Thuringia’s sleepy villages and delightfully well-preserved historic towns and cities provide the perfect backdrop for a light lunch or caffeine fix. Wherever you end up in the state, you are sure to find somewhere charming and welcoming to take a break — to help you find your way, here are six of the cosiest cafes in Thuringia.
A café as sweet as the homemade cakes in the window, Klara Grün is a charming little spot in the gorgeous historic centre of Erfurt, the state capital of Thuringia. There’s a strong focus on ethical eating and drinking here, with all coffee sourced from fairtrade suppliers, and some wonderful vegan and vegetarian options on the menu. Delicious coffee and tasty cakes in a wonderful historic setting. What could be better? Open Monday to Saturday 12pm to 7pm.
A lovely little cafe in the heart of Weimar, Fama Cafe is one of the best breakfast spots in the city. With a menu including lunch and cake for the afternoon, the cafe takes care of your hunger throughout the day, and serves up a mean cup of coffee too. The outdoor seating allows you to relax and take in the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life in this historic town, which adds an extra gleam to this excellent brunch spot. Open weekdays 12pm to 7pm, and weekends 9.30am to 7pm.
With an enviable location right on the main square in Erfurt’s perfectly preserved Medieval old town centre, Epitome Coffee gets off to a great start. Epitome are coffee roasters from Berlin who have brought their freshly roasted beans and expertise to the heart of Thuringia. If you take your coffee quality seriously, then this is the place to go. Open weekdays 8am to 6.30pm, Saturday 8am to 7pm, and Sunday 8.30am to 6.30pm.
For a unique taste of Nordic design and decor, seek out Holz and Hygge in Jena. Local couple Franziska and Stefan Weiland brought a love of all things Danish back from time spent in Copenhagen, and have made this tasteful, hip spot a haven for Scandi fans, and a temple to the concept of hygge. Fresh coffee and tasty Danish treats sit alongside a Nordic design studio, creating an unusual yet excellent ambiance, and a great place to relax. Open Monday 12pm to 7pm, Tuesday to Friday 10am to 7pm, and Saturday 10am to 6pm.
This cafe has a delightful story, started and named in honour of the owner’s great-grandmother Mimi, and rooted in the traditions of a family of Erfurt bakers. Mimi K is now a wonderful cafe and caterers, driven by a passion for food (check out the ‘anatomy of a sandwich’ on their website), and will leave you with full bellies and a warm, welcoming feeling. Open weekdays 9.30am to 4pm.
Based in an old drugstore, the setting of Café Wünsch Dir Was is a special one. High ceilings, original apothecary-style fixtures and fittings and an eclectic variety of furniture gives this excellent cafe a very unique and memorable atmosphere. Food and drink here does not disappoint either, with fresh coffee and teas and an excellent menu of light meals and snacks. Open Tuesday and Thursday to Sunday 9am to 5pm (open until 6pm on Saturday).