3 Best Restaurants in Launceston, Tasmania

Part of a beautifully restored 1830s flour mill beside the Tamar River this much-lauded restaurant and Launceston institution, serves wonderfully creative dishes, usually with an Asian twist, such as barbecued wallaby with gochujang glaze, octopus from Stanley with udon noodles and fried chili, and fresh-caught sashimi. Sustainability is key here, and produce is sourced almost exclusively from the state, making it an ideal place to sample Tasmanian seafood such as scallops, oysters, and prawns as well as the world-famous Cape Grim beef. The dining room is wood-paneled and warm, and the evening à la carte menu is set at a fixed price of two or three courses. It is one of the country's great restaurants.

A 15-minute drive from the city center at Velo Wines, Timbre is a real "if you know, you know" hidden gem. Run by a longtime Launceston, the ethos here is all about community and sharing, with many ingredients traded on a barter system. The menu changes daily and there are several well priced banquet options, along with regular special events such as backyard cookouts. About as Tasmanian as it gets. 

If you have to go to jail, this is the place to do it—in a 130-year-old historic building where you'll dine on succulent grass-fed beef, typically of the Angus or Hereford breed. Despite being furnished with chains and bars, it was never actually a place for incarceration, so relax and feast on prime beef cuts (or fish and chicken), and an all-you-can-eat salad bar. The wine list is comprehensive.