Four Luxe Suites Have Opened at Hobart’s $100 Million Tasman Hotel

Although Hobart’s Tasman Hotel opened in December 2021, it just snuck into Broadsheet’s best new Australian hotel openings list for that year.

It caught our attention for a couple of reasons. The $100 million 152-room hotel fronts Murray Street in Parliament Square and is right near the city’s famous Salamanca Market, so it’s in an excellent part of town for exploring the city and harbour. Plus, its design is pretty cool.

The Tasman – which is part of Marriott’s Luxury Collection (and the first to open in Australia) – comprises three buildings: a former hospital built in 1841, a 1940s building and a brand new glass-ensconced pavilion. Because of this collision of architectural eras, guests can enjoy three different room experiences – contemporary, art deco or Georgian – depending on what they choose to book and what mood they’re looking for.

There’s also now the opportunity to stay in one of its just-launched suites. The 108-square-metre Aurora Suite has plenty of natural light – it’s on the rooftop and has an expansive terrace from which you can take in the panoramic views of Hobart’s waterfront and city. Its firepit ensures you’re warm while doing it. Or you can retreat inside to a bath and warm bed.

The St David’s Park Suite gets its name from the pretty park it overlooks and is the top digs within the hotel’s Georgian-era building. It’s also the cosiest of the new suites thanks to dark timber ceilings crafted from Baltic pine originally used as ballast for the first tall ships arriving into Hobart. There are beautiful sandstone features too, a restored original fireplace and a lush, handcrafted timber bath.

And finally, there’s two striking corner Pavilion Suites. The colour tones of blues, sage and greys mimic the maritime environment of the harbour and Derwent River. Take it all in from the supersized king bed or the freestanding bath. Like the rest of the hotel, the suites feature beautiful original artworks.

If you can pull yourself away from the cosy rooms, elsewhere in the hotel there’s an intimate sandstone cocktail bar called Mary Mary with fireplaces and a rare spirits library. It’s within the former St Mary’s Hospital (hence its name) that’s now part of the hotel, and the beverages have been guided by leading drinks consultant Charlie Ainsbury, who has worked at a number of leading Sydney bars (This Must Be The Place, Eau de Vie, Bulletin Place).

The hotel has a lively 190-person Italian restaurant, Peppina, led by well-known Tassie chef Massimo Mele (Grain of the Silos, Launceston) and head chef Glenn Byrnes, who has worked at some excellent local fine diners Garagistes, Aloft and Fico. The woodfired oven and firepit is the centrepiece of the open kitchen.

@thetasmanhobart