Named as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy in 2021, Launceston is renowned for its world-class produce and paddock-to-plate philosophy. There’s few better ways to wash down some of the state’s best food than with an equally excellent cocktail at one of the city’s bars - here’s our pick of the best.

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THE BARREL COLLECTIVE

Opened in 2020, The Barrel Collective is the culmination of owner-operator Michael Bernhagen’s own love of Tasmania and the exceptional spirits it produces. Now, the venue produces and sells its own experimental gins, alongside an island-dominant list of small batch gins, whisky, wine and craft beer. While spirits purists are welcome to drink them neat or on the rocks, The Barrel Collective also encourages the discovery of new favourites through an extensive and ever-evolving cocktail menu. On any given visit, you might find Nanna’s Clarified Milk Punch - a smooth and viscous elixir of light spice, tea and citrus notes - or the Hazy Shade of Winter, a variation on the theme of Negroni, garnished with flamed orange peel. Ribena nostalgists should opt for the Mabel’s Muse: dry cassis liqueur makes blackcurrant grown-up with a sweet and sour blueberry and lavender gin, lime juice and raspberries.

63a Brisbane Street, Launceston

Sunday-Monday 4pm-10pm

Tuesday-Thursday 4pm-11.30pm

Friday-Saturday 2pm-11.30pm

BAR URBANE

Add an ‘e’ to ‘urban’, and you turn the city into suave sophistication. Bar Urbane manages to be both, positioned as it is in the Seaport restaurant mecca, and oozing as it does an elegance that’s reminiscent of a period romance. Co-founded by Alex Britton and Jordan Luck in late 2023, Urbane sets out to fill an otherwise unmet niche in Launceston. Its refined interiors, thoughtfully curated menu and polished table service do just that, offering a space in which to enjoy a taste of Tasmania on the plate and in the glass. Highlights on the small plates menu include natural and dressed oysters, charcuterie, and a selection of local cheeses to layer on local bread with truffle honey and quince jelly. It’s food that’s made for pairing with house cocktails, which include the eponymous Urbane - a refreshing flute of gin, Tasmanian sparkling wine, raspberry and lemon - and the Italian Bird - a comparatively darker muddle of Jamaican rum, Amaro Montenegro, curacao, orange, pineapple and lime.

26 Seaport Boulevard, Launceston

Thursday-Friday 3pm-late

Saturday-Sunday 1pm-late

BAR STELO

A very welcome addition to the Stelo family, Bar Stelo sits pretty right next door to its sister venue, solving the persistent - and very positive - dilemma of a fully-booked Stelo Restaurant. Long beloved by Launcestonians for its authentic Italian-inspired menu, Stelo launched its standalone bar offering after the roaring success of cocktail pop-ups in the original space. Bar Stelo mimics the restaurant’s warm atmosphere, and introduces its own brand of Prohibition-era chic through generous lashings of a warm green palette, Italian marble tiles and moody lighting. An on-until-midnight snacks menu responds to late evening appetites, and the bar team is well versed in all of the cocktail classics. For something Stelo-specific, try the Boston Green with cucumber-infused 7K Distillery vodka, fresh basil, lemon and tonic, or the Black Manhattan-adjacent D.C. Manhattan, which sees Tasmanian whisky and amaro meet Pedro Ximenez and black walnut bitters in a pre- or post-dinner coupe.

88a George Street, Launceston

Wednesday-Saturday 4pm-late

MIDNIGHT RAMBLER

Despite Tasmania’s reputation amongst its mainland counterparts as the sleepy state, there is such a thing as night life in Launceston. Exhibit A can be found at Midnight Rambler, the city’s only truly late night drinking establishment, serving up good times and good drinks until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays. Inspired by the dive bars ubiquitous in America’s south, you’ll find blues rock coming from the speakers, and classic cocktails coming from the bar. True to a theme of great bourbon and whisky, the boilermaker - beer and a shot of whisky - and the pickleback - whisky and a shot of pickle juice - are in high rotation, as are classic and house cocktails fashioned by an unpretentious team of locals who pour out spirits and smiles in equal measure. Take your date and get romantic in a low-lit corner, or get the band together for an evening around the pool table. Just don’t miss the complimentary pretzels.

Earls Court, Launceston

Friday-Saturday 5pm-2am

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