Café Pintxos

Sun pours through the front windows by 9 a.m., and a steady murmur of conversation fills the room as the first plates of the morning hit the pass.

Set in St. Louis, MO, Café Pintxos has carved out a corner of the city's weekend brunch scene with a personality of its own. The room comfortably seats a mix of solo diners working through a coffee and a newspaper, couples splitting a stack of pancakes, and friend groups settling in for a slow, three-hour Saturday.

Order the pancakes and you'll get a stack tall enough to make you reconsider lunch — fluffy, lightly tangy from buttermilk, and finished with a generous pour of warm maple syrup.

Menu highlights

Here is a snapshot of the kinds of brunch dishes you can expect to find on the menu at Café Pintxos. Specials rotate weekly with what's in season — check the chalkboard at the host stand when you arrive.

• House bloody mary with bacon, olives, and pickled vegetables
• Buttermilk pancakes with whipped butter and warm maple syrup
• Avocado toast on grilled sourdough with chili crisp and a soft egg
• Chicken and waffles with hot honey and pickled jalapeño
• Steel-cut oats with brown sugar, toasted nuts, and stewed fruit
• Huevos rancheros with corn tortillas, refried beans, and salsa verde
• Croque madame with béchamel, gruyère, and a fried egg
• Bottomless mimosa flight (90-minute limit, weekends only)

It's a tight room, with maybe a dozen tables and a handful of counter seats facing the open kitchen, where you can watch the line cooks work.

Their breakfast burrito is the kind of thing locals order with eyes still half closed — eggs, chorizo, a scrape of refried beans, melty cheese, and salsa with real heat.

Their breakfast cocktails are no joke. The bloody mary comes garnished with everything but the kitchen sink, and the bottomless mimosa option has a strict 90-minute window.

Like a lot of the best brunch spots in St. Louis, Café Pintxos is at its most magical on weekend mornings, when the kitchen is firing on all burners and the room slowly fills with the kind of low, happy hum that only good food and unhurried company can produce. Save room for one of the pastries on the way out — they bake everything in-house, and the morning buns are legendary among regulars.

Tips from the regulars

• Tip generously — the brunch shift is the toughest in any restaurant, and the staff here keeps it warm even at peak rush.
• Save room: the pastry case at the front is part of the experience.
• Best time to go: arrive before 9:30 a.m. on weekends to skip the worst of the wait at Café Pintxos.
• Best for: groups of 2 to 4 — larger parties may want to call ahead.
• Don't miss the daily-special chalkboard near the host stand — it changes weekly and tends to feature the kitchen's best ideas.

Hours

Frequently asked questions

What time does Café Pintxos open for brunch?

Posted hours are: Mo-Sa 7:00-20:00; Su 16:00-20:00. Hours can change on holidays — call ahead if you're traveling.

Does Café Pintxos take reservations?

Most brunch spots in St. Louis are walk-in friendly, with a wait list during peak hours. Larger parties (5+) should call ahead to ask about a reservation.

Is Café Pintxos kid-friendly?

Yes — Café Pintxos welcomes families. Most brunch menus include simple kid-friendly options like pancakes, scrambled eggs, and fresh fruit. Highchairs are usually available.

What kind of cuisine does Café Pintxos serve?

It's classified under cafe — broadly an American-style brunch experience with regional touches you'd expect in St. Louis.

Is there outdoor seating at Café Pintxos?

Outdoor seating is not always confirmed. We recommend calling ahead during nice weather.

Location

Located at St. Louis, MO. Coordinates: 38.6367, -90.2286. Use the address above with your preferred maps application for turn-by-turn directions.