The Parcel Cafe: a new fusion brunch spot housed in the old New Town post office

Lansdowne Cafe’s Minh Tran and Ozus’ Carl Nguyen have teamed up to create the Parcel Cafe, a new brunch offering in New Town.

Minh Tran with some of the dishes on offer. The Parcel Cafe in New Town has recently opened. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The owner of West Hobart’s much-loved Lansdowne Cafe is back with another venture.

Minh Tran is the brains behind Parcel – a homely cafe housed in the former New Town post office building.

After taking over Lansdowne in 2023, Ms Tran set her sights on a bigger location, finding a home in what used to be Dispatch Cafe.

With doors opening again on Monday, Ms Tran said locals were “so grateful”.

“It used to be their favourite spot, and now they are coming back and supporting us which is really good,” she said.

Having worked the cafe circuit in Melbourne before landing in Hobart, Ms Tran said there was a “specific” quality to the city’s hospitality scene.

Waffle. The Parcel Cafe in New Town has recently opened. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Rosti. The Parcel Cafe in New Town has recently opened. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“In Melbourne there is high traffic, and people coming in and out … so I didn’t see much community,” she said.

“Here we feel more connections, and when we do business, we get big support from our neighbours.

“And the customer service is really gentle.”

The Parcel Cafe in New Town has recently opened. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Chicken Katsu. The Parcel Cafe in New Town has recently opened. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

In realising her dreams, Ms Tran teamed up with Battery Point’s Ozus cafe owner Carl Nguyen to create a “colourful” fusion menu featuring hearty dishes such as crispy rice and turmeric-grilled chicken, as well as a take on Lansdowne’s infamous Reuben sandwich.

He said the duo wanted to offer a “refined take on classic brunch”.

“We don’t do complicated dishes,” he said.

“We like to focus on every single ingredient in the dish and make it work together.”

The Parcel Cafe in New Town has recently opened. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Originally published as The Parcel Cafe: a new fusion brunch spot housed in the old New Town post office