HOT OFF THE PRESS 2023
All the latest news and information about Launceston Restaurants, the food scene, openings, closures and changes.
SALLY’S VEGETARIAN VIETNAMESE
Yet another Vietnamese restaurant has opened, this one at the spot where Riverview Vietnamese was located, in Elouera St., Riverside overlooking the Tamar River.
Menu & details to come.
VIETNAM FOODIES
09 December 2023
A new restaurant café has opened in Charles St., Launceston, named Vietnam Foodies and as the name suggests, Vietnamese is the cuisine. It’s open 7 days per week from 11:00 am – 8:00 pm. MENU:
EVENFALL WINES
08 December 2023
The latest vineyard to join the Tamar Valley Wine region, is Evenfall Wines, located at the former esteemed Elmslie Vineyard site. An absolutely delectable menu sourced from the very best of Tasmania’s freshest offerings from the country to the sea will satisfy any die hard foodies. Take a peek at this and tell me your taste buds aren’t aroused:
The cellar door opens from Monday – Sunday from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm with the restaurant operating from Thursday – Sunday from 11:00 am onwards.
PAPERBARK CAFÉ
Tuesday 05 December 2023
A new café is opening on the main road of Gravelly Beach, at the former Singapore Baker’s Café (& Koukla’s prior to that).
The first day of trading is Thursday 07 December. We wish the new business all the best!
HODGY’S BAR & RESTAURANT
November 2023
Hodgy’s Bar & Restaurant is open at 61 Cameron Street, in the original Northern Club building, in recent times the Firestorm Tacos Bar & Kitchen. Hodgy’s opens daily for breakfast, lunch & dinner.
DONG SHENG CHINESE RESTAURANT
Monday 06 November 2023
Candice & Duncan from H20 Café fame, have announced they will be opening their newest restaurant Dong Sheng this Thursday, 09 November, 2023.
This will be a welcome addition to Launceston’s restaurant scene.
A fabulous refurbishment at the Lawrence Vale Road site, has transformed the former building into a classy and funky one with a warm and welcoming ambience.
Having successfully operated and owned both the H20 Café in Launceston’s Wellington Street and Bing Chef mobile services, Candice and Duncan are sure to impress with their hospitality and amazing culinary skills.
A menu of classic and contemporary dishes will suit the most fastidious of diners.
We wish them the very best but no doubt, their dedication and skills will ensure the Dong Sheng Chinese Restaurant will become a firm favourite for Launceston locals and visitors alike.
Have a peek at the mouth watering menu:
BEAN BARROW CAFÉ
The much loved Bean Barrow Café in the Northern Tasmanian countryside town of Lilydale, will be closing up with last service on Sunday, 26 November. Having served the community and visitors with fabulous café hospitality, we wish the owners the very best with their future ventures.
CAFÉ BON APPETIT
Café Bon Appetit closed its doors for good on Friday, 20 October, 2023. This will be a great loss for Launceston, particularly amongst the seniors community, who frequented the café and were loyal customers for many years.
BAR URBANE
October 2023
A new bar is coming to the Seaport in the name of Urbane. Opening on Friday 20 October, Bar Urbane offers an elegant and sophisticated ambience, focusing on classic cocktails, Tasmanian wines, whisky & gin.
A meticulously crafted menu consisting of local oysters, Tasmanian cheeses and small plates of food to share, will ensure an outstanding experience for the wine and food connoisseur.
SPICE ON CHARLES
Spice on Charles has moved to a more intimate space, at 124 Charles St., offering 22 spaces for dine in.
At this stage, opening hours will be Tue- Sun from 5:00pm -9:00pm.
PACHINKO
30 September 2023
Pachinko has closed its doors! After nearly 5 years at its Quadrant Mall location, owners Jonny & Ally, have closed their Asian eatery/restaurant to spend more time with their young family. We wish them well.
WORLD STREET EATS
The next World Street Eats event takes place this upcoming Sunday, 17 September 2023. The Civic Square comes alive with a great variety of street food stalls and vans and entertainment. Held on the 3rd Sunday of each month from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm, join in the community spirit and experience delicious food with family and friends.
OH NO, GERONIMO!
September 2023
Oh no, Geronimo … after 8 years of solid service, Geronimo closes its doors on Sunday, 17 September 2023.
Geronimo quickly gathered momentum as one of Launceston’s leading eateries, but alas, owner Jeremy is closing the doors to move to a potentially less hectic venture running the IGA at Shearwater north west of Launceston.
SPICE ON CHARLES – THAMEL HOUSE
Spice on Charles is moving from Charles Street to a new location, yet to be disclosed.
A new restaurant, offering Himalayan cuisine, opens at the Charles Street location and is named Thamel House. Four brothers will be operating the business and its due date for opening, is 11 September 2023.
ANOTHER 2 BITE THE DUST!
The current climate is certainly taking its toll on businesses.
The Caledonia Wine Vaults (ex O’Keefe’s Hotel) has shut its doors after only 12 months after a massive refurbishment.
The Firestorm Taco Bar (ex. Henry’s and the Northern Club) has also closed down in Launceston.
RIVERVIEW VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT
DON MARIO’S RISTORANTE
EVENTS THIS WEEKEND
Saturday, 3 June, 2023
- Gumboot Gala (Inveresk Precinct) – 11:00 AM
- Write Here Launceston (Launceston Library) – 10:00 AM and 3 more sessions
- North West Pride Trivia Night @ Gunners Arms (The Gunners Arms Tavern) – 6:00 PM
- Forever 80s – Best of the 80s Tour (Country Club Tasmania) – 7:00 PM
- MAKE FRIENDS WITH… YOUR SEWING MACHINE (rudolfcouture in Trevallyn) – 10:00 AM
- SLOW DOWN SONIC, HOLD//FIRE @THE IRISH (The Irish) – 8:00 PM
- North Training Day (Heritage Forest in Invermay) – 3:00 PM
- Pokemon TCG Paldea Evolved Prerelease (Scenic Isle Gaming) – 12:00 PM
- Cam Illingworth | Holly Donnelly | Rosella Pike (Kingsway Bar) – 8:00 PM
- Mankind “False Gods” Single Tour – Launceston, w/ Labcoat Fiasco & Morality Trope (The Royal Oak Hotel) – 9:00 PM
- Feminine Energy Healing Circle (8 High Street, Launceston) – 10:30 AM
- Street Fighter 6 Launch @ Optimal (Optimal Gaming) – 3:00 PM
- Tasmanian Motorkhana Championship – Round 2 (Symmons Plains Raceway) – 8:00 AM
- 2023 HCC Winter Reverse Cash Draw (Hadspen Cricket Club) – 6:30 PM
- Battle Spirits Saga (Scenic Isle Gaming) – 11:00 AM and 4 more sessions
Calendar of Events (Sunday, 4 June, 2023):
- The People’s Library | Exhibition Opening (Design Tasmania) – 2:00 PM
- Farewelling the Russo Family (All Saints North in Newnham) – 2:30 PM
- Monthly Social Game & Picnic (Trevallyn Dam) – 12:00 PM
- Indeterminate Landscape: A cancer carers creative journey, Dr Malcom Bywaters (Scotch Oakburn College space Gallery) – 2:00 PM
- Launceston Esk Market (Launceston Esk Market) – 9:00 AM and 29 more sessions
- CCW costume creation session (Youngtown, Tasmania) – 4:00 PM
- Annual Ball (Meander Valley Football Club in Westbury) – 7:00 PM
- Community Olive Pressing Day 2023 – Session 1 (2670 West Tamar Highway, Exeter) – 9:00 AM
- SPIRIT & TRUTH NETWORK (391 Invermay Rd, Mowbray TAS 7248, Australia) – 5:00 PM and 2 more sessions
- Combined bike ride / walk – North-east Rail Trail – 9:00 AM
Please note that this calendar includes events provided in the information provided. Some events may have specific time slots, while others may be ongoing or have multiple sessions throughout the day.
112 George St. is the location for Launceston’s latest ice creamery shopfront, simply called the Ice Creamery Café.
It’s situated between the old O’Keefe’s Hotel (now the Caledonian Wine Vault) and Samuel Pepy’s Café.
EXETER PUB – A CHANGE OF CUISINE!
Exeter Pub has a new cuisine! After years of Thai offerings, the pub will open its new The Flames Grill Bistro with first service happening on 11 May 2023.
The menu is sure to appeal to absolutely everyone with great choices of yesteryear pub meals and family favourites.
The Flames Grill Menu (also available on Mother’s Day, 14 May 2023).
BREAD & BUTTER LILYDALE
The Bread & Butter storefront in Lilydale closes for good on Monday 27 February 2023.
Baking will still be done onsite so pop around the back door a fresh hot loaf of bread 365 days a year.
ZEPS CAFÉ – CAMPBELL TOWN
Zeps Café is now permanently closed. Ongoing payroll tax hikes and lease uncertainty have left the business no longer viable. It’s such a shame to see one of our rural community’s most popular eating venues pushed into this position due to circumstances beyond their control.
FESTIVALE 2023
This year’s Festivale features more than 60 stallholders offering food and beverages. Held on the first weekend in February, with sessions on Friday evening, Saturday and during the day on Sunday, this year’s event features numerous entertainment acts and frivolity galore. This year’s tickets are only available online with no gate sales for the first time. Tickets can be purchased here.
See the whole list of stallholders for the event: Festivale Stallholders.
SWEETBREW’S NEW ADDITION
Sweetbrew is opening a 2nd venue in Launceston, at Tatler Lane, St John St., between Brisbane and York Sts., in the old cinema and Knits and Needles building.
The official opening takes place on 26 January, 2023.