The Upper Austrian capital of Linz, which was the European Capital of Culture in 2009, is gradually becoming a lively city. If you happen to be visiting and find yourself with a rumbling belly, there is a wide range of eateries where you can refuel. Read on to discover our pick of the 10 best spots for brunch in Linz.
This restaurant is where to head if you want something more on the lunch side of brunch. Located inside the Ars Electronica Museum, there is a huge range of dishes available here, with a menu that changes daily, from tuna salads to Thai-style fish cakes with salad on the side.
This rooftop café has great views of the city and offers a range of breakfast and brunch options. As well as the traditional Austrian breakfast, there are also various toasted sandwiches, salads and, if you’re particularly hungry, pizza. The drinks menu includes every coffee you could dream of, including some with intriguing names that would be perfect for colder weather, such as Kaffee Diplomat, which is laced with egg liqueur and topped with cream or the Caffe Coretto, an espresso spiked with grappa.
Located on a boat on the river Danube, Salonschiff Fräulein Florentine is a picturesque place to enjoy a spot of brunch. Regular music events take place in the evening (if you decide to stay beyond brunch hours) and a wide range of dishes are available.
This traditional bakery and café has the feel of a Viennese coffee house, with kitsch pictures covering the walls and old-style furniture. Brunch consisting of baked goods is on offer here, with a huge choice of freshly made treats. Savoury options include grilled cheese and ham sandwiches, pizza slices or a full Viennese breakfast.
A traditional café during the week, Gelbes Krokodil (which means yellow crocodile in English) proposes an outstanding event every Sunday from September to May: a film brunch in co-operation with Moviemento cinema. This unique project gives guests the opportunity to enjoy a tasty brunch while watching a favourite all-time classic or the latest blockbuster. Gelbes Krokodil successfully combines culinary and movie culture in a relaxed and homey atmosphere.
Café Exx has almost entirely dedicated itself to brunch and breakfast, with a range of over 50 breakfast tapas in addition to their basic offers. This includes 15 different egg variations, from classic ham and eggs to an inventive truffle scrambled egg alone. As an additional treat for their guests, Café Exx also selects a special breakfast every day of the week.
This is a local café with a relaxed, no-nonsense vibe. Brunch is served until 3 pm and includes spreads of semmel rolls (a traditional Austrian baked bread), butter, jam, honey, boiled eggs and omelettes, cheese, ham, orange juice and an optional glass of Prosecco. There is a large outdoor area as well, which is perfect for al fresco eating on sunny days.
Lentos veers towards a more contemporary and cosmopolitan café experience, in contrast to the traditional Austrian coffee houses. Known for its edgy and artsy coffees and appealing to fair trade coffee lovers, this is one of the most popular places to kick back and enjoy great coffee.
First opened in 1891, Bäckerei Brandl has been in the family for as many as four generations. Each has worked hard on keeping the long-standing tradition of one of Linz’s oldest bakeries. Bäckerei Brandl is warm and welcoming, with both a homey atmosphere and an open bakery, where a delicious range of fresh bread and pastries are prepared every day.
Café Traxlmayr has the feel of a Viennese coffee house, smartly dressed with chandeliers, parquet flooring and tuxedo-clad waiters. The menu is equally traditional, featuring Austrian breakfasts that include semmel bread rolls, boiled eggs, cold meats, cheeses, a range of spreads and jams and a choice of tea or coffee.
