For Early Birds: Where to Have Breakfast from 7:14 a.m.

Why Master Coffee chose exactly 7:14 a.m. as its opening time remains a mystery, though we would like to think there is a story behind it. On weekends, the team allows itself an extra hour of sleep, with doors opening at 8:14 a.m. instead. The project began in 2014 as a supplier of coffee equipment and freshly roasted beans. Today, it has grown into one of Astana’s largest coffee chains, with 27 locations across the city, including seven cafés and 20 Master Coffee Express outlets. The breakfast menu features set breakfasts served with complimentary batch brew, alongside dishes with a local twist, such as breakfasts with qazy, and familiar morning staples including six-minute eggs and avocado toast with salmon. Coffee remains at the heart of the concept: seasonal specials are updated regularly, while the menu extends well beyond the usual americano and cappuccino to include options such as pour-over coffee and cherry brew.

Breakfast from 7:14 a.m.

A coffee concept created by the team behind Qazaq Gourmet, one of the city’s leading restaurants dedicated to modern Kazakh cuisine, For You brings a more compact format centred around thoughtfully composed breakfasts. On weekends, the breakfast menu is available throughout the day. The focus is on contemporary flavour combinations, from oatmeal with Parmesan, tuna salad, cherry tomatoes and a poached egg to a zucchini pancake with trout and scrambled eggs served on a potato bun. A build-your-own breakfast option offers additional flexibility for those who prefer to customise their morning meal. The bakery counter features bread from the team’s own bakery, ranging from classic ciabatta to loaves made with millet and talkan, with a 30% discount available after 5 p.m. Coffee is brewed using beans from Julius Meinl.

Breakfast from 7:30 a.m.

Breakfast from 7:30 a.m.

One of the first specialty coffee shops on Astana’s right bank, Espresso Bar celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. Over the years, the project has expanded to three locations across the city while maintaining the qualities that earned it a loyal following in the first place: consistency and attention to quality. Breakfast is served all day, with a menu built around familiar classics — porridge, simple breakfast plates with boiled eggs, Gouda and ham served alongside yeast-free bread, and other dependable favourites. Some dishes, however, have achieved near-signature status. «That Famous Fifth Breakfast» still features its original combination of chicken panini, scrambled eggs and mixed greens, while the corn tortilla with chicken and the chicken curry sandwich continue to be prepared according to the same tried-and-tested recipes that guests have been returning to for years.

Founded by restaurateur Nurlan Mukushev, whose portfolio includes projects such as Ginza and Kazburger, Bakerist has already expanded beyond Kazakhstan, opening locations in Dubai and Atyrau before arriving in Astana in 2024.The kitchen is led by Moscow-born chef Pavel Efanov, who built his career at Coffeemania and has helped launch several restaurant kitchens of his own. The breakfast menu ranges from a breakfast-for-two with turkey, soft-boiled eggs, brioche and apple jam to a morning burger layered with a chicken patty, egg, cheddar, coleslaw and truffle aioli. Other options include scrambled eggs with prawns, guacamole and spicy sauce. Coffee is taken just as seriously. Guests can choose between lighter Ethiopian beans with bright citrus notes and more classic Brazilian roasts with hints of chocolate. And for those who prefer their caffeine in truly generous proportions, there is also the XXXL cappuccino, priced at 19,000 tenge.

Breakfast from 7:30 a.m.

Breakfast from 7:30 a.m.

An Almaty-born concept from La Barca Family — the team behind Fish & Wine and La Barca — Big Apple has been serving breakfast in Astana since 2018. Instead of a traditional menu, guests are handed a morning newspaper complete with a list of dishes, an editor’s column and gastronomic news. Before 10 a.m., coffee is included with breakfast orders, making it an especially appealing start to the day. The breakfast selection covers everything from familiar classics to more unexpected combinations. There is oatmeal topped with ice cream, risolatte — a rice porridge with coconut milk mousse and mango — as well as more substantial options such as the Big Almaty Breakfast, served with kupaty sausages, salmon, beef bacon, croutons and jam. Mini pancakes with mascarpone and blueberries round out the menu.

Founded by Dana and Askar Kanapin, La Crème is the project that laid the foundation for LC Family Group, which today also includes Delish, Pâté, Cult and Je Vie. More than a decade after opening, the brand has grown into a network of four locations across the city. The breakfast menu combines familiar favourites such as French omelettes and eggs Benedict with the generous breakfast platters for which La Crème has become particularly well known. Among the most popular is the signature breakfast with stracciatella, pear, walnuts, pitahaya, beetroot hummus and trout, alongside a Turkish breakfast set featuring shakshuka, premium olives, bryndza cheese, sujuk and ayran. To start the day, the team recommends a vitamin-packed fresh juice made with celery and apple, followed by a coffee of choice — from filter brews to classic lattes and cappuccinos.

Breakfast from 8:00 a.m.

Breakfast from 8:00 a.m.

Compared to some of the city’s larger hospitality projects, Letus may appear modest at first glance, but appearances can be deceiving. Since opening in 2023, the café has built a loyal following thanks to its compact dining room, in-house pastry kitchen and thoughtfully curated menu. Among the standout breakfast dishes are the coleslaw waffle with pulled chicken and the soufflé-style omelette with zucchini, aubergine and slow-roasted cherry tomatoes. For those looking for something more elaborate, there is the Breakfast Burrito with scrambled eggs and tomatoes, or a poached egg served with Parmesan mousse, hash browns, mushrooms and tartine.

Breakfast from 8:00 a.m.

Breakfast from 8:00 a.m.

A coffee project from the team behind Kultura Diktuet, Peak Buro combines an open kitchen with its own bakery, so the aroma of freshly baked pastries greets guests from the moment they walk through the door. Breakfast can be assembled to order, with ingredients such as pickled eggs, Ramiro peppers and chicken liver pâté, or chosen from a selection of ready-made options. Highlights include the Danish breakfast with six-minute eggs and pastrami, as well as the Farmer’s Breakfast served with whipped butter, stracciatella and tartine. The coffee offering is concise but thoughtfully curated, ranging from cappuccinos and batch brew to V60 pour-overs and Japanese-style iced coffee.

Originally launched in Aktobe, where the brand now operates 13 locations, Bodrum has steadily expanded to Astana, with three cafés currently serving all-day breakfast. The menu covers familiar favourites such as the Country Breakfast — fried eggs, hunting sausages, potatoes, mushrooms and cheese — alongside a classic English breakfast, scrambled eggs with salmon and a selection of more substantial dishes. The signature Bodrum breakfast is particularly generous, featuring beef sausages, chicken fillet in a creamy sauce, turkey with mushrooms, a cheese quesadilla and fresh vegetables. Shakshuka is served in a skillet with peppers, garlic, coriander and bryndza cheese, while those looking for something heartier can opt for the croissant burger with beef bacon. Another advantage is the café’s own bakery and pastry kitchen. Signature trifles are made in-house and served in convenient takeaway cups for those on the go.

Originally from Karaganda, Hani first won over Astana’s residents with its desserts before evolving into a full-fledged café and pastry concept. Today, the brand operates four locations across the city. The morning can begin with an immunity shot — celery or ginger — before moving on to breakfast. A hearty platter of eggs, salmon and vegetables is served on a wooden board, while English, French and Italian breakfast sets offer more traditional options. Those in search of something sweeter can opt for quinoa porridge made with coconut milk or a millet porridge with talkan and irimshik. To finish, there is coffee and an impressive selection of desserts, with the tartlets — particularly the lemon and caramelised nut varieties — standing out as favourites.

The right-bank outpost of one of Astana’s longest-running breakfast concepts, created by the team behind Koktem, Peek-a-boo and Et-Et. The location is part of the appeal: a cosy dining room and a spacious terrace just steps from the riverfront make it an easy choice for a leisurely morning. The bakery programme deserves special mention. Alongside classic croissants, the team bakes vegan raisin swirls and naturally leavened breads, including wheat and malt tartines flavoured with coriander. The breakfast menu ranges from buckwheat with mortadella and a poached egg to a pakora sandwich and a selection of egg dishes, from eggs Benedict to scrambled eggs with salmon and spinach. For those with a sweet tooth, there is rice porridge topped with berries and waffle crumble, as well as cheese doughnuts served with salted caramel.

Breakfast from 8:00 a.m.

Breakfast from 8:00 a.m.

Photos: restaurant websites and social media; Yandex Maps