Tesoro

Tesoro is a contemporary Italian restaurant in Hobart’s CBD built around Tasmanian produce. Its approach combines traditional Italian cooking with ingredients sourced from local growers, farmers, makers and fishers, with an emphasis on careful technique, bold flavour, low food miles and reducing food waste. The result is a menu that moves from breakfast through to lunch, dinner and drinks, giving diners plenty of ways to experience the restaurant across the day.

Dinner showcases Tasmanian ingredients through dishes such as Cape Grim beef, Marion Bay chicken, local fish, house-made pizza and pasta. The website also highlights a tableside cacio e pepe experience prepared in a cheese wheel, while seasonal events include Pinot and Pasta, pairing monthly pasta specials with Tasmanian pinot. Lunch is a more relaxed option, with antipasti, small plates, dolci and calzones, and the full à la carte menu available for those who want to stay longer. Breakfast includes a continental buffet and hot dishes cooked to order, and the drinks list covers cocktails, mocktails, wine, beer and spirits.

The venue’s story is closely tied to its relationships with Tasmanian producers and its kitchen team. Tesoro describes its food as humble and uncomplicated, with the focus on quality ingredients and considered preparation rather than unnecessary complexity. Head chef Glen Tilly is part of the team behind the restaurant, alongside sous chef Ruggero Cafagna, who brings experience from Puglia in southern Italy. That connection to both Tasmania and Italy gives the restaurant a clear sense of place without losing sight of its Italian foundations.

For private occasions, Tesoro has an intimate dining room with plush seating and vibrant murals by Australian artist Steve Cross. The room can host groups and events of up to 34 guests, with options including canapés, sit-down feasts and a Festivo package for larger groups. Families are catered for with a children’s menu and breakfast options, while the bar and drinks offering give solo diners or smaller groups another way to visit. With breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks and private dining all available, Tesoro suits visitors looking for a full meal, a casual midday stop or a Hobart celebration centred on Italian food and Tasmanian produce. Google reviews give the restaurant a 4.2 rating from 631 reviews.