Waiting for a bus does not have to mean sitting at the station with a coffee from a vending machine. If you have some time before departure, or have just arrived in a new city and would like something to eat before continuing your journey, you can find great cafés, bakeries and restaurants near many bus stations.
We have selected a few places in Zagreb, Ljubljana, Graz, Trieste and Pula that can come in handy when you have time for a coffee, breakfast, a quick bite or a proper meal during your trip.
Before setting off, make sure to check the latest opening hours, as they may vary depending on the day and season.
If you are travelling via Zagreb Bus Station, you do not have to go all the way to the city centre to find somewhere for coffee or a bite to eat. There are several options in the surrounding streets and the business district towards Strojarska, depending on how much free time you have.
Butler Restaurant & Bar is a good choice if you have time to sit down and eat. Located on Ulica Ivana Bunića Vučića, it serves coffee, breakfast and more substantial dishes such as pizza. It currently opens as early as 7 a.m., making it a practical option for early departures.
If you have a little more time for a walk, Boogie Lab combines a bakery and restaurant, making it a convenient choice for coffee and pastries as well as a longer break before continuing your journey. It opens early on most days.
Our pick: Butler when you want to stay closer to the bus station, and Boogie Lab when you have more time.
Ljubljana Bus Station is right next to the railway station, and from there you can reach Slovenska cesta and the wider city centre within just a few minutes.
For coffee lovers, R & B Cafe Roasters on Slovenska cesta is a great option. It is a café and coffee roastery with very good reviews, making it particularly suitable for a morning coffee or a short break.
If you would like breakfast, dessert or a proper meal alongside your coffee, Wonderland Ljubljana is just a few steps away. It opens at 7:30 a.m. and is also open at weekends, although it has shorter opening hours on Sundays.
If you really do not have time for a walk, there are also simpler options for coffee and a quick bite in the railway station area.
Our pick: R & B for coffee, Wonderland when you have time to sit down and eat.
Graz is particularly convenient if your bus stops near the Hauptbahnhof, as you barely have to go anywhere to find coffee or food.
The station’s current official list of amenities includes Martin Auer, Aida, Don Camillo, Sushi Yan, Subway and several other options, as well as SPAR if you simply want to pick up something for the journey.
For an early departure, we would particularly recommend MARTIN AUER. The bakery at Hauptbahnhof opens as early as 5:30 a.m. on weekdays, so you can grab coffee, a pastry or something to take with you on the bus.
If you have time for a proper meal, theItalian Graz Restaurant Hauptbahnhof is located on Europaplatz, right next to the station, and serves Italian cuisine. It currently opens daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Our pick: Martin Auer when you are short on time, and theItalian when you have time for lunch or dinner.
Arriving in Trieste by bus has one major advantage: from the bus and railway station area, you can quickly make your way towards the city centre, while several interesting places are already located in the surrounding streets.
For something more substantial, there is Baracca E Burattini Trieste on Via di Torre Bianca. This Italian restaurant is a good choice if you have enough time for lunch, although it is particularly important to check the opening hours as it is not open all day.
If you are travelling earlier in the day, Home - Sapore di Casa offers coffee, breakfast and brunch, making it a convenient option for a morning or late-morning break.
If you still have time for something sweet after your coffee or lunch, you will find Gelateria Zampolli on Via Carlo Ghega. This traditional gelateria is known for its artisan gelato made in-house and is located close to the station.
Our pick: Home for coffee and breakfast, Baracca E Burattini for lunch, and Zampolli if you have time for gelato before your bus.
Pula Bus Station is relatively close to the Arena and city centre, so if you have enough time between arriving and continuing your journey, your options quickly expand.
If you do not want to go anywhere, the bus station itself offers basic passenger amenities, including a café, bakery and fast food. This is the most practical solution when you do not have much time before departure.
If you have more time, head towards the Arena and city centre. Caffe Bar Scala is located near the Arena, so you can enjoy a coffee while also seeing one of Pula’s best-known landmarks.
For a proper meal, continue towards the city centre, where you will find a much wider selection of restaurants.
Our pick: If you are short on time, stay at the bus station; if you have enough time for a short walk, head towards the Arena.
If you have less than 30 minutes before your bus, do not experiment too much. Choose a place at the station or very close by, and make sure you leave enough time to get back.
If you have around an hour, you can look for a café or restaurant a few minutes’ walk from the station. Before sitting down, though, check how long the service is likely to take and how much time you need to get back.
And if you have two hours or more between two journeys, you can turn your break into a mini city break. Leave your luggage in a luggage room or locker if the service is available, walk to the city centre, enjoy something local and return to the station without rushing.
Always leave yourself a little extra time – the bus will not wait just because the dessert was too good.
If you do not have time to sit down at a restaurant, a sandwich, pastry, fruit or another simple meal is often the best choice for a bus journey. Choose food that is easy to eat and does not have a strong smell, especially if you have several hours of travel ahead of you.
Do not forget to bring water, too. For longer journeys, it is also a good idea to have a small snack within easy reach, even if you have already eaten before departure.
The time before departure does not have to be just about waiting. A good coffee, breakfast or quick lunch can make for a much more enjoyable start to your journey, especially if you arrive at the station early.
At the same time, do not choose a restaurant simply because it looks good online. Check where it is located, its current opening hours and how long you realistically need to get back to your departure point.
On the Nomago InterCity platform, you can search for bus routes operated by different carriers, compare available departures and buy your bus ticket online.
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