The Best Cafés in Babruysk, Belarus

One of the newer up-and-coming cafés in Babruysk is Cafe White. It is one of the first cafés in the city to adopt an English name and issue an English menu. As well as a range of coffees, teas and juices, the food options offer an interesting mix. You can order crêpes, soups and cakes, but also they have tasty meat, fish and chicken dishes prepared by the local chefs. Cafe White uses modern coffee machines, and the staff are well trained to ensure you get a well-prepared latte or frappe.

U Fontana is a casual place for a chilled out cup of coffee in Babruysk. It’s a stylish venue that attracts a mix of clients from young students to couples to older folk keen to sample a good coffee in a cosy atmosphere. The food menu contains typically classic Belarusian dinners, with no shortage of meat and vegetable options. The interior has wooden tables and benches; the brick walls are decorated with some ornaments, pictures and miscellaneous items. As well as coffee and local food, it makes a great spot for a local beer, too, or even a business lunch.

Specialising in freshly ground and well-prepared coffee, this is one of the best cafés in town for a quality cup of coffee. Kofe Saund translates as ‘Coffee Sound’ and is a chain of contemporary coffee shops throughout Belarus, also appearing in Grodno and Minsk. This is a comfortable coffee venue located on Ulitsa Internatsional’naya (International Avenue) half way between the Babruysk Arena and Gorodskoy Park. Well-trained staff serve up delicious smoothies, trademark coffees and milkshakes. The food menu has some sweet treats such as doughnuts and muffins as well as a mixture of sandwiches and baguettes. Coffee Sound is on Instagram and VK but not yet Facebook.

Freshly ground imported coffee, local draught beer on tap, homemade juice and excellent Belarusian cuisine is Pit Stop to a tee. This chain of cafés/bistros are located throughout Belarus, mostly in the large cities such as Minsk and Grodno. They pride themselves on literally being a Pit Stop – quick, easy, tasty and cheap food all in one. Due to its popularity, it is clear they live up to this niche. Don’t be put off by the busy crowds and long queues during peak times – the queues move quite quickly, as locals and visitors aim to get some good grub as fast as they can. On the menu is a mix of Russian, Belarusian and European cuisines. Try the pork cutlets, the winter soups and finish up with a decent cappuccino.

The aptly titled Lobby Bar in Babruysk is open to the public but is also part of the Hotel Bobruisk. This is a perfect location for a business meeting over a cup of coffee. It is a well-located and comfortable café in which to relax. As this city is still developing tourist-wise, it can be a good place for foreigners to feel at home, and English is spoken here. In the café, you can get a glimpse of the local tourism potential whilst enjoying a decent coffee by day or a Belarusian draught beer by night. Even though it’s part of the hotel, it can be difficult to understand the local writing, so look out for the name of the bar in Belarusian (Лобби-бар). Live football is also shown in the Lobby Bar.

For a decent coffee in a venue by the beautiful Berezina River, head to one of Babruysk’s finest hotels, the Hotel Tourist. This hotel has been one of the most important business venues in the city for years. Out the back, you can stroll by the river on the veranda. Inside, enjoy an ice cold latte or a creamy cappuccino along with sampling some of the finest Russian and Belarusian dishes with an international mix. There are a good range of soups, salads and desserts. But the real treats are the lunch and breakfast buffets, which serve up well-prepared vegetables and a varying selection of meat and fish dishes. Expect to bump into some businessmen looking to delve into the Belarusian market in a cosy little café that mixes business with socialising.