Sonny
Hobart CBD, Hobart
Bar in Hobart, Australia
Book with PearlWhy go
Book Sonny for a low-friction, wine-led Hobart date night rather than a large group dinner. Its Star Wine List recognition in 2026 gives it a clear credibility signal, but the smarter play is to use it for two-person drinks when you want less ceremony than a restaurant-bar format.
About Sonny
Sonny is a Hobart venue with evening hours and casual dress. It is recognised by Star Wine List (2026). For details such as seating, booking process, menu format, pricing, and group capacity, plan with flexibility rather than assuming a specific format.
Plan around the confirmed basics
For a date or a small catch-up, Sonny can make sense when the plan is simple and the timing fits its evening hours. Hobart has other options to compare, including Dier Makr and Franklin Bar & Restaurant, so choose based on the kind of evening you want and the practical details that matter most.
If the night depends on a larger table or a specific setup, check directly before committing. Other Hobart options such as Deco Lounge, Mary Mary, New Sydney Hotel, Dier Makr, and Franklin Bar & Restaurant may also be worth comparing depending on the kind of evening you want. For a wider sweep, use Our full Hobart bars guide.
Where it sits in a Hobart night out
Sonny works well in planning terms as an evening stop in Hobart rather than as a fully defined dining plan. If the evening is built around food, compare it with Our full Hobart restaurants guide and other Hobart venues. If Sonny is one part of a longer trip, pair the planning with broader Hobart guides rather than treating one venue as the whole itinerary.
For returning visitors, the practical move is to use the hours first: Sonny is open Monday and Thursday through Sunday from 4–11:30 PM, and closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Skip making firm assumptions about lunch, pricing, menu detail, seating, or walk-in ease without checking directly.
Know Before You Go
- Best use: An evening stop in Hobart, especially if Star Wine List recognition is relevant to your plans.
- Hours: Open Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 4–11:30 PM; closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
- Dress code: Casual.
- Group fit: For larger groups, check seating and capacity directly.
- Price planning: Budget with flexibility rather than assuming a fixed spend.
- Comparable planning: For other Hobart nights, compare Sonny with Deco Lounge, Dier Makr, Franklin Bar & Restaurant, Mary Mary, and New Sydney Hotel.
Planning details
- Location
- 120a Elizabeth St, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
- Website
- sonny.com.au
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Sonny is a study in compression: an intentionally small, counter-led room where every proportion feels edited and exact. The tight footprint sharpens the bar’s programme, making drinks and the small plates that accompany them feel equally considered rather than incidental. The writing emphasizes discipline over excess — a refined, minimalist small bar that foregrounds craft, restraint and a quietly sophisticated approach to hospitality. The result reads less like a crowded nightspot and more like a curated tasting room for Hobart’s increasingly mature small-bar scene.
Best For
This is a place built for close-up experiences: solo visits, intimate dates and short groups who appreciate the theatre of counter service. With only eighteen seats and a counter format, the room favours focused interactions with staff and a tasting-driven rhythm where drinks and food are in direct conversation. It sits neatly within Hobart’s competitive small-bar circuit, so it’s best for diners who want a deliberate, up-close encounter with a tightly edited drinks-and-bites programme rather than a sprawling dinner for a large party.
Ordering Tips
Lean into the counter format: sit at the rail and let the team guide you through the bar programme, where pours and small plates are designed to play off one another. Expect drinks and food to be treated as equals, so ask for pairing suggestions rather than ordering in isolation. Given the compressed, eighteen-seat layout, seating is limited — plan for a short visit or arrive early. The bar’s discipline means attention to detail in both pours and plating, so trust the staff’s direction when choosing a sequence of drinks and bites.
Venue details
Ambiance
Warm, intimate atmosphere with mood lighting, vibrant energy from vinyl records playing funky tunes, and a convivial house-party vibe.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Wine Bar
- Late Night
- Closes by Midnight
- Music
- Vinyl Records (funky, Old School, Bee Gees)
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 120a Elizabeth St, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
Planning details
Location
120a Elizabeth St, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia · Directions
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- New Sydney Hotel, Notable alternative
- Dier Makr, Notable alternative
- Franklin Bar & Restaurant, Notable alternative
- Deco Lounge, Notable alternative
- Mary Mary, Notable alternative
Bar context
How Sonny compares in Hobart
Choose Sonny over New Sydney Hotel when the night is built around a quieter, wine-led two-person plan rather than a pub-style stop. New Sydney Hotel is the safer call for a more casual group mood; Sonny is the sharper pick when the evening needs to feel more intentional without becoming a full restaurant booking.
Dier Makr and Franklin Bar & Restaurant make more sense when food is driving the booking. Sonny is the better alternative when drinks come first and the meal does not need to carry the whole night. If booking difficulty is the deciding factor, Sonny's easy signal gives it an edge for last-minute planning.
For ambiance-led drinking, compare it with Deco Lounge and Mary Mary. Deco Lounge is the stronger cross-shop when lounge energy matters; Mary Mary is the one to check if cocktail-bar polish is the priority. Sonny's lane is simpler: central Hobart, date-friendly, wine-forward, and easier to slot into a flexible night.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Sonny guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Sonny
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Sonny | Hobart | Star Wine Lists 2026 |
| New Sydney Hotel | Hobart | No published awards |
| Dier Makr | Hobart | No published awards |
| Franklin Bar & Restaurant | Hobart | No published awards |
| Deco Lounge | Hobart | No published awards |
| Mary Mary | Hobart | No published awards |
How Sonny Hobart compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sonny good for a date?
It can be a fit if you want a casual evening stop in Hobart. Sonny's hours are 4–11:30 PM on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and it is recognised by Star Wine List (2026).
Do I need a reservation at Sonny?
Is Sonny good for groups?
For a larger party, contact Sonny directly or compare other Hobart options such as New Sydney Hotel, Deco Lounge, Mary Mary, Dier Makr, or Franklin Bar & Restaurant.
What's the best time to go to Sonny?
Start with the opening hours: Sonny is open 4–11:30 PM on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Plan for the evening rather than lunch.
Is the food good at Sonny?
If food is the main priority, compare Sonny with other Hobart options, including Dier Makr or Franklin Bar & Restaurant, before deciding.
