Vegetarians Will Love These Hobart Restaurants

Meat-free diners have nothing to fear when eating out in Hobart. From high-end restaurants to casual cafes, these 10 top picks will have you covered for vegetarian dishes. 

Franklin

Analiese Gregory is the new incumbent in the hottest kitchen in Hobart (if not Australia) with the wood oven at her disposal. Expect inventive vegetarian dishes such as ashed celeriac with hazelnut, horseradish cured cream and hairy bittercress, while saltbush-seasoned burrata curd gets teamed with fried and fermented Jerusalem artichoke. Visit franklinhobart.com.au.

30 Argyle Street, Hobart; 03 6234 3375

Templo

Tiny Italian-leaning Templo has room for only 20 or so diners but it punches far above its weight with a menu that considerately makes room for vegetarians with nettle agnolotti or crescents of roasted pumpkin anointed with burrata and fried leek.

98 Patrick Street, Hobart; 03 62 347 659

Ettie’s

Not only the southern capital’s most stylish wine bar, this Hobart newcomer also raises its vegetarian dishes from token to triumph, whether it’s a classic Venetian rise e bisi (rice and peas), a beetroot and quinoa salad rich with cherries and crème fraiche, or pillowy gnocchi with mushrooms, goats’ curd and chervil.

100 Elizabeth Street, Hobart; 03 6231 1165

Straight Up Coffee and Food

The all-vegetarian café has reached Hobart. There’s no resting on Straight Up’s laurels, which is broadening the breakfast ambit to get creative with pho with zucchini and kelp noodles, and soft lemon-accented polenta with poached egg, blue cheese, nasturtium pesto and pickled carrot.

202a Liverpool Street, Hobart; 03 6236 9237

Peacock and Jones

Operated by the next-door Henry Jones Art Hotel on Hobart’s atmospheric waterfront, Peacock and Jones combines colonial architectural character with local produce to double down on the Tasmanian terroir – as do dishes such as haloumi with beetroot, dukkah and sauce vierge.

33 Hunter Street, Hobart; 1800 375 692

Me Wah

Hobart’s big occasion Cantonese restaurant, elegant Me Wah has an encyclopaedic menu with plenty of luxe vegetable love, including mushroom dumplings lavished with black truffle sauce, an all-veg sang choy bao (made with meat-free oyster sauce) and ma po tofu sans the traditional pork.

16 Magnet Court, Sandy Bay Road, Sandy Bay; 03 6223 3688

Stefano Lubiana

The notable winery’s charmingly rustic osteria sticks to the farmhouse style-recipes of Northern Italy. Expect organic produce to be magicked into dishes such as formato ai funghi (a savoury egg custard with mushrooms and Tasmanian kombu) or pinot noir-braised beetroot on green lentils with goats’ curd and hazelnuts; or maybe their take on a classic aglio e olio (spelt spaghetti with oil, garlic and toasted sesame seeds). Make sure you order the house-made potato focaccia to mop up the sauces. Visit slw.com.au.

60 Rowbottoms Road, Granton; 03 6263 7457

Peppermint Bay Hotel

Eat al fresco and soak up the beautiful views across to Bruny Island while indulging in vegetarian dishes sourced from the impressive kitchen garden. Try the hay-baked celeriac gratin with béchamel, parmesan and onion or spaghetti with broccoli and goats’ curd, finished with crunchy fried bread crumbs and smoked chilli. Visit peppermintbay.com.au.

3435 Channel Highway, Woodbridge; 03 6267 4088

Kosaten

Japanese restaurant Kosaten isn’t all about the raw fish. Miso eggplant gets a look-in as a meat substitute on nigiri sushi, tempura vegetables are the star of the uramaki (inside-out sushi rolls) while steamed spinach in a creamy sesame dressing practically photosynthesises with goodness.

17 Castray Esplanade, Battery Point; 03 6135 4018

Top image: Peacock and Jones

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