Where to eat and drink in Launceston

In the heart of northern Tasmania’s rich food bowl, discover why Launceston has been named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

Provenance is the essential ingredient in the food scene here. Cafes, restaurants and bars celebrate the special connection between food, tradition and people, and you can taste it in every bite.

The northern city offers special experiences for food lovers – whether it’s conversations over a glass of Tamar Valley wine in a cosy bar, or indulgent seasonal feasts in an 1830s flour mill.

From an energising brunch or lunch to a satisfying dinner, here’s where to eat and drink in Launceston.

Brunch

Kickstart the day with a quality Launceston breakfast or brunch made from fresh, seasonal, locally-grown produce.

Sweetbrew

It’s not just the coffee that’s sweet here. Try brekkie with a Middle Eastern twist. Think feisty egg butties, falafel bowls and baked chilli eggs.

Tatler Lane by Sweetbrew

This brunch cafe is a multicultural hive of good conversation and even better food. There’s also a cocktail and wine bar.

Earthy Eats

Fancy a pesto stack made with hemp bread, pesto, feta, hazelnut dukkah and eggs? Dig into goodness at this cafe focused on plant-rich wholefoods.

Elaia

Indulge in a bottomless brunch on Fridays and Saturdays at this Greek-inspired cafe and restaurant. It begins with a breakfast platter, turns to heartier fare such as marinated chicken and chilli salted squid, and ends with dessert. Take the indulgence a step further with bottomless cocktails.

Tinka

Peruse a menu of specialty coffee, refreshing smoothies and all-day brunch dishes, ranging from mango and saffron panna cotta to Turkish eggs and Middle Eastern breakfast bowls.

Bread + Butter

This bakery and cafe specialises in fresh pastries and sourdough breads, and traditional cultured butter produced by Tasmania Butter Company (Bread + Butter’s small-batch factory). Enjoy a buttery breakfast of French toast, bagels, croissants, quiches, toasties or rolls.

Lunch

Choose a fun venue and spend quality time with the clan. Here’s where to go for a lovely Launnie lunch.

Mudbar Restaurant

This waterfront restaurant celebrates paddock-to-plate dining, with much of the produce originating from the Mudbar farm.

Harvest Launceston Community Farmers' Market

This is an essential outing. Farmers and makers come to town every Saturday morning and set up stalls in an inner-city car park. A true community initiative, this is the place to taste the flavours and meet the makers of northern Tasmania.

Rupert & Hound

Located on the banks of the North Esk River, dine on a tempting range of local sustainably caught seafood, sitting inside or outside.

Boatyard Launceston

Enjoy a casual, nautical vibe at Boatyard Launceston. Graze on garlic prawn-topped sourdough or seasonal seafood pasta while gazing over one of the country’s oldest slipyards.

Samuel Pepy's Cafe

Honest food in a relaxed place. Plonk yourself onto a vintage chair and tuck into salads, burgers, laksas and other classic eats at Samuel Pepy’s Cafe.

Fine dining

Feeling fancy? Launceston’s fine-dining establishments offer luxurious cuisine and full flavours. Slow down and relish every morsel at these restaurants.

Stillwater Restaurant

With a long-standing focus on provenance, expect bold flavours and great service in this restored flour mill. Will it be Cape Grim beef tartare, gochujang, black sesame wafer and pickled radish? Or tiger prawn and ginger dumpling, kombu soy and sesame? Have both.

Stelo at Pierre’s

In a luxe setting, this is locally sourced seasonal produce with an Italian leaning. Signature dishes include handmade pastas, gnocchi, burrata, sourdough focaccia and tiramisu.

Grain of the Silos 

Global flavours influence this paddock-to-plate fine-food experience. Expect premium meats farmed just up the road, and seafood plucked from Tasmania’s pure waters.

Cataract on Paterson

"Just your honest, everyday extraordinary" is this restaurant’s mission statement. Try a stone-grill dining experience: fine meats cooked on a 400°C volcanic stone, sealing juices and flavours. 

Black Cow Bistro

From eye fillet to fat-studded scotch to Robbins Island wagyu, the Tasmanian beef served at this stylish bistro is premium dry aged, free range, grass fed and hormone free. Oh, and delicious.

Dinner

Plate-up and satiate your appetite at these friendly dinner bars and restaurants. A typical Launceston feed is a celebration of seasonal fare and good company. Sound appealing? Read on…

Terrace Kitchen

Tuck into local oysters, gin-washed ocean trout sashimi, Scottsdale pork scotch or a selection of Tasmanian cheeses – among other tasty titbits – at Terrace Kitchen.

Luz Restaurant

Pair Tasmanian wines with delectable dishes at Luz Restaurant: seared scallops, cured local salmon, wallaby in jus, and more. 

Bluestone Bar and Kitchen

Fresh ingredients find their way onto your plate at Bluestone Bar and Kitchen. Take the task of decision-making off your hands with the flavour-forward ‘Feed Me’ menu.

Alida

In a 19th-century inspired adventure village beside a scenic cliff face sits Alida. Expect modern Australian cuisine, with a focus on top-notch steak and seafood.

Blue Inc.

Feast on this fiery menu: Blue Inc. roasts its food over a firepit for a unique dining experience, featuring charred vegetables and seared meats.

By the glass

Ready for a drink? Take a seat at an intimate city bar and try a selection of Launceston’s beer, wine, cocktails and other concoctions.

Bar Two

Pair a pinot noir with some artisanal cheese and local oysters in this warm and friendly bar that prides itself on a superb selection of wine.

Saint John Craft Beer

With more than 170 international, Australian and Tasmanian craft beers to choose from, it might be worth settling in here. They do burgers, too.    

Alchemy

Specialty steak, boutique beer and a whopping array of cocktails and gins to quench your thirst –cosy-up at Alchemy Bar and Restaurant.

Arcade Bar

Pinball, Space Invaders and Tetris, this bar is the embodiment of the ’80s. Prepare for fun themed décor, posters and cocktails in the heart of the city.

Juice Bar 55   

If you’re after a different kind of drinks menu, Juice Bar 55 offers a colourful buzz with its cold juices and smoothies, topped with ornamental slices of fresh fruit.

Boag's Brewery

Immerse yourself in northern heritage at this historical brick brewery. Take a guided tour, or just enjoy a few pints of premium James Boag’s beer – lovingly brewed since 1881.

Midnight Rambler

Midnight Rambler is an atmospheric speakeasy-style establishment perfect for travellers seeking tasty cocktails and bluesy live music. 

Du Cane Brewery

At one of Launceston’s newer brewpubs, come and grab a slice of woodfired pizza and gather with strangers and friends alike in this communal space.