The Best Places to Eat Seafood in Launceston

The best seafood restaurants in Launceston

Hallams Waterfront 13 Park Street

A quaint weatherboard venue overlooking the Derwent River and King’s Bridge, Hallams has been an iconic Launceston institution since long before it underwent a seafood-focused revolution in 2019. Since that time it has cemented its claim to being one of the best places to eat local Tasmanian seafood in Launceston. Balmain bug, a local lobster-like crustacean, is a local specialty, while Hallams’ famous market-fish sashimi, served with the likes of caviar, avocado and sesame mustard, changes with availability and the seasons, and Hallams’ spaghetti dish – showcasing local Stanley octopus and Skull Island prawns – is arguably the signature seafood dish. 

However, this might also be the best place to eat oysters in Launceston, too. Fresh Tasmanian oysters are served in a range of styles, reflecting some global culinary influences: including a reinvented retro Oyster Kilpatrick (improved with the addition of succulent Italian-style pancetta), a bright Thai-style nahm jim garlic-chilli sauce, and a Japanese-inspired accompaniment with rich tobiko fish roe, balanced out by a zingy orange vinaigrette. Hallams’ wine menu features some of the region’s best local and natural wines, many of which make perfect pairings with the local seafood. 

Rupert & Hound 30 Seaport Boulevard

Located in a prime location near historic Customs House, looking out over the river towards Riverbend Park and North Launceston, Rupert & Hound is another Launceston stalwart that combines serene setting with superb seafood offerings. Rupert & Hound believe strongly in following local seasonal availability and supporting sustainability. Therefore, they adapt seasonally available Tasmanian seafood species within an innovative and ever-changing menu, one that combines elegance and contemporary cuisine with international influences. 

It should be no surprise, then, that the range of seafood specialties here is diverse: their blue-eye trevalla is a firm local favourite, lightly pan-fried and served with a crisp and zingy local salad; the soft-shell crab with a curried cauliflower dip is hard to pass up; or, for something a bit different, have a go at Rupert & Hound’s signature squid dish – crispy salt-and-pepper squid gives a Southeast Asian twist with fresh mint, fried shallots, and vibrant Vietnamese-style rice.

Cataract on Paterson 135 Paterson Street

This is a popular choice for both locals and visitors to Launceston, located just behind Memorial Gardens along from Penny Royal. In terms of atmosphere, Cataract on Paterson combines the homeliness of a classic Aussie pub with the industrial-chic class of a modern dining establishment. This combination is also reflected in the menu, which is dotted with pub-standard staples done well (think crumbed scallops, salt and pepper squid, and gummy shark fish and chips, encased in a craft-beer batter) as well as some innovative dishes utilising distinctively local Tasmanian seafood. 

Many of the best seafood offerings at Cataract can be found on their impressive entree menu – their seafood platters are widely regarded as the best in Launceston, featuring local Tasmanian lobster, prawns, mussels, salmon, oysters and octopus piled high over ice. It’s a great shared option alongside some local Tasmanian sparkling wine. However, if you don’t have the group size or the appetite to take on one of these enormous platters, you can still enjoy its constituent parts through other delicious seafood entree offerings: such as char-grilled octopus tentacles with micro herbs and romesco sauce, or pan-seared Tasmanian scallops with salmon caviar, shaved fennel chilli and olive vinaigrette. Delicious. 

Mudbar Restaurant 28 Seaport Boulevard

A sleek contemporary eatery serving modern Australian dishes, Mudbar isn’t as immediately associated with seafood as some of its piers (and, in this buzzing area of Riverside Launceston, its immediate neighbours). However, it doesn’t take long to figure out that this renowned restaurant also takes seafood pretty seriously – and does it very well, too.

Mudbar try to adhere to a “paddock to plate” philosophy with much of their produce, celebrating Tasmanian producers and suppliers wherever they can. However, they look much further than the borders of Tasmania for influence when it comes to taste combinations. Some quality Tasmanian seafood meets an influx of Asian flavours in dishes such as Mudbar’s take on a Japanese tataki (quick-seared) sesame salmon, which is served with whipped coconut and a chilli-lime-palm-sugar dressing; or in the local Tasmanian char-seared octopus, done with a spicy, Korean-style gochujang sauce alongside peach and tamarind.

Mudbar has a fantastic cocktail bar, too, with a diverse range stretching from classic standards to internationally-inspired modern inventions, plus a few signature creations. The cocktail list makes for great browsing over a plate of Mudbar’s freshly shucked local oysters.

Other Launceston seafood eateries worth a visit:

Novaro’s Restaurant 28 Brisbane Street
Provincial Italian takes on Tasmanian squid and seafood in an upscale Edwardian setting.

Stelo at Pierre’s 88 George Street
Delicious for a European twist on Tasmanian mussels and oysters.

Fraggles Fish & Chips 297 Invermay Road
Perfect for Friday night fish and chips if you’re heading up the coast!

Fryed Fish & Chips 94a Hobart Road
Outlet for local fish suppliers. A good stop en route to Cradle Mountain or the Central Plateau.

Entally Lodge Bistro & Bar 28 Rutherglen Road
If you want to combine refined dining with elegant lodge accommodation out west.

Tinnies Pies 29 Hobart Road
Unfortunately, Tinnies has yet to re-open at the time of writing since the covid19 pandemic. However, if and when it opens up again, it should again be the place to go for the flakiest, creamiest, and outright best scallop pies in Launceston!

Ready to start planning?

You might be hanging around Launceston for a few days, or perhaps just visiting ] for a few hours as part of a Tasmanian road trip. In any case, these spots are worth visiting if you’re hankering for some delicious Tasmanian seafood while you’re in town.

If you’re still figuring out how to plan the rest of your Tasmanian trip, First Light Travel’s website has a full page dedicated to helping you discover Tasmania. You can take a look at several pre-prepared self-drive itinerary packages, designed for exploring more of the island; or, simply reach out to chat with FLT’s Tasmanian travel experts, who can help you put together your own personalised itinerary!