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The Best Cafes in North Hobart for a Coffee Catch-Up
Start your day off the right way with one of the best cafes in North Hobart.
The best cafes in North Hobart include Born in Brunswick, Room For A Pony, Raincheck Lounge and Wide Awake Specialty Coffee, four very good reasons to make your way up Elizabeth Street.
This is NoHo, where serious coffee, independent bookshops, old-school pubs and one of Australia’s loveliest arthouse cinemas share a neighbourhood. Mornings might begin with octopus scrambled eggs at Born in Brunswick, a pastry and expertly poured flat white, or a long-overdue catch-up beneath Raincheck’s rainbow awning. Around you, the Elizabeth Street crowd moves between pavement tables, vintage shopfronts and the beloved State Cinema, with the promise of excellent restaurants and live music later.
From tiny specialty coffee counters to brunch institutions with decades of local affection, these are the North Hobart cafes we’d happily rearrange our mornings for.
Raincheck Lounge
More than 20 years beneath that rainbow-striped awning, and Raincheck Lounge remains one of North Hobart’s favourite brunch addresses. Take a streetside table for excellent locally roasted coffee and the signature Raincheck Stack: golden house-made potato rösti, halloumi, smashed avocado, poached egg, tomato relish and dukkah. The chilli jam eggs on crispy roti are another excellent order, while the Bacon Benedict comes with burnt-butter hollandaise. Inside, cosy corners and a steady crowd of regulars give the place its familiar neighbourhood charm. With vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options well represented, there’s room for everyone at the table.
Sitchu Tip: Secure a pavement table beneath the rainbow awning for prime Elizabeth Street people-watching. Open from 7am daily, with the kitchen closing at 2.30pm. Weekend bookings are a good idea.
Suburb: North Hobart
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cafe
Best For: Breakfast, Brunch, Outdoor dining, Locals, Weekend plans
Need To Know: Open daily from 7am, with the kitchen closing at 2.30pm. Bookings recommended on weekends.
Abercrombie Coffee
At Abercrombie Coffee, even the dogs have their own coffee order. This sun-drenched Elizabeth Street favourite takes its caffeine seriously, pairing Villino’s Tasmanian-roasted house blend with rotating single origins, expertly brewed espresso and batch filter. Morning buns, seasonal pastries and savoury bites keep the breakfast crowd happy, while locally made ceramics and specialty beans tempt you to take something home. But the loveliest detail belongs to owner Duncan Allen, a dedicated Guide Dogs Tasmania volunteer who donates every cafe tip to the organisation. Four-legged regulars get lactose-free pup cups, too. Excellent coffee, excellent company and a little good done along the way.
Suburb: North Hobart
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Coffee bar
Best For: Breakfast, Quick bite, Dog-friendly, Locals
Wide Awake Specialty Coffee
By 6am on a weekday, Wide Awake is already pouring some of North Hobart’s finest coffee. Behind this little Elizabeth Street operation are Elrick Aubelack and Clare, whose caffeine credentials stretch from Melbourne’s specialty coffee scene to Hobart favourites Sash and Agent Cooper. Padre’s Lucky Boy blend handles the espresso, while rotating single origins and batch brews keep the coffee purists interested. Pigeon Whole morning buns and Six Russell focaccia take care of breakfast, although the coffee is what you’ll be back for.
Suburb: North Hobart
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Coffee bar
Best For: Breakfast, Quick bite, Locals
Need To Know: Opens from 6am on weekdays.
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Room For A Pony
A former petrol station with a courtyard full of brunch dates, dogs and people who only meant to stop for coffee. Room For A Pony has become an Elizabeth Street favourite for good reason. Breakfast gets interesting with Chinese fried chilli omelette over rice, complete with chilli jam and crispy shallots, or okonomiyaki loaded with kimchi, avocado and a fried egg. By afternoon, the wood-fired pizza oven is working, the drinks are flowing and the beer garden is filling up. One of those rare North Hobart cafes that works from your first coffee to your last glass of wine.
Suburb: North Hobart
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cafe, Pizza
Best For: Breakfast, Brunch, Outdoor dining, Dog-friendly, Weekend plans
Need To Know: Walk-ins only for weekend brunch before 3pm. Dogs welcome in the outdoor areas.
Born in Brunswick
There’s brunch, and then there’s Tasmanian octopus scrambled eggs with nduja. At Born in Brunswick, former MasterChef contestant Con Vailas has given Elizabeth Street a cafe where the menu takes a few delicious liberties. Ricotta gnocchi comes with truffle, mushrooms and sage, while sticky-date French toast arrives with pear, salted butterscotch and vanilla-date ice cream. The light-filled dining room is made for leisurely mornings, especially with a mandarin spritz or freshly pressed juice in hand.
Suburb: North Hobart
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Brunch
Best For: Breakfast, Brunch, Weekend plans
Need To Know: Walk-ins only. Arrive early on weekends.
Providence Cafe & Bar
On a quieter North Hobart corner, Providence Cafe has a habit of turning a coffee stop into something else entirely. There’s a reading room stacked with books and newspapers, a leafy courtyard where dogs are welcome, and a calendar of live jazz, poetry and local art. Breakfast is equally inviting, from Turkish eggs and pulled-pork Benedict to excellent house-made gluten-free cakes. Wander in for coffee, discover what’s on the walls, then check the gig listings on your way out. North Hobart’s creative streak is alive and well here.
Suburb: North Hobart
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Cafe
Best For: Breakfast, Solo dining, Outdoor dining, Dog-friendly, Locals
Need To Know: The reading room is available for book clubs and small gatherings.
If you loved this edit of the best cafes in North Hobart and are keen to enjoy more from this foodie-focused city, be sure to check out our roundups of the best restaurants in North Hobart and the best seafood restaurants in Hobart.
