Checking the Night Life Hobart

29/06/201711/12/2017

I know from growing up in Hobart that the night scene is excellent.

Live bands, old fashioned pubs and clubs are in abundance.

Many pubs while looking a bit “uneventful” on the outside will be pumping on the inside. Let your teenage inquisitive self take control and explore.

These are a couple to try out… no doubt there are more that I haven’t been to in awhile.

Cargo

Cargo has be the local go to for a beer or boogey for a few years now. I have had many a late night here with great music, vibes and drinks.

Jack Greene

Next door to Cargo is Jack Greene an awesome bar done up how I would design my underground, bar at home! We went on Friday night and caught the tail end of a duet playing excellent 80s tracks that had people dancing and swaying.

The bar also offers great Tassie gins! Ask the staff for their recommendation and don’t stop at one… (NB The Usual clause of drink responsibly etc)

Wine and Grape

We headed here on Friday night and it is a younger scene but great fun and excellent for a dance. It goes late… Grape Bar is open until 2am Friday and Saturday nights and a fun place for a dance.

Republic Bar in North Hobart is well known for housing live bands. It has a large out door area with a big smokers area if you need. And inside a large dance space to let your inner teenager express itself on the dance floor.

Heading towards the other side of the wharf are a few quintessential bars and great meets and drinks places.

Custom’s House

Built in … and restored a few moons ago, Customs is a wonderful pub where you can sit inside or outside under heat lamps. You can watch life go past with a locally brewed beer or delicious pinot noir. This is the go-to pub when the Sydney to Hobart is on. The food is also excellent. It is situated at the docks and the views of the Derwent River are great.

The Telegraph Hotel

This used to be the place to go to on a Friday night. Telegraph still is worth of including in a pub crawl around the water front.

The Lower House

This hidden bar is a newish addition to the Tassie pub scene being around for maybe 10 years. The Lower House is worth a sneaky peak on a Friday. Also a younger scene. It is the next block up from Custom’s House.

Wine Bars

The Henry James in the old Jam Factory offers incredible Tassie wines and a wonderful ambience.

Tavern 42 degrees – great atmosphere and upstairs turns into a night club friday and Saturday.

My favourite tucked away wine bar is Drink Co.

You will find James and his boutique bar under Salamanca Galleria, in the walk way beside Retro Cafe, Salamanca. A definite must if you like wines. Oh and gins!

All in all, Hobart has some of the best wine bars in Australia, and a healthy, active night scene that has never wavered. The locals are friendly and there are plenty of live bands on around town. Venture out, even if the night is cold, and you will find your mood catered for!

Going out in Auckland

13/06/201714/06/2017

It’s a Friday night in Auckland and we are keen to head out.

We start at My Bar, a funky wine and beer bar tucked away, on Durham St South – a lane way off Queen Street.

It is the perfect place for TGIF drinks, and you can order Japanese from next door which they will bring into the bar for you.

Next spot is a drinking hole along from Queen Street called Lord of the Fries. Beside the food/pub area is a cool standing drinking area. Heater lamps, smoking areas and nice tunes make for a great meet up place.

Then its on to some serious partying.

Dr Rudi is a roof top craft brewery and sporty fun meet up place.

There is an open area for smokers, over looking the super yachts. Pretty awesome views.

We stay here for a few drinks (and hours) as the vibe is good, the guy on the piano has the place dancing, and the DJ gets everyone grooving too. A fun friendly place.

Downstairs is another popular drinking hole called Danny Doolans but we find it quite cramped and busy after Dr Rudi’s but also sporting a great vibe.

The Soul Bar around the corner is good for the mature crowd wanting to bypass the 20something drunkards and offers great music, food and a dance floor. It stays open quite late.

On the way home we find ourselves in another Irish bar dancing away to 80s and 90s tunes called Father Ted’s. It is a fun bar that sees our night out.

All of the bars offered music and a great dance floor. I am really looking forward to going back again soon!

My Three Favourite Eat Places in Canguu, Bali

22/06/201629/06/2016

I love Canguu.

Canguu is a region in Bali, west of the more popular beaches of Kuta, Legion and Seminyak. Canguu is a very laid back area of rice fields, farms, coast line and beaches. It is famous for its surf breaks of Canguu, Batu Balong and Echo Beach (far away in time… sorry couldn’t resist).

The coast consistently caters for all sorts of surfers: long board riders, short board riders, kite surfers, beginners and big wave junkies and draws people from around the world. It’s not a “shopping mall” crowd, it is a down to earth “I-dig-surf-and-life” kinda crowd.

Aside from chasing the perfect wave along Canguu, you can also find eclectic organic, hipster restaurants, funky music venues, a healthy art scene and a plethora of yoga and health venues. Hence why I love the region so much: i t has everything I need.

Old Man's whipping up a storm — Old Man’s whipping up a storm

These are my top three restaurants and cafes in Canguu

Breakfast at the Shady Shack

Looking over the rice paddy field from Shady Shack doing some work

For breakfast (either before or after your morning surf), is the Shady Shack.

It’s sister cafe, Betelnut is really well known and on the other side of the paddy field, but Shady isn’t far behind it in popularity and the times that I go there it is packed.

Both cafes offer local and organic produce, turned into inspired creations. The vegetarian options are amazing and really well priced.

I meet Gypsy the owner briefly and we discuss the diverse menu, her use of medicinal plants and even bee pollen in her shakes. Being an avid subscriber to Hippocrate’s advice of “let food be your medicine” I am an instant fan of the Shady Shack.

The menu is extensive and caters for vegans to meat eaters but it is predominantly a plant based food fest.

The creations are beyond my imagination and I love the way each meal is it’s own art display and visual orgasmic delight. Nourishing one’s soul and body is so important with food and Gypsy and Shady Shack have nailed it, 10/10.

Today I have the Haloumi Bowl at Shady Shack and it is sensational: rocket, zucchini spaghetti, roasted capsicum, pickled beetroot, quinoa, chick peas, and a couple of devine sauces. A tasteorgasm!
At Betelnut my favorite would be their big salad bowl with 4 different salads. But the last two days I have had the fish burger, with chippies and salad. Also yummy.

Lunch at Old Man’s

If you haven’t already, go for a late morning surf at Batu Bolong then head to Old Man’s for lunch.

Old Man’s is the communal meeting place for locals and travellers and I don’t think a day goes past when I am not there .

Old Man's Batu Bolong — Old Man’s Batu Bolong

You can literally come out from a surf, rinse off the Indian Ocean in a shower at the back of the pub and order a chilled bintang while still dripping wet.

Sean the owner is a great guy, known by many and very hospitable. It’s laid back atmosphere is accepting and there’s usually a band playing most nights of the week.

Batu Balong Beach is at the end of the street and is an awesome place to watch life slip by or roll by, with the many hypnotic waves. Grab a coconut and make yourself at home. No one is in a rush around here.

I usually have the snapper and chips but the menu, for a pub, is very accommodating even offering vegetarian options.

Every day has a happy hour, but my advice would be to head there for lunch and or an early dinner. Which brings me to my favourite dinner dine in place Lacalitas.

Dinner at Lacalita

Chef and Aussie ex-pat owner, Will, opened up Lacalitas after his Seminyak sensation, Lacalaca was rated a winner by trip advisor. Both restaurants boast mexican flavours but both have their own individual flare and style.

Lacalita is an infusion of contemporary and mexican foods. I love Lacalita’s menu and have eaten here nearly every night for the past week!

La Taqueria Tostaditas and the Ahi Poke are delicious for starters and the soft crab is my favourite for mains. The menu is worth drooling over and whatever you do don’t rush .

The BEST thing on the menu (in my humble opinion) is the chilli margarita. I am not sure if I am going back any more for the food, the chilli margaritas or the fantastic atmosphere and decor.

The walls have lots of interesting items to check out, wonderful photos and memorabilia. It all comes together to be one of my favourite restaurants, quite possibly in the world.

The smiling friendly staff really do make you feel at home and Putu, who I have got to know reasonably well, will remember your name so by your second visit you will feel like Lacalita is home.

Will and Lacalita it’s a big 10/10.

Congratulations for producing a world class restaurant with the best trimmings in the humble, laid back region of Canguu.