Leo's Coffee Bar in Regensburg, Germany, features an aesthetically pleasing wall above the bar-style seating. The cafe offers various styles of coffee, shakes and an assortment of bakery items. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Germany’s cafe culture is a blend of traditional tastes and practices from neighboring countries better known for their coffee histories.
The essence of it, though, lies in savoring the coffee with friends coupled with delicious pastries, sweet treats or sandwiches. This wasn’t lost on Regensburg resident Hamma Kawa when he opened Leo’s Coffee Bar in January, naming the place after his son.
Hidden among the beautiful cobblestone streets of the city center, Leo’s makes its presence known with the alluring aroma of its products.
Leo's Coffee Bar in Regensburg, Germany, is a small space but offers plenty of heft in its baked goods. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Approaching the establishment with two friends, I was greeted by an assortment that left me excited. The bakery-style window teased what was inside: shelves lined with goodies that could easily give Crumbl or Insomnia Cookies a run for their money.
Kawa, who was the only one working that day, welcomed us and eagerly showed us around. The options included gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan alternatives to many favorite sweets.
I couldn’t resist trying a little bit of everything: a cookies and cream cookie, a slice of carrot cake, a cinnamon roll cookie and an apple pie cookie. To top it off, Kawa threw in the new chocolate lava cake with strawberries for me to try, on the house.
Cookies at Leo's Coffee Bar in Regensburg, Germany, are big enough to share. The cafe also offers assorted cakes and has gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan options for many bakery favorites. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
The bakery items at Leo's Coffee Bar include huge cookies and several classic cakes. The Regensburg cafe ensures there is something for nearly everyone with gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan options. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
All were satisfying and I honestly couldn’t pick a favorite. All I can say is I’m grateful to have had others with me so I didn’t have to resist the temptation to keep all the treats for myself.
One of its bestsellers — and Kawa’s favorite — is a plate-toppling pistachio cookie. It’s popular and they tend to sell out quickly.
The release of new treats and drinks is often featured on the cafe’s Instagram page.
Leo's Coffee Bar in Regensburg, Germany, offers vegan apple cinnamon rolls. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Leo's Coffee Bar in Regensburg, Germany, offers vegan cinnamon rolls. Gluten-free and lactose-free bakery fare is also available. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
To accompany the sweets, I opted for a rich espresso, while my companions enjoyed a smooth flat white and a refreshing strawberry shake.
I sampled the strawberry shake and was pleasantly surprised at its refreshing lightness, which defied my expectations of a thick smoothie-like texture.
The espresso and flat white that my friend and I drank were strong and smooth and accompanied the sweets well.
The three of us enjoyed a lovely conversation in the outdoor seating area on a mild fall afternoon. Though space inside is minimal, it’s vibrant and cozy, with bar seating against a beautifully decorated, Instagram-friendly wall.
Hamma Kawa, the owner of Leo's Coffee Bar in Regensburg, Germany, shakes powdered sugar on a mini chocolate lava cake Oct. 20, 2024. He opened the cafe earlier this year in hopes of bringing international tastes to his Bavarian coffeehouse. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Leo's Coffee Bar in Regensburg, Germany, while small, has a diverse menu that is often refreshed with seasonal items. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
“Since there’s a lot of tourists in the city, I wanted to cater to an international taste, not just German,” Kawa said. “There’s flavors here from around the world.”
Leo’s also offers a variety of savory and salty pastries for those who prefer a less sugary indulgence, and the menu is refreshed often, including the addition of seasonal treats.
One such item is a sugar cookie that Kawa said will debut in late November, just in time for the upcoming holidays.
Leo's Coffee Bar in Regensburg, Germany. The establishment opened in January and brings an eclectic take on coffeehouse culture to Bavaria. (Lydia Gordon/Stars and Stripes)
Leo’s Coffee Bar
Address: Untere Bachgasse 11, Regensburg, Germany
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-midnight; Sunday and Monday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Cost: Hot coffee and tea, 2-5 euros; iced coffee, 5-7 euros; bakery items, 3-6 euros
Information: Instagram, @leos.coffee.bar; www.leoscoffeebarregensburg.de
