Coffee & breakfast

If you’re an early riser, we have some bad news: Yerevan is not. There are very few cafes and restaurants that open before 9:00am, so we recommend you check all operating hours if you plan on starting your day with an early coffee or breakfast. Aperitivo at the Cascade is one of the very few spots in town that opens at 8:00am, which is very early by local standards.

If you’re not in a rush, and for a truly Yerevanyan breakfast, head to the corner of Tumanyan and Parpetsi, where an old school creperie, loved by locals, serves both savory and sweet crepes and coffee right on the sidewalk, where you can sit, enjoy the crisp morning air, and watch as Yerevan slowly wakes up. If you’re looking for an Armenian breakfast, we recommend Crumbs for their Van-style egg omelet, or anything at Abovyan 12 (aka Dalan). Other great spots for breakfast and coffee to add to your Sunday breakfast or brunch hit list include AfroLab, Limone, and Green Bean.

Museums

Once you’ve had breakfast and your morning dose of caffeine, we recommend a visit to one of Yerevan’s many art or history museums. For those new to Armenia and its millennia-old culture, the History Museum of Armenia is a great place to start your journey into the local context of where you are. In the same building, you’ll find the National Art Gallery, the State Museum of Literature and Art, and the Near East Art Museum.

Art lovers should definitely check out the Martiros Saryan Museum, where you can admire the works of one of the most celebrated Armenian painters possibly ever, who was greatly influenced by Impressionism and is best known for his paintings of Armenian landscapes and life in the Near East in the early 20th century. For more local art, add the Sergei Parajanov Museum and the Yervand Kochar Museum to your Sunday to-visit list. Sergei Parajanov is Armenia’s most celebrated filmmaker, whose art transcended many mediums. A visit here is a journey into the surreal and mind-bending. Yervand Kochar, meanwhile, is one of the 20th century’s most renowned avant-garde sculptors and artists, known as the founder of the Painting in Space art movement, which combines painting and sculpture art.

Lunch

For quick and cheap bites, hit up Jengyalov Hats for their namesake item, a grilled, savory flatbread originally from Artsakh (aka Nagorno-Karabakh) that’s stuffed with up to 20 different herbs. Or, head to Lahmajun Gaidz, one of many Syrian-Armenian businesses that quickly opened their doors when the Syrian Civil War began in 2011. Gaidzag and his mother Salpi brought the savory flavors of their traditional Armenian bakery in Aleppo to Yerevan over a decade ago, and locals and visitors alike still can’t get enough. For more quick eats, check out Artashi Mot for local shawarma or Falafel Al Darwandy for a tasty falafel wrap, also the result of Lebanese-Armenian transplants to Yerevan. Mer Taghe is also a great local option for quick, Armenian and Near Eastern street food.

For a sit-down Armenian lunch, we recommend Vostan or Ktoor restaurants. For non-Armenian food, you can try Dargett or Dors for local craft beers paired with American bar food, De Angelo or Extra Virgin for Italian, Mehak for Indian, and Wine Republic for Thai.

Shopping

If shopping is something you enjoy doing on a Sunday afternoon, there are lots of made in Armenia shops in town where you can see, feel, and try on different creations made by local artists. For made in Armenia fashion, check out MADE, 5concept, and Cone. For souvenirs to take home, we recommend HDIF, Dalan Art Gallery, and TUMO Studios. Other hip local shops to check out while in Yerevan include Vajrapar, Main Design Store, and ArtKvartal.

Parks

Maybe you want to stretch out on some grass or go for a leisurely walk in a local park. For an easy stroll followed by coffee, head to Lovers’ Park, where you’ll find a sculpture garden and cafe. From there, you can easily walk down Baghramyan Avenue and reach the Cascade and Saryan Street, where most of the city’s restaurants and wine bars are concentrated. Not all parks in Yerevan allow you to walk or sit in the grass, but at English Park you can, and maybe even catch a show at the Sundukyan Theater which is located right in the park. For some thrills, you can head up to Victory Park, where Soviet carnival rides, as well as newer attractions, await. From there, you can easily access the Cascade steps and walk down to the city center while taking in views of Mt. Ararat in the distance.

Dinner

We love all things local and innovative, which is why for dinner we recommend you try Yerevan’s newest modern Armenian restaurants. The Club is one of the most established restaurants in Yerevan, and they recently shifted to a farm-to-table concept, sourcing all their products from the Trinity Canyon Vineyards farm in Aghavnadzor village, focusing on seasonal produce and pairing their always rotating modern Armenian menu with Trinity’s award-winning wines. For local cuts of beef, head to Steakarar, a cozy farm-to-table steakhouse and the first zero-waste and climate neutral restaurant in Armenia. Family-run with a very friendly staff, diners grill their own cuts of meat atop hot stones here. Be sure to check out their seasonal menu of modern Armenian dishes and ask what local wine goes well with your steak!

Drinks

With a new renaissance of Armenian winemaking taking place right now, it would be remiss to not mention some of Yerevan’s top wine bars for you to check out after dinner. We recommend Decant, Ginipig, InVino, and Tapastan for both local and international wines by the glass or bottle, along with a local cheese and meat plate. For some of the best cocktails in Yerevan, head to Minas, Jack’s, Phoenix, The Bird Cage, and Daboo. For music during or after drinks, head to Epicure, Esthetic Joys Embassy, and Calumet.

We hope you enjoy your slow day in Yerevan!

Photos: 2492 Travel, Gardman Tour, Abovyan 12, Peter Moore, Advantour.