Tinka Launceston to open new laneway wine, pasta bar Felix

Influenced by their Melbourne roots, a Tasmanian couple behind one of the state’s top coffee houses is seeking to launch a cosy new laneway venue in an up-and-coming precinct.

Influenced by their Melbourne roots, a Tasmanian couple behind one of the state’s top coffee houses is seeking to launch a cosy new laneway venue in an up-and-coming precinct.

Launceston’s David Straw, who owns Saint John St institution Tinka Coffee Brewers with partner Samantha Burton, said Felix would serve coffee and brunch during the day, before transitioning to an ambient wine bar at night.

Felix, an application for which was lodged recently, would be located within LXN Architecture’s Milledge Lane precinct on Cimitiere St, taking the place of consultancy Wiley, and have capacity to seat 30 patrons inside and an additional 12 al fresco.

“You often see in the industry wine and coffee go hand-in-hand, we felt like it was an offering we could quite easily pair together,” Mr Straw said.

“Coming from a Melbourne background, Brunswick particularly, we wanted to lean into the laneway culture, it’s a little more hidden but a bit of a discovery process for the average customer.”

Mr Straw said he believed the northern sector of Launceston’s CBD was set to boom – investment in the city’s dining precinct has previously focused on Seaport or Princes Square.

“There’s the university development (UTAS’ relocation from Newnham to Inveresk) and a number of other high profile developments, the Albert Hall redevelopment, that end of town was higher on our radar,” Mr Straw said.

“Milledge Lane is a beautiful building which has big clients such as the WIN Network, it felt like our premium offering might sit well with that clientele.”

The lane is also home to businesses including Roll Cycles and Botanisor Florist.

Mr Straw said future customers of Felix could expect freshly made pasta dishes, Italian-influence small dishes, fines wines and aperitives of an evening, with Tinka brunch dishes and specialty coffee during the day.

Felix will be the duo’s second venue, after they relocated from their native Melbourne, where they both had extensive careers in hospitality, in 2018.

They spent a year in Coles Bay before being drawn to Launceston.

They purchased coffee shop Shots on Wax in late 2019 before “transitioning” the business to Tinka.