Brno does not always get the attention it deserves. Visitors to Czech Republic tend to focus on Prague, and Brno — the country's second largest city and the historical capital of Moravia — is often treated as an afterthought or a day trip. This is a mistake, particularly if you care about coffee.
Brno has developed a coffee culture that is in some ways more interesting than Prague's. Because the city has a smaller tourist economy, its cafes are oriented primarily towards local customers — students from the city's large university population, young professionals, and long-term residents who know what they want and expect it to be good. The result is a scene that is less self-conscious and more genuinely rooted in the life of the city.
The Historic Cafes of Brno
Akademická kavárna on Gorkého street is a listed cultural monument — one of Brno's most significant historic cafes.
Akademická kavárna
The Akademická kavárna on Gorkého street is one of the most historically significant cafes in Brno. The building is a listed cultural monument of the Czech Republic, and the cafe has been a gathering place for academics, artists, and intellectuals since the early 20th century. The interior retains much of its original character — high ceilings, large windows, and a sense of unhurried time that is increasingly rare in the modern city. It is the kind of place where you can sit for two hours over a single coffee and feel entirely comfortable doing so.
Café Savoy
Café Savoy in the city centre is another of Brno's historic establishments. The building dates from the 19th century and the cafe has occupied it for most of that time. The interior is grand in the Central European tradition — ornate, slightly faded, and entirely authentic. The coffee programme is more traditional than contemporary, which is entirely appropriate for a place of this age and character.
Brno's cafes are oriented towards local customers rather than tourists, which gives them a directness and authenticity that is sometimes harder to find in Prague.
The Contemporary Scene
Alongside the historic establishments, Brno has a growing number of contemporary specialty cafes. These are typically smaller, more casual spaces that focus on coffee quality above all else. Many are located in the districts around the city centre — Veveří, Ponava, and the streets around the main train station — where rents are lower and the local population is receptive to quality independent businesses.
The specialty cafes in Brno tend to have a strong relationship with their regular customers. Because the city is smaller than Prague, word of mouth matters more, and cafes that do good work build loyal followings relatively quickly. This creates a virtuous cycle: the cafes that survive and thrive are genuinely good, because mediocrity is quickly identified and avoided.
Coffee and Culture
One of the distinctive features of Brno's cafe scene is the degree to which cafes function as cultural spaces. Several of the best cafes in the city host regular events — art exhibitions, book launches, film screenings, live music — that make them destinations in their own right rather than simply places to drink coffee.
This is partly a reflection of Brno's strong cultural infrastructure. The city has a significant contemporary art scene, a number of important music venues, and a tradition of independent cultural production that dates back to the interwar period, when Brno was one of the most architecturally and culturally progressive cities in Central Europe. The Functionalist buildings from this period — including the Villa Tugendhat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site — are still a major draw for visitors interested in 20th-century architecture.
Getting Around Brno's Cafe Scene
Brno's city centre is compact and walkable. Most of the cafes worth visiting are within a 20-minute walk of the main square, náměstí Svobody. The tram network is efficient and covers the wider city well if you want to explore further afield.
- The area around Zelný trh (Cabbage Market) has several good cafes within a short walk of each other.
- The Veveří district, north of the centre, has a cluster of independent specialty cafes popular with students and young professionals.
- The streets around the main train station (Hlavní nádraží) are worth exploring for a mix of traditional and contemporary options.
- The Špilberk area, below the castle, has a handful of quieter cafes with good views.
When to Visit
Brno is a year-round destination for coffee, but the city is particularly pleasant in spring and early autumn when the outdoor seating areas come into their own. Many cafes have terraces or courtyard spaces that are well-used in good weather. In winter, the indoor spaces come into their own — there is something particularly satisfying about a well-made coffee in a warm, well-lit cafe on a cold Moravian afternoon.
The city hosts a number of festivals and events throughout the year that are worth timing a visit around. The Brno International Music Festival in autumn is one of the most significant, and the city's design and architecture events attract visitors from across Europe. For more information on visiting Brno, Czech Tourism maintains a comprehensive guide to the city's attractions.