Sometimes choice is overwhelming, and there are no shortage of breakfast options in the Volga side town of Samara. Filled with bakeries baking fresh European and Georgian pastries and pies, and independent cafés brewing strong cups of coffee, there are plenty of options in this thriving port town. Kick off the day your way with our guide to the best spots Samara has to offer.
Tearing off the crust of a warm kachapuri, a traditional Georgian bread stuffed with melted cheese and egg, and dipping it into its moreish filling is not a bad way to start a day. Neither is sitting in a cute, cosy café, with the delicious aroma of freshly baked Georgian breads filling the air, which makes Puri one of the best breakfast options in Samara. The café/bakery has several locations, with different opening hours, so check the website for more details.
Small breakfast plates are available here between 10am and midday, so don’t be too late, but feel free to stay a while in this welcoming café and take your time over a coffee or two. Priding themselves on creating home-cooked food, the café offers simple and healthy breakfast plates made from poached fruits, cheeses and breads and fresh produce – perfect for when you’re just after something light.
One outpost of a reliable chain, Traveler’s Coffee is tried and trusted option, and its central location makes it easy if you’re already out and about. Try traditional Russian breakfasts of pancakes or porridge, or take your time over eggs, while you catch up on emails or check out your next point of call with the free WiFi available to customers.
Perfectly located across from the Volga, Coffee Cake whips up delicious Russian dishes, so you can enjoy breakfast with a spectacular view. Try out sweet syrniki, a tvorg pancake, or a warming bowl of oatmeal topped with pear and crunchy biscuit. Breakfasts go on all day but if you order between 8am and midday your coffee is on the house, or your juice is discounted. The menu is in English so you don’t have to think too hard first thing in the morning.
Slightly away from Samara’s hubbub, but worth the wander further afield, Bulka is a cute little red brick bakery that has outdoor seating for when the sun is out. Start your day with buttery croissants, creamy éclairs, or any one of the freshly baked sweet buns and muffins. If savoury is more your thing, try the olive and sun-dried tomato ciabatta, to go with your strong coffee.
This spot may be a dessert café, but it does breakfast all day long, which means that the hearty portions of sweet pancakes, waffles, and hangover-curing omelettes and sandwiches are all available whenever you want them. As you would expect from a dessert café, there are also plenty of sweets to sample, as well as an assortment of rich concoctions to try out if you don’t feel like coffee.
A really sweet gem of a place, Coco Mama‘s light, bright and airy feel will make you want to while a way a morning there. Take your time over a strong cup of coffee and try the smoked salmon and cream cheese on rye – they also have seasonal items on the menu like the delicious courgette stuffed omelette. You can also get freshly-made granola tubs to take away if you’re in a hurry.
