10 Best Bars in Hobart, Tasmania

Designed to look like an ice-cold Antarctic wonderland, this glamorous bar is famous for its dry martini. It also has an excellent selection of cool climate wines, particularly those from Tasmania itself. There is also a gin distillery on-site.

You could come to the diminutive Sonny for the simple and delicious snacks, which are chalked up on the blackboard every day. Or you could swing by for the drinks; there's always something small-scale and low-intervention on the pour, sourced from all over the globe. But the true Sonny fan knows it's all about those pristine speakers, made by local artisans Pitt and Giblin. They might be playing a little Rolling Stones one minute, Prince the next, and all on a system that will make you put your drink down and marvel at the purity of the sound. Sonny is tiny—only 20 seats—and it's walk-ins only so you have to be lucky to snag a spot, but it's worth the effort every time.

A laid-back brewery with plenty of indoor and outdoor space that has a strong commitment to regular local live music, as well as comedy. Their Harbour Master Amber Ale is an excellent drop.

Break bread, drink, and gather in the garden, hidden in plain sight. Enjoy delicious food from their local kitchen collaborators, and drinks from all over Tasmania and the mainland, too. The menu and produce change with the seasons. Venture down from the garden and into the Cathedral, an unholy beer garden and live music venue. The 59-foot-tall structure is a sheltered meeting ground for garden gatherings.

This cute and cozy Heritage-listed cottage hides Hobart's best beer garden in its backyard, home to a full-size bus, which plays host to regular trivia tournaments. Warm in winter, bright and breezy in summer, with good food, a great relaxed vibe, and a selection of local craft beers and ciders—Preachers ticks all the boxes, especially on a sunny day.

The cool kids head to this raucous, art deco pub warmed by roaring log fires to watch nightly live music, including plenty of top Tasmanian and touring bands. The food on offer is excellent and good value.

By day it's an alfresco restaurant offering café fare, and by night a bar and beer garden with shareable snacks and live music. This cool, converted gas station is a flexible and light-filled hot spot with bespoke wood furniture and room for several ponies. The name is a tongue-in-cheek reference to a British '90s sitcom, Keeping Up Appearances, and the space is appropriately friendly with touches of quirk and humor.

Nestled between Hobart's CBD and the café strip of North Hobart, Shambles occupies a fond place in Hobartians' hearts for its excellent beer (brewed on-site), its relaxed, urbane atmosphere, and long benches for large groups or smaller nooks for a more intimate experience. Give their Dirty Copper amber ale a try.

Head to the Wrest Point Hotel to test your luck in Hobart's only—and Australia's first—casino, where you can try your hand at blackjack, American roulette, mini-baccarat, keno, mini-dice, craps, federal wheel, federal poker and poker, and Two-up. But don't expect the Vegas-style glamour and razzle-dazzle associated with other Australian casinos; this venue had its day in 1973, and that is quite apparent upon visiting. The table games are open from 2 pm onward.

This popular wine and tapas bar has a wonderful shop where you can browse among 300 types of Tasmanian wines and pick up a cheese platter for an impromptu picnic. Choose to sit outside and watch the world go by or enjoy the intimate, laid-back indoor space. Wines are served in trendy Reidel O tumblers. There's live music in the evening toward the end of the week.