A Food Lovers' Guide to Tasmania
Tasmania is a verdant, green island off the southern coast of Australia. The cool climate and fertile soils allow some of the best produce you will find anywhere to be harvested.
A Food Lovers' Guide to Tasmania was first published in book form in 1988 by authors Sue Dyson and Roger McShane to alert people to the wonderful produce available in this island state. It was published in book form until 2000 and has been published in electronic form on foodtourist.com since 1996. It has also been the subject of a weekly ABC radio program since 1989 where Sue and Roger are interviewed by Chris Wisbey about produce, restaurants, wine and recipes using Tasmanian products.
There are some excellent restaurants delivering the potential of the produce in Tasmania. Others are not so produce-driven.
This electronic guide to Tasmania is the result of Sue and Roger visiting every corner of the state for the past 25 years seeking out the best restaurants, food shops and wines. All restaurant visits and produce that we review are fully paid for by us.
Tasmania's leading restaurants
We have chosen eleven restaurants that provide interesting and exciting dining experiences and that make good use of the wonderful produce that is available in Tasmania.
The Stackings at Peppermint Bay
Piccolo Restaurant and Wine Bar
Remi de ProvenceRecent closures
For the benefit of visitors to the state who might be consulting guides that were printed some time ago we provide information about restaurant closures and restaurants where the ownership has changed hands.
Strathlynn has closed
Marque IV has closed
Angasi has had a change of ownership and we have not yet reviewed it
Piccalilly has close
Restaurant 373 has closed
Cooking school
We have put The Agrarian Kitchen in a category of its own because it is such a special place. Note that it is not a restaurant but a place where you can enrol for an agrarian experience.
Country dining
Once you move outside the major centres of Hobart and Launceston, good restaurants are few and far between, especially with the sale of Angasi at Binnalong Bay. However there are some gems outside the cities where you can get very good food.
Meadowbank Vineyard Restaurant
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We have included Palate at the Saffire resort at Coles Bay even though you need to stay there to dine at the restaurant, because the cooking of chef Hugh Whitehouse is just so good.
Other restaurants, cafes and informal places to eat
This group of cafes and restaurants include many of our favourites - the ones you will find us visiting once a week for an informal meal.
Other places with interesting dishes
Each of the restaurants listed below has interesting dishes to try.
Joseph Cromy Cellar Restaurant
Cheap Hobart lunches
These cafes are our favourite eating places in Hobart at lunch time.
Taste (coming soon)
Great coffee
Over the past twenty years there has been a gradual improvement in the quality of coffee in Tasmania. The places listed below are where we head if we want a reliable cup of coffee.
Others that we like are Bruce's in Wynyard, the Criterion St Cafe, Landsdowne Cafe in West Hobart, Island Cafe in Elizabeth St, the Jackman and McRoss properties (Battery Point, New Town and Victoria St in Hobart), Deli Central in Ulverstone and the Village Store & More in St Helens.
Markets
There are some interesting small markets popping up throughout Tasmania. The longest running and the most popular with tourists is the Saturday morning Salamanca Market. However an interesting new market has recently opened on the roof of the now famous MONA museum. Called MoMa it is held on Saturday afternoon from January until April. Here you will find stalls from star producers such as Miellerie Honey, Ashbolts with their iconic olive oil, Eatem Organic Farm with their organic farm produce and Ice IceCreamery with their excellent fruit-based ice creams. Varuni Kulasekera from Chado The Way of Tea is always there with her unsurpassed range of teas from China, Sri Lanka, Japan and India as well as her famous Wine Lovers Blend that we rely on to ameliorate the effects of drinking too much wine.
There is also the Farm Gate Market in Hobart each Sunday morning where food lovers gather to source fresh fruit and vegetables.
Food shops
Tasmania is particularly lucky with the quality of the food shops throughout the state. Many feature local produce. Here are some of the best.
The Mill Providore and Gallery
Healey Pyengana Cheese Factory
Bread
A few years ago Tasmania was a bread disaster area. However, now we have some very good choices available.
Tasmanian Wines
Tasmania is well-known for its cool-climate wines. The quality varies enormously, but the good ones are very good. Some of our favourites are listed below.
Pressing Matters R139 Riesling
Bream Creek Reserve Pinot Noir
Meadowbank Grace Elizabeth Chardonnay
Top Products
The quality of produce is exceptional in Tasmania. Here are some of our current favourites.
Woodbridge Smokehouse Cold Smoked Ocean Trout
Tasmanian Gourmet Sauce Company Products
Wine Shops
The places below are where we go to source fine wines.