The 7 best Indian restaurants in Hobart

Hidden away in a 100-year-old terrace in Battery Point, Magic Curries is an ode to North Indian and Punjabi-inspired fare. In this family-run restaurant, everything is made from scratch. So, you can dial the spice level up or down, depending on how daring you feel. The mango chicken – mild, slightly sweet and creamy – is Magic Curries’ delicacy, and for good reason. The beef Madras has a coconut base tempered with mustard seeds. A glass of crisp Frogmore Creek chardonnay is a great accompaniment, no matter what curries you order.

Address: 41 Hampden Rd, Battery Point 

Price: Mid-range

Named after the goddess of food and abundance, Annapurna has been serving Hobart for more than 25 years, seven nights a week. Service is friendly, the food is good and locals love it. The thali is a smorgasbord, a complete meal of many items served in tiny bowls. For instance, the seafood thali serves up fried tiger prawns, three seafood curries plus the obligatory naan, rice, papadum and raita. Or, try the masala dosa, a classic South Indian crêpe stuffed with spicy potatoes and served with chutneys and sambar. End with a kulfi (Indian ice cream); choose between mango, pistachio or coconut – or try them all!

Address: North Hobart & Bellerive

Price: Mid-range

Dawat the Invitation is a restaurant where the flavours of North India, especially Punjab, come alive. The menu is a feast of all your favourites — from indulgent butter chicken and rich lamb rogan josh to smoky tandoori platters and garlic naan made in their tandoor oven. Vegetarians are spoiled for choice too, with hearty dishes like dal makhani, palak paneer and chana masala. Families love the kids’ play area, while everyone enjoys the thoughtful touch of complimentary pappadums and mint chutney. With spacious seating and the warm hospitality of the owner and head chef Jimmy Singh, every meal here feels special.

Address: 122 Cambridge Rd, Bellerive 

Price: Mid-range

Maharaja is the OG of Hobart’s Indian dining scene, serving up everything from delicately spiced Lucknow-inspired dishes to robust curries from the south. Their 16-page menu is a tome to work through, but indecisive diners can always opt for their banquet (vegetarian and vegan options available). Maharaja’s gooey cheese naan is comfort food personified and is best used to mop up every last drop of murgh malai methi curry. Head chef Barinder’s signature Kashmiri fish curry is full of flavour thanks to the long marination time of the fresh fish. What Maharaja lacks in decor, it makes up for in consistency and atmosphere. BYO wine or get a glass of pinot and let your inner artist out as you doodle on the paper tablecloth – it’s encouraged. 

Address: 81 Bathurst St, Hobart 

Price: Mid-range

Sacred Bites is where Indian spice meets Asian flair – and the result is a seriously fun fusion restaurant. Sure, you’ll find classics like prawn vindaloo and palak paneer, but we urge you to try something different from their innovative menu. Think fluffy baos stuffed with pulled pork or jackfruit, tacos filled with chicken tikka or paneer, vada pav–inspired sliders, and naan filled with walnut and Manuka honey. There are vegan delights too, such as Burmese eggplant and tofu curry. With generous serves, bold flavours and a modern vibe, this is food that's made for sharing. Can’t choose? Go for the chef’s 'Feed Us' feast.

Address: 17/119 New Town Rd, New Town

Price: Mid-range

There’s a reason Chillies in Sandy Bay is packed with large table bookings – it’s an absolute crowd-pleaser that has enough ambience to also make it a solid choice for an intimate night out. The mixed tandoor platter for two is the perfect starting point, with moreish bites of chicken, lamb tikka and seekh kebab. A fresh green salad is a welcome palate cleanser before diving into a mattar paneer – a classic combo of peas and India’s signature cheese. It’s hard to look past Chillies’ signature dish – the goat curry. Cooked on the bone and perfectly seasoned, this meat falls apart and melts in your mouth. On balmy evenings, take your mango lassi outside and dig into an alfresco feast.

Address: 5 Gregory St, Sandy Bay

Price: Mid-range

Tiny on seating yet huge on flavour, Danphe serves up a fusion of flavours from the Himalayan mountain region. Start by digging your fork into a plate of samosa chaat – crushed samosas with swirls of tangy tamarind and mint chutney. Then, explore the Nepali speciality of momos, or as I call them, steamed dumplings moonlighting as flavour bombs. The jal pari (fish chilli) is a spicy barramundi curry, while the saag lamb is cooked in spinach. Not sure what to get? Order a thali for a little taste of everything. Danphe makes a solid case to visit this otherwise quiet strip of Collins Street after dark. 

Address: Unit 2/138 Collins St, Hobart

Price: Mid-range