5 best cafes in Bratislava, Slovakia
Last Updated on 31/08/2026 by kami
It was crazy hot Sunday afternoon at the beginning of June. I’ve already spent hours on my way from Bulgaria to Poland and Bratislava was my last stop before catching the train back to Warsaw. On one hand I wanted to explore the city a little bit more – I’ve been there numerous times before but never really saw it properly – but on the other I was so tempted to hide in a nice place and just wait till the evening, without doing anything special. And then I found it – the most perfect cafe ever! Nedless to say I spent there the majority of my time in Bratislava back then and it was the main reason to come back. I wanted to discover more of the best cafes in Bratislava, I had a feeling this city has a really great scene that I’d enjoy so much. And I was right!Here’s a little digression: I’m not a coffee person, I don’t drink it on daily basis (tea, however, is a completely different story). But when I travel I always save some time to explore the local cafe scene (like in Prague) and that’s usually the highlight of my day. It’s just too big pleasure to skip: sipping a hot drink, observing the world around and trying to put on paper my thoughts of the day…
Anyway, Bratislava has a perfect location – between Vienna and Budapest – to be a cafe hub. You won’t find many grand places with history, like in two mentioned capitals, but the tradition is strong and alive. There’re still plenty of great spots to choose from, and one is better than another. My list of cafes to check was really long and I was kind of lucky as my first day in the city was full of rain and strong wind – that made a perfect timing for one of my favorite things to do in Bratislava – visiting cafes! It took me few attempts to find a place in few but it was definitely worth it! So, here’s a list of 5 best cafes in Bratislava, at least according to me!
Urban Space
That’s the perfect cafe I was talking about at the beginning, the one that made me intrigued about cafes in Bratislava. It’s located at the edge of the Old Town, in a building with the shopping center above and at first it’s easy to miss it. Just look for a big “Gorilla.sk” sign – that’s the name of the online bookstore associated with the brand. Stepping inside is like moving to a different world, it’s like the most perfect urban space I’ve ever seen. The combination of modern architecture, wooden tables and rusty elements is the best and together with a laid-back, creative atmosphere it makes it the hipster heaven (and since I’m a hipster inside that could be a reason why I enjoyed the place so much). During my first visit I just sat by the window, with my computer on and I was productive more than ever, glancing every now and then at the lazy Sunday outside. Urban Space is actually more than a cafe and bookstore, it’s an instutution! If you’re lucky you might came across a movie screening or other event there – check the website for more details. Oh, and their lemonades are absolutely fantastic!
Urban Space, Námestie SNP 488/30, 811 01 Bratislava. Opening hours: Mon-Wed 9:00am-10:00pm, Thu 9:00am-11:00pm, Fri 9:00am-00:00am, Sat 10:00am-00:00am, Sun 10:00am-10:00pm. Cafe latte – 2,49€, Early Grey tea – 2,59€
A younger sister of Urban Space – it became so popular that the new place had to be opened! This one can be found in the heart of the Old Town, on Laurinska Street. It is much bigger and with less bookshelves – here they just serve as a decoration and instead of buying books you can do a book swap! Urban House reminds me of a cool, New York loft I know from movies, the one I could instantly move into! The interior is just like in Urban Space – old mixes with new, designer elements clash with rusty details – altogether they make a perfect combination. I honestly don’t know which one of these two I prefer as both are equally awesome! I could spend days there, just enjoying the place and catching up with work and I just can’t imagine a better place to spend a quality time over coffee at!
Urban House, Laurinská 213/14, 811 01 Bratislava. Openin hours: Mon-Thu 08:00am-00:00am, Fri 08:00am-02:00am, Sat 11:00am-02:00am, Sun 11:00am-00:00am. Cafe late 2,79€, Earl Grey tea -2,90€
Dobre dobre
Small but lovely place located on the back of old market hall (that’s definitely worth checking out too!) with historical tiles on the floor and high ceilings. This is one of the most interesting places I’ve ever been to – the cafe is run by the local NGO who supports homeless people. That means they work in the cafe, getting their professional qualifications so they can eventually start a new life. But you won’t nottice that, it’s just a normal cafe. Just keep in mind that when stopping there for a drink you actually help someone. And the place is really pleasant anyway, I really enjoyed having my afternoon tea there! I especially loved the high windows giving the interior so much natural light!
Dobre&Dobre, Nedbalova 485/13, Bratislava. Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 08:00am-10:00pm, Sun 09:00am-10:00pm. Cafe latte 2€, Earl Grey tea 2.20€
Dom u Kubistu
Not exactly in the Old Town but close to another major Bratislava attraction – the blue church. It’s actually more of a restaurant, with the concept of 108g portions (don’t worry, it’s just a symbol, you actually get more food) but it’s also a perfect place for a morning coffee, with a book in your hand. If you’re familiar with the history of art you might know the name “cubism” – I didn’t find the information if that’s where the name of the place comes from that but I assume so. Even the interior has this artistic twist!
Dom u Kubistu, Grösslingova 26, Bratislava. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 08:00am-10:00pm, Sat-Sun 10:00am-10:00pm. Cafe latte 1.90€
Cafe Stur
A really pleasant place right in the Old Town. It’s on the crossroads of two main pedestrian streets – Panska and Venturska – and it gets busy very often but you can either enjoy sitting outside and looking at the crowds passing by or hide inside and just do your own things with a cup of coffee in a hand. No matter what you will opt for you’re in for a treat! The place is named after Ludovit Stur, the person behind the codification of the Slovak language in the 19th century. The interior is made to transform you back to that times, with small details like hats – lamps or pictures of Mr. Stur. Their cakes are to die for!
Cafe Stur, Panska 23, Bratislava. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 08:00am-10:00pm, Sat 09:00am-10:00pm, Sun 09:00am-09:00pm. Cafe latte 2.20€, tea 2,00€.
Other cafes in Bratislava I wanted to check out:
*Kafe Scherz
*Next Apache
*Cafe Verne
*Exit
*Foxford
*Axioma
*Kontakt
*Cafe L’Aura
Here’s the map where to find 5 best cafes in Bratislava
If you think of visiting Slovakia or just want to read more about the country take a look what else I wrote about it!
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Wow, you found really great places. Even after 2 coffees today I catched taste to drink another one but in such climatic place like above. I couldn’t even decide which one is the best.regards
Thanks Asia! Yes, I was really lucky with cafes in Bratislava and I could come back there just to drink more coffee in these awesome places!
Kami, don’t do it again! I gonna think about visiting Bratislava only for coffee. And spend all that time in cafes!
But there’s more to see and do in Bratislava than just cafes! :D It’s just one solid reason to go there! And I honestly hope you will travel there soon, it’s a great city!
Kami! “I’m not a coffee person” too, but all the time when I am at a new place I have a willingness to see local bars/caffe’ (what is more with local people). When I am reading this post and I am watching some of photos you put, I am sure I will feel pretty comfy at Urban Space or Urban House. I am crazy about places with lots of books :D.
There is one thing, prices of coffee and tea in Slavic countries are really high…
yes, you’re right about the prices… still I think it’s cheaper in Slovakia (even with €) than in Poland…
And I always try to go and visit local cafes or bars too! Just to see how they look and feel :) I’m sure you’d love both Urban House and Urban Space, they were amazing!
I’ve been in Foxford and I had really high hopes on it. Unfortunately I was dissapointed. The idea is nice – culinary books’ cafe. But somehow I didn’t feel there very well. I guess that the interior was just too big for me. I prefer more cozy places.
yeah, it looked pretty grand from pictures I’ve seen online… I’m also a fan of smaller, cozier places but somehow it didn’t bother me in both Urban Space and Urban House as they’re pretty spacious. I’m even more curious about Foxford now!
Urban house and Dobre Dobre look great! Pocket them for the trip to Bratislava.
You’d love them, I’m sure of that!!
I don’t drink coffee at all, because I don’t like the taste – for me always it is very sour. Of course I can try good cappuccino but with huge amount of milk and cream on top to kill the sour taste – but it is not a coffee anymore:) What I like is the atmosphere in the coffee place, I adore the smell and all stage of preparing good quality of the coffee: perfect burned coffee beans, water, temperature, time.
Too bad that it is not tasty for me :)
haha, I’m just like you! I only accept latte and sometimes cappuccino, only because there’s more milk than coffee in it and then the taste bearable ;) but that’s not the reason to skip such an awesome places like cafes! I adore then for all the reasons you’ve mentioned, and more! :) Always a highlight of my trips!
Cool im heading there tomorrow :) any tips for restaurant to try :)
ah, I guess I’m too late with my reply. Did you find any good restaurants? How did you enjoy it?
Mój temat ❤️
no mój też :)
Ja podobnie, lubię kawiarnie z książkami. Ale jak sobie przypomnę to jakoś zbyt wielu fajnych nie kojarzę, bo i dość rzadko bywam :)
ja lubię, szczególnie w podrózy :)
Bratysława to kolejne z miast “za miedzą”, które jakoś zapominam odkryć… Obiecuję poprawę :)
tam gdzie najbliżej to zawsze nie po drodze ;)
Thanks for sharing this! I’m heading there in the spring!
I hope you will check some of them!
Te z książkami podobają mi się najbardziej. Duża kawa i nos w lekturę. To lubię :)
ja też! tak najlepiej!
Może zatrzymamy się po drodze do Budapesztu! Kto wie! :)
przystanek na dzien dobry! tylko, że Wy chyba już do Budapesztu nie jedziecie ;)
Haha, w środę jeszcze miał to być Budapeszt, ale od piątku to już Florencja ;)
Te kawiarnio-ksiegarnie są najlepsze. Uwielbiam taką jedną w Sopocie, ale chyba klimat każdej jest super
a pamietasz moze nazwe? sprawdziłabym przy okazji
kurcze nie. coś z book ;) boczna ulica monciaka
A ja jakoś do Bratislavy jeszcze nie trafiłem :/
kiedyś się w końcu trafi
Właśnie w Bratysławie byłam w jednej szczególnej, tyle, że muszę odkopać nazwę.
o, poszukaj proszę, bom ciekawa! :)
You should have left a book in at least one of those, “Książka w podróży” would be so proud of you :)
true, another reason to come back ;) by the way, is “ksiażka w podrózy” still happening?
I don’t know. We wanted to leave one in Samos island, but in the end we did not have a book read by both of us, so instead we left our blog’s business cards in all Polish books we could find in the hotel library ;) Maybe it’s not “Książka w podróży”, but it’s close enough :D
Może to jest sposób na odczarowanie Bratysławy w mojej głowie? Bo ja ciągle uważam, że miasta nie są mocną stroną Słowacji i nie umywają się do ich gór, ruin zamków i terenów rekreacyjnych.
no to prawda. też mam problem z Bratyslawa, ale pomalu się przekonuję i własnie kawiarnie mi w tym bardzo pomagają!
Kami sometimes I just hate you ;) You always show me great, not so popular and common places, usually with great atmosphere. I just wish to drink a coffee (latte!) in Bratislava! I love design of those places, love that kind of interior.
no, you don’t hate me, you just want to go for latte with me to one of these places ;) We should go to Presso in Cieszyn together, I think you might like it too :)
Rewelacyjne miejsca :)
najlepsze!
What a great idea! I usually hit up breweries when I travel, but you can get a sense of the community if you hang out in a cafe. I really like the decor in some of the ones as well!
buI like to try the local craft beer too but I still prefer to visit cafes, especially when they have such a cool vibe like those in Bratislava! But you’re right about the community!
The Urban Space looks awesome! Love those large cafes with lots of space that makes you feel you’re out in the open. Plus the books ofcourse – but that porbably won’t surprise you! In Reykjavik there’s a really cool cafe called “Laundromat” where the bar is made of books … needless to say I’m heading there each time I’m around :-)
I think I’ve heard about this Reykjavik cafe before! It sounds so cool, and so much like my kind of place! I’m really thinking of returning there, just to enjoy the hipster vibe of Reykjavik!
I LOVE cafes. I love coffee. I seek out the best cafes when I visit places and I would love to visit any one of these! They’re all awesome in their own way. Thanks for sharing! :)
Then I’m sure you’d love them! not only places were awesome but the coffee they served was pretty amazing too!
I’ve heard Bratislava was not the most exciting city to visit; Well, At least they have cool cafés to hang out in, if I’m ever in town! :)
It’s not that bad! It gets really bad reputation for being in the shadow of Vienna or Budapest but it actually has some great things and spots to offer, like cafes :)
Ja uwielbiam kawę w …. Wietnamie :) Może inna, ale boska !!! I atmosfera rewelacyjna ;)
a jeszcze nie miałam okazji spróbować, ale już mnie zaciekawiłaś :)
W Warszawie ma powstać kawiarnia w stylu Dobre dobre. Będzie zatrudniać osoby bezrobotne oraz niepełnosprawne, w tym autystyczne. Fundusze już są, teraz są poszukiwania lokalu. Trzymam mocno kciuki za ten projekt. Mam nadzieję, że jakoś się będą reklamować, żeby tam trafić.
o, rewelacja! nie słyszałam o tym, ale chodziłabym!
Bardzo fajna inicjatywa Fundacji Ergo Sum. https://www.fundacjaergosum.pl/2015/10/klubokawiarnia-zycie-jest-fajne.html
Patrzę i widzę. Ta Bratysława to było stracony dzień skoro nie trafiłem w takie kawiarenki. Czuć tą Europę Środkową i ducha Andiego Warhola :)
ostatnio w Bukareszcie, spore zaskoczenie :)
The ‘Urban’ chain are definitely my type of places. I liked Urban House more than Urban Space. At least from what I saw on the photos. And maybe because house sounds better to me than space :)
I understand you so well, these places were amazing! If only we had something similar in Warsaw I’d spend days there!
There has been a general renaissance in cafe culture across all of Eastern Europe, I can definitely attest to that in Southern Poland. They’re great, and super cozy, but I can never get any work done in places like that.
I agree, cafe culture is at its best here, and I couldn’t be happier! Why can’t you work in cafes? For me they’re the best place to work at!
Thanks for the suggestion, for sure will go try all of them over my period of staying here.
hope you will enjoy them as much as I did!
I love Coffee too much and this is some really good information, awesome job my friend..!
Thank you
Urban House have developed a lot and undergone major upgrades :) They have a great coffee taste and the milk froth is delicious and yummilicious :p
I was in Bratislava just 3 weeks ago and I didn’t have time to visit Urban House – I need to go back!! :)