The 10 best hotels in Hobart

Anchored to Hobart’s buzzing waterfront precinct, this charming historic hotel was well worth the six-year wait. The original sandstone facade houses 152 rooms in three buildings of starkly different eras. You can pick from park-facing Heritage rooms with Georgian touches like vaulted doors and restored fireplaces overlooking the leafy St David’s Park; Pavilion suites that boast floor-to-ceiling window panes with views of the harbourfront and kunanyi / Mount Wellington; and Art Deco rooms with bold colour palettes and decor that are regal in all their yesteryear glory. So if you’re after a spot of luxury, luxury is what you shall get. The award-winning Tasman also delivers the goods via their adjoining eatery, Peppina – serving up divine Italian fare with the likes of house-made gnocchi, succulent braised meats, a selection of just-caught seafood and desserts to savour. It’s easily one of the best restaurants in Hobart, and you’d be silly to pass it up. The hotel’s central locale is hard to beat too, with Derwent Harbour, Salamanca Place, Battery Point and Hobart’s CBD on The Tasman’s doorstop.

Time Out tip: The Peppina Pantry offers a European-style breakfast spread that's well worth the $55. It's centred around a large wooden table overflowing with local charcuterie, artisan cheeses and fresh salads. On the sweet side, there’s housemade granola, pot-set yoghurts (I highly recommend the cereal panna cotta), buttery pastries, pancakes and honey straight from the comb.

Address: 12 Murray Street, Hobart
Price: Starting at $269 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop Q Murray Street

MACq01 is perched right on the River Derwent in Hobart’s famously stunning waterfront district. The former shipping shed now houses a timber-clad, luxury hotel boasting views of the beautiful briny sea, historic wharf buildings as well as kunanyi / Mount Wellington from its 114 rooms. Each of these said rooms at MACq01 features differing doors that pay homage to 114 of Tasmania’s greats, past and present – it’s all part of the hotel’s focus on storytelling – the first of its kind in Australia. Six on-site restaurants and bars have you spoiled for choice when hunger sets in, including one of Hobart’s best eateries, The Black Footed Pig – a Spanish-inspired tapas bar that’s sure to take you straight to flavourtown. Or hit the decked out gym, if that’s more your thing. Book a premium waterfront suite to score one of the hotel’s famous third-floor private terraces, wood-panelled with sweeping wharf views and kitschy fake lawn. Leaving your room each day will be a chore. But if you do muster up the enthusiasm to venture out into the world, MACq01 is right in Hobart’s epicentre, meaning that perusing by foot is most certainly on the cards.

Time Out tip: If your room doesn’t have a water view, head to the hotel’s Story Bar for a sundowner. It’s got one of the best vantage points in Hobart.

Address: 18 Hunter Street, Hobart
Price: Starting at $231 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop 1, Campbell Street and Macquarie Street

A strictly over-18s property, the Islington is a boutique luxury hotel built in 1847 in a Regency style, located at the foothills of kunanyi / Mount Wellington in South Hobart. Since it’s a little further out of the CBD (but only a five-minute drive away) and only has 11 rooms, the Islington feels like a peaceful oasis – the hotel’s sprawling heritage gardens also help with a 100-year-old willow tree aiding the tranquility. The five-star accommodation brings an old-world charm while incorporating cream of the crop luxe, with features like heated-floor marble bathrooms and some rooms opening out onto the gardens. Cosy fireplaces invite you to get comfy and admire the eclectic art that lines the hotel’s walls, including an original Matisse, too. The food at the Islington Kitchen is top-tier, made using the best Tassie produce with a focus on foraging. Plus, eating with an unobstructed view of the mountain is a pretty unforgettable Hobart experience. 

Time Out tip: Make sure you request a cheese board on arrival – stacked with local cheese and accompaniments, it’s the ultimate indulgence to kick off your stay.

Address: 321 Davey Street, South Hobart
Price: Starting at $298 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop 9 Davey Street

Australia’s first dedicated art hotel delivers much more than just a place to crash from its optimal location on Hobart’s historic waterfront. Staying at Henry Jones is like staying at an art gallery, with 400 pieces of contemporary Tasmanian art displayed throughout the hotel lobby and suites. As you absorb the visual delights of Henry Jones, you can also wine and dine at one of the hotel’s two sophisticated restaurants –  Landscape and Jam Packed – each spotlighting Tasmania’s finest local produce, or settle in for a drink at the hotel’s intimate cocktail lounge, IXL Long Bar. As for Henry Jones’ rooms and suites, they all underwent a facelift in 2018, so rest assured (and comfortably) knowing that you’re snoozing in sophisticated style. The dual-level Corporate Studio will get you by if you’re on a budget, and the Peacock Terrace awaits your splashing-out. This particular room is the oldest standing building on Old Wharf and the original home of the Jam Factory founders. Expect a smooth blend between industrial coolness, timber allure and hand-cut stone walls, with red a common theme between the rooms. It’s the whole package at Henry Jones Art Hotel.

Time Out tip: Henry Jones runs guided art and history tours most days at 4pm. Tours are complimentary for in-house guests and you’ll enjoy a glass of wine or beer, as you hear the narrative of the site and its art unfold.

Address: 25 Hunter Street, Hobart
Price: Starting at $290 per night
Closest transport: Bus stop 1 Campbell Street and Macquarie Street