The longest lines in the city form every day at Café Medina, a haven of Mediterranean-inspired breakfast, lunch, and weekend brunch dishes in the Library District. The decor here feels like a minimalist version of 1920s Paris, with aged walls, mismatched light fixtures, and a mosaic entranceway. Equally charming, the eclectic bistro fare ranges from pistachio-rosewater Belgian waffles to halloumi couscous and a harissa burger, spiked with preserved lemon and tucked into a pita with baba ghanoush and two fried eggs. Don’t miss the blistered flatbread, ideally paired with the honey-black-pepper mascarpone side. And finish with a lavender latte, a house-made turmeric soda, or a superb craft cocktail. If you don’t want to wait, skirt the crowds by visiting Tuesdays or Wednesdays for lunch, or arriving at 2 p.m. (an hour before last call).
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Beat the Crowds at the City’s Must Visit Brunch Spot
Without a doubt the longest queues in the city form every day to eat the ambrosial offerings at Café Medina, but smart diners beat the crowds and head there at off peak lunch hours (especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays) or at 2pm, the last call is 3pm. Everyone has their Medina favourite: for me it’s a side of the astounding blistered flatbread with mascarpone and black pepper honey, served up with the Harissa ‘burger’, a tongue-tingly spiced blend of harissa and preserved lemon-spiked beef in a pitta with eggs, humous and Baba Ghanoush. Both the house sodas and cocktails are divine, and their lavender lattes are to die for. If you’re dining solo, pop by to sit at the coffee counter. Oh, and the waffles! Such perfect sweet liège-style waffles with toppings such as white chocolate pistachio rosewater or raspberry caramel. If that’s not tempting enough, they have a ‘Golden Hour’ happy hour from 2-3pm daily where all cocktails are $7, local draft beer $5 and coffee spikes $4.
