There are plenty of North West Tasmania cafes to patronise on your Tassie holiday. But we keep returning to 2. But first, I have a confession. I’m a java junkie. A coffeeholic. Rich, strong, chocolatey coffee is my jam. I’ll travel anywhere and pay through the nose for it. Same for a great cafe breakfast. Crispy bacon with soft eggs over sourdough in a buzzing cafe at 10am? Yes please. So when I say I’ve done the research, I’m not messing with you. If you’re scouring the internet for North West Tasmania’s best coffee, do yourself a solid. Stop searching. Grab your keys and head to one of these 2 cafes. They’re the best in the north west.
Tasmania Cafes – deserving of their 80s milky flat white rep?
It’s not always easy to find great coffee in some parts of Tasmania.
There, I’ve said it.
By great coffee, I’m talking Melbourne-esque coffee standards.
Hobart is awash with excellent cafes, Launceston has it’s share too. But not so the rest of the state. We’ve searched. And searched. And had a lot of disappointing weak, milky barista coffees with plenty of froth. But no rich, creamy, earthy, chocolatey java taste to be found.
That’s why, when we stumbled on a couple of local North West Tasmania Cafes that could mix it up with Melbourne’s best, we knew we had to scream it from the rooftops.
So if you’re travelling Tassie north west, here’s where to find the best of the best.
Thirty Three Cups
Ulverstone
Thirty Three Cups serves hands down the best coffee you’ll find in any North West Tasmania cafe. A mix of skilled baristas, Toby’s Estate coffee and milk from Tassie’s own Ashgrove dairy.
The coffee tantalises with its deep, inviting aroma, wafting through the air and promising a rich, fulfilling experience. Each sip is a symphony of flavours; the robust, full-bodied taste envelopes the palate, and lingers long after the cup is empty. The coffee’s velvety texture and perfect acidity balance is irresistible; it’s not just a drink, but a sensory indulgence.
The perfect way to escape Tasmania’s winter cold, or to enjoy the summer rays from their alfresco dining out front.
It’s our favourite North West Tasmania cafe for the coffee alone. But the food is bloody awesome too.
What we love about Thirty Three Cups
- Rich, delicious coffee brewed by well trained baristas
- The all day breakfast menu
- Inventive breakfasts perfectly executed, no matter how busy they are
- Alfresco dining options and fur babies welcome.
Today’s Thirty Three Cups is a giant leap up on it’s former self, reviewed by Delicious.com.au back in 2016.
In case you were confused.
What’s good on the menu?
Everything.
I order the Butter Fried Toast. It comes with soft chilli scrambled eggs, roasted feta and avo, topped off with tomato ezmesi (a Turkish sauce). I add bacon because, well…bacon. The butter-fried sourdough with its golden crust is just divine. The chilli scrambled eggs are a fluffy, creamy masterpiece, each forkful bursting with a gentle heat, mingled with the rich, velvety texture of the eggs. Beside them, the crispy bacon is always the star of the show for me. I think it’s that smoky, savory taste and satisfying crunch.
The creamy spice of the eggs, the crunch of the sourdough, and the salty, rich indulgence of the bacon – make for a breakfast experience that nourishes the soul.
There’s also an all day menu with luscious lunch options, if you’re not the breakfast type. I am the breakfast type and have to confess – I’ve never ordered from the lunch menu.
In-house baked cakes and muffins from the display will not disappoint. Big, crunchy, caramelized on the outside fluffy on the inside, these generous parcels of golden goodness are a personal fave.
Thirty Three Cups seems to release a new menu annually and hand on heart, we’ve never been disappointed by a dish here.
What will it cost?
Thirty Three Cups is not cheap. You’ll shell out around $25 for a cooked breakfast. Add a side for $4 and a mug of coffee for $6 and you’re at $35 per head.
What’s the vibe?
Upmarket, for Tassie. We say that with the utmost love. The modern industrial designed red brick interior and timber lined ceiling shouts chic Melbourne coffee house. And that’s the way we like it. Because Melbourne cafes are worth emulating.
It’s busy, with an unhurried undertone. Service is quick because they’re busy but they don’t rush you off the table either.
What else should you know?
Reserve a spot! It’s always busy here no matter what time of day, or day of the week. If you’d like to dine in for breakfast, best make a reservation.
Laneway Cafe
Devonport
Laneway Cafe is a Devonport favourite, for good reason.
What we love about Laneway Cafe
- The crispy, smoky local bacon breakfasts served piping hot, straight from the griddle.
- Relaxed vibe and lit industrial grunge mash-up interior
- There’s always a spot to dine-in, even at peak hour.
Laneway Cafe is our second choice behind Thirty Three Cups for one reason: the coffee. It’s pretty good, but it’s not Melbourne good. And it’s not the kind of really great brew like you find at Thirty Three Cups.
They’re also lacking in counter options – cakes, muffins, tarts – the things you want from your local cafe at 10:30 in the morning to go with a coffee and catch up with friends.
What’s good on the menu?
I mean, how can you go past Southern fried chicken tenderloins and bacon with chilli maple sauce and cream over a delish waffle base?
The fried chicken tenderloins are crispy on the outside and juicier than a gossip column on the inside. They are seasoned to perfection and fried to a golden, crunchy excellence. Paired with the chicken, Laneway’s bacon is nothing short of epic – it’s crispy, smoky, and cooked to that just-right level where it’s crunchy but still got some chew. Drizzled over this dynamic duo is the chili maple sauce and cream, adding a kick that’s sweet, creamy and spicy, making your taste buds do a happy dance.
But wait, there’s more – the bed of soft, fluffy waffles. Served with a slight crisp on the outside and a heart of pure, pillowy softness. They soak up that sweet chili sauce like a sponge, creating a flavor combo that’s off the charts. It’s a flavor-packed meal that is decadant but almost comfort food like. It’s the kind of breakfast that doesn’t just start your day; it kicks off a whole mood.
I also love the Terry Burger – a simple yet mouth watering burger of crispy bacon, soft fried egg, cheese with tomato relish. It’s straight-up fire, served on a plush, buttery brioche bun that’s all kinds of bougie.
The bacon is crispy AF, cooked to that perfect level of crunchiness. Nestled next to it, the egg is cooked sunny-side up, oozing that rich, golden yolk goodness when you bite into it – it’s the real MVP of Laneway Cafe’s menu.
Each bite is a flavor bomb, exploding with the salty, smoky bacon and the creamy, dreamy egg, all hugged by that luxe brioche. It’s not just a burger; it’s a culinary flex that’s got your taste buds living their best life.
Laneway doesn’t just serve breakfast. It’s a breakfast glow-up, fam.
It advertises as vegan friendly with gluten free options too, if that’s you.
What’s the vibe?
Laneway Cafe is where industrial chic meets hipster grunge in a mash-up that’s pretty lit. It’s got this raw, edgy vibe, with exposed brick walls and an incredible old wood fired oven in the wall wall that could probably tell a million stories.
The furniture is a quirky mix of retro and the reclaimed wood tables scream urban cool. Art adorns some of the interior walls, adding pops of color and a dose of street cred.
The clientele belie any thought that this is young crowd cafe only. You’ll find people of all ages, all walks of life. We love that about it.
The vibe here is chill but buzzing, like the hum of a city street. It’s filled with the clatter of plates from the open kitchen on the second level, the murmur of conversation between the sipping of satisfied patrons. This isn’t just a cafe; it’s a hangout spot, a place where you can kick back with your significant other, feast on some seriously good grub, and soak in the cool, laid-back atmosphere.
What will it cost?
Laneway put their prices up in 2023. Along with everyone I guess. You’re looking at $25 to $27 for a hot breakfast and $5 to $6 for your coffee.
What else should you know?
It’s tucked in a Laneway in the CBD so not easy to find. Look for their sign on the kerb along Steele street and head down the laneway (of course!) to find them. We’ve never had to book at Laneway – there’s plenty of space and seating inside.
Three other North West Tasmania cafes defying the bad coffee rep
Laneway and Thirty Three Cups are really great cafes. The two best in North West Tasmania in our view. But there are a couple of other close runners up really worth a visit if you’re down for a good coffee experience and yummy breakfast:
Hey Buddy (Ulverstone) – weird name for a cafe we know, but that doesn’t stop them serving banging coffee and breakfasts to boot. You’ll find plenty of people making the trek across the Leven River to have their morning cup of joe here. It’s small inside and busy, but you won’t regret popping in for a delicious bite and brew.
Hill Street – if you come from North West Tasmania, you know Hill Street. It’s a mega delicatessen-come-supermarket in Devonport that stocks all manner of Tasmanian produce. The premium stuff. What is lesser known, at least to travellers, is that there’s also an excellent coffee shop in Hill Street. With some of the finest coffee and pastries you’ll find north of Bread & Butter in Launceston. The coffee here is better than Laneway Cafe, but they don’t have the same hot breakfast options. We do love the almond croissants and the raspberry white chocolate muffins are nothing short of sensational.
Brown Bear (Devonport) – a popular cafe in the suburbs of Devonport Brown Bear boasts a 4.7 star Google rating. They offer the standard breakfast fare served in generous portions like eggs benny, pancakes and a breakfast burger. The service is warm and friendly and there’s great alfresco dining for fur babies too. The coffee rates, except for one thing; you can get an Almond Latte, but you can’t get a Soy one – the first time we’ve heard of a cafe with no soy options.
