The Best Spots for Oysters in Tasmania

With a wealth of oyster farms dotted about the state, it'd be shellfish not to at least try these briny yet delicate morsels over and over again. 

From inner-city restaurants to low-key shacks by the coast, here's where to score the best oysters in Tasmania. 

Bar Wa Izakaya

Though plenty of Hobart restaurants have oysters on the menu, few are as wildly popular as North Hobart’s eatery Bar Wa Izakaya.  Though its menu is stacked with traditional Japanese dishes, folks flock here for the oysters, mainly because they are delicious but also because they are half price between 4pm and 6pm every day. Bar Wa tends to change up how its oysters are served, but you’ll usually find tempura, sainbazu (with a three flavour dressing), and natural with lemon on the menu.

216-218 Elizabeth Street, Hobart

Marla Singer

For a delightful oyster experience in Tasmania, head to Marla Singer, a fantastic neighborhood eatery tucked away in Bellerive. Known for its produce-driven food and fun wines, this open and relaxed spot transforms from café to wine bar every Thursday through Saturday until 10.00pm.

Don't miss their happy hour every Friday and Saturday from 3-5pm, where you can enjoy $10 wines and schooners paired with delicious snacks like oysters and wings. The best part? These briny beauties come topped with a blackberry mignonette. It's the perfect spot to unwind and savour the best flavours of the sea!

34-36 Cambridge Road, Bellerive

Ogee

One of Hobart's culinary gems, this bistro and wine bar holds a special place in our hearts—for good reason. Here, culinary artistry meets a celebration of Tasmania's finest produce. Seasonal, locally-focused dishes grace the menu, showcasing the region's bounty with every bite.

Beyond exquisite fare, Ogee excels in showcasing Tasmania's prized oysters. Picture yourself settling in with select bar snacks and enjoying drops of locally-sourced and international wine. Then when it's time to truly indulge, treat yourself to the pinnacle of their offerings: a Jon's Reserve oyster.

Jon’s Reserve is the embodiment of local Jon Poke’s lifelong pursuit of perfecting oysters, meticulously hand-graded to meet his strict standards. These oysters, nurtured for up to three years, are a romance and labour of love like no other. Trust us when we say, this little shucker will be one of the most incredible oysters you'll ever try. 

Sitchu Tip: While Jon's Reserve may not always be listed on the menu, it's wise to sample any oysters highlighted at Ogee—they're experts in their craft. 

374 Murray Street, Hobart 

Pearl + Co

Situated down on the Hobart waterfront, Pearl + Co is the place to go if you want to eat your weight in shellfish. There’s five types of Tasmanian Pacific oysters on the menu: natural, Kilpatrick, mignonette, smoked salmon, and sea urchin (as well as additional ever-changing specials). Once you’ve picked the oysters you want, why not pair them with an oyster shooter? There’s Bloody Mary, Japanese and Martini versions on the menu. 

Franklin Wharf, Hobart 

Get Shucked

A must-visit if you’re on a day trip to Bruny Island is the oyster shack Get Shucked, where you’ll find some of the freshest and best oysters in Tasmania. There’s a reason they call it “bay-to-bar dining”! With natural, panko and Kilpatrick on the menu, you can grab a box to go or if you have time to spare, sit and enjoy a plate of oysters in the sunshine (paired with a local wine or beer). People come to Bruny just to get these oysters, so you know they must be good.

Sitchu Tip: During peak season, Get Shucked’s oysters sell out by the afternoon – so bring your cooler bag and get in early!

1735 Bruny Island Main Road, Great Bay

Barilla Bay

Located 20 minutes out of Hobart on the way to the airport, Barilla Bay is a family-owned seafood farm with a retail store and restaurant on site. If you’re just stopped in, you can grab oysters to go and the staff will even pack your briny goodies in a special cool bag for your flight. If you’re keen to dine in, try to time your visit for the last Thursday of the month for the all you can eat natural and Kilpatrick oysters special. Otherwise, pop in to try creamy fresh oysters with paprika and garlic butter or the pepperberry and horseradish version. 

1388 Tasman Highway, Cambridge

Melshell Oyster Shack

A classic roadside oyster shack, you’ll find plenty of Tasmanians happily making the drive up the East Coast to score some of Melshell Oyster Shack’s plump oysters. Serving out of a retro blue caravan, pull up a seat, enjoy the view and tuck into oysters freshly harvested from the Melrose family’s lease in Great Oyster Bay. They even provide glasses for your BYO wine, proving this is a family that thinks of everything.

Sitchu Tip: This caravan is closed on weekends, so plan your trip accordingly.

9 Yellow Sandbanks Road, Dolphin Sands

Freycinet Marine Farm

If you’re interested in what exactly goes into an oyster appearing on your plate, the Freycinet Marine Farm is the perfect place to visit. For a shucking good time, pull on some full-length waders and head out on a tour, learning how to harvest and shuck oysters from the people who do it daily. Then enjoy your haul – these oysters are huge and delicious.

If you’d rather be a land-based creature, skip the tour, head straight for the restaurant and let others do the hard work for you. Order oysters natural, poached or grilled and enjoy the restaurant’s ever-changing selection of dressings.

1784 Coles Bay Road, Coles Bay 

Blue Lagoon Oysters

Another humble roadside stop, you’ll find Hobart locals are quite happy to hit the Tasman Highway to pick up a tray of Blue Lagoon Oysters – they’re well worth the drive. Freshly farmed off Marion Bay, its the only oyster farm gate on the Tasman Peninsula.

The oysters here are uniquely fresh and briny-tasting, which is why they have a legion of loyal fans. If you're staying on the Peninsula, make it a point to stop and take home a dozen oysters to savour at your Airbnb.

Sitchu Tip: Blue Lagoon is the only farm gate that sells Tasmanian flat (Angasi) oysters – which are only harvested in winter.

98 Bay Road, Boomer Bay

Tarkine Fresh Oysters

While the vast majority of this list covers the south-east of Tasmania, the north isn’t to be ignored! Tarkine Fresh Oysters is located in Smithon in the far north-west of the state. Tarkine has been farming and selling fresh oysters for over 40 years, renowned for being big, sweet and creamy.

Pop in for a takeaway or dine in at the café and try some of Tarkine’s baked oyster options – Kilpatrick, Rocky Point, Mornay, bacon and sweet chilli, garlic parmesan panko, garlic butter and bacon or go for the Tarkine mix tray for one of each flavour. 

21 West Esplanade, Smithton

Stillwater

Continue your northern, Tarkine oyster-filled journey to discover the culinary delights awaiting at acclaimed Launceston restaurant, Stillwater. Set against a whimsical waterside backdrop, this casual fine-dining locale is a must-visit for delving into the exquisite flavours of Tarkine oysters.

Celebrated for their pristine quality, delicate brininess and creamy texture, these oysters encapsulate the untouched natural beauty of the island. Whether you're indulging in a leisurely, romantic dinner or elevating your aperitivo hour with late afternoon cocktails and snacks in Stillwater's adjacent wine bar, adding a half-dozen of Tasmania's most exceptional oysters to the mix is a no-brainer, really. 

2 Bridge Road, Launceston

Lease 65

Often shouted out as the best oysters in Tasmania, Lease 65 couldn’t be more down-to-earth. There’s zero bells and whistles here – no restaurant or fancy toppings, just take-away trays of the plumpest, freshest oysters you’ve ever slurped. Located just a few minutes out of the township of St Helens, this is the best little detour you’ll make while in Tassie. Get your dozen, mix up a little dressing and enjoy with a local Pinot Gris. Perfection.

444 Binalong Bay Road, St Helens

We bet this has you craving the freshest, most succulent oysters straight from the pristine waters surrounding Tasmania. Each bite offers a perfect taste of the ocean. Don't miss the opportunity to shuck it up in Australia's southernmost state, and while you're there, be sure to explore its scenic roads and magnificent national parks.