Start your walk: Brno Cafés
Join us on a virtual journey through Brno's vibrant café scene. Discover hidden gems, learn about different coffee brewing techniques, and find the perfect spot to enjoy a cup of joe. Our curated content will guide you through the rich coffee culture of Brno, offering insights, recommendations, and fascinating stories along the way.
Process
1. Locate the Map
Scroll down and find the map for the walk. It includes waypoints marking each stop you will take on your walk. This map is your guide to Brno’s vibrant café history, so keep it handy!
2. Visit the First Location
Once you arrive at the first café (or its historical site), scroll down on the page for detailed content about the location. This includes:
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Pictures: See how the café looks today—or how it appeared in its heyday.
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Description: Read and listen to detailed descriptions of the place, including its history, cultural significance, and any intriguing anecdotes associated with it.
Some of these cafés no longer exist, but their legacy lives on through the walk.
3. Continue to the Next Stop
Move on to the next location on the map and repeat the experience. Discover more hidden gems, compelling histories, and charming café vibes as you follow the trail.
4. Enjoy the Journey!
Take your time, savor the atmosphere, and immerse yourself in the stories behind Brno's café culture. Whether you’re a history buff, a coffee lover, or simply curious, this walk is a delightful way to connect with the city.
Grab your map, lace up your walking shoes, and start exploring!
Brno's Cafés Map
The interactive map is your guide to the walk. It includes waypoints marking each stop and a legend showing all the locations together. Here’s how to use it:
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Click on the pins: View detailed information about each café or historical site.
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Zoom in and out: Adjust the view to navigate easily through the city.
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Use the legend: Explore all the locations together for a broader perspective.
Keep the map close as you’ll need it to find each location and uncover what’s next on the walk!
1. Muzejka / Berglův Palac
Welcome to Muzejka! This was a multifunctional spot in the late 1960s. Originally, the building was split into separate rooms. There was a room for a restaurant, a smaller dining area, and a wine cellar which was usually open until the early morning, creating a lively atmosphere. Located on the corner of a historic townhouse, it served as a frequented spot for people to socialise and continue late-night gatherings. For locals, the name Muzejka is very popular, even though it is part of historical building called Berglův palác.
Berglův Palac: Although primarily a historical building, its significance in Brno's café culture is linked to its architectural and social influence rather than a specific café operating within it.
2. Deutsches Haus / Německý dům
Welcome to Deutsches Haus / Německý dům. It was built in the 19th century as a cultural hub for Brno's German-speaking community, this grand building included a café and restaurant with a garden. It held German political meetings, cultural events, and even featured a concert hall with the largest organ in Moravia. The building was destroyed in 1945 during the liberation of Brno, symbolizing the loss of German influence in the city. With the destruction of the building, lot of archival materials depicting the history of the German community in Brno was lost.
3. Zemský Dům (Provincial Building Café)
Welcome to Zemský Dům or the Provincial Building Café. It was known as the "Winter Garden" or "French Café". Due to its conservatory-like setting, this elegant café with a glass ceiling, large seating capacity, and statues was ahead of its time. The depiction of a naked woman standing on a globe with one hand up is a great example of an Art Deco sculpture. It was frequented by the city’s elite until the arrival of Communism in Czech Republic. The building was then converted into a reading room for a library.
4. Bellevue Café
Welcome to the Bellevue Café! It opened in 1913, Bellevue attracted Brno’s Czech intellectuals and artists, including poet Milan Kundera, who even mentioned the café in one of his novels. The café featured a reading room with various newspapers and magazines. It also included billiard tables accompanied by beautiful views over the park. The café went through various transformations post-1989, eventually becoming a bank.
5. Slavia Café / Hotel
Welcome to Slavia Café. It was founded in 1899 as Brno’s first Czech hotel, it quickly became a cultural hub for language and social clubs, thus becoming the centre of Czech life in Brno. The building was used to host various events for groups like the Anglo-American Club, Ski club and Alliance Française. The hotel has even been visited by the former president, Václav Havel. In 2024, the place is functioning as a hotel.
6. Restaurant Varna
Welcome to Restaurant Varna! It was founded in 1899 as Brno’s first Czech hotel, it quickly became a cultural hub for language and social clubs, thus becoming the centre of Czech life in Brno. The building was used to host various events for groups like the Anglo-American Club, Ski club and Alliance Française. The hotel has even been visited by the former president, Václav Havel. In 2024, the place is functioning as a hotel.
7. Avion Hotel
Welcome to Avion Hotel! It is a functionalist landmark and was known for its narrow design and multi-floor café. The place closed down and was sold after 1989. For years, nobody knew what to do with the old building, until it was bought by a man who spent 15 years restoring it. Recently restored, it now functions partially as a museum and also as a hotel, showcasing Brno’s architectural history.
8. Stopka Pilsen Pub
Welcome to Stopka Pilsen Pub! It was known for its traditional Czech atmosphere, this pub has been a staple in Brno’s dining scene since the early 20th century. It catered to students and intellectuals alike. It has been recently renovated in order to preserve its authentic Czech appeal, preserving its stained glass and historical décor.
9. Sputnik -Mléčný bar / Milk bar
Welcome to Sputnik -Mléčný bar / Milk bar! It was known as the "Winter Garden" or "French Café". Due to its conservatory-like setting, this elegant café with a glass ceiling, large seating capacity, and statues was ahead of its time. The depiction of a naked woman standing on a globe with one hand up is a great example of an Art Deco sculpture. It was frequented by the city’s elite until the arrival of Communism in Czech Republic. The building was then converted into a reading room for a library.
10. Esplanade Café
Welcome to Esplanade Café! It was known for its traditional Czech atmosphere, this pub has been a staple in Brno’s dining scene since the early 20th century. It catered to students and intellectuals alike. It has been recently renovated in order to preserve its authentic Czech appeal, preserving its stained glass and historical décor.
11. Pipi Gril
Welcome to Pipi Gril! It was famous as a simple fast-food spot, Pipi Gril offered mainly grilled chicken and other affordable dishes. Nostalgically remembered by many, it was especially popular among kids, who cherished it for its standout chicken and strawberry milk tea, which some locals fondly claim outshined major fast-food chains like KFC.
12. Černý Orel
Welcome to Černý Orel! Černý Orel was another spot for gathering in Brno's cultural and social scene. It used to be a hotel popular with the upper classes including emperors during the 18th century. In the 19th century it was a restaurant and at the beginning of the 20th century it was demolished.
13. Schopp Café
Welcome to Schopp Café! It was originally a wooden pavilion near the site of today’s Janáček Theatre, Schopp Café later evolved into the Zeman Café, designed by Fuchs. This iconic establishment became a central part of Brno’s café culture. While the original Zeman Café was eventually torn down to make way for the Janáček Theatre, a faithful replica was built and opened in 1995, preserving its historical and cultural legacy.
14. Dopz Cinema
Welcome to Dopz Cinema! In the period between the World Wars, this site housed the Dopz Cinema, with the Biber Café located above it. The café was a popular meeting place, reflecting the vibrant social culture of the time. Today, the location is home to the Scala Cinema and the modern Scala Café, operated by Masaryk University.
15. Biber Café
Welcome to Biber Café! This café, which operated before World War II, served both the Czech and German communities, embodying Brno’s multicultural identity. It was part of a building that housed offices and the YMCA -Young Men´s Christian Association. As many other buildings, it was destroyed during the WWII and not restored to its original purpose.
