Your guide to the city
Find food, events, shops, and services in Launceston
Nightlife in Launcesotn
There's more to explore after dark
Some of Launnie’s best arts and culture events take place after nightfall. Concerts and theatre productions light up local stages throughout the year – see what’s on at Theatre North. Major annual celebrations such as Festivale and Junction Arts Festival draw crowds to our city parks. From late night eats, hidden places to enjoy a nightcap, and events and experiences, explore everything happening in Launceston's nightlife at the link below.
We love our city.
We know our city. We want to share it with you.
We're Launceston Central, your local and dedicated guide to the heart of Launnie.
Curious about where to buy beautiful pieces for your home whilst supporting locally owned shops? We'll show you where to go, and tell you about the wonderful shopkeepers who own them.
Craving a delicious brunch but feel hopeless as a coeliac? We have just the place in mind. Want a comprehensive itinerary to events and goings-on in the city? We're your people! Keen to venture to an elusive speakeasy on a night-out in Launnie? Follow along, we'll take you there.
Launnie long-standers
Celebrating 10+ years in the city
Starting, maintaining, and growing a business is never easy—it demands resilience, strategy, and grit. Reaching milestones like a ten-year anniversary is a testament to overcoming challenges that many businesses don’t survive in their first few years. That’s why celebrating businesses that have achieved this and more is so important. Their success is no small feat, especially in today’s ever-changing world.
Take a look at interviews we've done with some of the city's most beloved businesses to see what makes them tick, how they've maintained their success and what they love about doing business in Launceston.
What's on
Browse events in Launceston
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Urban picnics: outdoor dining in the city
This time of year really brings Launceston to life. Summer events, live music and seasonal menu changes are all perfect excuses to make a trip into the city and enjoy some good company, good food and great times.
Read on to learn about the prime locations for a sunny-side-up breakfast, leisurely afternoon lunch, dinner in the cool of the urban canopy, or evening drinks in the balmy night air.
Cocoa quest | a hot choccy odyssey in Launceston
Why should coffee drinkers have all the fun? Let's explore hot chocolates on offer in Launceston.
Launceston history walks
Launceston is home to some spectacular and historically significant architecture. See some of the city's best by taking a free, self-guided walking tour.
Gastronomy: a love of Launceston's food
Gastronomy is typically defined as the study of the relationship between food and culture.
Best places to brunch in Launceston
Mornings in Launceston are for lingering in bed during the crisp hours of young daylight.
Nearing noon, your slow rise will best eventuate in a warm, full mug and a meal to satisfy the intensifying grumbling of your belly. Enter: the brunch.
To find out more about where to brunch in Launceston, read on.
Art in the City
From street art to cafes to galleries, this is your guide for the best places in Launceston to appreciate art.
Get inked in Launceston
Thinking about getting inked? Unless you want to get tattooed by a specific artist, there's no need for a trip to Hobart or Melbourne to find quality work - Launceston is home to many fantastic tattoo studios, staffed by passionate and incredibly talented artists. Read on to learn about several of the studios right here in the heart of Launnie.
Our guide to Launnie's parks and playgrounds
When the sun is shining, there's few better ways to spend the day than exploring Launceston's great outdoors. Here is our guide to the best parks and playgrounds in and around the city (and cafes to try while you're nearby).
Beards, beer and barbering
A bloke might not feel much like venturing out for a haircut in mid-winter, admits Barber on George owner Hamish Mackean. But the free beer might tempt them.
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Hello, welcome
We acknowledge the Tasmanian Aboriginal people (pakana) as the traditional custodians of this land, lutruwita, and their continuing connection to the land, sea, waterways, and skies. We pay respect to elders past and present, as they hold the memories, traditions, culture, and hope for generations to come; and to all those who continue caring for country, sharing stories, and upholding rights.
In good company
Learn more about the faces behind your favourite Launnie businesses
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In good company: Pachinko
Japan is having a moment – and everyone’s getting on board. Visitor numbers soared in 2024, with Aussie travelers flocking to experience the country’s world-famous cuisine. Fortunately for the people of Launceston (settled and visiting), the next best thing can be found right on our doorstep, within a neon-lit nook of the Quadrant Mall. Read on to find out more about our hidden gem of Japanese cuisine - Pachinko.
In good company: Brisbane St News and Lotto
Beneath the iconic art deco façade of Launceston’s iconic Holyman House building, a bustling newsagency thrives amid changing times.
Brisbane Street News and Lotto, with dedicated owners Garry and Donna Matthews at the helm, provides a rich shopping experience for regulars and passers-by. This beloved small business is best known for three things: its busy lotto counter, extraordinary selection of magazines, and welcoming staff.
“We’re all very friendly, personal sort of people,” says Garry of his team, comprising himself, Donna, and two staff members, Jacob and Angela.
Read on to learn more about the team behind Brisbane St News & Lotto.
In good company: Launceston Sport & Surf
For more than 40 years, Launceston Sport and Surf has been supplying locals with everything they need to embrace the great outdoors in style. The St John Street shop is one of Australia’s largest locally owned surf stores, stocking a ripper range of adventure clothing and gear from the best brands in the biz. Learn more about this beloved Launnie business in this edition of In Good Company.
In good company: Mobile Mania
From staying connected with loved ones to managing our work on the go, digital devices have become an integral part of our daily lives. For the most part, they serve us well … until they don’t.
Whether it’s a shattered screen, a bung charging port or a dreaded flat battery, a non-functioning mobile phone can swiftly send us into crisis mode.
Fortunately, we’ve got a mobile superhero located right here in Launceston.
Read on to learn more about Mobile Mania and the friendly faces behind the counter.
In good company: Hope & Me
Midway along one of Launceston’s most charming streetscapes, a homey haven stocks a delightful range of products to brighten your abode. The expansive windows of Hope & Me beckon, showcasing a thoughtful assortment of home and lifestyle wares by top brands from around Australia and New Zealand. It’s hard to resist a look inside.
This Quadrant Mall mainstay has been lovingly owned and run by Lindi McMahon and daughter Chelsea since 2010. Before Hope & Me came to be, Lindi worked in dynamic retail roles that kindled a lifelong passion for the trade.
To find out more about this beloved Launnie business, read on.
In good company: Stockton & Co
In this interview series, we give you a behind the scenes look at the people behind the businesses we love.
Stockton & Co is a local home and gifts shop that stocks a curated range of art and items from around the world and The St John Street store is a labour of love for founder Alice Bradbury, and her daughter Mia, who works in the store.
“Two years ago my mum, came to me and said ‘I’ve got this idea’ and she started telling me about this shop she’s going to open and the whole idea of it was that she wants it to be full of things that’d she’d have in her own home, so this shop is just a version of our house. That’s where it came from.”
Read on to learn more about Stockton & Co.
In good company: Tio Rico
“It’s been really lovely when we’ve had travellers coming down who say they heard you can get really genuine South American food at this random café in little Launceston. It’s pretty amazing really - the word’s out in that regard.”
Tio Rico may have flown under the radar for many Launceston locals, but those in the know know that what Dylan Guardia says is true: we have our own slice of Venezuela right here.
The Guardia family have operated Tio Rico for 14 years, Jose and Kerri starting with a food van for festivals and events before putting down colourful, South American roots in their café on Paterson Street right next to Royal Park.
Read on to learn more about Tio Rico.
That family feeling: a conversation with The Grain Grocer
Jo, owner of The Grain Grocer, is a joy to be around. Any time she's at the counter you'll be greeted with a smile that lights up the room and helpful service that can come only from someone who truly knows their products.
She's passed on these winning traits to her daughter, Jess, who you can also find frequently working in store- in fact, you can find Jo's whole family helping out in The Grain Grocer at different times. They're a tight-knit bunch, and Jo wouldn't have it any other way.
It's a rare gift to have a family you can happily work alongside. Of course there are always challenges, but if you can pull it off then you've got a steadfast, trustworthy and loyal team that you know you can always rely on - an invaluable asset for any small business owner.
Read on to hear more about Jo, her family and The Grain Grocer.
