The Breakfast App: meet new interesting people over breakfast
In an increasingly digital world, the ways we socialize and meet new people have rapidly evolved. While dating apps dominate much of the landscape, a new trend is gaining momentum: platforms designed not to find love, but to connect people in more casual and meaningful ways. From breakfast meetups to group walks, these apps offer new ways to combat loneliness and expand social circles, moving away from the transactional focus of traditional networks. Are we witnessing a revolution in the way we build human connections in the digital age?
One of the most original apps in the social space is The Breakfast, available on both iOS and Android. Its concept is simple yet impactful: facilitating meaningful connections between people every 24 hours, always over breakfast. Unlike speed-dating platforms, The Breakfast focuses on the quality of connections, promoting genuine and lasting interactions.
“The Breakfast focuses on the quality of connections, promoting genuine and lasting interactions.”
The app currently operates in 17 cities worldwide, including Madrid and Barcelona. Its exclusive model works by invitation and requires a weekly or monthly subscription. Additionally, The Breakfast features an innovative algorithm that allows users to choose between meeting people with shared interests or exploring profiles with completely different perspectives, encouraging both affinity and diversity.
Recently, we spoke with The Breakfast co-founder, Eteri Saneblidze, to dive deeper into the project.
How would you define your app?
The Breakfast is essentially a social network for offline life. It’s a global community and platform for meeting new people over breakfast, having interesting conversations, expanding your social bubbles, opening up to new people and experiences, and exchanging ideas.
As you mentioned, your app is far from a typical dating platform or networking space. It presents itself as a solution for those looking to socialize and break away from loneliness in a more casual, everyday way through breakfast. When did this project start, and who is involved?
Our idea and philosophy behind The Breakfast is that real human connection doesn’t start with an expectation.
Of course, we all want close friends or a loving partner, but the transactional model dominating tech today is exhausting and inhumane. If it truly worked, we’d see many more people happy with dating apps.
At The Breakfast, we’re designing a space that fosters openness, promotes a sense of community, removes the pressure from first interactions, and makes meeting new people a lifestyle. We believe this is the healthiest and most fun way to build all kinds of relationships — through regular interactions with new people.
Currently, we’re a small team of five full-time and three part-time members. Our story definitely deserves a Netflix series someday. We had our public launch just before COVID, were affected by the war in Ukraine, and had to start from scratch again in December 2022.
What would you say is your unique value?
I think the differentiation always lies in the culture you create within the company. That culture reflects in every aspect of the product: how it works, what you prioritize. But it’s also embedded in every corner of the app — in the small details, the copy, and the design — and people can always sense it. This is especially crucial in the early days of a company, as it attracts people who share the same values, and together, you multiply the growth and impact of what you’re building.
At The Breakfast, my co-founder Lisa and I share a lifestyle that embraces openness and curiosity about life and people. We believe that life truly happens when you’re open to new people and experiences. With The Breakfast, we help you embark on this journey and make it part of your lifestyle.
Who is The Breakfast for?
The Breakfast is for what we call “modern creatives”. People who are building new things, big or small. People who are driven and creating new projects. People who move around the world and build new lives in different cities. People who want to rediscover themselves in their hometown. People who are constantly asking questions and seeking answers. People who notice the world around them and draw inspiration from what they learn about life through others. People who love the journey of discovering who they are.
“We believe that life truly happens when you’re open to new people and experiences.”
Though your headquarters are in Lisbon, The Breakfast is available in multiple cities worldwide, such as Barcelona, Amsterdam, Berlin, London, New York, and Madrid. What cities are you planning to launch in next?
We launch The Breakfast in a new city once it reaches 151 members. After joining through the app, you can track your city’s progress if it’s not live yet.
Ultimately, The Breakfast will be available in every city that has at least one breakfast spot, so we’ll always have a place to meet over breakfast :)
What do your users value most about the app?
The simplicity and ease of connecting with new people, and, most importantly, the people they meet. Also, the fact that we prioritize offline life over digital.
The entire UX is designed to guide users towards meeting over breakfast and enjoying real life.
“What our users value most is the simplicity and ease of connecting with new people.”
How does your algorithm work? What’s the basis for creating connections?
Our algorithm is called BRIOCHE (BReakfast Integrated Ongoing CHances Estimation). This means it constantly calculates differences between profiles based on the information people share and their activity on the app.
On The Breakfast, there is only one filter. Each time you swipe for a chance (yes, we believe in chances, not matches), you set BRIOCHE to prioritize either similarity or diversity — choosing whether you want a chance with someone who has more in common with you or someone who offers new things to discover.
In addition to connecting users, do you organize events or offer other services?
Yes, we do, although it’s a bit chaotic at the moment. We plan to organize more community events in the future.
How can people join your community?
It’s easy! Just download the app and fill out your profile following the instructions. We review applications daily and follow up if more information is needed. Or you can join using an invite code from someone already on The Breakfast.
What are your subscription options?
We offer weekly, monthly, and annual memberships. Prices vary by country, so it’s best to check them in your local App Store or Google Play.
Is it true that your platform is committed to not including ads or selling users’ data, thus maintaining a safe and distraction-free space?
Yes, from the very beginning, we’ve focused on bringing value to our members and opted for a transparent monetization model — people pay a membership fee, and this is how The Breakfast exists and grows worldwide.
I believe our perception of digital products is evolving. People are becoming more aware of how these products work and understand better that there are no truly free services. It’s simply a matter of how you choose to pay — either with your data and by seeing ads or by paying a small membership fee.
What are you currently working on?
Right now, we’re completely redesigning the onboarding process to make it clearer and more intuitive, guiding users to get an invite and start their journey of meeting new people over breakfast. We’re fortunate to receive a lot of feedback from our members — they truly care, and that’s beautiful!
(*) Images provided by The Breakfast App.
