The Best Cafes in Brno – Coffee Culture in Brno

It was quite a challenge to choose the best cafes in Brno, given the number of excellent options the city has to offer. However, I must confess that the research itself proved to be a very enjoyable task! Who doesn’t like to sip on coffee and indulge in creative breakfasts and sweet, sweet cakes. As I have already been to Brno three times already, I’ve visited my fair share of great coffee shops across the city. Narrowing down to just a handful of cafes for this article was no easy task, considering the coffee culture in Brno is thriving more than ever. The city is home to numerous skilled award winning baristas, crafting their exceptional brews in ways you could never imagine. In Brno, coffee is carefully roasted and brewed carefully at strict temperatures, to bring to life the essence of the coffee bean. And let’s not forget the cakes that are such an integral part of Brno’s cafe scene.

The Best Cafes in Brno 

Rebelbean

Location

Rebelbean is known as one of the best cafes in Brno because of its high quality gourmet coffee which is roasted in house, as well as their commitment to sustainability and fair trade practices.

They have different locations dotted around town. I visited their café near the train station, where I tried a black coffee, which was very good, even if a little acidic rather than nutty, how I like my morning drink.

The design of the café is quite industrial, but laptop friendly. I have seen quite a few people working at the communal table in the middle of the cafe, when I was here. Besides great coffee, Rebelbean also serves other coffee based drinks, wine, and cocktails, as well as cakes and light breakfast and lunch dishes.

Yummy Lamy

Location

Yummy Lamy turned out to be a delightful surprise. While my original destination was Rebelbean, I couldn’t help but be drawn to the tempting display of cakes next door – which belonged to Yummy Lamy. Losing to temptation, I entered the cafe and found myself transported to a seemingly magical realm within its four walls.

As you might have guessed, Yummy Lamy is a llama – themed coffee shop, with llama shaped mugs, cakes, and even fluffy stuffed toys to hold in your arms whilst enjoying a coffee or a hot chocolate.

When it comes to cakes, their selection includes fruity cheesecakes, cronuts, and fantasy decorated donuts. I went for a forest berries filled donut decorated with a moss-like frosting and cute chocolate mini mushrooms. The pecan and apple cronut, in the shape of a mushroom, was indulgent and so soft.   

Another staple of Yummy Lamy are the oversized milkshakes combining drink and pudding, with an entire donut topped with cream and more biscuits.

Monogram Espresso Bar

Location

Several people had recommended Monogram Espresso bar, so I had to come and see what the fuss was all about. The café is very small, with only a handful of seats and a minimalist but cheerful design. It is the brain baby of Adam Neubauer, who is considered to be the best barista in the entire Czech Republic.

I took a seat at the counter and ordered a hot chocolate – there’s only so much caffeine  I can take in a day, whilst doing research. And most of the cafes in Brno don’t serve decaf coffee. My eyes spotted the jam filled biscuits on the counter and I couldn’t resist ordering one as well, to go alongside my drink.

The weather outside was pretty miserable, cold, with heavy rain. The hot chocolate was exactly what I needed to warm up and rather enjoy watching the drops of water pour on the pavement.

SKØG Urban Hub

Location

SKØG is the perfect place to go for a filling breakfast or brunch. The concept of this coffee shop in Brno is Scandinavian, with minimalist and industrial design. It’s a great place to spend a couple of hours, especially if you choose one of the tall chairs by the window bar, where you can set up your laptop and work.

I went to SKØG after a night out researching the best bars in Brno. They were celebrating their anniversary and had special breakfasts that showcased four different flavours. I looked around and everyone seemed to order the same dish, which looked amazing, so I went for it as well. Even if it was vegetarian, the flavours were complementing each other so well and the entire dish was more than filling. It consisted of potato croquettes with a golden, crunchy crust, served on a bed of crispy kale, herb chutney, feta cheese, smoked tempeh, and topped with pickled red onion and a perfect sunny side up fried egg. The spice that brought all the flavours together was dukkah.

I went for a black coffee, which was strong, with a citrusy finish.

Café Placzek

Location

Having passed by multiple times, I eventually gave in and decided to see the offerings of Café Placzek. Situated along one of the primary thoroughfares within Brno’s historical centre, this café was simply too enticing to resist.

The cafe is quite large, spreading over two floors. They have a great menu with coffee that is brewed in different ways, cold drinks, lemonades, ice teas, fresh juices, and cocktails.

I chose the orange and cranberry lemonade, alongside a strawberry tart. The lemonade was freshly made, garnished with sprigs of mint. The cake was wonderful, extremely light, filled with strawberry cream and decorated with whipped cream and fresh fruits.

Kofi-Kofi

I have to include Kofi-Kofi on my list of the best cafes in Brno, even though, technically, it is not a coffee shop. Kofi-Kofi runs mobile carts all over the city, offering a large selection of coffee and coffee based drinks. They always seem to have a queue of at least a few people waiting to buy coffee.

I tried a long espresso, which was excellent, creamy and very strong.

Café Momenta

Location

Usually the cafes with a view, located in popular places, are not generally the best. However, Café Momenta is the exception to that rule. Located right in the Vegetable Market, Café Momenta is open all day long – in the morning for breakfast and in the evening for dinner with drinks, on the outdoor terrace.

I visited the café in the morning, and indulged in one of their traditional breakfasts, the scrambled eggs with onions and bacon, served with rustic bread. I also went for a cappuccino with oat milk. I managed to grab a table right in the window, overlooking the square.

The concept of Café Momenta is to bring coffee together with desserts, to create sweet memories, no matter if you come here alone, with friends, or your other half. And considering that I am now including it on my list of the best cafes in Brno, it definitely left a good memory for me.

Kobliha

Location

Kobliha is a dessert lover’s dream. All they sell is coffee and donuts. And oh, these are not your average donuts! These are the kings and queens of donuts! And the menu changes each month, so you can always try new flavours.

The donuts at Kobliha take inspiration from different flavours from everyday life. During my visit they had a donut inspired by the national cake of Czechia, the kolache, as well as a tiramisu filled donut.

I was very tempted by the apricot and butter cream filled donut, but also by the pineapple and coconut cream donut glazed with a Malibu frosting. But in the end, I chose the Rafaello donut, filled with an indulgent coconut cream and decorated with coconut flakes. It tastes just like the Rafaello pralines, but on a giant scale, and yes, it is as good as it sounds.

SORRY – PEČEME JINAK

Location

“Sorry – we bake differently”, is how the name of this café translates, which is one of a kind. If I was into Instagram, I would say that the design is perfect for that colourful, unique background decorated with hundreds of origami cranes, that makes photos stand out.

This cafe is famous in Brno for their original and unconventional cakes, such as lavender cheesecake or the brandy infused Belgian chocolate cake. Their most unique cake is the forest moss cake, made with spinach and decorated with dried crickets. Yes, you’ve read that correctly – crickets!

I just had to try it! The friendly lady at the counter asked me if I wanted the slice of cake with or without the cricket, so you can try it even if you are not keen on the little dried insects. I opted for it though, as I wanted to have the full experience.

To my surprise, the cake was extremely light and I couldn’t taste the spinach at all. On the contrary, the taste of the cake was fresh, almost lemony. The cake also had a thin layer of berry jam between the cream and the green sponge, which I really enjoyed. As for the cricket…. it didn’t really taste like anything, but it did have a very crunchy texture.  

Eggo Food Truck

Location

I know I have included Eggo Food Truck on my list of the best restaurants in Brno, but I have to add it as a coffee shop option as well. This tiny establishment just off Freedom square serves one of the best breakfast in Brno, alongside great coffee. Their breakfast egg burgers are epic, and this is the perfect place to visit after a long night out, sampling cocktails at the concept bars in the city.

Eggo started as a food truck, and then evolved to a fixed location in the city centre. Now they also serve brunch and stay open up until late, offering an intriguing dinner menu and evening drinks.

Dezertína

Location

For really good cakes and pastries, head to Dezertína. This is a tiny bakery selling delicious cakes, pastries, cookies, and premium coffee. It is a very small shop with very friendly service. I tried the classic kolache with blackberries, alongside a refreshing Czech style orange lemonade.  

The cakes at Dezertína change every day, and also during the day, depending how fast they sell.

Zemanova Kavárna a Cukrárna

Location

As someone who loves traditional food and cakes, I really wanted to experience the oldest café in Brno that still sells classic Czech cakes. First of all, the building that houses this coffee shop is a great example of functionalist architecture, which Brno is so famous for (see Villa Tugendhat).

This café was first opened in 1906, in a building just down the road, by confectioner Josef Sedláček. In 1936 he finished the new building, which still houses the café to this day, advertising the highest quality Swiss chocolate, candies, and cocoa in town.

When I entered this coffee shop to check out their cakes, it felt like going back in time. The interior design is retro, with furniture covered in red veneer, green marble tables, and rounded sofas and armchairs.

As it was a sunny day, I decided to take a seat on the outdoor terrace. I ordered a hot chocolate, to see if the quality of the chocolate was still kept since the late 30s, and the traditional Czech cake spicka. Now this cake might be small, but it packs a lot of boldness. As soon as I broke the chocolate shell with the teaspoon, eggnog started oozing from the inside. This is not a cake for children!

The hot chocolate was thick and indulgent, topped with a fluffy layer of whipped cream. I agree,  Zemanova kavárna a cukrárna still sells high quality chocolate and hot chocolate.

The service was quite slow, but the cake and hot chocolate made up for it.

William Thomas Artisan Bakery

Location

I have wanted to try the café at this small bakery ever since I first learned about it. The William Thomas Artisan Bakery is a very small café in Brno, with a bakery at the ground floor and the coffee shop upstairs. They are famous in Brno for reinventing the kolace – the national cake of Czechia.

Kolache is a delicious pastry with different fruits enclosed inside a sweet yeast dough and topped with a gentle crumble. William Thomas Artisan Bakery has combined this wonderful cake with a croissant, creating the unique cro-lache.

I opted for the blueberry and cottage cheese filled pastry, which had a flaky texture and was very tasty. For coffee, I ordered a cappuccino with oat milk, which was creamy and had a nutty aftertaste.

I loved having a table upstairs, in the window, and being able to enjoy my breakfast whilst watching the world go by, on the street below.

Café Mitte

Location

I went several times to Café Mitte during my trips to Brno. I think it’s one of the loveliest cafes in Brno because of its relaxed courtyard. On a sunny day, there is no better place to enjoy some chilled time with a cold brew.

Café Mitte serves gourmet coffee and has its own roastery. The desserts are all made in house, so they change every day.

I tried here one of their cold coffee drinks, the iced latte, as the day was sunny and warm.

Café Špilberk

Location

Café Špilberk was another great find, whilst hiding away from the rain. I just finished a wonderful tour of the Temple of Stone exhibition in the old water tanks of the castle, when the skies just opened up. The guide told me that the café at the castle makes great coffee, so I followed his advice and hid there from the rain.

I was the only customer, so I had a lovely chat with the nice lady preparing the coffee for me. She tried to convince me to try a traditional Czech cake, which was homemade, but I was heading out for dinner soon, so sadly, I had to decline.

Even if the café was very small, they still catered for milk intolerances, which I really appreciated. I ordered a coffee with lactose free milk, which came with a wonderful creamy foam on top. I enjoyed it on the covered outdoor terrace, whilst waiting for the rain to stop.  

Café Ernst at Vila Stiassni

Location

Vila Stiassni is one of the most important functionalist buildings in Brno, alongside Villa Tugendhat. It was designed by the Austrian modernist architect Ernst Wiesner, one of the most prominent in Brno at the time. The café of the villa is dedicated to him.

Café Ernst serves great coffee, as well as typical cakes from the era of the First Czech Republic. Their food is made with ingredients grown in the Vila’s gardens, whilst the coffee, the semi-dark roasted Brazilian Arabica, was chosen because of its straightforward flavour, as a tribute to the architect’s style.

I wanted to try another typical Czech dessert, and I was lucky, as I bought the last one: Pařížské rohlíčky or Paris Rolls in English. This is a traditional Czech Christmas cookie, with a biscuit base, a light chocolate cream filling, and a tempered chocolate crust. It tasted delicious, with a light texture and flavour.

Conclusion

Summing up the exceptional coffee, huge selection of amazing cakes, and mouthwatering food, choosing the contenders for this article on the best cafes in Brno proved to be quite the challenge. Rarely have I visited a city with such a remarkable coffee scene, with so many incredible coffee shops deserving a spot in this article. 

If you’ve come across any other amazing coffee shops in Brno that have left an impression on you, please share your recommendations in the comment section below.

For more similar articles, check out my recommendations below:

• How to spend one day in Brno
• The best restaurants in Brno
• The best bars in Brno
• The best things to do in Olomouc

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Please note that was invited to Brno by the tourism board, and some of the experiences have been complimentary. All the opinions and thoughts in this article are genuine and have no external influence.