Like the rest of France, Rouen is no exception when it comes to proudly serving quality food using local ingredients. Come the weekend, the city’s students and 9-to-5ers decompress from the week of work and study and meet with friends over a leisurely coffee and a hearty brunch. Keep reading to discover the best brunch and breakfast spots in Rouen, France.
Located on the Quai de Boisguilbert, La FabriK’s atmosphere is similar to that of a New York-style industrial loft. Housed in a former warehouse dock, its dining room is open and airy with brick walls and exposed ceilings. Brunch is an all-you-can-eat buffet served every Sunday from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm for a mere 27 EUR including beverages. On offer are croissants, fresh bread, deli meats, cheese, pancakes, salad, hot dishes and wine served at your will. During the week, the restaurant serves as an American-style eatery with a menu of steak, homemade pizzas and burgers. Their large front terrace provides lovely views overlooking the Seine.
This trendy cafe is a favourite among students and freelancers looking for a relaxed yet vibrant atmosphere to bunker down with their laptops. Coffee is their star beverage, always served fresh and smooth with the perfect amount of crema on top, though fresh pressed veggie and fruit juices and other hot and cold drinks are available, too. Breakfast can be as simple as a baked good or something from their lunch menu, beginning at 12:00 pm and rotated monthly, and typically featuring a variation of avocado toast, an egg dish and a fresh salad. When the sun is out, opt to dine out front on their lively terrace.
Sunday brunch at Ströke runs from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm and serves a variety of buffet-style savoury and sweet brunch goods. For 22.50 EUR, you receive one hot drink of your choosing, one pressed orange juice and an all-you-can-eat selection of fresh cut fruits, pastries, eggs, salad, cheese, bacon, cereal, sausages, salmon and more. The interior is a large space with contemporary decor, comfortable couches and art galleried walls. The outside sandy terrace with beach chairs facing the Seine is the perfect spot to hang out afterwards with a cocktail in hand as you relax by the river.
La Parenthèse offers two brunch services every Sunday – one at 11:00 am and the second at 1:00 pm. One sweet and one savoury buffet are set up in their cosy dining room with an array of options such as bread, jams, cold meats, eggs and pancakes. For drinks, choose from coffee, tea, hot chocolate and freshly squeezed orange juice. For a mere 22 EUR per person, you get your money’s worth without sacrificing quality.
This all-day restaurant runs from dusk until dawn. Morning time sees healthy breakfast options like açaí bowls and smoothies made fresh every hour, along with coffee and a wide selection of gourmet hot chocolates. Come lunchtime, fresh soups and salads take over the menu and the evening offers a variety of Italian-style tapas and exotic cocktails. The decor is stylish and chic thanks to exotic floral print wallpaper, black and white checkered floors and a front patio adorned with plants and marble-top tables.
Those looking for a refined brunch experience need look no further than L’Odas. This Michelin-starred restaurant hosts brunch every Sunday and doesn’t spare any details. Served in two stages, first sweet followed by savoury, guests can expect a selection of fresh bread, pastries, a cheese platter curated by an expert, charcuterie, lobster, caviar and foie gras. The restaurant’s chef, Olivier Da Silva, insists on using only ingredients that are in season and meat and cheeses local to France and Europe. Two formulas are available: the classic formula for 55 EUR per person or take the luxury up a notch and go with the Champagne formula at 65 EUR per person.
