Maria – Mediterranean Soul, Tasmanian Heart

Eat & Drink

Tucked away just below its fine-dining sister Aløft, Maria brings a slice of the Mediterranean to Hobart’s waterfront — a place where sun-drenched flavours, warm hospitality, and a hint of timeless glamour meet.

Dreamed up during a COVID lockdown by chef and co-owner Christian Ryan, Maria was born from a love of Mediterranean food culture and a desire to bring its simple, vibrant spirit to Hobart’s dining scene. Today, Maria celebrates the best of both worlds: traditional Mediterranean flavours and techniques, matched with Tasmania’s finest local produce.

The set menu spans the Med from Spain to Lebanon, with plates like Bruny Island oysters scented with wild fennel pollen, wallaby tartare atop macadamia hummus, and 14-hour slow-cooked lamb shoulder that melts at the touch. House-made focaccia, cheese-stuffed pita, and charred local greens round out a feast that feels indulgent yet beautifully down-to-earth.

Behind the bar, the Mediterranean influence continues with a thoughtfully curated wine list, house-made limoncello spritzes, and a trolley of apéritifs and digestifs to end your meal in true summer holiday style.

With its rough-rendered walls, 1960s lounge soundtrack, and attentive, easygoing service, Maria feels less like a restaurant and more like a lazy afternoon spent at a villa overlooking the sea.