City Guide: A weekend in Hobart as curated by Fashion Journal’s Editor
PHOTOGRAPHY BY EDEN MEURE FOR MONA
WORDS BY FASHION JOURNAL
All the must-see spots for your next getaway.
Here at Fashion Journal, we want to unearth the hidden spots in Australian cities that only the locals know about. There’s no gatekeeping here – this is a breakdown of the best bits of our cities. We want the underrated date spots, favourite restaurants, treasure trove op shops and the bars people will always want to go back to. This week, we’re spending a weekend in Hobart with Fashion Journal’s Editor, Cait Emma Burke.
Cait recently spent a weekend in the much-loved Tasmanian city celebrating the launch of MONA’s latest exhibition, Namedropping. The occasion was marked by the MONA Gala, a historically invite-only event that was opened up to media and the public for the first time this year. It was a lavish all-night party that took place across the subterranean museum, earning rave reviews from all who attended.
For more content like this, tap through to our Life section.
From attending the opening night to exploring the exhibition and an array of the city’s other restaurants, bars and shops, along with checking out Dark Mofo’s iconic Winter Feast, her weekend was packed full of highlights. Below, Cait shares some of her must-see spots for any first-time visitors.
Eat
The Agrarian Kitchen
View this post on Instagram
It’s hard to put into words just how breathtaking The Agrarian Kitchen is. Located a 44-minute drive out of Hobart in New Norfolk, it’s worth setting aside a morning or afternoon to really soak in all the goodness of this gorgeous farm-to-table restaurant. Take a stroll around its sprawling garden and pick between eating at the restaurant or the Kiosk if you’re feeling like a lighter meal.
I opted for a gourmet sausage roll and salad from the Kiosk, washed down with a refreshing Tina and followed by smores. The DIY element of the smores (you’re provided with all the necessary pieces and sticks, and there are open fires dotted around the garden to heat them over) was a highlight for me. Everything I had was exceptional, and it’s top of my list for my next visit to Tasmania.
Hamlet Cafe
View this post on Instagram
I spent a cozy morning here on my first day in Hobart, eating crispy fried eggs by the fire. Hamlet is more than just a cute cafe though. It’s a social enterprise doing really impressive work in Tasmania, creating employment opportunities for people living with a disability. Head here for brunch or grab a pastry and takeaway coffee and take a stroll down Hobart’s waterfront.
Faro
View this post on Instagram
I spent Sunday afternoon sampling the delights of Faro and drinking a few too many exceptionally good wines. To enter the restaurant you walk through a James Turrell work, which really sets the tone for what you experience inside. The spacious restaurant is suspended over the river and serves fancy food, but all with a tongue-in-cheek touch. You can also experience an interactive James Turrell work inside Faro, where you lie inside a giant orb and get pummelled with an awe-inspiring light show. A very MONA-style pre-meal delight.
Drink
Restaurant Maria
View this post on Instagram
Restaurant Maria is a Mediterranean-inspired dining experience that’s fairly new on the scene, launching earlier this month. With its picturesque waterfront views and sleek interiors, it’s sure to become a go-to in Hobart for a celebratory drink. Graze on some bar snacks and treat yourself to a Lebanon martini for the ultimate pre-dinner experience.
Lucinda
View this post on Instagram
All the locals rave about Lucinda, and for good reason. The sister bar of the restaurant Dier Makr, which is located next door, Lucinda has an impeccable selection of specialty by-the-glass wines and an always-changing menu of snacks that pair perfectly with a vino or two.
Shop
Goodbyes
View this post on Instagram
If you’re a Melburninan (or if you live in a city in Australia that has a Goodbyes) you’ll know what to expect from this chain of up-market consignment stores. I always find something great when I browse the carefully curated racks at Goodbyes, and its Hobart outpost was no exception. While you’re there, grab a coffee and jalapeno and cream cheese bagel from Pigeon Whole Bakers across the road – delicious!
The perfect day
MONA
View this post on Instagram
If you’re spending a weekend in Hobart, spending the day exploring MONA is an absolute must. Catching the ferry to the sprawling museum is in itself an experience, and if you’re feeling fancy opt for the ‘posh pit’, where you can enjoy a cocktail and gourmet snack while making your way over. I was in Hobart for the MONA Gala to celebrate its new exhibition, Namedropping. The gala, in all its over-the-top and ludicrously fun extravagance, was the perfect way to introduce attendees to the exhibition.
Featuring more than 200 artworks and objects from MONA’s own collection (and many that have never been displayed before), loans from international, national and state institutions, private collections and artists alongside newly commissioned works, Namedropping is an exhibition that explores status and what it means to ‘look good in the eyes of others’. It’s running from June 15 2024 until April 21 2025, and is the ideal focal point of a perfect day in Hobart. Have lunch at Faro while you’re there, get the ferry back and finish up with drinks at Lucinda or Restaurant Maria.
R&R
Sanctum Medical Aesthetics
View this post on Instagram
I was lucky enough to be gifted a Hollywood Facial at Sanctum Medical Aesthetics prior to the MONA Gala, and let me tell you, I’ve never felt more like a celebrity. The experience was incredibly relaxing, and my skin was so glowy afterwards that I couldn’t quite believe it. If you’re after some top-tier pampering while in Hobart, it’s worth adding this place to your list.
You can keep up with Cait here.
Liked this? You’ll love these...
