Hobart's Salamanca Place gets the headlines and rightly so – the precinct stacks historic stone buildings, waterfront energy and restaurants that punch well above a city of this size. But Tasmania's dining scene spreads far beyond those bluestone facades. Drive north through the Derwent Valley wine country, follow the east coast highway to Georges Bay, or climb into the Tamar Valley above Legana and you find venues that are just as considered and considerably more unhurried. The seven below cover a wide arc of the island, from a lively Hobart pub with century-old bones to a boutique winery where lunch stretches into the afternoon with estate pours and valley views.
Irish Murphy's – Salamanca, Hobart, Tas
The building at the northern end of Salamanca Place has been standing since 1812 and Irish Murphy's wears that history without making a museum of it. Inside, warm timber panels and the murmur of live local music create the kind of atmosphere that takes hold before the first drink arrives. The recently renovated alfresco area catches the afternoon sun well, with Parliament House sitting opposite and the Salamanca cobblestones running past – a good spot to watch the precinct move.
The menu is built around Tasmanian produce and Irish pub staples done without shortcuts. The Irish lamb stew arrives thick and aromatic, loaded with parsnips, carrots, onion, potato, celery, green peas and mash – a dish that earns its place as the house signature. Craft beer and cider back it up and gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and vegetarian choices mean the table covers all comers. Live music runs through the week, keeping Irish Murphy's as lively mid-service as it is when the doors first open.
Book your table at Irish Murphy's
Mezethes Greek Taverna – Salamanca, Hobart, Tas
A few doors along the same precinct, Mezethes Greek Taverna occupies a historic bluestone building in the Salamanca Arts Precinct, its whitewashed interior hung with images of Greece and accented with authentic sculptures. The alfresco garden out back is made for a long lunch – the kind where the dishes keep arriving and nobody checks the time. Chef Sofia Spandonis runs a kitchen that understands Greek hospitality: generous, layered and grounded in shared eating.
The name translates to 'many little dishes' and the menu delivers on that promise. Zucchini fritters with fresh herbs and tzatziki, feta and spinach spanakopita and a seafood platter built for the table all reward grazing. The standout is the Tasmanian lamb rack, stuffed with couscous, pine nuts, olives, onion, cheese, capsicum, sultanas, parsley and spinach, then served with housemade red wine jus, Greek lemon roasted potatoes and salad. Traditional baklava closes the meal at the right note.
Reserve your spot at Mezethes Greek Taverna
Driftwood Restaurant – Lauderdale, Tas
In Lauderdale, Driftwood Restaurant sits at that pleasant intersection of coastal calm and carefully considered cooking. Chef Stephen Hickman changes the menu as produce dictates, keeping the focus on what is fresh and at its best rather than what is convenient. The room is relaxed without being casual and water views from the alfresco section make the drive from Hobart's CBD feel worthwhile – about 20 minutes southeast along the Derwent estuary.
Stephen's kitchen works housemade wherever it can, a commitment that shows in the depth of each plate. The seared duck breast with parsnip cream, Dutch carrots, rocket and blackberry jus demonstrates what happens when richness, earthiness and acidity are weighted with care. The drinks list evolves alongside the food and includes preservative-free options. Driftwood also welcomes families and is pet-friendly on the alfresco deck, making it a practical choice for a weekend trip across to the eastern shore.
Secure a table at Driftwood Restaurant
Home Hill Winery Restaurant – Ranelagh, Tas
The Huon Valley town of Ranelagh is home to Home Hill Estate, a family-run vineyard where the restaurant sits inside a rustic building surrounded by vines and open paddocks. Chef Mark Wilson's midday menu draws directly from Tasmania's larder – local seafood, regional produce and the estate's own award-winning drops in one place. The dining room is comfortable and unhurried and bush scenery frames every table.
Mark's approach is confident and well-matched to the setting. Lamb ribs with honey, goats' curd, macadamia and cashew dukkah and sage make a strong opening move. Market fish arrives with mussels, prawn bisque, green olive, potato, fried leek and squid ink aioli – a plate that leans into what the state's waters produce best. The standout on the main menu is the dry-aged pork chop: roast carrot, pickled capsicum, courgette, toasted sage and mustard jus, a dish that balances acidity and savour without overcomplicating either.
Make a reservation at Home Hill Winery Restaurant
Clover Hill Vineyard Dine In – Lebrina, Tas
Perched above the valley in Lebrina, the cellar door and dining space at Clover Hill Vineyard commands a sweeping outlook across the vines that makes lingering over a long meal an easy decision. The terrace is sun-soaked on clear days; inside, earthy tones, recessed floor lighting and tactile finishes create a serene counterpoint to the landscape outside. Clover Hill is known for sparkling made in the traditional method and the food is chosen to complement the pours rather than compete with them.
The pairing philosophy runs through every plate. Pork cabbage rolls with pickled plums and chorizo crumb sit alongside fried chicken with sauerkraut and yuzu curd – dishes that pick up the wine's acidity and structure. Black pudding with bitter chocolate, quinoa, pickled beetroot, berries and cocoa crumb shows the kitchen's range. A Tasmanian cheese plate rounds things out and a glass of the 2016 Blanc de Blanc alongside it is as good an argument for staying another hour as you will find anywhere in the north of the island.
Plan your visit to Clover Hill Vineyard Dine In
Parkside Bar and Kitchen – St Helens, Tas
Georges Bay stretches wide and still outside the floor-to-ceiling windows at Parkside Bar and Kitchen on St Helens Point Road and the architecture – clean lines, modern finishes – frames the water without interrupting it. Whether you take a timber communal table inside or a seat on the sheltered alfresco deck, the bay is always present. The light on Tasmania's east coast has a particular quality in the late afternoon that makes the setting quietly spectacular. Parkside has been drawing visitors and locals alike since it opened in May 2019.
Breakfast runs to corn fritters with chutney, avocado, spinach and a fried chilli egg; midday and dinner move into creamy seafood chowder and chipotle and maple pork baby back ribs with chips and salad. The dish that keeps people talking is the crispy pork belly: black pepper caramel sauce, jasmine rice, coriander and sesame seeds – sweet, savoury and textured through each layer. Live music, a full bar and pet-friendly access on the deck round out what is a genuinely all-weather destination on the east coast.
Check availability at Parkside Bar and Kitchen
Evenfall Winery and Restaurant – Legana, Tas
The Tamar Valley spreads out below the dining room at Evenfall Winery and Restaurant in Legana and Chef Jack Hawkins works a menu that takes the view seriously as context. This is a boutique operation with an intimate dining room and Evenfall makes a point of sourcing from Tasmanian farms and running a kitchen with a clear commitment to sustainability. Estate wines pour alongside a menu that changes with the seasons, keeping every visit calibrated to what the land is producing right now.
Jack' cooking is grounded in Modern Australian technique applied to local ingredients and the setting suits long lunches as much as it does celebrations and private occasions. The sweeping valley panorama through the dining room windows gives the meal a sense of occasion that no amount of interior design fully replicates. Evenfall is the kind of destination that earns repeat visits not through spectacle but through consistency – a kitchen, a wine list and a view that all pull in the same direction.
Enquire about dining at Evenfall Winery and Restaurant
Taken together, these seven venues trace a generous arc across Tasmania – from the animated cobblestones of Salamanca to the quiet grandeur of the Tamar Valley. The island's scale means you can cover significant culinary ground in a single long weekend and each of these places gives you a reason to slow down and stay a little longer than planned.
For more great places to eat near you, click here.
