Coffee lovers at the festival

The first tip is café Jaga, which is near the stop Česká in Bílý dům. Jaga has a beautiful space with a view of the Faculty of Social Studies, a part of Masaryk University. That is why it often gets occupied by students longing for caffeine. You can solve this problem by booking in advance or with takeaway coffee. Remember Jaga when you need to recharge your electronics. Many extension cables hang from the ceiling, which you can easily pull to your table. Before you finish your cup of coffee, your battery will recharge. My tip, if you decide to visit, is the blueberry lemonade. But bear in mind that you may create a lifelong addiction! The café also serves breakfast during the week until 11:00 and at the weekends till 14:00. If you miss breakfast, don't be sad – you can choose from an all-day menu of savoury dishes and desserts. During the week, visiting hours are 8:00 to 18:00 and on the weekends from 10:00 to 18:00.

Close to Jaga is Cafe Podnebí, also very popular among students. Don’t hesitate to make a reservation here as well. The café lies right next to one of the entries to the Špilberk city park. If the weather is nice, don't miss the beautiful outdoor seating, as it creates the genius loci of the whole place. The wooden tables under an ivy-covered wall are probably the most Insta-friendly thing I can recommend. What you should not miss at Podnebí are breakfasts. Well, more likely brunches because you can order them up to 13:00 during the week and 14:00 at the weekend. They are great and reasonably priced. On the other hand, I can do without their coffee. They usually use the brand Illy, which I am not a fan of, but there's no accounting for taste. Instead of coffee, you can order, for example, hot chocolate. There are several types on the menu, but each is delicious. It is open from 8:00, on weekends from 9:00 – always until midnight. In the evening, dozens of tiny lights light up the outdoor seating area, so if you miss breakfast, a romantic beer in a glow will surely make up for it.

A little bit further away, next to the Lužánky park, you will find café Anoda. It has a nice modern space with plenty of seating. They use a variety of coffee beans, so go for it and pick some. What is also worth noticing is the desserts. They have a wide selection, but if there is a banana bread on the menu, I would choose that one. It is the best banana bread in Brno. You can sit outdoors as well as indoors. There are two rooms - if you go to the back one, you will be amazed by the poster wall lit by red neon. There is an occasional DJ, so you can listen to music while having coffee or an evening drink. The whole place has a captivating atmosphere. They are open from Monday to Thursday from 8:00 to 23:00, on Fridays from 8:00 to 2:00 and on weekends from 10:00 to 1:00 on Saturdays and until 22:00 on Sundays.

If you are looking for something quieter and less busy, head to Café Flexaret. This café is located just below Petrov, hidden in a maze of alleys. Therefore, it can become an ideal hideout from the festival crowds. The interior in retro style is worth seeing. The space is big, so you do not have to worry about a lack of seating. I also have to highlight seating in the cellar, which becomes an ideal option on warm days. You can choose from various desserts to enjoy with your coffee. The café is open every day from 9:00 to 21:00.

My last tip is right next to the tram stop Šilingrovo náměstí, close to the theatre Husa na provázku. The café is called Večerka Brno. You should ideally go there if you are hungry. The food here is quite addictive – breakfasts, lunches and even dinners. On the weekend, you can also order brunch. What is on the current menu can be found on the cafés Instagram profile. They use coffee of high quality that I can highly recommend. But remember, the café is closed on Mondays! Otherwise, it is open from Tuesday to Friday from 9:00 to 20:00 or on weekends from 9:00 to 18:00.

With these tips, I believe you will not be lost at the festival when you need caffeine or want to sit in a neat café between performances. Good luck in your chase after a good cup of coffee!

Marie Golková, student of Media Studies and Journalism (MUNI)

Translation Tereza Planetová