Franklin Bar & Restaurant
Hobart CBD, Hobart
Bar in Hobart, Australia
Book with PearlWhy go
Franklin Bar & Restaurant at 30 Argyle St is one of Hobart's more considered choices for a date night; a venue where the bar program and kitchen work together rather than separately. Booking is easy, mid-week visits are quieter, it rewards returning guests who spend time at the bar. A step up from a casual drink stop.
About Franklin Bar & Restaurant
Verdict
Franklin is not just a bar with food on the side. If you've been once and filed it away as a casual drink stop near the waterfront, you're underselling it. As a date night venue in Hobart, it's one of the more considered choices on the 30 Argyle St strip; the kind of place where the evening has room to breathe rather than rush.
What to Expect
The space at Franklin has shifted in recent years from a looser, more casual format toward something with more intention behind it; the kitchen and bar program working together rather than operating as separate departments. That evolution matters for a two-person evening: you're not choosing between a good drink and a good meal, you're getting both in the same room without compromise.
The aroma that greets you is one of the more reliable signals that the kitchen is serious, wood smoke and something low and slow, the kind of scent that sets expectations correctly before a menu arrives. For a returning guest, the advice is to spend time at the bar before moving to a table. The bar program rewards the curious, if you've only ordered wine before, it's worth asking what's being made with local spirits or seasonal produce.
As a date venue, Franklin works well for the mid-week visit when it's quieter and conversation doesn't require effort. Weekend evenings are busier, while the room handles it, the dynamic shifts. If intimacy is the priority, Tuesday or Wednesday gives you the better version of this place. Booking is easy, no weeks-in-advance scramble required, which puts it ahead of several Hobart peers on accessibility alone.
For comparison across other Australian bar programs with this level of seriousness, 1806 in Melbourne, Bowery Bar in Brisbane, and Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu operate in a similar register, venues where the bar is genuinely the point, not decoration. Franklin sits comfortably in that company. See our full Hobart bars guide, full Hobart restaurants guide, full Hobart hotels guide, full Hobart wineries guide, and full Hobart experiences guide for broader planning.
Practical Details
| Detail | Franklin Bar & Restaurant | Typical Hobart Peer |
|---|---|---|
| Booking difficulty | Easy | Easy–Moderate |
| Address | 30 Argyle St, Hobart TAS 7000 | Varies |
| Leading for date night | Yes, mid-week especially | Varies |
| Walk-in friendly | Likely mid-week | Varies |
Planning details
- Location
- 30 Argyle St, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
- Website
- franklinhobart.com.au
- Phone
- +61 3 6234 3375
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Franklin presents a measured, quietly sophisticated tone. The room favors raw and lightly finished materials—stone, timber and aged metal—that absorb light and generate a muted warmth. Lighting and proportion do the heavy lifting here: the space deliberately avoids spectacle and volume, instead cultivating a restrained elegance where conversation is easy and the focus stays on what's in the glass and on the plate. The result is a classic, intimate bar that sits comfortably within Hobart’s recent shift toward venues that prize craft and restraint over theatricality.
Best For
Franklin is best for people who prioritize thoughtful drinks and composed plates in a calm, conversational setting. Its central Argyle Street address makes it a good stop for after-work drinks or a relaxed evening out, and the low acoustic register suits quiet dinners and date nights where the food and wine are front and centre. The room’s considered materials and restrained lighting also make it a reliable choice for small groups who want to talk rather than be distracted by loud spectacle.
Ordering Tips
Order with attention to provenance and seasonality: the copy explicitly positions the venue to let the quality of drinks and dishes carry the room, so focus on whatever the bar and kitchen are showcasing that night. Ask staff for wine or cocktail recommendations and pair lighter, produce-driven plates with drinks that highlight Tasmanian or regional ingredients. Because the place rewards slow, attentive drinking and conversation, plan to linger rather than rush.
Venue details
Ambiance
Inviting contemporary space with rich lighting, wooden elements, and nautical theme overlooking the harbor.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
View
Accessibility
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Lounge
- Late Night
- Closes by Midnight
Signature Pours
Tommy Margarita
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- Sonny; Notable alternative
- Dier Makr; Notable alternative
- Institut Polaire; Notable alternative
- Mary Mary; Notable alternative
- New Sydney Hotel; Notable alternative
Bar context
How It Compares
Against Hobart's bar field, Franklin holds its own as a dual-purpose venue where the food and drink programs are genuinely integrated. Dier Makr is the stronger choice if you want a more chef-driven, tasting-format experience; it's harder to book and more demanding of your evening, but the ceiling is higher. Franklin is the easier yes: accessible, flexible, reliable without requiring a weeks-ahead commitment.
Institut Polaire and Mary Mary are better picks if the cocktail program is your primary reason for going out; both lean harder into the drinks side. Franklin is the better call when you want the evening to move fluidly between bar and table without feeling like you've made a binary choice. For a date, that flexibility is worth more than a single-minded cocktail list.
New Sydney Hotel is the more casual, lower-stakes option; fine for a first drink but less suited to a full evening. If you want something with more atmosphere and intention behind it, Franklin is the practical upgrade. For anyone returning to Hobart and building a longer bar itinerary, use our full Hobart bars guide alongside Pearl profiles for Dier Makr and Institut Polaire to sequence the evening properly.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Franklin Bar & Restaurant guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Franklin Bar & Restaurant
| Venue | Booking Difficulty | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin Bar & Restaurant | Easy | No published awards |
| Sonny | Unknown | No published awards |
| Dier Makr | Unknown | No published awards |
| Institut Polaire | Unknown | No published awards |
| Mary Mary | Unknown | No published awards |
| New Sydney Hotel | Unknown | No published awards |
Comparing your options in Hobart for this tier.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Franklin Bar & Restaurant located?
Franklin Bar & Restaurant is located in Hobart, at 30 Argyle St, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia.
