Why you’ll love it

Dining out on the East Coast of Tasmania takes on its own personality. From exclusive dining at high-end restaurants to freshly cooked fish and chips served piping hot from a seaside fish punt, and treat-laden afternoon tea in cosy cafes, you’ll find a dining experience that is perfect for you. One of the great joys of wandering is discovering that little gem of a restaurant or cafe along the way, but here are few suggestions to get you started.

One of the great joys of wandering is discovering that little gem of a restaurant along the way

Where you’ll find it

In a restaurant

House guests at Saffire Freycinet can experience true indulgence at the resort’s Palate Restaurant, where seasonal Tasmanian and east coast ingredients are transformed into an unforgettable culinary experience. For a special dining experience, treat yourself to the degustation or à la carte menus at the award-winning restaurant at Piermont Homestead Restaurant, Swansea.

The Springbay Seafood and Wine Bar is located directly on the shores of the picturesque Spring Bay. The restaurant focuses on sourcing fresh Tasmanian produce from within a 150km radius of the Resort. Their  highly skilled chefs use only the freshest local seafood to create dishes with an Asian fusion. Paired with cool-climate wines from the local region, dinning in the Springbay Seafood and Wine Bar is an experience in itself.

In Swansea, soak up the view over a long lunch or dinner at the waterfront Saltshaker Restaurant which features organic and fair trade ingredients.

At Freycinet Lodge, within Freycinet National Park, you can enjoy the fine à la carte menu at the Bay Restaurant or tasty meals in the casual atmosphere of Richardson’s Bistro. At Freycinet Marine Farm in Coles Bay you can savour delicate oysters and mussels, plucked straight from the sea and shucked before your eyes. Buy your own oysters, mussels, rock lobster and abalone, or enjoy fresh seafood prepared onsite and accompanied by Tasmanian wines and beers.

The family-friendly BrewHaus Café and Bar at White Sands Resort, Four Mile Creek offers modern Australian cuisine, matched to the Ironhouse range of brews. Inland from St Helens, at Pyengana, is the Holy Cow Café at the Pyengana Dairy Company, featuring light meals, lush handmade ice cream and fine Pyengana cheeses. Also at Pyengana is the quintessentially Tasmanian Pub in the Paddock—the St Columba Falls Hotel. Apart from being one of Tasmania’s oldest licensed pubs, the Pub in the Paddock is known for its welcoming, country-style accommodation and hearty meals, and for its resident porcine celebrity—Pinky the pig. You’ll just have to pay a visit to find out why…

At A Vineyard

You will find Mels Kitchen at Spring Vale Vineyard, Higher Ground at Milton Vineyard, Tombolo Pizza and The Fishers at Devils Corner and Tasty Treats at Craigie Knowe Vineyard.

At a café

You can still find a traditional Devonshire tea in a quaint east coast tearoom or indulge yourself in luscious gourmet treats in a stylish café. Try Artifakt Gallery and Café in Swansea for delicious coffee and snacks and a chance to browse the collection of local art and crafts.

Stop in at the Bark Mill Tavern and bakery in Swansea for a tasty snack or light meal, and a chance to visit the Bark Mill Museum. The quirky Pondering Frog, south of Bicheno, specialises in house-made berry ice creams, Devonshire tea (with enormous fluffy scones) and a selection of house-made cherry wines and liqueurs, preserves and local honey. And frogs. Lots of frogs…

Visit Blue Edge Bakery and Food & Brew in Bicheno.  In Coles Bay, you cant go past Granite Freycinet and Geographe Restaurant.

The Purple Possum is a café and wholefoods store in the lush mountain landscape of St Marys that also features a mini-gallery, produce garden and bric-a-brac shed.

In St Helens, don’t miss the Lifebuoy Café and Quail St Emporium.

Al fresco

You’re on the coast, on holiday, so of course you’ll want to find the best fish and chips on the island. If you’re interested in a takeaway menu that features locally caught lobster, then pay a visit to the Lobster Shack or Tasmanian Coastal Seafoods at the Gulch in Bicheno. And don’t miss the Fish Van in Triabunna or the fish punts at St Helens, including Skippers, for the freshest local fish and chips you’ll find anywhere.

Many restaurants and cafes on the Great Eastern Drive have outdoor dining options designed to take full advantage of the region’s scenery. But one of the most memorable al fresco dining experiences you can have on Tasmania’s east coast is a picnic hamper from East Coast Grazing or Bicheno Pop Up Picnic, match it with your favourite east coast wine or beer and unfurl your picnic blanket. Your only remaining challenge will be choosing which incredible view you’d like to soak in while you indulge your taste buds…

Travel times and driving distances

To help plan your visit, you can check our travel times and driving distances.