Starting the day in Cappadocia means greeting the pigeons flying out of the valley, balloons scattered in the sky, and the fragrant nature with a sense of happiness. A Cappadocia breakfast adds immense value to this happiness!
When it comes to breakfast in Cappadocia, the first things that come to mind are the various jams made from fruits picked from the branches of trees that you enjoy while wandering through the valleys, fresh aromatic tomatoes and peppers from the gardens, and pastries made by local women. Homemade butter and cheese are essential at a Cappadocia breakfast. A good breakfast, especially when taken in Cappadocia, signifies a rich and organic morning meal. Here's a look at what you might find on breakfast tables in Cappadocia, where natural, refined, and fresh flavors are served:
Cappadocia Breakfast and Best Spots
Whether it's a mixed Cappadocia breakfast or an open buffet display, what will draw your attention most is the variety of jams available on the table. Different jam varieties for each fruit, and even vegetables, will stay in your memory as something you "ate in Cappadocia." Jams and molasses are generally made from Cappadocia's special products gathered from the vineyards and gardens. For example, have you heard of cherry jam? If you're in season, you'll hear about it in Cappadocia. Cheese varieties include tulum cheese, curd, kashar, and white cheese; in places with assertive presentations, you might encounter different cheese platter offerings. Green olives, black olives, and crushed olives are the types offered as a specific breakfast option. There are also establishments that do not purchase ready-made sausages for meat products but make them themselves. However, no one buys greens from the market; they all come from the field or their gardens.
Pastries hold a significant place in Cappadocia's cuisine. Tava pastries, herb-filled pastries, yeast doughs you can't find in the city, and tandoor bread are among the delicious dishes found on breakfast tables in Cappadocia. And of course, let's not forget to mention the delicious okka and spicy sauces and pastes. For those who don't usually like fried potatoes for breakfast, we recommend trying them in the morning, especially in Cappadocia. The fried potatoes here are made from a more flavorful type known as barren potatoes.
There are many breakfast places in Cappadocia, depending on presentation preferences, expectations, and budget. When it comes to a Cappadocia breakfast, we have compiled the most popular and preferred options for you in various price ranges. For those wondering about breakfast places in Cappadocia and the cost of a breakfast:
Breakfast Places in Cappadocia
Melekler Evi Cave Hotel
Designed by a couple of architects who renovated an old stone house carved into rock and opened it in 2003, Melekler Evi is one of the places in Cappadocia famous for its friendly atmosphere, the joy you get while watching Erciyes, fairy chimneys, Roman tombs, and of course, Cappadocia breakfast. You can choose to stay in one of its seven rooms or visit to taste local flavors from the open buffet breakfast. The hotel offers a rich mixed breakfast, including assorted fried pastries and eggs of your choice (omelet, sunny side up, eggs with sausage, etc.).
Serinn House
With a distinctive design that earned it a perfect score in the design hotel category by the New York Times, Serinn House stands out from Cappadocia's local architecture. The historical stone houses equipped with furniture and decor items from famous designers offer an ideal setting for travelers seeking simplicity. There's also a breakfast where care and love are evident, with "We're different" aromas coming from the kitchen like focaccia, cakes, and pastries, accompanied by delights like organic tomatoes and fresh orange juice. Especially when you enjoy breakfast, which includes many local and international offerings, on the terrace with a wide view of Cappadocia, you’ll wish the morning never ends.
Cınarlı Café
Although it's primarily a horse-riding farm, Cınarlı Café is one of the places that serve breakfast in Cappadocia. On your breakfast table, you'll find fresh vegetables, arugula, homemade jams, and more, alongside cheese and butter from Van. You can have breakfast at any time of the day. Enjoy the view and nature, and if you have kids, you'll feel comfortable coming to a place where they can play and ride horses without hesitation.
Göreme Panorama Cafe
Located at the entrance of Göreme, at the end of Güvercinlik Valley, and offering a magnificent view, Göreme Panorama Cafe is one of the best spots to greet a Cappadocia morning. The staff are friendly and warm, and the breakfast spread is rich.
Saklı Konak
If your breakfast expectation is diverse jams, olives, cheeses, and fresh vegetables you want to taste all of, you'll be quickly overcome with hunger and unable to divert your gaze from the table at Saklı Konak. Most breakfast offerings are organic. You can taste every kind of jam you might think of here. Even tomato jam is among the jams offered. The cream and milk come from cows in the nearby garden. A special dish is added to the breakfast menu daily. For example, one day might feature pastries, while another might have delicious egg bread.
Fırınkaya Café
It's one of the breakfast spots in Cappadocia where you'll feel the warmth of family. It's on the way to the Göreme Open-Air Museum. The breakfast in Cappadocia is rich in variety, and if desired, eggs with sausage and pastries are available. Price might be reduced if you visit as a group. The establishment is single-story, and you can sit inside or outside overlooking the market road. Let’s not forget to mention that other meals are also highly appreciated.
Nazar Börek Cafe
If you’re someone who doesn’t enjoy any pastries except those made by your mother, Nazar Börek is a small establishment where you’ll love the pastry varieties. Their menemen is also very popular, making it a favorite place in Cappadocia for breakfast.
Zeytin Cafe and Home Cooking
While it's better known for dishes like mantı (Turkish dumplings) and other home-cooked foods, Zeytin Cafe in Ürgüp also pleases its customers with breakfast. It serves a mixed breakfast with two types of olives, two types of cheese, jams, and plenty of vegetables.
Vadi Cafe Restaurant
There are 28 different dishes on the mixed breakfast table prepared by Vadi Cafe, boasting a great view over Çavuşin town. They do not use ready-made sausages or jams, but make them themselves. The pastries they offer for breakfast are also homemade. It’s recommended to give it a try when you visit Çavuşin.
Ahal Teke Horse Riding Center
It’s not only a place with 30 horses and horse-riding training, but also one of the notable places when looking for a hearty breakfast surrounded by nature in Avanos. There are 13 types of jams in the Cappadocia mixed breakfast offering. They make products like cheese and yogurt themselves. At Akhal-Teke, where you can also find a playground for kids, the price of the mixed breakfast doesn't include just the orange juice. For those finding the price quite high, it's worth noting that the breakfast display in Cappadocia is rich enough to feed up to 3 people.
Gamirasu Cave Hotel
Ranked sixth among the best hotels in the Middle East by Forbes magazine, Gamirasu Cave Hotel is also quite ambitious about breakfast. Travelers coming to Cappadocia from the USA, South America, and Canada don’t leave without partaking in this breakfast. All breakfast offerings are organic from the village fields and are grown in your own garden. Your table will be festive with an open buffet filled with homemade jams, authentic village honey, village bread, cheese, cream, and fruits. The presence of an 11th-century monastery in the hotel area significantly enhances the atmosphere.