Travel books gush about the boom in distilling and brewing in Tasmania. I had to try some whisky…read moreduring a brief stop in Hobart. Without any prior planning, I stumbled into Lark Distillery. The location of the distillery makes it ideal for stumbling into-- it's right by the water surrounded by various tourist hot spots. I ordered the whisky flight and was promptly served 3 small pours. I remember the price feeling a bit high but generally reasonable. What really struck me was the lack of introduction or explanation about what I was about to drink. I had to ask for a bit of information at which point I was told the history of Bill Lark and the uniqueness of each pour. It was quite interesting and helpful but I wish it had been offered as default. I sat outside and had a quiet and relaxing few moments.

Let it be known that I am not traditionally a whiskey drinker (unless it's been beaten with an egg…read morewhite and lemon or served in a shot glass) however I knew, on this particular trip to Hobart, that today was the day. Lark Distillery is home to Lark Whiskeys - a Tasmanian born and bred, very fancy and very delicious whiskey. But what this venue is better known for is it's whisky tasting tray. For 20 clams you can try three of their best whiskeys and get a whiskey educational all-the-while sitting in a delightfully cosy space. For some extra dollars, you should most definitely get yourself a cheese platter to go with. It features locally made cheeses and quince with freshly baked bread. I promise you, Whiskey Tasting + Cheese Platter = match made in heaven. You CAN do a tour of the distillery and get a more serious educational, which will take up a few hours of your day, but really, all you need to do is get a chair at the bar and chat to the incredibly knowledgeable staff.

Great to find a decent butcher, good meat & clean shop + friendly staff = winnerread more

Amazing selection of beautiful chocolates & confectionary including the fabulous LiquorLips line -…read moregin, whisky or liqueur filled chocolates. they also have beautiful pottery imported from Japan, children's items and nice Tassie souvenirs. Lisa and Franz are very friendly & helpful behind the counter. And now you don't have to wait until Safurday to buy your LiquorLips!!

OK, Norman & Dann. You've done it! Either you hired new staff, or the older ones magically turned…read moreinto nicer versions of themselves, but I no longer dread stopping in here for my chocolate pretzel fix. The woman who's normally behind the counter lately is really sweet (hehe sweet at a chocolate shop) and engaging, and I'm happy to throw my dollars at her. Lately I've found a new obsession in there too--beautiful lollipops in some amazing flavours!

Who knew Tasmanian whiskey was a thing?! We certainly didn't. But when I saw road signs for a few…read moredistilleries while driving through Tasmania, I decided to investigate. We managed to squeeze in a whiskey tasting at Sullivan's Cove and it was excellent!

Very informative tasting. We didn't do the full tour, but instead walked in to find someone who…read morecould give us a taste of some of the worlds best whiskeys (including a one time winner of world's best) that you can't find anywhere else, while explaining the history of the distillery and whiskey generally in Tasmania. The decor is charming, and we had the place all to ourselves (I think other guests do the tour). It's possible it gets crowded, as it's a little small, but with a small group it's quite pleasant.

Located in Lower Sandy Bay, this upmarket grocer / deli could run the risk of snobbery, but for the…read morefact that the people behind the counter are some of the friendliest you'll meet. The range and quality of food on offer here is incredible. Up one end is a well-stocked deli, with cold meats, pre-made sandwiches and a range of pre-prepared dinners (from 'cook and eat' to simple 'heat and eat'). The fruit section is small but filled with the most delicious local produce; the strawberries in January are particularly recommended. The general groceries section is small but contains all the basics. Of special interest is a fantastic cake section, selling whole cakes, slices thereof, tarts and other delicious treats - all handmade and fresh. The prices are higher than a standard grocery store, as you'd expect, but the quality is more than worth it, and for those living in Lower Sandy Bay or beyond, it's nice to have a convenient one-stop shop for quality eating.

Next Door smells kinda funny. I think it's a combination of the coffee beans and maybe the lacquer…read moreused to put the place together... you have to see the interior to believe it. Next Door Deluxe Coffee is literally plastered wall to wall with doors of all shapes and sizes (I feel weird even saying "wall to wall", because it's ALL DOORS). I haven't tried to walk through any of the doors, because I didn't think it was possible--up until today, when I saw one of the smaller ones hanging open. What!? Is Narnia behind one of them? Now I can't rest until I find out. Anyway... Next Door's coffee is consistently delicious and fairly well-priced at $3.70 for a regular and $4.20 for a large. Takeaway can be a bit slow, and a couple of times the guys have been too busy with making coffees and attending to table service to take my takeaway order, which is a little frustrating (yesterday the woman in front of me, a little more impatient than I am, left the shop in a huff). It's only a small store too, so standing around and waiting for your takeaway can make you feel quite cumbersome and in-the-road. I much prefer to take the time to sit down in here and enjoy my consistently delicious coffee while pondering the weird smell. There's also a short food menu in here but as yet I haven't taken the time to delve into that side of the business.

There's nothing like taking a theme and running with it! The inside of the next door cafe is…read moreliterally covered in... doors. Big one, small ones, some that work, some that don't. Amongst the amazingly busy interior are a few tables and couches towards the back, so you could sit and drink, but it's fairly cramped inside especially when there's a few people milling about. It's definitely more suited as a "grab your coffee and go" kind of place. They just have coffee and a few of the usual treats- muffins, slices, etc so the "cafe" part of their name is a bit of a misnomer, perhaps. The raspberry muffins are good though! The house espresso roast tastes okay, has a bit of a sweetness to it but certainly strong enough. The owners are VERY chatty, especially with the regulars so your "quick" coffee isn't nearly as fast as other places, but I'd trade speed for a nice chat anyday. One of the better coffee shops that end of Murray Street.

Great coffee, fantastic treats and an amazing pumpkin soup! personnel is very friendly and always…read moreready to help. It's a great place to eat in or take away! You can choose to sit in the "bar", communal tables or terribly comfy coaches, while having a lovely meal or coffee with friends. They also have a loyalty card so if you have 9 coffees, the 10th is on them!

2013's motto is "HONESTY", so I have to update my review. I love pOp, because of the regular Friday…read moremorning meet-ups here for #socialhob. I think Michael (the owner) is tops--a really friendly guy. He spoils the Social Hobart crew and in return, we frequent his establishment. The food is delicious. pOp's breakfast burger, or "Pulo burger", has become synonymous with Friday mornings for me. I haven't had a pOp dog in store but the Danish dog I had out at pOp's stall at MoMa took me to another place--a place I like to call "my happy place" (but that's basically the grounds at MONA anyway, so it all made sense). pOp's Rocket (carbonated sugarfied coffee) is an experience, and better than any energy drink I've ever had. But the coffee is kind of woeful. I don't want to lay blame on the barista, because he's a sweetheart, but this year I've resolved to not knowingly order average coffee any more, which means I can't drink coffee at pOp until something changes.

This was one of my first ever reviews, and I think it's okay to change your mind on things…read more The breakfast food I have sampled is great. My particular favourite is the Breakfast Burger. They do fine hot chocolates. But the owner has a real issue with cats. While originally I applauded them for their amazing cat hot chocolate art, the owner is too concerned that's cats are 'uncool' and have ruined my enjoyment of my cat-decorated-drinks. They also have woeful WiFi - a private connection which was opened to the public, but cannot handle more than one user connecting at a time, which makes me sad. There is so much promise here, and so many people willing to help (An Internode Wifi Application is almost complete!), but yet nothing. However, I will continue to support them as THE location for #socialhob at 8am on Friday mornings.