This is the kind of place that should be in NoHo, or Battery Point, or the CBD even... but not down…read morein Uni Row! Maybe I'm biased as a NoHo regular, but schlepping down to Sandy Bay just for some GREY and FELT good times makes me a sad panda. Having said that, G&F is one of those beautifully curated shops that you want to photograph, and one where you kind of fear looking at the price tags. Having said that, I finally headed into G&F after finding out that they're Hobart's only stockist of Shanghai Suzy lipsticks, which are amazingly cheap for what they are, at only $12.95 a pop for a crazily pigmented nourishing lippie in exceptional on-trend colours. As it turns out, I also happened to first visit the week of G&F's first anniversary. No anniversary sale, so I managed to purchase my lipsticks and escape back out of there... mentally adding a few things to my wishlist as I went.

I grew up in a country town, where the CWA ladies had a real presence. Whether they were running…read moreevents or fixing things or making things better or just smashing the cake section at the local show every year, everyone knew all about the CWA. In big cities they don't have a presence, really, because CWA stands for COUNTRY Women's Association. However, Hobart isn't really a big city. It pretends to be. And for locals, it sure is! But travel to any other state capital in Australia and you'll probably be a bit overwhelmed if Hobart's all you know as a Big City. However, there are so many joys that come with Hobart's weird in-between city state, and one of those is right here: the CWA Gift Shop. It's cash only ("because the bank takes money from you for every card transaction!" how rude) and full of incredible hand-made goods, from crocheted throws to jams to beanies to cakes to everything your grandmother's talents extend to. And they've been in this exact spot since 1951. My current favourite thing to do is, whenever I'm feeling slightly or dramatically under the weather, drop in here and get myself a treat. My mum and my grandmothers all live interstate but the CWA ladies step in as my surrogates for a bit of heartwarming TLC for the mind and tummy, and it's pretty wonderful. Oh, and also: pineapple tea cosies.

Here's a hidden little gem. The Country Women's Association shop is great - with a mouth-watering…read moreselection of cakes, biscuits, slices, pickles, jams and relishes made fresh by ladies (and men perhaps - despite the title) in the surrounding country areas and brought in to be sold in this city shop. The ladies in charge informed me the vast majority of the baked goods on display were made fresh that morning. Each product - be it a sponge cake, tray of biscuits or jars of jams and relishes - is numbered, with the number corresponding to the lady who made them (it's all anonymous, only the ladies who run the shop know the secret identities of each cook). The shop takes a 25% cut of any takings with the baker/jam maker/knitter getting the rest. They also have loads of knitwear - from tea cosies to jumpers for kiddies - all of it first rate and all of it at great prices.

I love Betts (mostly for their sales) but I often find coming into the Hobart store I get ignored…read morewhile browsing. I hate that. All I need is for someone to check in and ask if I need any help. If I'm browsing, I'll say I'm browsing, but often I go in with a specific objective and so yes, I do need some help, thank you! On my last venture in, I was saved by a wonderful girl--I think her name was Emily. I was close to throwing my hands up and walking out after being ignored for a couple of minutes while standing around looking very needy, but Emily stepped in and addressed my sandal-neediness. I spent way more on sandals than I intended to but I also found the perfect pair, so... great job. Phew.

I visited this store on Monday to purchase three pairs of school shoes. The two young assistants…read morewere very professional but also friendly. They made sure the shoes were a perfect fit and also that the children were happy with their choice. This is the third year we have used this store due to the excellent customer service.

Eco friendly solutions for babies - not sure about the clinic but the shop focuses on babies and…read morewomen - clothing and what not.

How does this bookstore have no reviews yet?…read more The State Cinema is one great package. A cinema with harder-to-find films, a lovely cafe AND a great bookshop. I probably shouldn't allocate points for 'proximity to other cool stuff', but you have to admit that a bookshop hugging a cinema and cafe is pretty A+. Having said that, this bookstore is a little small and cramped, an affliction of many a Hobart bookstore - whether you find it quaint or oppressive is probably down to your tastes and how large a bag you're attempting to carry through the aisles. Like many of the other Hobart bookstores it manages to maintain a fair spread of general books while finding a point of difference: this bookstore specialises, appropriately, in nonfiction books on the entertainment (film and music) industry. Here you'll find the best local selection of biographies, 'art of', and 'making of' books, rivalled only by Ellison Hawker. If you're a movie buff you'll find plenty to enjoy. Beyond this, the densely-packed little shop does offer books across all the usual genres: fiction, poetry, travel, cooking, etc etc. Their clasification system can be a head-scratcher - topics are definitely grouped in some way, but you'll edge from table to shelf to bookcase for a while before you find the section you're looking for. Alternately, you could just ask the friendly staff, if you're not as antisocial as I. :) I can't comment personally on the service but I've seen them helping people out and chatting at length; looks good to me. Prices are moderate to exxy, but then big glossy books of this kind generally are when bought in brick-and-mortar shops. You'll find some quality books on sale here and there. Bonus points for a pretty decent selection of books on writing, a topic which some Hobart bookstores completely overlook, ironically. Is that ironic? I don't even know anymore.

Tusk is one of those wonderful places filled with things you probably don't need but you…read moredesperately want. My wallet feels a growing sense of danger every time I even glance in the direction of this store, and yet I have managed to make it out sans purchase... a couple of times. Find beautiful candles, homewares, decorations, lamps, clocks, stationery, and those novelty gifts that you often can't resist even though they may just end up collecting dust. Get them anyway. YOLO.

A nice gift shop featuring woman's jewellery designed exclusively by the owner…read more We found a nice piece or roman glass mounted as a pendant in a necklace

Amazing how much The Hobart Bookstore can cram into such a small space. Unassuming from the outside…read more(and the inside, really), it actually squeezes in a really good range of books. Specialising mostly in new, not used books (which sets it apart from Salamanca's other bookstores), it shines in the area of non-fiction, with plenty of great offerings in science, cooking, gardening, art and history for a starters. The children's section is surprisingly well-populated, there is quite a bit of general fiction too, and the store also offers a couple of sale tables and an interesting secondhand section. The store's point of interest, especially for visitors from out of state, is a well-populated section on Tasmania. Filled with guidebooks, history and the work of local authors, it's well worth a look. The store sometimes runs signings and events for local authors; these are always well worth checking out. I'm not usually a fan of cramped venues, but in this case it works - you never know who you'll strike up a conversation with! Definitely the most hipster-friendly of Hobart's bookstores, and just a lovely independent bookstore in general.

If you like books and your in Salamanca then check it out. Great indie bookshop, good content and…read morecovers the field.