Hobart
hole-in-the-wall cafes
Twenty seats max and a table-cloth sized
kitchen, that’s a bite-sized eatery (The
Mercury, Monday, 15 September 2014).
Not only are these establishments improving
this town’s vibe, they’re increasing Hobart’s dimensions, extending its
perimeter, making for a more liveable city with foodie precincts.
The Mercury crowd sourced a damn fine list of fifteen
hole-in-the-wall eateries (you can find their list and links to our reviews at
the end of the post).
The Two Girls have another ten. Some of
these places are off the beaten café track and others are right under your
nose. Here's our map.
Can you think of more?
1. Yellow
Bernard, 109 Collins Street
Yellow Bernard is beautiful: the service,
space and staff. They seriously lifted the bar on coffee in Hobart when the
opened three and a half years ago and they haven’t looked back.
Owners Scott and David are doing awesome
coffee with an absolutely devoted following. People queue for coffee here.
There’s a few tables outside and a bar table
along the window inside. Otherwise it’s mostly coffee to tote and a few sweet
treats made by Scott’s mum, God bless her.
They’re open Mondays to Fridays, 7
am – 4 pm.
Find them on Facebook here.
2. Villino,
30 Criterion Street
Villino is a Hobart coffee institution. They do seriously good coffee
and sell a range of baked goods sourced from Zum and Manna Bakery and some they
make themselves. Café Manager Ellie is warm and welcoming and it’s the sort of
small café This (klutzy) Girl gets a little nervous in. (My mantra - keep my arms by my side and DON'T swing!) More big crowds of
devotees at Villino.
They’re open Monday – Friday 8.00 am – 4.30 pm and Saturday 9.00 am –
3.00 pm.
This is their webpage here.
3. Raspberry
Fool, 85 Bathurst Street
Raspberry Fool is a quaint café where you’ll
find Australian classics with a modern blessing. Food that evokes nostalgia, like
your grandma used to make or better: wagon wheels, savoury crumble, cinnamon French
toast with honey, yoghurt and figs and meatloaf sandwich.
They’re open weekdays,
7.30 am – 4.00 pm and Saturday 8.30 am – 3.00 pm.
Find them on Facebook here.
4. Doctor
Coffee, 33 Salamanca Place
Five years and still going strong in
Salamanca Place. A serious coffee establishment. Okay they might have a few more than 20 seats but they're small and if you average it out over their Collins Street cafe then they're a fit. Two homemade Oreos for five dollars. Yippee!
They’re open Monday to Friday,
7.00 am – 3.30 pm.
Find them on Facebook here.
5. Atlas
Espresso, Corner of Macquarie Street and the Elizabeth Street Mall
Coffee lovers spill out of Atlas’
door. But don't fear, you won’t wait long for your coffee with up to nine staff behind
the modest counter at any one time. One of the things that sets Atlas apart is
their selection of little bites. While everyone else took the turn off to Giant
Muffin Town, Atlas took the road less travelled and have excelled in an array
of sweet and savoury morsels.
They’re open Monday – Friday, 6.00 am – 4.00 pm.
6. Macquarie Chambers,
137 Macquarie Street
Seating six and room to swing a cat,
Macquarie Chambers enjoys a loyal following for their right-on coffee and
lunches mostly to go. On the small but eclectic menu of hot meals (around
$9-11) you might find Garlic-chilli chicken tortilla with corn relish and
spicy mayo or Penang lamb curry, coriander pesto and rice. There’s a few sweets
(the lemon syrup cake is a winner). Everything to eat is made by owner, Ester.
They're open Monday - Friday, 6.00 am - 3.00 pm.
Find them on Facebook here.
7. Next door,
149 Collins Street
Next door is a narrow slip of a thing,
tucked discretely in between a hairdresser and a takeaway. Its walls are lined
with repurposed doors ie they were doors now they’re walls…
Anyway, it makes for a groovy little space
with great coffee and Jean Pascal and Summer Kitchen goodies, and their own
muffins. Go say high to Manager Mark and get some brekkie or lunch.
They’re open 7.00 am – 3.00 pm weekdays.
Find them on Facebook here.
Find out more on the Summer Kitchen Bakery
here.
8. Kinoko
Deli, Shop 8, Trafalgar on Collins
Deli and eatery, Kinoko has extended Japanese
lunch options in the CBD further than sushi. Yay!
There are five lunch sizes, from a salad dish
for $4 to the large bento box with your choice of two main meals like ginger
fried Scottsdale pork with sweet sauce or grilled citrus pepper Nichols chicken,
rice, two salads, pickles and omelette for $16.
Don’t diss an eatery just because it’s in a
shopping centre.
They're open Monday - Friday, 9.00 am - 5.00 pm.
Find Kinoko on Facebook here.
9. Bottega
Rotolo, 141 Bathurst Street
Here’s another hotspot on the outskirts and another
deli doing food. The customer service is excellent and there’s coffee, European
cheese platters from their cheese room, Italian Prosecco,
panini made up in house and cakes sourced from Daci and Daci.
They're open
Monday – Friday, 8.00 am – 6.00 pm and Saturday, 8.00 am – 4.00 pm.
10. Lesley
Black’s Chutney Food Café, 118 Melville Street
In the middle of Tasmania’s hibernation
season when you’re more likely to see a closed sign or shorter opening hours,
the Chutney Food Café opens its doors. Lesley Black's Chutney Food Cafe is breakfast-on-the-run breakfast at its best. A small selection but a great mix of sweet and savoury options and good coffee to go with.
They're open Wednesdays - Fridays, 7.00 am - 11.00 am in the colder months.
Of
course there’s even more, but can you recommend another bite-sized eatery in Hobart’s
CBD?
The Mercury’s
15 bite-size eateries:
2. Brat Time, 53 Elizabeth Street, Hobart Mall
3. Ecru Coffee, 18 Criterion Street
7. Chulo, 98 Patrick Street
8. Straight Up Coffee and Food, 202
Liverpool Street
9. Pigeon Hole, 93 Goulbourn Street
10. Pollen Tea Room, 56 Hampden Road,
Battery Point
12. Rin, 167 Harrington Street
14. Pigeon Whole Bakers, 24-32 Argyle Street
15. Parkland Espresso, 3 Salamanca Square
Here’s the link to the original online
article in The Mercury.
