Marla Singer, across the river, worth the trip

Cross the Tasman Bridge and follow the river towards Bellerive, and you will find a neighbourhood increasingly carving out a food culture of its own.

At its heart is Marla Singer, an understated spot on Cambridge Road built around a simple philosophy: local, seasonal and delicious. By day, it is a relaxed destination for specialty coffee, baked goods and brunch.

As the week moves towards the weekend, the mood shifts and the space becomes somewhere to settle in over dinner, wine and conversation.

A neighbourhood place

There is an ease to Marla Singer that feels particularly suited to Bellerive.

The open, relaxed setting has been designed as a genuine neighbourhood meeting place rather than somewhere reserved only for special occasions. Coffee is taken seriously, the pastry cabinet provides plenty of temptation, and the transition from morning café to evening wine bar gives locals a reason to return at different times of day.

Its story is local, too. Co-owner Jonathan began his apprenticeship in the very building Marla Singer now occupies before going on to cook in restaurants around Tasmania. Years later, the opportunity arose to return to the site and create something of his own alongside the wider team.

Tasmania on the table

The menu is led by what is available rather than what is expected.

Vegetables, local meats, sustainably caught seafood, artisan cheeses and eggs are sourced from a network of Tasmanian producers, with dishes kept relatively simple to allow the ingredients to remain the focus.

The result is food that changes with the season, moving from contemporary brunch to an evolving selection of dinner plates.

The same sense of discovery extends to the drinks, with what Marla Singer describes as “fun wines” sitting alongside specialty coffee, beer and cocktails.

The other side of Hobart

Hobart’s dining conversation has long gravitated towards the CBD, Salamanca and Battery Point, but some of the city’s most interesting neighbourhood venues are increasingly found beyond those familiar pockets.

Marla Singer is the kind of place that makes crossing the river part of the experience. Arrive for coffee and something baked, return for dinner and a bottle shared around the table, then take the long way home along the Bellerive waterfront.

Sometimes discovering more of Hobart simply means looking at it from the other side of the river.