Discover the ultimate Hobart stay: your gateway to culinary delights and vibrant markets at Salamanca Wharf Hotel!
Where to stay in Hobart – Salamanca Wharf Hotel Review
Nestled between two original John Lee Archer 1840 sandstone warehouses, Salamanca Wharf Hotel offers self-contained boutique-style apartments.
The hotel’s interiors are inspired by the crisp and vibrant Antarctic colour shades of blue, aqua, golden orange, and russet. These are echoed throughout the hotel rooms by the photography of Antarctic adventurer Laurent Dick. Furniture crafted from local Tasmanian timber adds to the clean lines of the rooms.
The king-size bed was tucked under the lower ceiling and fitted with a goose down doona so there was no chance that Tasmania’s famous crisp weather would disturb my sleep.
I stayed in one of the loft penthouses which had floor-to-ceiling window doors opening onto a balcony overlooking Sullivans Cove. The fully-equipped kitchen would make it easy to self-cater and came stocked mini-bar style with some great Tasmanian wine, beers, cheese, chocolate, and condiments.
Inside the room
Tucked into the loft space, the sloping ceiling was an unusual feature and fine for a shorty like me. While there’s plenty of height, getting into the low ceiling side of the bed might prove challenging to those blessed with lots of height.
However, my only disappointment with this room is that I didn’t get a chance to try out the very impressive looking super soaker spa bath in the mosaic-tiled bathroom or lie around in the supplied bathrobe.
If you want to self-cater, the well-equipped kitchen has Smeg appliances and granite benchtops just like you’d want to have at home. It would be easy to stock the fridge with premium Tasmanian produce and eat very well.
You can walk to many of Hobart’s main attractions, including Salamanca Market, the Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery, the wharf and the Mona ferry terminal, from the hotel.
Rather keep it super easy? Just head downstairs to the Salamanca Wharf Café on the ground floor. It serves up tasty Tasmanian produce and is open for breakfast and lunch.
Parking is at a premium in this part of the city which is why the hotel has a car stacker parking system at the rear. It looks a little daunting at first but proved easy to operate.
Complimentary wi-fi is included.
All about Salamanca Markets
From Tasmania’s earliest days, Salamanca has been a place for food. Originally the rows of Georgian sandstone buildings which line Salamanca Place were warehouses. Now these buildings and the square itself are home to some of Tasmania’s best restaurants, cafes and the state’s best-known market.
Dating from the 1840s, the warehouses stored anything from grain, apples, wool and even whale oil for the early merchants in the port of Hobart Town. Converted into restaurants, galleries, craft shops and offices, it is a food mecca during the week. On Saturday the square comes to life with the famed Salamanca Markets.
Against the backdrop of Sullivans Cove’s yachts and fishing boats, the market contains around 300 stallholders sell locally made wares. The craft stalls show a strong Tasmanian presence with plenty of take-home souvenirs that are hard to resist. I came away with a bottle of local Hellfire Gin. I also saw a whole section devoted to fresh produce with plenty of signs declaring it was locally grown.
If you haven’t anticipated the depth of Tasmania’s cold, this is a great place to pick up a scarf, beanie or gloves. Thank goodness, I only had a small suitcase because there was also a good range of tempting clothing.
Salamanca Market is open every Saturday, from 8.30 am to 3 pm. Find Salamanca Place at Sullivans Cove on Hobart’s waterfront, just an easy five-minute walk from the city centre. www.salamancawharfhotel.com
Where is it?
Salamanca Wharf Hotel is located at 17A Castray Esplanade in Salamanca Place, Hobart, Tasmania. The boutique hotel has 22 apartments including four loft penthouses.
Best tip:
Don’t miss the beautiful Princess Park behind the hotel. The semaphore station and signal mast still standing on the edge of Princes Park once signalled ships as they entered the harbour, and relayed messages via a chain of stations to Port Arthur.
Want more on Tasmania?
- Eat like a local at an RSL
- Be shocked and surprised by MONA
- The easiest place in Australia to see snow
Disclaimer: Ed+ bK was a guest of the hotel.
It was lovely staying at Salamanca Wharf Hotel. A great location. Here’s a tip with the scallop pies – make sure the scallops are local. Evidently some pie makers use imported product. 🙁
I remember Salamanca from a trip I did as a 17 y.o. with a girlfriend. I’d like to go back and try those scollop pies – they sound luxurious! It would be divine staying at Salamanca Wharf Hotel.