Best Cocktail Bars in Hobart
Thoughtful drinks, historic rooms and places to linger after dark in Hobart
Hobart does after-dark particularly well and its cocktail bars reflect the city itself, layered, intimate and quietly confident. Behind its sandstone facades and quiet streets are intimate cocktail bars, spirited lounges and beautifully considered places to settle in for the evening. If you’re looking for the best cocktail bars in Hobart, these are the places we send our guests for a beautifully made drink, a little atmosphere and spaces that encourage lingering rather than rushing on.
From heritage interiors to refined contemporary rooms, these are some of the best cocktail bars in Hobart — ideal for a pre-dinner drink, a slow evening with friends, or a final nightcap within easy reach of Captains Cottage.
Mary Mary
Heritage walls and thoughtful drinking
Hidden within the sandstone of the former St Mary’s Hospital on Salamanca Place, Mary Mary is a bar shaped by history and Tasmanian terroir. The space retains its original architectural character, softened by warm leather, timber and low lighting.
Cocktails draw heavily on local botanicals and spirits, offering subtle reinterpretations of classics alongside house creations. Native ingredients appear with restraint, adding depth rather than novelty.
Service is attentive and personal, whether you take a seat at the bar or settle into one of the adjoining rooms. Mary Mary suits unhurried conversations and evenings that unfold slowly.
Evolve Spirits Bar
Waterside warmth and storied spirits
Located within MACq01 on Hobart’s waterfront, Evolve Spirits Bar pairs expansive harbour views with a sense of curiosity and comfort. The room feels like a collector’s study, lined with artefacts and an extensive spirits library.
Cocktails balance creativity with familiarity, while whisky lovers in particular will find much to explore. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, making it an easy place to settle in as the light fades over the water.
Evolve is well suited to a pre- or post-dinner drink, especially for those drawn to Hobart’s waterfront at night.
Evolve Spirits make a delicious whisky sour. Images: Evolve Spirits Bar
Institut Polaire
Cool elegance and refined flavour
Institut Polaire offers a more contemporary cocktail experience, defined by clean lines, marble finishes and a cool, composed atmosphere. The bar reflects Hobart’s connection to cold-climate terroir and the Southern Ocean.
Cocktails are precise and expressive, often built around local spirits, while the wine list is equally strong. Small dishes complement the drinks without distracting from them.
Institut Polaire is ideal for a refined aperitif or a calm late-evening drink — a space that feels quietly special without feeling exclusive.
After an evening exploring Hobart’s best cocktail bars, the short walk back to Captains Cottage is part of the pleasure — streets quieter, air cooler, the city winding down around you.
A martini with Sud Polaire or an old fashioned, each pour perfectly for slow sips. Images: Institut Polaire
GOTHAM at The Still
Cocktails with a rebellious edge
GOTHAM at The Still brings a darker, more after-hours energy to Hobart’s historic Mercury Print Room. LARK’s Tasmanian spirits take centre stage alongside beautifully made cocktails, with martinis, old fashioneds and a menu of oysters and late-night plates setting the mood. It is polished without feeling formal, with low-lit rooms, good music and just enough edge to make staying for another drink feel inevitable.
Come for a classic cocktail, stay for the atmosphere. With its moody interiors and quietly rebellious spirit, GOTHAM feels made for the part of the evening when dinner is over but nobody is quite ready to go home.
A Final Note from Captains Cottage
There is a particular pleasure in going out for just one beautifully made drink and allowing the evening to take its own course. Hobart’s cocktail bars offer plenty of opportunities for exactly that — whether you’re after something classic, curious or a little unexpected. From Captains Cottage, the city’s best bars are close enough to make an evening of it, before returning home to the quiet of the cottage.