Where to eat in Tasmania

Tasmania produces some of the finest ingredients (and conditions) in the world — cold-water seafood, exceptional meat, incredible dairy, and produce grown in soil that hasn't been pushed too hard. Plus the cleanest ocean and air in the world. The restaurants and cafés that work with this stuff tend to understand it, Chef’s actually move here for it and that understanding shows on the plate. Here's where I’ve eaten;

HOBART

Fico, Hobart One of Hobart's finest. The Gourmand set menu is the move — a long, considered progression of dishes that makes the most of Tasmanian produce without ever feeling like it's showing off. Book ahead, dress up a little, and let the evening run long. I will come back again and again. MUST DO

Scholé, Hobart Beautifully executed and unpretentious — one of those restaurants where the thought behind each dish is evident without needing to be explained. A seat here is a brag and the Jerusalem artichokes were are revelation.

Templo, Hobart Intimate, carefully considered, and one of the best reasons to be in Hobart on a Sunday night. Small, personal and excellent food.

Aloft, Hobart One of Hobart's most exciting restaurants, and the first restaurant I ate at in Tassie - this was my gateway drug. Go late, go hungry, and try to get the Chef's Table — it's the way to experience this place at its best.

Maria, Hobart Sister of Aloft, and she’s generous, fun and beautifully executed. Try to get the Chef's Table here too — it's a genuinely enjoyable experience that makes the most of what this restaurant does best. MUST DO

Pitzi Pasta Bar, Hobart Simple, excellent pasta in a setting that doesn't need to try too hard. Great for a night when you've been in a cooking class all day and want someone else to do the work.

Omotenashi, Hobart A considered Japanese-influenced restaurant that's become one of Hobart's most talked-about tables. Quiet, precise and excellent with a surprise around every corner. This is the most expensive set menu on this list, it’s well worth it in my opinion and if you love seafood or Japanese food, try and get here - you won’t regret it. MUST DO

Don Frico Hobart Pizza and martinis and a very good time. This is where the trip ends, properly. Come with people, come hungry, stay late under the disco ball.

Room for a Pony, Hobart Exceptional takeaway pizza. Pick it up and eat it wherever you're staying — it needs no ceremony.

Ogee, Hobart A lovely lunch spot and a perfect way to spend a few hours in Hobart. Unhurried and good, I was so inspired by one of the desserts here I made my own interpretation for The Crowd Pleaser menu with The Dinner Party Guide. MUST DO

Bird in Hand, Hobart A relaxed, well-sourced lunch spot in the Botanic Gardens. Exactly right for a midweek afternoon followed by a stroll through the gardens (two places I go to in every city I visit, their Botanic Gardens and State Art Gallery). It’s a short menu for lunch but the light lunch before a big dinner out was perfect.

Frank Restaurant, Hobart A relaxed, well-executed spot on the Hobart waterfront — a fine introduction to what Hobart does with good produce. Great for a first-day lunch when you've just landed and want to ease in properly. Also fab with a group.

Leoht, Hobart A quietly excellent breakfast spot. Order the black sesame latte and ask them to add an espresso shot. The food is considered and calm, which is exactly what you want before a big day. They’ve recently started opening for Dinner, I can’t speak to this but I’d trust it after my breakfast experience.

Westside Laundry, Hobart For a serious sandwich in the morning. The kind of place that does one thing with real care. The team there are super lovely and may even let you know about faves that aren’t on the menu but can be rustled up for the right customer.

Queens Fine Pastry, Hobart They pull ham and cheese croissants from the oven at 7:30am, 8:45am and 10:30am sharp. Get there at the right time, join the queue, and eat it while it's hot. Non-negotiable. It’s still one of the best ham and cheese croissants I’ve had in Australia. MUST DO

Pigeon Hole Bakery, Hobart An institution by now. A very good start to any morning in that part of the city. Super popular and often a line, I recently had a Vegemite and white chocolate donut from here - it was good I swear!

Six Russel, Hobart Pastries and coffee done properly. One of Hobart's best morning spots with locals from my observations — unhurried and good. They heat up the pastries for you, I loved the Pesto and Kale twist, it was delicious.

Sonny, Hobart A great pre-dinner drinks stop — puts you in exactly the right mood for a long evening.

Ozus Coffee, Hobart Get the Baghdad Eggs - the end.

Source, MONA MONA's ground-level restaurant is a lovely, produce-driven spot that holds its own entirely independently of the extraordinary museum around it. A proper lunch destination where the plating up is a work of art.

Faro, MONA MONA's signature restaurant, where James Turrell's immersive work is experienced inside the dining room itself. So lunch at Faro is simultaneously one of the museum's great art experiences and one of Hobart's great meals — intriguing drinks, live music, performance. The line between the two dissolves pleasantly and sometimes hilariously. MUST DO

Lucky Sri Lankan Kitchen, Hobart Farmers Market Sunday mornings at the Farm Gate Market. Get the toasted lamb roti. It's one of those market stalls that the people in the know plan their Sunday around. The owners of Omotenashi gave me the tip! In them - we trust.

GOING WEST

The Agrarian Kitchen, New Norfolk One of the most acclaimed restaurant and cooking school experiences in Australia, every famous chef that comes to Australia has The Agrarian Kitchen on their itinerary. It’s in an old asylum and the working garden that supplies the kitchen is in the old exercise yard. The restaurant is a landmark Tasmanian lunch in its own right — you don't need to be doing the cooking school to eat here - though you should do the cooking school too. See Experience. MUST DO

GOING SOUTH

Get Shucked Oyster Farm, Bruny Island Oysters on the water at Bruny. I’m not sure if Henry is still there but it’s a fun time.

Bruny Island Cheese Co., Bruny Island The C2 cloth-aged cheddar is one of Tasmania's great cheeses. The Otto washed rind is its equal. Buy more than you think you need.

Willie Smith's Apple Shed, Huon Valley The spiritual home of Tasmanian cider — a beautiful old apple shed with excellent local cider, great produce, and the warmth of a place that knows exactly what it is. Don't rush through it.

GOING NORTH

Pooley Wine Cellar Door, Richmond Not a restaurant, but it belongs in the eating section because the Black Label Chardonnay is worth eating around. Visit the Cellar Door, try the wine, buy bottles to go or enjoy on there stunning property.

Piermont Estate Restaurant, Swansea The restaurant at Piermont is genuinely stunning — oysters and local wine looking out over the water is not optional, it's the whole point. Go for lunch if you can, when the light across the bay is extraordinary.

Mayfield Estate Cellar Door, Little Swanport On the same property as Tasman Sea Salt, Mayfield is a beautiful, unhurried cellar door with excellent wine, woodfired pizza on weekends, cheese boards and Sophia's Gin.

Freycinet Marine Farm, Coles Bay Great Oyster Bay produces some of Australia's finest oysters, and this is where you come to understand why. The shucking experience is worth booking — you'll eat oysters straight from the estuary and leave knowing exactly what you're tasting and why, Declan is an institution by now, although he’s only just started eating oysters.

Lobster Shack, Bicheno Fresh, unfussy seafood on the east coast. I actually made myself sick here because I ate farrrrrrrrrr too much food. I was a woman possessed. Bring your restraint and an appetite. MUST DO

Le Gulch, Bicheno A lovely spot on the east coast, and further evidence that Bicheno punches well above its size when it comes to eating well. This town has just been voted Australia’s best!