Breakfast & Brunch in Frankfurt: The Best Cafés

Frankfurt in the morning is my favourite time of day. Before the bank towers fill with people, half the city is sitting over coffee and scrambled eggs in their favourite cafés. The breakfast and brunch scene has developed enormously in recent years — especially in the Nordend and Bornheim, but Sachsenhausen and Bockenheim are catching up too. Whether you want a quick croissant, a lavish weekend spread or shakshuka with friends, let me show you where to really start the day well in Frankfurt.

Nordend: the heart of the breakfast scene

For me, the Nordend is the breakfast district par excellence. Around Berger Straße and Glauburgstraße, one café lines up after another.

The Glauburg-Café is a classic: a large breakfast selection, plus homemade savoury spreads and salads. At weekends it’s busy and lively — come early or reserve. If you like modern takes on breakfast classics, Sunny Side Up is the place, serving breakfast “all day long” (locations in the Nordend and the Westend) — from superfood bowls to fluffy pancakes.

Bornheim: international and relaxed

Bornheim is down-to-earth and international at once. Café Morcolade brings Israeli cooking to the breakfast table: shakshuka, hummus and sabich sit alongside the classic breakfast of rolls, salmon and jam. If you prefer French, head to Baguette Jeanette on the upper Berger Straße — an authentic French boulangerie and pâtisserie open right through from morning to evening. Perfect for a croissant and a café au lait in between.

Sachsenhausen: cosy “dribbdebach”

On the other side of the Main, Sachsenhausen also has lovely spots. Amélie’s Wohnzimmer (“living room”) on Affentorplatz lives up to its name: living-room flair and a warm breakfast in a cosy atmosphere. For coffee lovers, Café Wacker on Schweizer Straße is a must — its house-roasted coffee is city-famous, and breakfast is served in a listed period building.

What to try for breakfast

Frankfurt’s breakfast culture is international, but there are a few things you shouldn’t miss:

• Regional and savoury: some cafés offer regional spreads and cheese — a Hessian start to the day.
• Shakshuka: in the Israeli-influenced scene (such as Café Morcolade) a must — poached eggs in a spicy tomato sauce.
• Fresh pastries: at French boulangeries like Baguette Jeanette you get croissants and pain au chocolat just like in Paris.
• Filter coffee from the roaster: Frankfurt has a growing specialty-coffee scene — house-roasted coffee like at Café Wacker is worth the detour.

Practical tips for breakfast & brunch

• Weekend = reserve: popular spots like Sunny Side Up or the Glauburg-Café fill up fast on Saturdays and Sundays. Reserve or come before 10 a.m.
• Brunch takes its time: many cafés serve breakfast well into the afternoon — ideal for a relaxed Sunday with no time pressure.
• Bring some cash: smaller cafés don’t always take cards — a little cash never hurts.
• Choose your district: for a relaxed breakfast the Nordend and Bornheim, for café flair near the river Sachsenhausen.
• Make the most of the weather: many places have outdoor seating in summer — Berger Straße is perfect for watching the world go by.

Conclusion

Breakfast in Frankfurt is far more than coffee and rolls — it’s a little ritual that shows the city at its most relaxed. My advice: pick a district and let yourself drift. In the Nordend and Bornheim the good cafés line up so densely that you can hardly go wrong. Come early at the weekend, give yourself time — and start into a real Frankfurt day.