The Best Batter in Hobart

Pimped or plain, pancakes (and their spiritual cousin, the waffle) are one of the most comforting breakfasts (or lunches, or desserts) around. Here are seven of Hobart’s best.

Born in Brunswick

This North Hobart hotspot channels the hipster sensibilities of the highly tattooed Melbourne suburb so you won’t find regular pancakes here. Things get downright fancy with their ginger and wattleseed hotcakes, dressed to impress with kaffir lime coconut ice-cream and macerated strawberries, plus native basil, rhubarb and pistachio. If that sounds too sophisticated for your tribe of little ones, opt for Nutella cream pikelets with banana and hazelnut.

410 Elizabeth Street, North Hobart

Machine Laundry Café

A retro-styled café that doubles as a coin laundry? There’s no more perfect excuse to put a load on while taking a load off courtesy of a plate of fat ricotta and pumpkin hotcakes anointed with candied walnuts, butterscotch sauce and double cream. So good they might put you on spin cycle.

12 Salamanca Square, Hobart; (03) 6224 9922

Honey Badger Dessert Café

Dessert specialist Honey Badger is a big believer in choice. They bravely broach the sweet/savoury divide by serving pancakes with eggs, bacon and whipped feta cheese (and finish it with spiced pumpkin butter, maple syrup, toasted walnuts and roasted cherry tomatoes) as well as with fresh cream, seasonal fruit, berry coulis, vanilla bean ice-cream and maple syrup. As for the three types of waffles – that’s another story (hint: one variety features Tim Tam crumbs).

7 Salamanca Square, Hobart; (03) 6109 4943

Harbour Lights Café

Start the day by blocking the view of the Hobart waterfront with the rather impressive Harbour Lights pancake stack. It’s three fluffy pancakes with toppings that change with the seasons and the chef’s whims – fresh blueberries and coulis or maybe caramelised banana – but always with ice-cream and maple syrup.

29 Morrison Street, Hobart; (03) 6224 2138

The Pancake Train

A short drive out of Hobart on the way to the Bruny Island ferry, Pancake Train – occupying a carriage of an old steam train – delivers a taste of the Tassie terrior with crumble pancakes made from local fruit. Get creative with the likes of beef stroganoff and sour cream or lamb ragu toppings, or keep things perfectly classic with good old lemon and sugar.

1567 Channel Highway, Margate; (03) 6267 1120

Waffle On

Fried buttermilk chicken with chipotle mayonnaise and coleslaw. Poached egg with hollandaise and smoked salmon. A BLT. As the name attests, Waffle On is happy to wave the waffle wand over pretty much anything. If you prefer the sweet end of the spectrum, go classic Australiana with a trio of housemade Neapolitan ice-cream flavours.

155 Liverpool Street, Hobart; (03) 6236 9841

Straight Up

It’s gluten-free and vegetarian but this smart operation with an in-house coffee roastery still brings the fun. Think orange and vanilla waffles served with berry ice-cream, poached blueberries and an almond and chocolate crumb.

202a Liverpool Street, Hobart