Take a whiff of the house-made whisky and down some on a cold afternoon. It'll be enough to put hairs on your chest, or at least give you a good kick.
This funky cafe, bar and distillery is set just across the road from the Davey Street side of the Town Hall and at the back it opens onto a lovely lawn overlooking the docks.
Bless Hobart. There aren't many capital cities that offer such generous access to the waterfront, and the Lark has capitalised well on its city location (until 2001 it was run from Richmond, north of Hobart) without detracting even slightly from the public space it shares.
Inside, the cafe is warm and shows off the heritage building's rich, dark timbers, simple brick construction and heavy sandstone foundations. Take in the wonderful, earthy smell of distilling whisky permeating the building - which is a slight shock to the uninitiated upon entry, but quickly blends into a comforting background aroma.
The bar is home to a range of live gigs, with bands performing four nights a week. The Lark is considered the home ground for the local folk, bluegrass and blues scene.
Food options are simple here. Soups, ploughman's lunches and bar snacks are available, but the real appeal of this venue is the lively regular crowd and of course the distillery at work. Watch out for the Lark's new Richmond venue, where you will be able to distil your own whisky.
Robert Stevenson
