The Crows Nest(Hobart)

The Crows Nest is a small, high-tempo specialty coffee cafe at 146A Elizabeth Street in central Hobart, rated close to a perfect score by its regulars. It is built for the morning rush rather than long sittings: espresso out fast, bagels, doughnuts and pastries in the cabinet, and a street-front footpath table or two out front where a well-mannered dog can wait while you order.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome at the outdoor footpath seating on lead, kept clear of the doorway and the through traffic on Elizabeth Street. Indoors and the counter line stay people only, standard for a CBD cafe this size. There is no guaranteed water bowl and no room to queue with a thirsty dog, so bring a collapsible bowl and treat this as a quick stop on the walk rather than the destination itself.

Max: two-minute wait, flat white and a bagel in hand, and I was already pointed at the waterfront before the lid was off.

Worth knowing

Hours run 6:30am to 2pm Monday to Friday, with Saturday and Sunday historically closed or running occasional limited mornings, so check the cafe's social pages before planning a weekend stop. The quiet window with a dog is mid-morning on weekdays once the commuter crush clears. Metered street parking on Elizabeth and the cross streets is tight in the morning peak; walking in from the waterfront or North Hobart is the simpler approach.

Pair it with

Franklin Square is a short walk south for a green break, and the Constitution Dock waterfront is a pleasant on-lead loop with your coffee. For a longer off-lead leg, the Knocklofty Summit Loop in West Hobart is a short drive away. Other dog-friendly coffee options nearby include Brewwich in the CBD and Abercrombie Coffee up the road in North Hobart.

More options are in the Tasmania dog friendly cafes guide and the Hobart destination page.