Cafés in Bratislava
The café culture in Bratislava has blossomed over the past few years with more and more activity spilling out onto the streets and courtyards, especially during the warmer months of spring and summer, which are just around the corner.
Listed below are a few of our favourite cafés in the nation's capital. Be aware that most cafés serve several different varieties of coffee (káva). To help you decide, keep these phrases in mind: strong Turkish coffee (Turecká káva) with the grounds at the bottom is what you sometimes get when you don't specify, but more often you'll get an espresso (presso). Delicious Viennese (Viedenská káva) is coffee with whipped cream. Other choices include coffee with milk (káva s mliekom), Algerian (Alžírska káva) with egg liqueur, and cappuccino.
Café Muzeum
No longer the only internet-café in the centre of Bratislava, Café Muzeum at the rear of the Slovak National Museum is a great alternative to many of the noisy cafés in town. In a beautiful high-ceilinged hall, patrons can chat over a coffee to occasional live piano music. Famous locals from Richard Müller to Mikuláš Dzurinda can sometimes be seen taking a coffee and smoke break. The internet room is downstairs to the right. A bit pricey, but good facilities and service.
Muzejná ulica. Open Mon-Fri 9:00-22:00, Sat 10:00-22:00. Tel:5934 9111.
Café u Maximiliána
This cosy café is right on Hlavné námestie (main square) in the old town. Wooden tables and wall panelling, great coffee and reasonable prices makes this a local favourite.
Zelená 5. Open daily 9:00-22:00. Tel: 5443 5474.
Laguna Café
A friendly staff and a good selection of wine, beer and spirits to go along with the coffee. The upstairs serves as a refuge for those seeking a quiet moment with a book or a companion. Slovak newspapers are available.
Laurinská 7 (on the corner of Uršulinská). Open daily 10:00-24:00. Tel:5443 5682.
Olympia Kaviareň
This large café above the Nová Scéna theatre is a good place for enjoying delicious palacinky (pancakes) with chocolate, fruit and whipped cream. The menu also has a decent, and expensive, selection of Slovak dishes. The clientele is mixed and ranges from elderly actors and directors to late night twenty-something cinema-goers.
Kollárovo námestie (on top of Nová Scéna). Open daily 11:00-24:00. Tel: 5296 1485.
Austrian Internet Café
Recently opened by the Austrian Cultural Institute in Bratislava, this café is a great place to use the Internet or drop in for a Viennese coffee. The friendly staff will provide customers with Austrian and German newspapers and magazines on request.
Baštová 9. Open Monday to Friday 9:00-21:00. Tel: 5441 0797.
Grémium Café
Just a few steps from the opera house. The relaxed, bohemian atmosphere mixes well with paintings, jewellery and other art objects on display. Occasional live piano music in the evenings.
Gorkého 11. Open daily 8:30-24:00. Tel 5413 1026.