LISTS
A Coffee Snob’s Guide to Minsk
Top 6 Great Cafes
I can’t get anything done without a cup – or several cups – of coffee.
When I wake up, the first thing I do is put on the kettle to prepare a french press (set to the correct temperature, of course). If I’m not at home, I’ll scout out the closest cafe and down a tall cup of whatever they’ve got.
As the title of this article suggests, I’m an admitted snob when it comes to coffee. Sure, I’ve had plenty of corner store hazelnut-flavored coffee in my lifetime – burning my tongue on the metallic liquid gives me an odd nostalgia for my college days – but if I can get it, my favorite thing in the world is a great cup of joe.
However, finding decent coffee when traveling isn’t always easy. Most of the time you end up either buying a burnt Americano from a corner bakery or shelling out for something a little better from the local hipster café – with mixed results.
The Best Coffee in Minsk
Coffee was an immediate concern when I got to Minsk last year, mainly due to an early flight. As I wandered the city, I thought I was in trouble.
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It’s difficult to explain, but there’s a feeling you get when you enter a mediocre café, a feeling every freelancer can surely relate to. Maybe it’s something about the smell, maybe it’s the half-cocked decorations, but there’s an energy at the core of every mid-tier café that, once you’ve become attuned to it, serves as a warning beacon, informing you that the $6 cold brew you’re currently considering buying will taste like a tart, icy mix of water and dust.
My first stops in Minsk set off my “bad coffee” alarm bells immediately, and after some exploring, I didn’t fare any better. Was I cursed with bland, lukewarm coffee for this whole trip?
No way. I would not stand for it. Finding Minsk’s best coffee became my mission, this trip’s raison d’être. After a heckuva lot of searching, here’s what I came up with.
Here are our top sIX favorite coffee spots in minsk, belarus
Why Knot?
vulica Valadarskaha 21, Minsk, Belarus
I don’t know if I’m hip enough to drink at Why Knot?. With a white-and-wood interior set with hexagonal tables, it becomes immediately clear upon entering Why Knot? that you are in the presence of some of Minsk’s trendiest folks.
Art school students discuss upcoming projects across from Belarus’s answer to San Fran tech bros. Others sip wine as they read the news of the day from their phones; more still munch on one of the cafe’s delicious cakes or croissants.
All of this would be fine and good even if the coffee wasn’t serviceable. But fear knot! (I am so sorry I will never do anything like that again). Why Knot? is actually the café front of Belarusian coffee brand Knot Coffee, one of the best roasters in the country.
The brand encourages transparency with its sourcing, telling buyers to #FollowYourCoffee. Coffee brewed with Knot beans is consistently good and, understandably, nowhere does it better than Why Knot?. We don’t really give gold stars around here, but if we did, Why Knot? would earn a big one.
Manufaktura
ул. Карла Маркса, д. 17, Minsk, Belarus
Manufaktura is widely regarded by locals as one of the best places to get coffee in the city. It’s also super central; if you’re looking to spend the day exploring Minsk’s historic downtown, you would be well off to start your day at Manufaktura.
There are plenty of coffee varieties on offer at Manufaktura for you to enjoy, from simple espresso shots to aeropress coffee and more. Additionally, their numerous cakes and snacks pair perfectly with your java. A delightfully rustic feeling café, Manufaktura is a great place to meet friends or to simply relax.
At the time of writing this, Manufaktura is currently closed for renovations. They anticipated reopening in the spring of 2019, but as spring has come and passed, it’s unclear when they will reopen. Rest assured, posts from their Facebook indicate that this absence is only temporary, and visitors to Minsk will soon be able to again enjoy all of the coffee Manufaktura has to offer.
Zerno
Prospekt Nezavisimosti 46, Minsk, Belarus
We’re told that Zerno kicked off Minsk’s contemporary café culture, and with this rich history it’s no wonder that this café’s coffee is so delightful. A cozy little shop, Zerno sets itself apart with not only its coffee, but its cakes and pastries – for my part, I can personally vouch for their quiches.
An ever-changing array of local artists populate Zerno’s walls, making for a simple yet inspired café experience.
Seadog&Friends
vulica Zalataja Horka 1, Minsk, Belarus
Seadog&Friends is the specialty coffee house roasting the beans of Seadog Coffee, another Belarusian coffee roaster. Of course, the coffee at Seadog&Friends is brilliant – the perfect smoothness expertly served – but there’s a joy in Seadog&Friends that you really can’t find anywhere else in Minsk.
Chalk it up to the colorful sea lion motif on the wall, or maybe the café’s brightly colored cakes and pastries, but sitting and drinking a coffee at Seadog satisfied a very base level need. My previous few days had been chaotic; stopping for a coffee in Seadog provided a brief but much needed respite. I can’t recommend them enough!
Mesto
Prospekt Nezavisimosti 43, Minsk, Belarus
Settled behind an understated exterior, you might expect Mesto to be a run-of-the-mill café. You would be mistaken.
With drinks and sandwiches ranging from good to great, Mesto is a must on your Minsk coffee tour. Bring a friend and grab a bite to eat – we enjoyed our avocado sandwiches, though pretty much everything in the store looked delicious. We’ve also heard great things about their matcha lattes.
Cafe 26
Vulitsa Svyardlova 26, Minsk, Belarus
A student favorite, Cafe 26 is frequented by twenty-somethings coming and going with coffee in hand.
Cafe 26 is more than just a place to get a takeaway coffee – we love Cafe 26’s exposed brick, hanging pennants, and wood tables, a welcome departure from the white-walled minimalism of most of the other cafés on this list.
The coffee itself is wonderful, and the café offers a small variety of treats to munch on alongside your java. If you’re looking for a place to work or kick back on a weekday morning, Cafe 26 is for you.
Bonus: Laŭka
vulica Kastryčnickaja 23, Minsk, Belarus
I’ll be honest, I only had a sandwich from Laŭka (which, by the way, was everything I could ever ask for and more. Greasy, cheap, and delicious – a strong recommendation!).
I’m including Laŭka because talking to any local will clue you into the fact that Laŭka is the beating heart of Kastryčnickaja St. It’s open – and busy – 24 hours a day, meaning that those who come for a coffee in the morning may very well return later that night for a sandwich, usually in a significantly drunker state.
There are tables in the courtyard behind Laŭka where you can sit and enjoy your coffee or sandwich. It’s a beautiful neighborhood full of street art, so we recommend starting at Laŭka and making your way down the block. Don’t forget to bring your camera!
Were there any cafés we missed? What’s your favorite cafe from the list? Leave a comment below!
I hope you enjoyed this guide!
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