NEW IN HOBART: Brine, Lauderdale

Brine is the coastal daydream every Hobart local quietly hopes stays undiscovered. Sun-washed minimalism on the outskirts of the city sets the scene for an all-day menu that reads like a love letter to salt, smoke and seasonality. Breakfast pasta with confit egg and speck? Divine. House-made crumpets with rosemary salt? Irresistible. Oysters, tartares and pristine raw fish slip seamlessly into lunch, paired with mimosas or blackberry sodas.

Fresh, elegant, and deeply grounded in place, Brine is worth the detour, and one of the best new cafes in Hobart.

Sitchu Tip: With Fridays rolling on until 9pm, it’s the perfect setting for small plates, something crisp in your glass and an easy slide into the weekend. Order the Happy Meal: fried olives, green sauce, a dirty martini and chippies.

Fridays run from 7am to 9pm, Saturdays from 7am to 2pm, Sundays roll until they decide to call it, and Mondays wrap at 2pm

10a Bangalee Street, Lauderdale

Party in the Paddock: The Class of 2026 Line-Up Unveiled

The Class of 2026 lineup is a full sensory riot: Mallrat bringing the dream-pop shimmer, Sofi Tukker delivering late-night heat, and Baker Boy lighting up the stage with that unstoppable, feel-good fire. And that’s before you even get to the names everyone’s already screaming about — Sophie Ellis-Bextor, The Veronicas, The Temper Trap, Flight Facilities, Peking Duk (Adam Hyde’s stratospheric era is here and we’re so here for that), Peach PRC, Mia Wray, Ball Park Music, Genesis Owusu, Blondshell, Dune Rats, Old Mervs and The Preatures.

See the full lineup and book tickets here

A Sleek New Cellar Door Elevates Tasmania’s Coal River Valley

Stargazer has opened its first dedicated tasting room in Tea Tree, a beautifully understated addition to the Coal River Valley. The building leans into a refined rural aesthetic with warm timber, soft light and open views across the Palisander vineyard that create a calm, inviting rhythm. Tastings are seated and deliberately small, giving Samantha Connew’s cool-climate wines the space they deserve.

It’s a polished new waypoint for southern Tasmania, ideal for a summer weekend shaped by thoughtful winemaking, fresh country air and scenery that instantly resets the pace.

37 Rosewood Lane, Tea Tree

Bird in Hand Takes Flight at Hobart’s Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens

Tasmania’s dining scene is about to get a dazzling new chapter. In late 2025, South Australian winery Bird in Hand will bring its signature style of food, wine, and understated luxury to Hobart’s Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens — a move already being toasted as one of the state’s most exciting culinary arrivals.

The 14-hectare gardens — all heritage stone, kitchen plots, and 200 years of botanical beauty — will soon play host to a trio of new venues: a Tasting Room, Restaurant, and Kiosk, each promising its own flavour of sensory delight. Think slow lunches that stretch into golden-hour spritzes, or picnics that come with Bird in Hand bubbles and a view over the Derwent.

A fine-dining restaurant, modelled on the acclaimed LVN Restaurant at Bird in Hand’s Adelaide Hills estate, will headline the experience, celebrating Tasmania’s local produce, wild ingredients, and artful presentation. The Tasting Room will pour Bird in Hand’s globally loved cool-climate wines alongside curated Tasmanian drops, while the Kiosk will keep things casual with light plates and garden-fresh bites perfect for a post-stroll stop.

Bird in Hand will also oversee weddings and bespoke events within the gardens — a fitting partnership for a winery that’s as much about design, creativity and culture as it is about the glass in hand.

Together, Bird in Hand and the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens promise an experience that’s elegant yet grounded — where wine, nature, and architecture meet in perfect harmony.

Opening late 2025 — and destined to be Tasmania’s next must-book dining pilgrimage

A Retro-Chic Diner Is About to Light Up Battery Point

We’re already drooling — this new Battery Point diner looks set to flip the script and the pancakes. Rumour has it that those stacks might just be the best in town. Stay tuned via their socials here, brunch lovers.

Opens soon

Battery Point, Tasmania

From Soil to Sea: Matthew Evans Honoured on the Global Stage

Tasmania’s own Matthew Evans — chef, farmer, and steadfast custodian of the land — has been recognised with a special mention in the 2025 Basque Culinary World Prize, often called the Nobel of Gastronomy. The honour places him among the world’s most visionary chefs using food as a force for change.

From his 28-hectare Fat Pig Farm in the Huon Valley, Evans is rewriting the story of how we eat — and how we give back to the land that feeds us. His regenerative model produces 10,000 meals a year while capturing around 100 tonnes more CO₂ than it emits, restoring ecosystems and nourishing communities in the process. Grasslands revived, endangered species protected, and a philosophy born from soil, season, and patience: his is farming as both art and activism.

Beyond the farm gate, Evans has reshaped the conversation around food transparency. His investigative series What’s the Catch? exposed hidden truths within Australia’s seafood industry, helping to usher in new laws that require restaurants to reveal whether their fish is local or imported. In his books and broadcasts — For the Love of Meat, Soil, and the beloved Gourmet Farmer series — he has given a generation permission to see food not just as sustenance, but as a moral and ecological act.

Now, as climate change intensifies the twin crises of soil depletion and overfishing, Evans’ work stands as both an antidote and an invitation: to eat in a way that heals, to cultivate with humility, and to understand that true abundance begins beneath our feet.

Sitchu Tip: You can explore Matthew Evans’ philosophy firsthand at Fat Pig Farm — where paddock, plate and purpose come beautifully full circle.

Le Gulch Pours Its First Glasses on Bicheno’s Waterfront From Today

Something special is stirring on Waubs Harbour. Le Gulch Wine Bar opens today in Bicheno with a soft launch that’s all elegance and ocean air — Tasmanian wines poured to the soundtrack of the sea. Apsley Gorge Chardonnay, House of Arras sparkling, oysters, cheese and charcuterie… it’s all designed for slow, sunlit afternoons.

Open Thursday to Sunday from 12 to 5pm, Le Gulch brings a bright new rhythm to the East Coast, one where coastal calm meets cultivated taste — and the view? Well, they do the rest.

54 Waubs Esplanade, Bicheno

Tyndalls in the Making: Tasmania’s Next Iconic Walk

If the Three Capes left you craving more drama in your boots, Tasmania’s proposed Next Iconic Walk at the Tyndall Range might be the next skip in your step. Still in the planning stages, the three-day traverse will stretch from Lake Plimsoll to Lake Margaret, with overnight stays at Lake Huntley and Lake Mary. Early designs suggest a 28–31 km route, with options for bunk rooms, private pods or tent pads to suit your comfort level.

Set to meet “boot standard” (Class T3), it promises a challenge without crampons — though some of the climbs might get your heart rate (and maybe your language) up. Construction is slated to begin end of 2025/early 2026, with a hopeful opening in 2028–29.

Naturally, not everyone’s sold. Alpine ecologists have raised concerns about rare flora and fragile alpine zones, while locals see potential economic lift for the West Coast. For now, it’s equal parts vision and debate — a trail still being written.

A Chocoholic’s Dream: Hobart’s Own Cadbury Wonderland is Getting a Major Upgrade

There’s golden-ticket news for Hobart: the Cadbury factory in Claremont is being reimagined into a full-blown chocolate wonderland. Think immersive Willy Wonka theatrics with a distinctly Tasmanian twist — tasting labs, build-your-own bars, time-travel tunnels through Cadbury history, and even a cocoa arboretum sprouting the real deal. The foreshore will be dressed up too, with ferries and public spaces ensuring everyone gets a piece of the action.

While the world’s tallest chocolate fountain has been scrapped, the $100-million experience promises to draw half a million visitors a year when doors swing open in 2027. Sweet tooths, start limbering up — Hobart’s about to raise the bar.

Construction to begin late 2026

Cadbury Factory, 100 Cadbury Road, Claremont

Two New Luxury Hideaways Open at Tasmania’s Pumphouse Point

Cradle Mountain’s most coveted address just got even harder to resist. Pumphouse Point — that iconic 1940s hydro station reimagined as Tasmania’s ultimate wilderness escape — has unveiled two new retreats perched on the shores of Lake St Clair. Hidden by myrtle forest and framed by sweeping water views, each retreat comes with a fire pit, deep-soak tub, and all-inclusive feasts at the Shorehouse showcasing Tassie’s finest produce. From history tours to artisan chocolate tastings with House of Anver, the experience is as indulgent as it is remote.

Rates from $1950 secure a front-row seat to UNESCO-listed wilds, where luxury and solitude are in perfect, elemental harmony.

Sardinian Soul Meets Tasmanian Taste: Francesco Nonni’s Inspired New Menu at Wrest Point

Sardinian-born chef Francesco Nonni has taken the reins at The Point Revolving Restaurant, Wrest Point, bringing a fresh, inspired menu rooted in family tradition and Mediterranean flavours. Drawing on memories of his Nonna’s kitchen, Francesco’s dishes celebrate Tasmanian’s finest local seafood, hand-cut steak tartare, and inventive twists on quail, lamb, duck, and more. With General Manager Linda Collins alongside him, this culinary journey promises elevated textures, bold flavours, and memorable dining. Tasmanians keen for a taste of Mediterranean soul with a local heart won’t want to miss it.

Wrest Point, 410 Sandy Bay Road, Sandy Bay

Australia’s No. 1 Attraction? It’s Not the Harbour Bridge. It’s Hobart’s Haunting Heartbeat

Tripadvisor has crowned Hobart Convict Penitentiary the #1 Top Attraction in Australia and the South Pacific in its 2025 Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards. Outranking icons and theme parks alike, this brooding slice of Tasmanian history is no mere relic: it’s a full-body immersion into the past, powered by volunteers whose storytelling hits like a punch to the chest. Tunnels, gallows, and digital overlays collide in a darkly unforgettable experience, proving that travellers are chasing meaning over gloss.

Tour bookings: nationaltrusttas.org.au/penitentiary

Party in the Paddock Secures Its Future with $1.5M Lifeline

Party in the Paddock — Tasmania’s cult-favourite summer festival — is officially here to stay, with the state government pledging $1.5 million over three years to fund crucial upgrades (think fire systems and infrastructure). The boost ensures the boutique fest can keep slinging big vibes, top-tier acts, and community magic through 2027 and beyond. It’s a massive win for Tassie’s music scene and punters alike — time to start planning your next glitter-soaked paddock escape.

Callington Mill Distillery Opens in MACq01

Callington Mill Distillery has officially landed in Hobart, bringing its award-winning Oatlands charm to the waterfront MACq01 building. Open daily for lunch, dinner, and late-night drinks, the luxe new venue delivers precision across whisky, wine, and food, all served in plush interiors and a sun-soaked harbour deck.

Whisky lovers can dive into the exclusive Serendipity Experience, a guided tasting and blending session that ends with your very own signature bottle. Hobart’s sipping scene just got seriously elevated.

18 Hunter Street, Hobart

MONA Launches In the end, the beginning by Arcangelo Sassolino

Industrial materials meet elemental force in this jaw-dropping MONA exhibition from Italian sculptor Arcangelo Sassolino. Think: steel melting mid-air, glass straining under rock, and tyres squeezed to breaking point. Using heat, gravity and immense pressure, Sassolino explores change as a moment of truth — a flash of destruction, renewal and transformation. It’s physical. It’s philosophical. It’s like nothing you’ve seen before.

Curated by Sarah Wallace, Jarrod Rawlins and Olivier Varenne.

Until April 6th, 2026

MONA, Hobart

Unlock the Keys to New Experiences at The Tasman 

The Tasman, one of Tasmania’s newest and most coveted hotels, is just steps from Hobart’s vibrant waterfront and beautifully celebrates the city’s history.

Recently recognised as one of the World’s Top 50 Hotels by a global panel of more than 600 experts, guests are invited to elevate their stay with a signature Tasman experience; the Keys. Curated by the concierge team and crafted with trusted local operators, each experience is either entirely exclusive to guests or thoughtfully elevated for luxury travellers. From mountain biking through vineyards and plunging into icy waters to harvesting oysters straight from the sea, every experience invites deeper connection, discovery, and perspective.

Book your stay with The Tasman

Book your stay with Booking.com

Book your stay with Luxury Escapes

12 Murray Street, Hobart

WunderBar is a New Bar to Know

WunderBar is the sultry new showstopper on Hobart’s dining scene, where moody brasserie vibes meet next-level French-Tasmanian fare. Set inside a beautifully restored 1830s inn, it’s all about buttery vol-au-vents, luscious profiteroles and wine that dances on the palate. Chef Julian Volkmer (ex-MONA, Peacock and Jones) is behind the magic, and trust us, you’ll want a front row seat.

Come for the daytime pastries, egg soldiers with bacon jam, and pitch-perfect coffee; stay for the Friday night candlelight, local white fish rillettes with buttery brioche, and boeuf bourguignon. Dishes like the pumpkin gnocchi Parisienne shine day or night — and the chocolate mousse? Non-negotiable.

45 Goulburn Street, Hobart 

Lost in Asia: The New Southeast Asian Gem from the Team Behind Beloved Bar Wa Izakaya

From the local legends behind Hobart’s cult-favourite Bar Wa Izakaya comes a new sensory whirlwind: Lost in Asia. This neon-slick, plant-filled late-night haunt pays homage to the streets and night markets of Southeast Asia, reimagined with fire and flair. One night, it’s char kway teow shimmering with wok hei; the next, a sambal-kissed beef tartare, a Cape Grim beef short rib braised until it falls off the bone in a house-made massaman sauce, or a mushroom larb that knocks you sideways. Add in a crate of cold Asian beers, a playlist pulsing with energy, and the same playful irreverence that made Bar Wa a mainstay — and you’ve got a flavour-charged fever dream you won’t want to wake up from.

131-133 Murray Street, Hobart 

New Bistro Alert: Six Russell

Sandy Bay’s Six Russell isn’t just another bakery — it’s a slow-fermented, fine-dining-fuelled revelation. A collaboration between the Tso family (Me Wah) and Kobi Ruzicka (Dier Makr, Lucinda), this Hobart bakery bistro churns out 36-hour sourdough loaves, golden croissants, and a McMuffin-levelled-up with fennel-spiked sausage, silky egg, and dill-caper sauce.

Next door, you’ll find a 40-seat bistro, slinging natural wines, mod-Oz plates, and three kinds of Martinis. With a full potato section (because, Tasmania), vol-au-vents, and abalone Rockefeller, Six Russell is rewriting the bakery-to-bistro playbook — one perfectly laminated pastry at a time.

6 Russell Crescent, Sandy Bay

Pay a Visit to This New Italian Eatery: Novellino

Found in a charming 1839 heritage building on Barrack Street, Novellino is Hobart’s fresh new Italian cafe and eatery serving up a Sicilian feast like no other. Expect handmade pasta drenched in slow-cooked tomato sauce, creamy four-cheese gnocchi, crispy spuntini like arancini and frittata, prosciutto-packed focaccia, alongside Italian pastries, tiramisu, and expertly pulled espresso. Timber floors, a cosy fireplace, and art deco lighting set the mood, while local art adds character. It’s old-world charm meeting bold flavours — elegant yet unpretentious, a true taste of Tasmania with an Italian soul.

12 Barrack Street, Hobart

Scholé: A New Wine Bar Has Landed on Liverpool Street

Behind the door of a transformed confectionery shop on Hobart’s Liverpool Street lies Scholé, the latest venture from culinary legend Luke Burgess. With experience at Noma — yes, Noma — and Tetsuya’s in Sydney, Burgess brings world-class flair to this intimate wine bar and restaurant. Offering room for just ten guests, Scholé serves a guest-driven menu that celebrates local growers and fishermen. On Tuesdays, the space transforms into a lively Tachinomi-style standing bar, with no reservations and a focus on casual snacks and drinks. Scholé is more than dining — it’s a masterclass in hospitality, connection, and community.

227 Liverpool Street, Hobart

Say Hello to Abercrombie Coffee: North Hobart’s Newest Specialty Coffee Gem

Abercrombie Coffee, a fresh addition to North Hobart’s vibrant cafe scene, is fast becoming the go-to spot for exceptional brews, light bites, and community spirit. With 30+ years of experience, owners Duncan Allen and Peter Ladyman bring their passion for quality coffee and inclusive spaces to life in a warm, welcoming venue. Proudly queer-friendly and wheelchair-accessible, the cafe also offers a “pup cup” for furry friends.

In addition to collaborations with local favourites like Tom McHugo’s, Abercrombie is a proud supporter of Guide Dogs Tasmania. Committed to sustainability, the cafe serves responsibly sourced coffee from Villino Coffee, alongside a menu that celebrates Tasmania’s finest ingredients. A true community hub.

431 Elizabeth Street, North Hobart 

Visit Bicheno – A Coastal Dreamland with a Wild Side – and One of Booking.com’s Friendliest Towns in Australia in 2025

Based on more than 360 million verified customer reviews worldwide, Booking.com recently named Bicheno one of the most welcoming towns in Australia—and if you’ve ever been, you’ll know exactly why. This sun-soaked, salt-kissed seaside town on Tasmania’s East Coast offers the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation. By day, dive into the crystal-clear waters of Governor Island Marine Reserve, where vibrant fish and swaying kelp forests make for unforgettable underwater exploration.

As dusk falls, join the fairy penguins on their charming march home beneath a pastel sky. Then, feast on freshly shucked oysters and just-caught lobster at one of the town’s no-fuss, flavour-packed eateries by the shore. With its friendly locals, stunning beaches, and unspoiled beauty, Bicheno is a place where you arrive as a stranger and leave with a heart full of salt and stories.

Book a Bicheno stay here

Club 42 Pilates: The New Hub for Mindful Movement in Bellerive

Looking for a place to stretch, strengthen, and find your flow in Hobart? Look no further than Club 42 Pilates in the picturesque bayside area of Bellerive. This dynamic new studio is all about mindful movement and connection, offering a variety of classes from reformer pilates and hot mat pilates to hot strength and yoga. A warm, welcoming haven for all ages and abilities, you’ll be guided by a team of expert instructors. Club 42 promises a space that’s as inspiring as it is comfortable. Step into a studio that celebrates Tasmania’s natural beauty and feel your best, inside and out. If you’re looking to add some zen to your Hobart experience, Club 42 is the place to be.

31 Cambridge Road, Bellerive 

A Magical New Stay is Coming to Bruny Island

At the edge of the world, where Tasmania tumbles into the sea, a stark yet breathtaking vision is taking shape. VIPP Tunnel is a one-bedroom guesthouse unlike anything Bruny Island has seen—a brutalist sanctuary carved into the wild landscape, where concrete meets coastline and silence is a luxury. Designed by the acclaimed Room11 architects, this off-grid retreat frames the D’Entrecasteaux Channel like a cinematic masterpiece, with floor-to-ceiling glass blurring the line between inside and out.

It’s a sensory experience as much as a stay. A minimalist courtyard, home to a single white birch, creates a hypnotic tunnel vision from the entrance to the water’s edge. A sculptural lightwell installation bathes the interiors in shifting shades of amber and gold, playing with time and season like an artist’s brushstroke. Inside, Danish design powerhouse Vipp has curated a space of effortless elegance—sleek furnishings, refined craftsmanship, and that signature Scandinavian restraint.

Beyond the concrete walls, Bruny’s raw beauty awaits: kayak through glassy coves, feast on Bruny Island Cheese, and watch white wallabies graze at dusk. Prepare for an extraordinary new retreat set to redefine Tasmania’s luxury stay scene.

Book your stay at VIPP Tunnel

Book your stay with Booking.com

Bruny Island

OIRTHIR: Where the Wild Tasmanian Coast Meets Scottish-French Finesse

There’s something poetic about OIRTHIR, the much-anticipated fine dining venture taking root on Tasmania’s East Coast. Perched at the former VAN BONE site, this striking space now belongs to Michelin-starred husband-and-wife duo Bob Piechniczek and Jillian McInnes—Scots by birth, Tasmanians by fate.

At OIRTHIR, the rugged beauty of Tasmania dictates the menu. A seven-course lunch ($175pp) is a precise yet deeply personal expression of place—Blue Lagoon oysters, honey from their hives, Bangor lamb, and line-caught seafood pulled straight from the wild waters. A more relaxed three-course supper ($75pp) invites locals in with whisky, Black Angus, and an atmosphere that feels both intimate and inevitable.

The drinks list is a study in reverence: Tasmania’s finest wines, a measured touch of French varietals, and a nod to home with Scottish whisky. The venue itself remains architecturally untouched, but there are whispers of Scotland woven in—tartan, timber, a sense of time slowing down.

For Bob and Jillian, OIRTHIR isn’t just a restaurant; it’s the sum of decades in kitchens, of risks taken and roots finally planted. This is fine dining made personal—an experience worth crossing land and sea for.

357 Marion Bay Road, Bream Creek, Tasmania

Analiese Gregory’s New Dining Experience Is On Its Way

Analiese Gregory’s upcoming Huon Valley venture promises more than a meal. It’s more of a raw, unvarnished homage to place and provenance. Set inside a 115-year-old farm shed, this 10-seat sanctuary will spotlight fire-kissed, hyper-local produce — freshly foraged abalone, farm-reared pigs, and wild-caught fish. Though not open yet, it already feels like a reckoning: a stripped-back, fiercely authentic celebration of Tasmania’s wild pulse, where every bite tells a story of survival, respect, and deep connection to the land. Keep an eye out — this one’s destined to shake up the scene.

Address undisclosed

The Opening of Ranita Ramen in Hobart

Hobart’s dining scene is a whole lot tastier with the arrival of Ranita Ramen, a charming nine-seat ramen bar that’s already causing a stir. Located on Liverpool Street, this intimate spot, led by the talented couple Zoe Erskine and Javier Garcia Tornel, serves up homemade noodles and velvety broths crafted with locally sourced ingredients.

Each bowl is a delicious reflection of the couple’s culinary journey — from Melbourne to Madrid, and a passion ignited in Japan. The seasonal menu features dishes like fish shio ramen: a delicate fish broth with chicken chashu, meatballs, ajitama egg, and emmer wheat noodles — light yet rich, complex yet comforting. Don’t miss the chance to experience this extraordinary ramen bar in 2025.

206 Liverpool Street, Hobart

With so much on the horizon, 2025 is a year of indulgence, exploration, and connection in Hobart. From innovative dining concepts to cultural experiences that celebrate Tasmania’s unique character, there’s never been a better time to dive into all this beautiful region has to offer. For an extra dose of Tasmania’s vibrant energy, explore our guide to the best art galleries in Hobart and discover what’s happening this month in the city and beyond.