The Best Cafés in Launceston for Brunch & Beyond

Launceston has a buzz about it and it’s not just all the great coffee that locals and visitors are sipping on (although, that helps). ‘Launny’ is leveraging its proximity to some of the nation’s best produce regions and celebrating that through its cafe culture. Recently the city was recognised as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy for its vibrant food culture, so you know the café scene has got to be good. Ready to sample it for yourself? Read on for the best cafés in Launceston for brunch and beyond... 

Amelia Coffee Co.  

For the better part of a decade, Amelia Coffee Co. have been delivering some of the best coffee on the island - a statement we don’t make lightly. Swinging open their doors from 6.30am Monday to Friday (7.30am on Saturdays), Amelia Coffee Co. is dedicated to the bean, offering cold drip, cold brew, pour-over and more. 

A canteen-style window makes it perfect for a quick takeaway, but it’s worth staying and nabbing a seat. The slick interiors, delicious food and curated retail offering round out the experience. We find it hard to say no to their toasted sandwiches made on Sandy’s Sourdough bread, or their ever-changing array of pastries - excellent for a pick-me-up. 

56 George Street, Launceston 

Bread + Butter 

The short version of this write-up is that the pastries and food at Bread + Butter are dangerously good.  

The longer version is that with a menu that’s broken into kitchen (think Sardines on Toast, Eggs Benedict, Quiche, Pizza and French Toast), to a section focusing on cookies, cakes and pastries (we’re a sucker for the Chewy Cherry Bomb Biscuit and their warming cinnamon and cardamom filled morning bun), to their succinct and delicious sandwich and toasties list, you really can’t go wrong.  

There are two locations to choose from - the original Elizabeth Street location has the full works, with a gold bar adorned with sweet treats welcoming you as you step in behind the unassuming federation building, while their Bakeshop on Cimitiere Street is for the sweet tooths among us. 

Lines out the door are a testament to how well-loved this place is, and the fact they move quickly are a testament to the professional and friendly staff. Grab a coffee (they serve Single O), take some sourdough home or peek in their fridge for delicious local butter and cheeses. Then plan your return trip to Bread + Butter immediately. 

70 Elizabeth Street, Launceston 

Mad Apple 

A quaint green brick shop front doesn’t reveal much, but walk down the alleyway and you’ll be delighted you stumbled upon Mad Apple, a cafe specialising in vegetarian and vegan meals, house-made sweets, and excellent drinks. We love their exposed brick walls, steel beams, and simple interiors, but it’s their food and coffee that keeps us going back. For breakfast, try the house-made Leek and Potato Rosti with truffle herb oil, charred asparagus and poached eggs. If you can get your hands on their fluffy cinnamon scrolls you won’t regret it - they fly out the door for good reason. 

Open until 6pm Wednesday to Friday, it’s worth venturing in a little later in the day for their curated wine list or famous Mad Apple spiked iced tea. Their English breakfast and orange iced tea with gin is both delicious and practically medicinal.  

122 St John Street, Launceston 

Earthy Eats 

At Earthy Eats, the fare is as wholesome as the name. Their commitment to seasonal and sustainable produce, made with love and creativity, is evident. While they focus on vegetarian and vegan meals, they cater for everyone - including the omnivores, and the gluten-free among us.  

The menu changes with the seasons but the miso mushrooms with chimichurri on Sandy’s Sourdough will be on the menu if you're in luck. For something lighter, the house-made hazelnut granola bowl with Tasmanian wattle seed yoghurt is a standout. The all-day menu also includes burgers, tofu bowls and a soup of the day.  

Their food is consistently exciting and delicious, but we also love this place for their extensive drinks list - including kombucha on tap, a creamy turmeric latte, and their signature bright juices. Earthy Eats also has a retail section where you can take home granola, milk by the (glass) bottle, reusable coffee cups and more.  

19 Kingsway, Launceston 

Sweetbrew Espresso 

If coffee is your everything, head straight to Sweetbrew. The black and yellow interiors feature a communal table, as well as little nooks for cosy and intimate catch-ups or solo dining. Sweetbrew’s all-day brunch menu is well worth an explore, while Manu Bread’s pastries are hard to pass up.  

There are outdoor seating options too (dog friendly), and you can order coffees online if you wish to expedite the experience. Tick, tick, tick! 

95 George Street, Launceston 

Tatler Lane by Sweetbrew 

While Sweetbrew’s focus is coffee, their sister venue Tatler Lane by Sweetbrew is part cafe, part bar, and part roasting house. And they’re pulling it all off with aplomb. 

Down a quaint central lane, their interiors are light and bright - think brick walls, mural artworks, polished concrete floors and timber ‘ribs’ that act as both a point of visual interest and room divider.  

While they retain the cafe culture we love Sweetbrew for, Tatler Lane has really upped the game on the food front, with sensational dishes like the Acai and Tassie Bircher and the Baked Chili Eggs. The vegetarian menu is both creative and enticing.  

Their ‘brunch by day, bar by night’ allows you to enjoy an expertly crafted cocktail or glass of wine, and they’re open late on Thursday through to Saturday, where a menu of small dishes and bar snacks really hits the spot. 

5/74-82 St John Street, Launceston 

Loved this round-up of the best cafés in Launceston and still feeling peckish? Be sure to devour our best restaurants in Launceston and best bars in Launceston edits, too.