Bar WaIzakaya

Where the best of Hobart and Tokyo meet is the stated ambition of this Elizabeth Street bar, and the room commits to it: shelves packed with international spirits, a ceiling strung with sake bottles and neon, and an upstairs lounge warmed by a fireplace for the long Tasmanian evenings. It runs as a proper izakaya, share plates from midday until late, drinks poured with intent, and a rotating social hum rather than a formal dinner service. The specialty is ramen, made with housemade stocks and custom tare and served through the middle of the day, the sort of bowl that rewards a cold-weather detour. Around it sits the grazing architecture of the genre, small plates to keep pace with the drinking, group set menus for a table of four or more, and an oyster happy hour that draws its own crowd. The bar list leans Japanese, with sake and inspired cocktails alongside the classics and a decent beer selection. Open seven days from noon until late, it has become the city's default for a night that starts with one drink and a bowl of noodles and quietly turns into several. Casual, loud in the right way, and built to linger.