Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and there’s nothing like starting off your morning with tasty, high-quality food. Out of many restaurants in Medellín to do so, Santa Leña stands out. It is an artisan bakery specialized in premium breakfast and brunch foods. It has four franchises spread out through Medellín: El Tesoro, Oviedo, Indiana Mall, and Del Este. Santa Leña offers traditional breakfast plates like eggs, bacon, and coffee, but also has specialty foods such as french toast, parfaits, and deluxe croissants.

Successful breakfast restaurants have to be varied, consistent, and inviting. Santa Leña displays all those elements and creates a space where you can enjoy fine food in a charming environment.

All Santa Leña stores are decorated alike: wooden tables and floors, colorful banners, quirky accents, and an overall rustic theme; moreover, all restaurants have a tantalizing display of indulgent pastries, that have you drooling just from walking by. The warm, alluring ambiance is complemented by friendly servers that will greet you as from the moment you walk in. This being said, the workers’ cordiality does not negate the fact that the service is far from ideal. As time passes, service declines, especially during busy hours in the morning. If you’re in a hurry, opt for a restaurant like Sancho Paisa, that makes up for its stark appearance with swift service.

I often visit the Santa Leña franchise in Indiana Mall, and never grow tired of it. Its vast assortment of baked goods and breakfast options lets the client try something new every time. There is a balance between sweet and savory items on the menu, so you can satisfy whatever cravings you have. The menu includes vegan and vegetarian dishes for patrons with special needs, and the servers are keen on tweaking the dishes to meet specific requests. A unique dish they sell is savory french toasts, which can’t be found in either La Maga or Valentina Bakery.

I occasionally order the sweet french toasts, and I’m never disappointed. The dish has a neat presentation and comes with sides that complement its flavor. It consists of three relatively large slices of toast covered with powdered sugar, strawberry slices, maple syrup in a jar, and two spreads. The toasts are light, fluffy, and melt in your mouth. The sour berry jam they are accompanied with blends perfectly with the sweet maple syrup, and the fresh strawberries are a refreshing touch. I’ve had this same dish in other restaurants like Ganso y Castor and La Maga, but I always turn to Santa Leña because I can count on them being excellent every time.

An important feature of Santa Leña’s menu is that it doesn’t change throughout the day. Although this is a blessing for a breakfast enthusiast, for those looking to eat lunch or dinner, the options are very reduced; there are sandwiches and wraps, but not much more. La Maga, perhaps the most similar restaurant to Santa Leña and its biggest competitor, offers artisan pizza to satisfy clients later in the afternoon. Santa Leña has tons of options when it comes to breakfast foods and pastries, but don’t expect much more.

However, these finesse products come at a price. The high prices at Santa Leña prevent it from being a regular occurrence. When I go with my father we usually order a parfait ($16.900), scrambled eggs with bacon ($15.900), a cappuccino ($4.900), and a natural juice ($6.500), for a simple two-person breakfast the total cost is nearly 44.000 pesos; this is fairly expensive for one meal, and isn’t a reasonable daily expenditure. This puts Santa Leña at a significant disadvantage in comparison to more affordable breakfast places nearby, like their neighbor across the street, Sancho Paisa. However, if compared with La Maga, which is also nearby, the prices are almost identical.

If you’re looking for a place where you can enjoy some breakfast or some brunch, and are willing to spend some money, Santa Leña is the place for you. The superior quality of the food will not disappoint, and the atmosphere adds to the experience. For either a quick coffee or a full meal, I would highly recommend Santa Leña.