Where to find the best coffee in Hobart

When the hospitality crowd flocks to a café, you know it’s special. That’s the case at Somewhere Coffee Bar – a part café, part science lab where coffee takes centre stage. Open Thursday to Monday, this serene space is helmed by Brian Lam, who really discovered coffee while working in Europe and has since turned it into a passion. Expect filter and espresso coffee from specialty coffee roasteries around the world, along with pour-over and syphon brews served with precision and flair. Unique touches, like leatherwood honey and sea salt croissants, add to the experience. 

Since opening their light-filled doors ten years ago, Hobartians and visitors alike have flocked to Pigeon Whole Bakers. It’s not just for their morning buns either – although these flaky, buttery delights are the stuff of legends – but for their quality coffee. The gaggle of patrons waiting outside for their names to be called and their Villino Coffee to be handed through the window is a testament to the quality of the coffee here. Love what Pigeon Whole do? Take it home with a bag of their limited-edition filter coffee collaboration with Villino Coffee – featuring notes of mandarin, rhubarb and blackcurrant – or a pack of frozen croissants to make your Saturday morning at home that much sweeter. 

Light-filled and brimming with charm, Lēoht in Battery Point is a breath of fresh air. Having thrown open their doors in 2024, they’ve transformed a drab space into a welcoming, pink-hued café that gives nostalgic European vibes, complete with fresh herbs growing in abundance. Lēoht uses Campos’ signature Superior beans for its milk-based cuppas – available in small or large, or with a dash of cream. Batch brew, filter coffee and seasonal single origins are also available, as is a black sesame latte with honey on oat. The small but delicious menu has something for everyone to enjoy (the jalapeno cornbread with a poached egg is a must), while you linger over a coffee or two in their gorgeous courtyard.

This former teddy bear shop was transformed into what’s become a darling of Hobart’s coffee scene several years ago, and hasn’t looked back. Now a staple offering in the city, Sunbear feels like a warm, nostalgic (bear)hug from the moment you step inside. Beans are by Coffee Supreme (which is roasted in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne), while coffee is served in an eclectic collection of vintage mugs, spanning the tan-to-beige colour spectrum. It’s all part of Sunbear’s charm. Housemade cakes and moorish breakfasts make this a place to linger and enjoy. 

Pilgrim’s Will Priestley – the mastermind behind Queens Pastry and Circle of Life Doughnut Co – created Pilgrim as a shrine to exceptional coffee. With up to ten different beans on rotation at any one time, including offerings from St Ali, Reuben Hills, Proud Mary and Market Lane, there’s something for every palate. Featuring Hobart’s most awarded baristas, Pilgrim’s dual-barista setup means efficient takeaway service on one side and engaging coffee conversations on the other. In some circles, decaf has a bad reputation, but Pilgrim’s decaf beans from Shake a Leg Jr are a revelation with notes of orange juice, red currants and caramel. On the run? Grab an egg, halloumi and caramelised onion roll to pair with your creative latte art. 

A bright pink La Marzocco machine takes pride in place at Criterion St Café, where coffee is an art form and the atmosphere is always buzzing. Open seven days a week, this charming spot on one of Hobart’s cutest CBD streets is perfect for a morning pick-me-up or a leisurely afternoon brew. They source beans from some of the best roasters in the business, including Coffee Supreme, St Ali and Villino x Gathered. The breakfast menu is short but sweet – may we recommend their famous corn fritters for the ultimate experience. Owner Bec Sinclair’s combo of good food, great coffee, eclectic cups and calming green walls has made Criterian St Café a firm favourite.  

With a smattering of seats and a great hole-in-the-wall vibe, The Stagg churns out consistently delicious coffee using beans from Hobart’s very own Zimmah Coffee. Conveniently located in Midtown, the skilled baristas here take immense pride in their job. Grab one of a handful of seats or take your coffee on the go. The vibe is relaxed, the coffee comes out quickly and the team are always up for a chat. Have a furry friend? The Stagg dish out puppycinos to keep the whole fam happy. Hungry? Opt for one of their famous toasties. 

Gluten-free has never looked or tasted this good. Baked in Moonah is a 100 per cent gluten-free café and bakery that perfects the art of coffee with beans from Moonah’s Lottie Lane Coffee Roasters. Set in an industrial-style space with polished concrete, painted brick and expansive interiors, it’s a cool yet welcoming spot. The baby-blue La Marzocco Strada barista machine looks like something from a sci-fi film, however, it delivers nothing but smooth, rich coffee. It’s worth the short trip from central Hobart.