Whether you’re craving a still-warm walnut croissant or a matcha made with ceremonial-grade powder, these are the best Launceston cafes to hit up.

Where were all these cafes when I was growing up here? I leave for a decade and come back to a full-blown shift. Lucky they weren’t around in my twenties – I’d have spent my pay on pastries and second coffees. Now there’s catching up to do.

Start with espresso at Bread + Butter. Linger over a hot chocolate at Amelia Coffee Co. Cool down with an iced strawberry matcha at Inside Café, or order the vegan chai at Sweetbrew, poured from a jug through a strainer like someone’s taken the ritual seriously.

When hunger kicks in, there are chilli eggs at Tatler Lane, waffles at Samuel Pepy’s Café, tofu salad at Mad Apple. Or just a milk crate outside Valley Coffee, flat white in hand, watching the regulars drift through. In Launceston, a cafe crawl fills the day – without the Sydney or Melbourne scramble for a seat.

Here are the best Launceston cafes to add to your list.

The shortlist

Most talked-about: Tatler Lane by Sweetbrew
Best coffee: Amelia Coffee Co.
Best pastries: Bread + Butter
Best work-friendly atmosphere: Sweetbrew Coffee House
Hidden gem: Valley Coffee

Most talked-about: Tatler Lane by Sweetbrew

Following on from their cult Sweetbrew Coffee House, Archana and Tim Brammall have opened a second site, Tatler Lane, and it might just be – whisper it – an improvement on the original. Here they are blessed with an architecturally acclaimed space that was once a cinema (hidden down an alleyway in the heart of Launceston) and, crucially, there’s room for a coffee roastery. And what wonders they have worked with it. Their cold brew, steeped for 18 hours using Ethiopian single-origin beans and Tasmanian mountain water, is clean and deep. Order it with a thick slice of house-made banana bread with date butter.

Atmosphere: Stylish, lively
Location: 74-82 St John St, Launceston

Samuel Pepy’s Cafe

Coeliac heaven – and honestly, heaven for everyone else too. Samuel Pepy’s has been running for more than a decade, and its 100% gluten-free menu means ordering comes without the side of anxiety. The Fungi Fiesta is a standout: sautéed mushrooms, feta crumble, herbs, a flicker of chilli and a neatly poached egg. Hash browns arrive crisp and golden and disappear just as quickly. Downstairs, the window seat is prime position – part street theatre, part kitchen choreography. The muffin and cookie line-up shifts regularly and rarely lasts long. Staff remember faces, tables turn quickly and regulars are treated like family. The name nods to English diarist Samuel Pepys – whether he was gluten-free is anyone’s guess.

Atmosphere: Cosy, vintage-leaning
Location: 106 George St, Launceston

Mad Apple

A confident vegetarian cafe that proves meat-free doesn’t mean missing out. Mad Apple’s menu is generous and layered with flavour – the Turkish Eggs (labneh, dill, pickled onion and chilli crisp) are a standout, balancing richness with heat. For something heartier, The Big Brekkie lands with smoky baked beans and crisp potato rosti. Opened in 2019, Mad Apple has carved out a loyal following thanks to its focus on local produce, including ingredients grown in its own garden. Inside, the space is large and airy with wooden floors, exposed brick, plenty of plants and warm light. Tables are well spaced and there’s full table service, making it easy to settle in. The strawberry matcha is worth a look if coffee isn’t calling.

Atmosphere: Modern, relaxed
Location: 122 St John St, Launceston

Amelia Coffee Co.

Amelia Coffee Co is serious about coffee – the kind of serious that reads tasting notes at 7am. Open for around a decade, it has built a reputation on specialty brews rather than big brunch plates. There’s no full kitchen here; instead, the focus is squarely on the cup. Beans are roasted locally each week, and the menu reads like a tasting card — Tanzania or Colombia, washed process, notes of stonefruit, dark chocolate or caramel. The brew bar is designed for filter devotees: batch, cold brew, cold drip, pour over and Aeropress. Seating is mostly indoors around slick black timber tables, with a couple outside.

Atmosphere: Specialty coffee focused
Location: 56 George St, Launceston

Bread + Butter

Bread + Butter is Launceston’s hottest bakery, and for good reason. At 7am on a chilly weekend morning, the sight of delectable goodies, baskets overflowing with treats and freshly baked sourdough feels like a reward for getting out of bed. The decision is difficult, so I go with a walnut croissant and a cardamom pretzel. The croissant is perfectly flaky, and the cardamom pretzel the perfect balance of sweet and salty. Heartier highlights of the brekkie menu include the croissant with crispy bacon, relish and a fried egg, or the house crumpets with golden syrup. Founded by cultured-butter devotees Olivia and Rob Morrison, who oversee a crack team of bakers, you’ll also find their treats at the compact Bread + Butter Bakeshop on Cimitiere Street (coffee, donuts and pastries) and at their George Street bakery.

Atmosphere: Bustling bakery-cafe
Location: 70 Elizabeth St, Launceston

Inside Cafe

Inside Cafe balances strong coffee credentials with confident brunch plates. Expect beans from ONA – one of Australia’s most respected specialty roasters – alongside a thoughtful beverage list that runs from ceremonial-grade matcha (including iced strawberry matcha) to 70% dark Mörk hot chocolate and well-priced milkshakes. Batch brew comes with refills, which regulars quietly appreciate. Food holds its own. The crab meat scrambled eggs are silky and rich, while the house-made granola keeps things on the lighter side. There’s breezy outdoor seating, and inside, bare brick and warm tones give it a relaxed, rustic edge.

Atmosphere: Rustic-chic
Location: 10–14 Paterson St, Launceston

Valley Coffee

From 6am the outdoor tables at Valley Coffee start filling with cyclists and dog walkers, and inside there’s a steady stream of early risers chasing that first flat white. The counter heaves with pastries and biscuits, alongside house-made breakfast options like yoghurt-topped muesli bowls and generously filled bagels and sandwiches. The Reuben is the one to order with its perfect rye bread, juicy red meat and melted Swiss cheese. Valley’s in-house roasted Paperboy blend is available to take home, too.

Atmosphere: Laneway casual, sun-filled, early-bird energy
Location: 39 Paterson St, Launceston CBD

Sweetbrew Coffee House

Sweetbrew runs like a true neighbourhood local – warm, busy and built around community. Co-founders Archana and Tim Brammall, alongside owner Aaron Jones, have created a space where families, solo laptop warriors and brunch catch-ups that accidentally run past lunchtime coexist easily. Grab yourself a spot at the “work bench" with charging points if you have your laptop in tow or grab a table near the indoor play area if you have littlies. Tuck into the likes of baked egg sambal served with roti bread or tropical rice pudding.

Atmosphere: Bright, busy
Location: 93 Cimitiere St, Launceston

Earthy Eats

Earthy Eats feels purposeful – because it is. Founder Laura Danderian opened it with a clear aim: to make sustainable, healthy food accessible in the middle of the CBD. Inside, wooden tables are paired with eclectic timber chairs, giving the room a relaxed, unfussy warmth, with a small outdoor table for those who prefer fresh air. The apple, quinoa and beetroot salad with Tasmanian feta and house-made maple poppy dressing works just as well at breakfast as later in the day. For something more traditional, there’s eggs your way or a solid marinated chicken burger, built on free-range produce. Fresh juices and multiple milk alternatives – coconut, soy, lactose-free – mean most tastes are covered.

Atmosphere: Friendly and rustic
Location: 19 Kingsway, Launceston

Relish

Tucked into East Launceston, just a few minutes from the CBD, Relish offers a quieter suburban rhythm that suits anyone wanting breakfast without the bustle. It’s ideal if you’re staying nearby and prefer to walk to your morning coffee rather than hunt for parking in town. The kitchen runs on a strong do-it-yourself philosophy: brioche, bagels, fruit toast and banana bread are baked in-house, and the cake cabinet is filled daily with favourites like sharp lemon tart and rich gluten-free caramel slice. Sourdough comes from Bread + Butter, and plates arrive generous and full of flavour — the kind of breakfast that keeps you going well past midday.

Atmosphere: Chilled, local, brunch-with-a-drink energy
Location: 1/43 Arthur St, East Launceston

Cafe Mondello

Flawless coffee, every time. Cafe Mondello stretches comfortably along tree-lined Charles Street, with plenty of tables inside and half a dozen well-spaced ones outside for slow mornings. Eggs are done properly and served with house-made tomato chutney that lifts the whole plate. There are thoughtful detours too – poached pears with granola and yoghurt for something lighter, or a bacon sandwich with fried egg when salt is the brief. Recently taken on by new local owners, the focus remains on keeping things made in-house.

Atmosphere: Old-school cafe charm
Location: 242 Charles St, Launceston