Island Espresso has been serving up chinos in Midtown since 1999, becoming a beloved local favourite going on 25 years.
Marina and Elisa, sisters and co-owners of Island Espresso, celebrated 25 years of business yesterday. We sat down with them to reflect on their journey with the beloved café on Elizabeth Street in Hobart’s Midtown community—and it’s clear their connection to the space runs deep.
“We feel like we did a lot of growing up at Island,” they shared. “We were customers in the mid-’90s, often meeting our mum here on a Saturday night for coffee and cake before heading home. It meant our curfew could be extended just a little bit later!”
When the café went up for sale, the decision to take over felt natural. “We were like, ‘OMG Mum and Dad, we have to buy it,’” they both laugh. And they did. Over the years, both sisters have come and gone, travelling and exploring other ventures, but Island Espresso remains their constant. “Our brother Dané has played a big role in establishing the cafe and put us on to Zimmah and the specialty coffee train. This place is home to all of us, and we’ll always come back.”
For their customers, Island Espresso is more than a café—it’s part of their daily routine. Consistency is a big part of the café’s charm: “we’ve got people who’ve been coming in almost daily for more than ten years,” Elisa says.
“When we change menu items to be current and fresh, it seems to inspire nostalgia for things we thought were a bit over or done in regards to trends. Friands are a perfect example of that. People love them. There would probably be a riot if we stopped making them.” She’s not exaggerating—if you haven’t tried one of their friands yet, run, don’t walk.
Island Espresso’s commitment to community extends to promoting neighbouring traders. “We strive to support the locals,” Marina explains. “We buy all our jams and relish from the C.W.A. shop next door, we’re partial to their famous jelly cakes too—if we can snag some before they sell out!” Fresh, locally-sourced produce is central to the menu. “We love being in control of what we serve, knowing it’s the best and freshest we can get.”
If you’re not sure where Midtown is, it’s midway between Hobart’s waterfront & North Hobart, home to a collection of small, independent businesses that exude a nostalgic charm loved by locals. “We’ve been part of this community for 25 years, and every trader here has played a role in building those connections,” Marina says. “It takes a village, and we’ve worked hard to create one here in Midtown. The traders all look out for one another. There’s nothing we wouldn’t do for each other, and we know that feeling’s mutual.”
Staff have been known to drop Katinka (from Lily & Dot across the road) a slice of raspberry and coconut bread when she’s flat out – using the Skip app. It’s little things like that—helping each other out—that make the Midtown community so charming.
Running a café for 25 years comes with its share of challenges. “Sometimes the hardest things in life are the most rewarding,” Marina reflects. “Owning a business in Hobart can be tough, but our family, customers, and community make it the most amazing thing we’ve ever done. If you’re in it, you’re in it. And we’re definitely in it.”
If it’s been a while since your last visit—or if you’ve never been—there’s no better time to stop by. Pull up a chair by the sunny window, relax upstairs in the cosy loft, or enjoy the outdoors facing the beautiful heritage-listed shop front. This season, their avocado toast with whipped feta and house-made hot honey has become a standout. “People love it, especially as the weather warms up.”
As I left, I noticed a passer-by stopping to admire the 1830’s shopfront, snapping photos of this historical Hobart gem.
A visit to Island Espresso is more than a coffee stop—it’s a true Hobartian experience.
Address:
171 Elizabeth Street
Hobart Tas 7000