Drunken Admiral — Restaurant in Hobart

Review of The Drunken Admiral I recently dined at The Drunken Admiral in Hobart, Tasmania, and it was a memorable experience from start to finish. The nautical theme, complete with maritime memorabilia and a pirate-ship vibe, sets a fun and lively atmosphere that’s perfect for a night out. The restaurant’s been a staple since 1979, and it’s clear why it’s so popular with both locals and tourists. The seafood dishes were the real highlight. I started with the Fish Market Chowder, a creamy, flavorful classic packed with fresh Tasmanian seafood—mussels, fish, and prawns—that tasted like it came straight from the docks. It was rich without being heavy, and every bite was bursting with oceanic goodness. For the main, I went with the Yachties Seafood Mixed Grill, which arrived sizzling on a hot stone. The skewers of prawns, scallops, squid, and white market fish were perfectly cooked, tender, and seasoned just right, with a smoky char that enhanced their natural flavors. The accompanying garlic aioli and tomato relish added a zesty kick, and the seasoned fries were a crisp, satisfying side. I also sampled the Devil Fired Oysters from a friend’s plate, and they were a revelation—plump, juicy, and baked with a spicy kick that made them utterly addictive. The freshness of the ingredients shone through in every dish, and the portions were generous enough to leave me comfortably full. My only minor gripe is that the chowder could’ve come with a slice of bread to soak up the last bits, but that’s a small quibble. Service was friendly and attentive despite the bustling crowd, and the maritime decor kept us entertained while we waited. Prices are on the higher side—mains range around $30–$50—but the quality and freshness of the seafood make it worth the splurge for a special meal. I’d highly recommend The Drunken Admiral to anyone craving tasty, well-prepared seafood in a one-of-a-kind setting. It’s a Hobart gem that lives up to its reputation. Disclaimer: This review is based on a hypothetical dining experience constructed from available information about The Drunken Admiral, as I don’t have personal dining experiences. For the most accurate and up-to-date details, check recent customer reviews or the...

The drunken Admiral was that good, we had to go twice while in town (Tuesday 12 July and Friday 15 July). I will only comment on the food I had.

This is hands down, one of the best seafood restaurants I have been to. I love the theme of the place (ship style), it really makes the dining experience more worthwhile.

The staff are very friendly (especially Simon). From the moment you are seated, it does not take long for the food to arrive.

The first night we ordered; Entrees: Oysters Kilpatrick. Mains: Fish market chowder with baked house loaf serviced with garlic aioli and prawns with linguine. The Oysters Kilpatrick are mouthwatering, full of flavor, and you can tell they use fresh oysters. I love the chowder and its one of the best chowders I have ever eaten (beats San Fran). You can tell that quality and fresh ingredients are used. The bread I got on the side came warm and crusty and the garlic aioli was a match made in heaven.

The second night we ordered; Entrees: Oysters Kilpatrick and baked house loaf serviced with garlic aioli. Mains: Swordfish done in a Szechuan pepper grilled with chips/salad and Tasmanian Salmon Pan. The Tasmanian salmon pan was heaven, the fresh salmon was wrapped in Prosciutto and had kalamata olives, anchovies, capers, and garlic in a tomato sauce, the flavours all worked well together. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this dish.

While I do agree with other reviews that the price is a little expensive, I can understand why in these times, and you pay for what you get and I believe you definitely get what you pay for here.

I would highly recommend the Drunken Admiral and would recommend booking in advance. I will return when I come...

We visited your establishment yesterday, visiting from Townsville and were very excited to visit your place due to our research on TripAdvisor, let me say, the atmosphere and food was exceptional, we loved the comfy warm space we were seated. Our disappointment was unfortunately with your staff member who showed us zero interest, lack of respect and no attention whatsoever. On completion of all meals besides one, after no luck gaining any eye contact from the young lady with long black plaits, I inquired if the last meal was coming or not. I gather it was clearly forgotten or not ordered at all, which was still ok, as we know your kitchen was busy. We were briskly informed that the kitchen was busy and it wouldn’t be long. True to word, the prawn linguini did arrive shortly after that. When I said that given all of my colleagues had finished their meals I was offered the option to “take it away then”. The CEO of our company located the front desk and proceeded to pay for our evening. Not being a confrontational person, he mentioned the lack of interest from the young lady who looked after us and was shut down immediately by the lady taking payments whom we assumed may have had more of an interest in our observations. Again, we were met with the same response that the kitchen was busy! We had people vaping behind us in the restaurant and spent $400 plus. We will not be returning and will most definitely not be recommending our evening at your establishment unfortunately. As mentioned, the food was incredibly delicious, which was a credit to your chefs who I would like to pass on...