The Tasman Hobart Review: What’s old is new again

Hobart isn’t necessarily a city that comes to mind when you think of luxury travel or exciting hotel scenes, but it’s home to The Tasman Hotel, which opened in December 2021 as Australia’s first Luxury Collection property, under the Marriott Bonvoy umbrella.

In 2024, it was one of only two Australian properties to make it to the World’s 50 Best Hotels list (sneaking in at #49), and has quickly become the place to be seen in Hobart, with its chic cocktail bar Mary Mary and the Massimo Mele-helmed restaurant Peppina, one of the hottest tables in town. 

We used this hotel as the base for our five-night trip to Tasmania, and while it’s not quite an urban resort, we still came away pretty impressed.

Booking The Tasman Hobart

I booked a five-night stay at The Tasman Hobart for 166,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, with the fifth night free as usual.

Given how crazy Marriott award pricing has gotten of late, paying 33,200 points per night for a 5-Star property isn’t the worst deal — I’ve seen Residence Inns asking for the same — though keep in mind I stayed during the off-season in August.

Based on the cash rates, my value per point was slightly below 0.7 US cents, which is roughly the threshold for redemption (keep in mind that point values will have fallen after Marriott’s quiet global devaluation earlier this year).

During the peak months of December to February, award redemptions range from 50,000 to 60,000 points a night.

The Tasman Hobart: Arrival & Check-in

The Tasman Hobart is located on Murray Street, in the heart of Hobart. 

It’s roughly a 15-minute drive from the airport. If you’re taking the SkyBus, there’s a stop that’s just a three-minute walk to the hotel, though the area around the hotel is hilly, so keep that in mind if you have heavy luggage.

You really couldn’t ask for a better location, as all the major attractions are just a short walk away. We arrived on a Saturday, when the Salamanca Market was taking place right outside. We dropped our bags in the room and walked 100 metres straight into the action. The Brooke Street Pier, where you board the ferry to MONA, is just a two-minute walk away, and Elizabeth Street, with its buzzy bars and restaurants, is ten minutes by foot.

Only valet parking is available, and it’s very pricey at A$45 per night (neighbouring hotels have self-parking options starting from as little as A$10). We rented a car for a few nights so we could explore beyond Hobart, and the valet was always prompt with bringing it around.

The lobby was small and rather nondescript, though it’s not really designed to be a social space anyway. There were a few benches and chairs to sit on while waiting for your taxi or car, and that was about it.

The check-in staff were warm and welcoming, and a 4 p.m check-out was offered for the final day without having to ask. Our room was already prepared when we arrived just before 12 p.m, so after some quick paperwork, we went to check it out.

The Tasman Hobart: Heritage Room

Before we talk about rooms, it’s helpful to understand the layout of the Tasman. The hotel is spread across three buildings:

• The Heritage building is the oldest of the trio, and was built in 1847 as St. Mary’s, a private hospital
• The hotel’s entrance and lobby in the Art Deco building, which was originally built in 1947 and used to host government offices
• The Pavilion is the newest, and was built during the hotel’s construction

The 139 rooms and 13 suites are split across these three buildings, and there’s plenty of variety — the hotel’s GM quips that they have 52 different room types in a 152-room hotel.

My points redemption was for the lead-in Art Deco room, and while I tried to apply Suite Night Awards to this reservation, the request was denied. Despite this, the Marriott app initially showed that I’d been upgraded to a Grand Heritage Room, though on the day of check-in, the assignment was downgraded to a regular Heritage Room. My main concern was that the room had a tub, so I didn’t really push back much.

As the name suggests, this room was located in the Heritage wing, and while we were only on the first floor (remember, Australia follows the British system whereby street-level is the ground floor and the level above it is the first floor), we still enjoyed high ceilings which, together with the oversized glass windows, made the room feel very spacious. The room certainly had a lot of character, blending elements from the original building like exposed masonry and sandstone walls with modern dark wood accents.

The plush king-sized bed was dressed in smooth Frette linen, and large enough for the three of us to share without feeling cramped. 

Each beside table had two power outlets (non-universal), together with a USB-A and a USB-C port. One side also had a digital alarm clock with a wireless charging pad. Lighting controls in the room had been modernised, with touch-sensitive panels that allowed you to close and open the blinds and curtains.

Two complimentary bottles of water were provided each day. These were replenished during turn-down service, and you could always grab some more from the gym downstairs.

A small thing, but I was surprised to see that the outlets were very badly scuffed. I guess these Australian plugs require a lot of finessing!

The room wasn’t really set up for working, though it had a small writing desk in the corner with conveniently-located power outlets. The low rise chair wasn’t the most comfortable for prolonged sitting, and if you want to do serious laptop work, you’re better off finding a cafe.

That said, the Wi-Fi speeds were excellent, clocking in the triple-digits for uploads and downloads.

The drawer-style mini-fridge was mostly stocked with drinks, and only had a small ledge for personal storage. Fortunately, you could remove the items and dividers and use the space however you wanted — this wasn’t one of those booby-trapped fridges that automatically charges you whenever items are moved.

There was also a Nespresso machine with capsules (but since you’re in Australia, you can’t walk more than a block without finding a place with good coffee).

The 55-inch Smart TV had a built-in Chromecast, so I could project my phone’s screen and watch all the reviewers ragging on the new Pixel 11.

Inside the wardrobe were hangers and a mini-safe. It wasn’t wide enough to store a piece of open luggage, unless you had a carry on and didn’t mind blocking the safe.

However, there was a separate luggage rack next to the bed.

The bathroom was spacious, though it only had a single vanity when they could easily have installed two. It was also a bit strange not to see a wall-hung WC, which could be due to the limitations on hacking in a heritage building. I also thought that given the luxury positioning, a heated floor and heated towel rack would have been nice features to have.

Towel and bathrobe quality was decidedly average. I was expecting a heavier grade of cotton, and a smoother interior for the robes.

The bathroom had a freestanding soaking tub, though it was on the smaller side. When I (1.8m) lay inside, I couldn’t stretch my legs out all the way. Not all rooms have bathtubs, so be sure to request one if that’s important.

The bathing area had a rain shower and hand shower, but the water pressure wasn’t great — perhaps another limitation of staying in a heritage building.

The Tasman offers shower amenities from Grown Alchemist, as well as Beauty and the Bees, a local Tasmanian brand.

The Tasman Hobart: Gym

The hotel’s gym is located on the ground floor, and is open 24/7. It’s set amidst bare brick walls, and certainly a unique place to work out. As you might expect for a boutique hotel, the space is a bit of a squash and a squeeze, though it offered well-maintained Life Fitness cardio machines with built-in entertainment systems.

There was also a strength-training area at the far end with free weights.

The gym was well-stocked with towels and bottles of mineral water, including some in a fridge with chilled towelettes.

The Tasman Hobart: BODHI Spa + Bathhouse

The Tasman didn’t have a spa when I visited, but BODHI Spa + Bathhouse is due to open here in September 2026.

The spa will feature four exquisitely appointed treatment rooms, including two double suites, alongside a cocoon-like relaxation lounge for moments of quiet reflection and deep relaxation.

At the heart of the experience is the Bathhouse – BODHI’s first in Australia – drawing inspiration from ancient bathing traditions and contemporary wellness practices. Guests will enjoy a carefully curated contrast therapy circuit featuring a traditional sauna, steam room, cold plunge, magnesium pool, pail showers, ice fountain and thermal lounges.

Unfortunately, access won’t be complimentary for guests at The Tasman, which is a bit of a disappointment. The pricing has yet to be published too, but I’m guessing it won’t be cheap.

The Tasman Hobart: Breakfast

Breakfast is served at Peppina from 7 a.m to 10.30 a.m daily. Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, Titanium and Platinum members enjoy complimentary breakfast for two adults per room. 

If breakfast is not included in your rate, it costs A$55 for adults, and A$28 for children under 12. Marriott Bonvoy members enjoy complimentary breakfast for up to two children under 12, provided they have purchased breakfast themselves, or otherwise enjoy it through elite status.

I’ll be honest. When I first saw the buffet spread, I was slightly disappointed by the relative lack of options. Maybe it’s because I’m too used to hotel breakfasts in Asia, where they throw in everything but the kitchen sink.

But when I tasted the food, I quickly realised this was a classic case of quality over quantity, as the produce and ingredients were absolutely top notch. 

The sourdough bread and pastries come from Pigeon Whole Bakers, widely regarded to be the best in Hobart. We had this bakery on our list, but since so many of its bakes were included with breakfast, we never ended up going.

The sourdough was perfectly-formed — see the bunny shape of the cross section — and probably the best I’ve ever had (the MileLioness makes sourdough, so I don’t make this claim lightly). The pastry selection rotated daily, with cinnamon rolls, croissants, Danish, and my personal favourite, one stuffed with vanilla bean and pistachio cream. By the way, please ask the staff to reheat the croissants — it doesn’t do them justice if you eat them cold!

You can pair this with local leatherwood honey, which is native to Tasmania. It has an intense, floral aroma and a buttery-smooth texture, and is supposedly one of the most unique and rare wild honeys.

I normally skip the juices at breakfast, because many hotels simply dump a carton of store-bought slop into the dispenser. But this cold-pressed Tasmanian apple juice was as good as anything I’d had in Japan.

The hot food selection featured pancakes, baked beans, sauteed mushrooms, potato hash, pork sausages and bacon from Ziggy’s, an award-winning butcher in Moonah.

Never before have I had such delicious hash browns at a hotel buffet. You get the sense that they spent a lot of time tweaking the recipe to get them this crispy. 

In addition to the buffet, there was a small a la carte menu listing the various egg options, as well as beverages (while it shows a separate charge for barista coffee, it’s included with breakfast).

The eggs come from Westbae Pastoral, a family-run farm in Nook on the northwest coast of Tasmania. These “Nook Chook” eggs come from pasture-raised hens, whose diet consists of bugs and grass rather than corn, as you’d find at industrial-scale farms. The result is richer yolks with higher nutritional content.

My advice? Get them scrambled. I don’t know what black magic the kitchen does here, but these were the creamiest, runniest eggs I’d ever tasted. It reminded me of what you’d get with omurice.

So in case you haven’t gathered it by now, breakfast was one of the highlights of the stay.

If I had any criticisms, it’d be that there wasn’t a lot of rotation. The spread didn’t change substantially across the five days we were there. I also thought the cut fruits weren’t great — but then again, it’s winter.

The Tasman Hobart: Peppina

The Tasman’s star dining destination is Peppina, which serves seasonal Italian cuisine featuring Tasmanian produce.

I’d read so much about this restaurant that I felt we had to try it, which we did on our second last night. We ordered two starters — the octopus and scallops. The scallops were dressed with an addictive almond garlic butter sauce, though A$28 for two pieces is definitely on the steep side. The octopus was paired with Tropea onion, which is known by Italians as “la regina rossa” (the red queen). I’d never had this before, but it added some amazing flavour to the dish.

For the mains, we went for the fish of the day and a duck pasta. Both were excellent, even if I was slightly disappointed to see that there was only one pasta option on the menu (if you’re a pasta fanatic like me, be sure to visit Pitzi Pasta Bar). 

Overall, it was a memorable dinner, though definitely on the pricey side.

The Tasman Hobart: Service

While service at The Tasman was cheerful and friendly,  I felt like the attention to detail didn’t quite match what you’d expect at a hotel pushing the top-50 list.

For example:

• While someone helped us with our bags on arrival, the luggage wasn’t proactively sent to the room until I went down to ask about it
• We weren’t offered welcome drinks at check-in (we saw them being offered to guests on other days when we passed through the lobby)
• I requested for additional towels to be sent to the room, but asked if they could be left outside because I didn’t want them to ring the bell and wake the MileCub. The towels were indeed placed outside, but directly on the floor — I thought it’d have been common sense to use a room service tray to prevent them from direct contact
• Turndown service was very basic, just fresh towels and some additional water instead of touching up the bed or putting the slippers and bathrobes out
• Simple requests for plates and cutlery took about 20-30 minutes to fulfill, two days in a row

None of these were a big deal individually, but it was a stark contrast to some of the truly exceptional hotels I’ve stayed at, where the staff are hyper-focused on even the tiniest of details (e.g. when the valet brings cars around they proactively slot a couple of bottles of water into the cupholders).

Conclusion

The Tasman is one of the nicest properties you’ll find in Hobart, and in some ways, offers the best of both worlds. You can enjoy all the benefits of being an elite member in a global chain, without having to stay in a bland, anonymous big box hotel.  

In fact, if I didn’t have the MileCub in tow, I would have asked about shifting rooms halfway through the stay, in order to experience what it’s like in a different wing.

The breakfast at Peppina was definitely the highlight — it’s not the biggest spread you’ve ever seen, but the quality of the ingredients is amazing, and it does a great job of showcasing local growers and artisans.

The key weakness here would be facilities. Unlike four-star competitors like the DoubleTree Hobart and Hotel Grand Chancellor Hobart, this hotel lacks a swimming pool (which I thought was a necessity to be considered 5-Star). There’s also no spa — though one is coming soon — and parking is very expensive. The service is well-meaning and friendly, though not as proactive as you’d expect at a hotel cracking the top 50 list.

All that aside, it’s definitely worth a visit, especially if you can find redemptions at the off-season rates.