New Hobart cafe gets the simple things right

It’s early days for this cool new city eatery but I think it’s well on its way to becoming a locals’ favourite and a neighbourhood mainstay.

STABLA

4 Barrack St, Hobart

Opening hours: Monday - Friday 7am - 4pm

On the menu

Pumpkin toastie, $13; sausage roll, $6.50; blueberry muffin, $7.50; kiddo plate, $11.50; baked eggs, $21.

FINDING a spot in the sun and out of the wind is a true pleasure on a winter’s day. Add a pot of tea and a chunky toastie and I’m in heaven. So imagine my delight when I spent a morning at Stabla, recently opened at the Davey St end of Barrack St on the CBD fringe. The aforementioned sunny spot is a stool and a high bench in a driveway that used to contain bins but is now brightly painted and leads to a spacious courtyard out the back.

I collect a menu from inside and then head back out to claim my spot. Though it’s only been open a few weeks, Stabla is already popular with local businesses, who are enjoying morning coffees and lunchtime toasties.

Barrack Street’s Stabla Cafe’s cool exterior. Picture Chris Kidd

I order a pot of English breakfast tea and am delighted to find it comes in a plunger that has little hourglass timer attached – no chance of pouring too early. It’s a nice touch and is enough for two cups, which is always a bonus. I can’t resist a sausage roll ($6.50) and these are homemade – fat logs of well-seasoned sausage mince encased in buttery, flaky pastry. A side of housemade tomato relish is the perfect accompaniment.

Stabla cafe’s house-made sausage roll which features well-seasoned sausage mince encased in buttery, flaky pastry and a side of housemade tomato relish. Picture Chris Kidd

All the pastries and muffins are made in-house – there’s an industrial combi oven on its way, but for the moment all the baking is taking place in a benchtop oven – with impressive results. Once the oven arrives, owner Bec Flynn will be expanding the menu and is keen to offer more cafe options as well as meals that local workers can pick up on the way home and heat up for dinner.

Stabla Cafe’s funky interior. Picture Chris Kidd

Bec has 18 years’ experience as a chef but had most recently been working in IT before she and her husband, Rob, purchased the building. They converted the upstairs into short-stay accommodation, “full of tip shop finds and retro furnishings,” says Bec with glee, before opening the cafe downstairs.

The courtyard in front of the original stable – a higgledy-piggledy building with fairytale charm – is set with comfy chairs and tables and once their liquor license is approved and warmer weather arrives, it will do nicely for evening drinks and snacks. “Classy, not messy!” says Bec with a laugh.

Stabla’s roasted pumpkin toastie which includes well-roasted chunks of pumpkin dotted over thick slices of Pigeon Whole sourdough and topped with Ashgrove cheddar, red onion, herbed mayonnaise and house relish. Picture: Chris Kidd

Longtime readers will know I can’t resist a toasted sandwich and while I’m drawn to a classic ham and cheese with Ziggy’s ham and Ashgrove cheese ($9.50), I end up ordering the roast pumpkin number ($13). Well-roasted chunks of pumpkin are dotted over thick slices of Pigeon Whole sourdough and topped with Ashgrove cheddar, red onion, herbed mayonnaise and house relish. It’s well toasted and the cheese is nicely melted without being so hot that it takes off the roof of my mouth – this is definitely a toastie I’d order again.

Bec tells me that the pumpkin toastie is a crowd favourite but she’s got a soft spot for the blackened Cajun chicken with labne option – chicken breast rubbed with a house blend of spices and paired with homemade labne (a soft cheese made by draining yoghurt overnight). I make a mental note to try that one next time.

Stabla cafe’s hearty and tasty baked eggs. Picture: Chris Kidd

There are gluten-free and vegan options on offer and the team make sure to use local produce and suppliers as much as possible.

I’ve been sitting outside in the sunny spot, but inside there’s a communal table and a window bench with a view of the street. There’s also a wall of retro lollies and a wall of paintings by a local artist – an exhibition that will change regularly.

Stabla’s lemon, blueberry and white chocolate muffin. Picture: Chris Kidd

I can’t leave without trying something sweet and today’s muffin is blueberry ($6.50) – with a hint of white chocolate if I’m not mistaken. It’s moist and contains plenty of blueberries – which is not always the case!

It’s early days for Stabla but I think it’s well on its way to becoming a locals’ favourite and a neighbourhood mainstay. I look forward to returning as they spread their wings.