Chances are, you’ve walked past this hidden gem before, tucked away on Elizabeth Street.
Somewhere Coffee Bar is more than just a café. It’s an art gallery, a meeting place, a hub for creative communities and, above all, a reflection of owner Brian’s passion for coffee, culture and connection.
Originally from Hong Kong, Brian arrived in Hobart in 2018 to study hospitality management after spending several years working in coffee and hospitality. When the opportunity arose to open his own café, he decided to take the leap.
“In 2021, during COVID, not really the best time to start a business,” he laughs. “But I had the chance, and I had to take it.”
A café built on creativity
After renovating the interior, he deliberately kept the design simple and uncluttered. The bright white space leaves plenty of room for what has become one of the café’s defining features: a community gallery showcasing local artists.
The artwork rotates regularly, offering emerging creatives a place to showcase their work, often for the very first time.
“I know how difficult it is when you’re starting something new,” Brian says. “If someone gives you a little bit of support, it becomes easier. That’s why I wanted to create a space where young and emerging artists can have a chance.”
Coffee without borders
While many cafés stick with a single coffee supplier, Somewhere Coffee Bar takes a different approach.
There is no house roaster. Instead, Brian sources coffee from around the world through a network of friends, roasters and industry connections built over many years.
At any given time, coffees from Osaka, Tokyo, Melbourne, Oslo, Hong Kong, Canada and beyond might be on the menu.
“We share information about coffees we love,” Brian explains. “I buy directly from the roaster. Many of them don’t even have accounts in Australia. They’re excited to have their coffee reach Tasmania.”
It’s a constantly evolving offering that gives customers access to flavours and brewing styles they may never have encountered before.
“I didn’t think Hobart needed another coffee shop doing the same thing as everyone else,” he says. “So I decided to do something different.”
Expanding horizons, one cup at a time
For Brian, coffee is as much about curiosity as it is about caffeine.
Here, filter coffee takes the spotlight, a style that’s common in Hong Kong but still relatively niche in Tasmania. Through conversations, tastings and brewing demonstrations, Brian encourages customers to explore new flavours and brewing methods.
“When people order a batch brew, they start asking questions,” he says. “What kind of coffee is it? Where is it from? Then the conversation starts.”
He regularly hosts tasting sessions that compare different brewing methods side by side, helping people discover how the same coffee can taste completely different depending on how it’s prepared.
“Coffee is approachable,” he says. “You don’t need experience or technical knowledge. We just need language that’s easy to understand.”
Most caffeine drinkers use it for morning energy to get through the day. For Brian, coffee is not for productivity.
“I drink coffee for the taste, for the enjoyment of it. And I feel that Australians start drinking decaf after 12 pm, coffee has become a functional need, to wake up rather than for enjoyment and time to sit down and have a 15-minute break. In Hong Kong, we drink coffee for joy, rather than for function.”
More than coffee
Although coffee is firmly at the heart of Somewhere Coffee Bar, Brian’s attention to detail extends across the menu.
The café makes its own baked treats, with favourites including Basque cheesecake and seasonal cream rolls featuring local ingredients. Current flavours take inspiration from the seasons, with fresh fillings such as kumquat bringing a bright, refreshing twist.
Community building
Over the years, Somewhere Coffee Bar has become a gathering place for a wide range of communities.
Local business Crazy Scone Tas pops up at the café once a month, bringing together two businesses that share similar values around craftsmanship and authenticity.
Photography enthusiasts also find their way through the doors thanks to Somewhere’s partnership with Ikigai Camera, which hosts a film drop-off service from the café.
“Coffee and photography really connect people,” Brian says. “That’s how it started. We started talking about cameras, then coffee, and it grew from there.”
Why Hobart?
Brian believes Hobart offers something special that has helped Somewhere thrive.
“It’s a magical place,” he says.
While he describes customers in Hong Kong as constantly seeking the next new thing, Hobart locals tend to build strong loyalties with businesses they love. At the same time, he says the city’s hospitality scene gives independent operators the freedom to experiment.
“I’m happy to be in Hobart because there’s space to do what we want to do.”
That freedom, combined with a supportive local community, is something Brian deeply values.
“People in Tasmania are exceptionally lovely,” he says. “They’re supportive and caring. Once people understand what you’re trying to do, they come back and support you again and again.”
Supporting small businesses
As a participant in the Hello Hobart Gift Card program, Brian is passionate about supporting fellow independent businesses.
“If small businesses disappear, all that’s left are chain stores,” he says. “We compete with each other, but we also need to stick together.”
For Brian, diversity is what makes a city vibrant.
“We want more independent businesses doing different things. There’s more colour in life and more fun.”
And while running a small business often means long hours, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It’s a lot of work,” he says. “But I love it. I chose this.”
As a customer, you’ll see Brian’s passion shine through what he does, be it a cuppa coffee, a local business pop-up, or a community art gallery.
At Somewhere Coffee Bar, you never know what you might find.
