Guidebook for Sofia
Things to Do
Разглеждане на забележителности
...with Kids
1 enjoy the retro feel
at The Natural History Museum
Centrally located next to the Russian church, this museum
is a good wet weather choice for families with children, as
the collection of stuffed, pickled or preserved animals never
fails to impress. On the staircase of this old building there is a
permanent exhibition of live reptiles and amphibians and on
the ground floor there is also a collection of rocks and minerals from the moon. In the foyer is a small shop selling semi
precious stones and some rather attractive contemporary
jewellery. The National Museum of Natural History in Sofia is
the richest museum of natural history on the Balkans.QC-4,
bul. Tsar Osvoboditel 1, MSerdika/Sofiyski Universitet,
tel. (+359) 2 987 41 95, www.nmnhs.com. Open 10:00 –
18:00, last admission is at 17:00. Adults: 5 leva; Children
under 6: 1 lev; Pupils and students: 2 leva; People with
disabilities: 1 lev; Retirees: 2 leva.
53 residents recomanen
Museu Nacional d'Història Natural
1 bul. "Tsar Osvoboditel"...with Kids
1 enjoy the retro feel
at The Natural History Museum
Centrally located next to the Russian church, this museum
is a good wet weather choice for families with children, as
the collection of stuffed, pickled or preserved animals never
fails to impress. On the staircase of this old building there is a
permanent exhibition of live reptiles and amphibians and on
the ground floor there is also a collection of rocks and minerals from the moon. In the foyer is a small shop selling semi
precious stones and some rather attractive contemporary
jewellery. The National Museum of Natural History in Sofia is
the richest museum of natural history on the Balkans.QC-4,
bul. Tsar Osvoboditel 1, MSerdika/Sofiyski Universitet,
tel. (+359) 2 987 41 95, www.nmnhs.com. Open 10:00 –
18:00, last admission is at 17:00. Adults: 5 leva; Children
under 6: 1 lev; Pupils and students: 2 leva; People with
disabilities: 1 lev; Retirees: 2 leva.
2 Marvel and learn at the
brand new Museum of Illusions
Opened at the end of December 2019, this is another addition to the fun element of museums for both young
and old. 400 square meters of riveting illusions combining science and art and not only providing an educational
experience but also plenty of selfie opportunities.QC-3,
bul. Maria Luiza 16, MSerdika, tel. (+359) 88 797 9279,
www.museumofillusions.bg/en. Open 10:00-20:00.
Adults 21 leva, students and children (over 7) 17 leva,
Family ticket 65 leva
10 residents recomanen
Museu d'il·lusions Sofia
16 булевард „кн. Мария Луиза“2 Marvel and learn at the
brand new Museum of Illusions
Opened at the end of December 2019, this is another addition to the fun element of museums for both young
and old. 400 square meters of riveting illusions combining science and art and not only providing an educational
experience but also plenty of selfie opportunities.QC-3,
bul. Maria Luiza 16, MSerdika, tel. (+359) 88 797 9279,
www.museumofillusions.bg/en. Open 10:00-20:00.
Adults 21 leva, students and children (over 7) 17 leva,
Family ticket 65 leva
3 Discover the world
at Muzeiko
A children’s science museum and discovery world,
Muzeiko offers over 130 interactive games and activities
for young and old to discover and explore. Everything is
brightly coloured, tactile, hands-on and great fun – in
stark contrast to the rest of the city’s museums. Allow several hours for a visit. There are several showings per
day at the planetarium (extra admission). A large and airy
café and a gift shop with imaginative gifts and books add
to the attraction. Parking is available or take the tube – it’s
literally just behind the G.M.Dimitrov metro station.Qul.
Prof. Boyan Kamenov 3, MG.M.Dimitrov, tel. (+359)
2 902 0000, www.muzeiko.bg. Open 10:00 – 18:00.
Closed Mon. Pupils, students and retirees: 9 leva; Age
2-18: 10 leva; Over 18: 15 leva; Family ticket: 30-40 leva.
Happy hour after 4pm: 7 leva. Happy Tuesday: 5 leva
(selected months only).
22 residents recomanen
Muzeiko
3 ul. "Professor Boyan Kamenov"3 Discover the world
at Muzeiko
A children’s science museum and discovery world,
Muzeiko offers over 130 interactive games and activities
for young and old to discover and explore. Everything is
brightly coloured, tactile, hands-on and great fun – in
stark contrast to the rest of the city’s museums. Allow several hours for a visit. There are several showings per
day at the planetarium (extra admission). A large and airy
café and a gift shop with imaginative gifts and books add
to the attraction. Parking is available or take the tube – it’s
literally just behind the G.M.Dimitrov metro station.Qul.
Prof. Boyan Kamenov 3, MG.M.Dimitrov, tel. (+359)
2 902 0000, www.muzeiko.bg. Open 10:00 – 18:00.
Closed Mon. Pupils, students and retirees: 9 leva; Age
2-18: 10 leva; Over 18: 15 leva; Family ticket: 30-40 leva.
Happy hour after 4pm: 7 leva. Happy Tuesday: 5 leva
(selected months only).
4 Take them for a special workout
at The Little Gym
The Little Gym Sofia offers progressively structured classes
and a positive learning environment to create opportunities for your child to try new things and build self-confidence from a very early age, all with a grin that stretches
from ear to ear. Trained instructors nurture happy, confident kids through a range of classes like parent/child classes and gymnastics, plus fun extras including parties, camps
and more. At The Little Gym, the environment is fun, but
the purpose is serious. They fully embrace a proprietary
philosophy called Three-Dimensional Learning, in which
physical activity is a conduit for nurturing on all levels.
Every class fosters growth in three holistic dimensions –
Brain Boost! – Get Moving! and Life Skills!Qbul. Bulgaria
118, tel. (+359) 888 594 441, www.sofia.thelittlegym.
eu. Open Tue, Wed, Thu 09:00-20:00; Sat, Sun 09:00-
18:30. Closed Mon, Fri. APTUL
5 Swing from the trees
at Kokolandia
Rope climbing area in the Borissova Gradina park close to
the Iztok district. Instructors help children work their way
around an obstacle course high up in the trees, while secured with ropes. There are also bouncy castles, mini golf
and trampolines for those children who don’t want to do
the course.QBorissova Gradina park, www.kokolandia.
com. Open 10:00-21:00. 10:00-19:00 in winter.
6 Jump until you can jump
no more at Area 52
The largest trampoline park in the region opened at the
end of 2017 and offers a great opportunity for exercise not
just for the youngsters. There is an full calendar of events
and activities including airfit exercise classes and beat
nights (disco). The jump zone has over 60 trampolines wall
to wall. In addition there are battle beams and slam dunk
hoops for practicing those special skills. The special toddler area (2 – 5 years) is situated directly adjacent to the
café area so you can conveniently look on as the kids get
in plenty of exercise.QOkolovrasten Pat 214, Sofia Ring
Mall level 0, tel. (+359) 88 390 5252, www.area52.bg.
Open 10:00-22:00. Adults & children over 5 – 12 leva per
hour (15 leva after 17:00) Toddlers 10 leva per hour.
7 residents recomanen
Parc d'aventures Kokolandia
1 ul. "Nezabravka"4 Take them for a special workout
at The Little Gym
The Little Gym Sofia offers progressively structured classes
and a positive learning environment to create opportunities for your child to try new things and build self-confidence from a very early age, all with a grin that stretches
from ear to ear. Trained instructors nurture happy, confident kids through a range of classes like parent/child classes and gymnastics, plus fun extras including parties, camps
and more. At The Little Gym, the environment is fun, but
the purpose is serious. They fully embrace a proprietary
philosophy called Three-Dimensional Learning, in which
physical activity is a conduit for nurturing on all levels.
Every class fosters growth in three holistic dimensions –
Brain Boost! – Get Moving! and Life Skills!Qbul. Bulgaria
118, tel. (+359) 888 594 441, www.sofia.thelittlegym.
eu. Open Tue, Wed, Thu 09:00-20:00; Sat, Sun 09:00-
18:30. Closed Mon, Fri. APTUL
5 Swing from the trees
at Kokolandia
Rope climbing area in the Borissova Gradina park close to
the Iztok district. Instructors help children work their way
around an obstacle course high up in the trees, while secured with ropes. There are also bouncy castles, mini golf
and trampolines for those children who don’t want to do
the course.QBorissova Gradina park, www.kokolandia.
com. Open 10:00-21:00. 10:00-19:00 in winter.
6 Jump until you can jump
no more at Area 52
The largest trampoline park in the region opened at the
end of 2017 and offers a great opportunity for exercise not
just for the youngsters. There is an full calendar of events
and activities including airfit exercise classes and beat
nights (disco). The jump zone has over 60 trampolines wall
to wall. In addition there are battle beams and slam dunk
hoops for practicing those special skills. The special toddler area (2 – 5 years) is situated directly adjacent to the
café area so you can conveniently look on as the kids get
in plenty of exercise.QOkolovrasten Pat 214, Sofia Ring
Mall level 0, tel. (+359) 88 390 5252, www.area52.bg.
Open 10:00-22:00. Adults & children over 5 – 12 leva per
hour (15 leva after 17:00) Toddlers 10 leva per hour.
12 discover a new dimension to
Sofia with Sensory Theatre
Have you ever wanted to experience a city tour in a
completely new way, going to deeper levels than you
thought possible? We are not talking about deeper
underground – we are talking about deeper inside
oneself. If yes – Sofia Sensory Journeys are just for you!
Because of the nature of the experience we cannot tell
you too much about the tour; the keyword is ‘trust’.
On the tour we went on you had to trust yourself to
be led around the city with your eyes closed and to
discover Sofia through sound, smell and touch and
within a few minutes of the tour you no longer wanted
to open your eyes to disturb the new world you have
entered. Needless to say the moment when you finally
open your eyes is real “eye-opener”! If you are interested in this type of tour or similar please contact info@
sensorytheatresofia.com.Qtel. (+359) 885 617 207,
www.sensorytheatresofia.com.
13 Spoil yourself at the INFINITY
mineral spa
Small but luxurious – guests are pampered with complimentary fruit, tea, coffee etc. Because it is not a big
place the relatively high admission price (50 leva for 4
hours) seems justified assuring the exclusivity and tranquility of the place (capacity 24). The music is low key
relax and the staff very friendly and attentive. The mineral water is actually the same as the adjacent public
baths and the mid range Korali complex but there are
several more jet/jacuzzi options here for that massage
benefit. Sauna and steam bath are included in the package as well as towels and robes. Definitely worth treating yourself on a special occasion. On weekends with
reservation only.Qbul. Samokovsko Shosse 211, Pancharevo, tel. (+359) 88 9387122, www.infinityspa.bg.
Open 09:00-20:00. L
14 Try the Salt rooms or Flotation
Tank at metta
One immediately feels relaxed here even before having tried the treatments. There are two salt rooms
(one is especially for kids) and a float tank. There is an
open space for smaller events and a small café/shop
area where you can just hang out and enjoy some
refreshments. Halotherapy is getting very popular as
the negatively charged ions in salt are said to improve
our health and mood. Inhaling the salt vapour (which
is especially projected into the room) can help reduce
inflammation and mucus in the lungs, improving respiratory conditions such as asthma allergies, bronchitis,
sinus congestion as well as helping with certain skin
conditions. The flotation tank, which is also known as a
Sensory Deprivation Tank, is an incredible experience,
the sensation of floating for nearly an hour in pitch darkness and silence (it starts and ends with light and
sounds of your choice) is really mind blowing the first
time you float. “Being alone with your mind is a very
odd feeling and it takes a while to get used to it”. At
metta the whole setup around the flotation experience
is one of privacy and tranquillity, leaving you in control whilst feeling supported at all times.Qbul. Cherni
vrah 47, Business Center Vitosha, South, MVitosha,
tel. (+359) 884 00 87 96/(+359) 885 19 40 99, www.
mettaspace.bg/en/home. Open Mon 14:00-20:00;
Tue-Sat 10:00-20:00; Sun 10:00-19:00. Flotation 60
mins – 100 leva, Salt room 40 mins 20 leva Multiple
use cards are available on sale. ZG
15 Ayurvedic massage treatment at
Samsara
In close proximity to the Paradise Centre, on the ground
floor of a new apartment block, Samsara offers Ayurveda consultations and treatments with their in house
Indian doctor team. Find out more about the ancient
holistic approach to health and healing, rooted firmly
in Indian traditions. Together with yoga and meditation
and herbal supplements the treatments can help clear
the body of toxins and restore wellness and health. Regular workshops and talks are held here and if you have ever been curious about what Ayurveda can offer you –
then now is your chance to find out. First consultation –
99 leva and therapy ranges from 30 – 110 leva (conditions apply).Qul. Haga 12, MVitosha, tel. (+359) 88
771 6110, www.samsarabg.com. Open 09:30-18:30.
Closed Sun.
16 Unwind at a Yoga class at ONE OF
SOFIA’S MODERN YOGA CENTRES
Mandala Transformation Centre
One of the longer established yoga centres (10+ years)
with several yoga rooms and a full programme for personal well-being, near Lion’s Bridge. Some classes are
in English.Qbul. Maria Luisa 58, MLuvov Most, tel.
(+359) 894 488 809, www.yogamandala.net/en. Open
09:00-22:00; Sat, Sun 09:00-21:00.
Yoga Vibe
Studio in the Iztok area with a full programme of different yoga styles plus some classes in English. There are
three other locations throughout the city.Qul. Rayko
Alexiev 15, MJoliot Curie, tel. (+359) 882 375 551,
www.yogavibe.net/en
Mandala
58 булевард „кн. Мария Луиза“12 discover a new dimension to
Sofia with Sensory Theatre
Have you ever wanted to experience a city tour in a
completely new way, going to deeper levels than you
thought possible? We are not talking about deeper
underground – we are talking about deeper inside
oneself. If yes – Sofia Sensory Journeys are just for you!
Because of the nature of the experience we cannot tell
you too much about the tour; the keyword is ‘trust’.
On the tour we went on you had to trust yourself to
be led around the city with your eyes closed and to
discover Sofia through sound, smell and touch and
within a few minutes of the tour you no longer wanted
to open your eyes to disturb the new world you have
entered. Needless to say the moment when you finally
open your eyes is real “eye-opener”! If you are interested in this type of tour or similar please contact info@
sensorytheatresofia.com.Qtel. (+359) 885 617 207,
www.sensorytheatresofia.com.
13 Spoil yourself at the INFINITY
mineral spa
Small but luxurious – guests are pampered with complimentary fruit, tea, coffee etc. Because it is not a big
place the relatively high admission price (50 leva for 4
hours) seems justified assuring the exclusivity and tranquility of the place (capacity 24). The music is low key
relax and the staff very friendly and attentive. The mineral water is actually the same as the adjacent public
baths and the mid range Korali complex but there are
several more jet/jacuzzi options here for that massage
benefit. Sauna and steam bath are included in the package as well as towels and robes. Definitely worth treating yourself on a special occasion. On weekends with
reservation only.Qbul. Samokovsko Shosse 211, Pancharevo, tel. (+359) 88 9387122, www.infinityspa.bg.
Open 09:00-20:00. L
14 Try the Salt rooms or Flotation
Tank at metta
One immediately feels relaxed here even before having tried the treatments. There are two salt rooms
(one is especially for kids) and a float tank. There is an
open space for smaller events and a small café/shop
area where you can just hang out and enjoy some
refreshments. Halotherapy is getting very popular as
the negatively charged ions in salt are said to improve
our health and mood. Inhaling the salt vapour (which
is especially projected into the room) can help reduce
inflammation and mucus in the lungs, improving respiratory conditions such as asthma allergies, bronchitis,
sinus congestion as well as helping with certain skin
conditions. The flotation tank, which is also known as a
Sensory Deprivation Tank, is an incredible experience,
the sensation of floating for nearly an hour in pitch darkness and silence (it starts and ends with light and
sounds of your choice) is really mind blowing the first
time you float. “Being alone with your mind is a very
odd feeling and it takes a while to get used to it”. At
metta the whole setup around the flotation experience
is one of privacy and tranquillity, leaving you in control whilst feeling supported at all times.Qbul. Cherni
vrah 47, Business Center Vitosha, South, MVitosha,
tel. (+359) 884 00 87 96/(+359) 885 19 40 99, www.
mettaspace.bg/en/home. Open Mon 14:00-20:00;
Tue-Sat 10:00-20:00; Sun 10:00-19:00. Flotation 60
mins – 100 leva, Salt room 40 mins 20 leva Multiple
use cards are available on sale. ZG
15 Ayurvedic massage treatment at
Samsara
In close proximity to the Paradise Centre, on the ground
floor of a new apartment block, Samsara offers Ayurveda consultations and treatments with their in house
Indian doctor team. Find out more about the ancient
holistic approach to health and healing, rooted firmly
in Indian traditions. Together with yoga and meditation
and herbal supplements the treatments can help clear
the body of toxins and restore wellness and health. Regular workshops and talks are held here and if you have ever been curious about what Ayurveda can offer you –
then now is your chance to find out. First consultation –
99 leva and therapy ranges from 30 – 110 leva (conditions apply).Qul. Haga 12, MVitosha, tel. (+359) 88
771 6110, www.samsarabg.com. Open 09:30-18:30.
Closed Sun.
16 Unwind at a Yoga class at ONE OF
SOFIA’S MODERN YOGA CENTRES
Mandala Transformation Centre
One of the longer established yoga centres (10+ years)
with several yoga rooms and a full programme for personal well-being, near Lion’s Bridge. Some classes are
in English.Qbul. Maria Luisa 58, MLuvov Most, tel.
(+359) 894 488 809, www.yogamandala.net/en. Open
09:00-22:00; Sat, Sun 09:00-21:00.
Yoga Vibe
Studio in the Iztok area with a full programme of different yoga styles plus some classes in English. There are
three other locations throughout the city.Qul. Rayko
Alexiev 15, MJoliot Curie, tel. (+359) 882 375 551,
www.yogavibe.net/en
Other fun things to do
18 Take a tour of the
Nu Boyana Film Studios
The former Bulgarian state-owned Boyana Film Studios
were privatised in 2007 and became the Nu Boyana
Film Studios, currently one of the top film production
facilities in Europe and probably the biggest employer
in the local film industry. Apart from the many exciting changes in the production facilities in recent
years, the studios have also become a popular event location and starting again in April 2020 (until October) the public can participate in official guided tours
every Friday afternoon (3 time slots). Price 10 euros
per person. More info on www.nuboyanatour.com.
Located on the upper ring road between Boyana and
Dragalevtsi – the studios can be reached by bus 64 or
a short taxi ride from the city centre.Qul. Kumata 84,
www.nuboyana.com.
19 Check out Sofia’s first Aquapark –
Waterpark “Vuzrajdane”
The very first waterpark in Sofia will open Summer 2020.
The swimming complex will have 5 outdoor swimming
pools, three of which are suitable for children, and one
of the adult pools will have a hydromassage system. The
waterpark complex includes 2 extreme water slides. The
newly constructed waterpark will also have an indoor
swimming pool, restaurant, SPA centre with mineral water and plenty of green spaces for relaxing.QPark Vurzrajdane, Zona B-5.
20 Catcha free evening concert at the
summer stage IN Borissova Gradina
This large park starts at Orlov Most (Eagles’ Bridge) in the
centre and goes right out to the business and residential district of Iztok. There are two football stadiums (the
national stadium and CSKA) and several tennis courts.
At the Orlov Most end the Ariana Lake provides boating
in the summer and skating in the winter months. There
are also several restaurants here. A little further into the
park is the ‘Summer Theatre’ where during the summer
months many a free concert can be enjoyed. Up in the
Iztok district the park gets wilder, there is deep woodland that is ideal for biking and some come here to work
out or meditate.QD-4/5, MVasil Levski Stadium.
21 Challenge your friends to an
escape room adventure with
3 key rooms
Get together with a group of friends to discover your
detective skills and find out how good you are at the 3
keys; perception, logical thinking and team spirit. One of
the first to start the trend of escape rooms in Sofia, 3 Key
Rooms is close to the city centre and offers a choice of 3
experiences in all: ‘The Detective and the Time Machine’
and ‘The MaTrick’ located at the below address and the
new ‘Al Capone’s Secret Bar’ on ul. Tsar Samuil 50A. Excellently designed and worked out scenarios make for
great entertainment and the perfect excuse to switch off
your mobile for and hour or so. For teams of 2-7 people.
There is a 60 minute version for 12+ players and an adult
70 minute version for 18+.QC-3, bul. Vasil Levski 102 &
ul. Tsar Samuil 50A, MSofiyski Universitet, tel. (+359)
876 33 82 35/(+359) 888 86 16 68, www.3keyrooms.
com/en. Open 09:00-22:00. 2 players 70 leva,3 players – 90 leva, 4 players – 120 leva 5 players – 140 leva,
6 players – 160 leva, 7 players – 180 leva.
120 residents recomanen
Borisova Gradina
Other fun things to do
18 Take a tour of the
Nu Boyana Film Studios
The former Bulgarian state-owned Boyana Film Studios
were privatised in 2007 and became the Nu Boyana
Film Studios, currently one of the top film production
facilities in Europe and probably the biggest employer
in the local film industry. Apart from the many exciting changes in the production facilities in recent
years, the studios have also become a popular event location and starting again in April 2020 (until October) the public can participate in official guided tours
every Friday afternoon (3 time slots). Price 10 euros
per person. More info on www.nuboyanatour.com.
Located on the upper ring road between Boyana and
Dragalevtsi – the studios can be reached by bus 64 or
a short taxi ride from the city centre.Qul. Kumata 84,
www.nuboyana.com.
19 Check out Sofia’s first Aquapark –
Waterpark “Vuzrajdane”
The very first waterpark in Sofia will open Summer 2020.
The swimming complex will have 5 outdoor swimming
pools, three of which are suitable for children, and one
of the adult pools will have a hydromassage system. The
waterpark complex includes 2 extreme water slides. The
newly constructed waterpark will also have an indoor
swimming pool, restaurant, SPA centre with mineral water and plenty of green spaces for relaxing.QPark Vurzrajdane, Zona B-5.
20 Catcha free evening concert at the
summer stage IN Borissova Gradina
This large park starts at Orlov Most (Eagles’ Bridge) in the
centre and goes right out to the business and residential district of Iztok. There are two football stadiums (the
national stadium and CSKA) and several tennis courts.
At the Orlov Most end the Ariana Lake provides boating
in the summer and skating in the winter months. There
are also several restaurants here. A little further into the
park is the ‘Summer Theatre’ where during the summer
months many a free concert can be enjoyed. Up in the
Iztok district the park gets wilder, there is deep woodland that is ideal for biking and some come here to work
out or meditate.QD-4/5, MVasil Levski Stadium.
21 Challenge your friends to an
escape room adventure with
3 key rooms
Get together with a group of friends to discover your
detective skills and find out how good you are at the 3
keys; perception, logical thinking and team spirit. One of
the first to start the trend of escape rooms in Sofia, 3 Key
Rooms is close to the city centre and offers a choice of 3
experiences in all: ‘The Detective and the Time Machine’
and ‘The MaTrick’ located at the below address and the
new ‘Al Capone’s Secret Bar’ on ul. Tsar Samuil 50A. Excellently designed and worked out scenarios make for
great entertainment and the perfect excuse to switch off
your mobile for and hour or so. For teams of 2-7 people.
There is a 60 minute version for 12+ players and an adult
70 minute version for 18+.QC-3, bul. Vasil Levski 102 &
ul. Tsar Samuil 50A, MSofiyski Universitet, tel. (+359)
876 33 82 35/(+359) 888 86 16 68, www.3keyrooms.
com/en. Open 09:00-22:00. 2 players 70 leva,3 players – 90 leva, 4 players – 120 leva 5 players – 140 leva,
6 players – 160 leva, 7 players – 180 leva.
Cultural Venues
Arena Armeets
Multifunctional sports and concert stadium holding 12 000
for sporting events and up to 18 000 for concerts, 4km from
city centre.Qbul. Asen Yordanov 1, MG.M. Dimitrov,
tel. (+359) 2 9033 606, (+359) 2 9033 748, (+359) 2 90 33
749, 2 90 33 696, www.arenaarmeecsofia.com/en. Open
10:00-17:30. Closed Sat, Sun. Working hours are for the
Box Office.
Bulgaria Hall
Home to the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, this building
dates back to the late 1930’s and comprises several concert halls; Bulgaria Hall,which seats 1100, and the smaller
Chamber Hall, Marble Studio and Art-gallery. Regular cycles of classical music concerts. Other classical concerts by
the New Symphony Orchestra or the Classic FM Orchestra
also take place here on occasion.Qul. Aksakov 1, MSofiyski Universitet, tel. (+359) 2 988 3195/(+359) 2 987 76 56, www.sofiaphilharmonic.com/en. Open 09:30-
14:30, 15:00-19:30; Sat, Sun 11:00–19:30. Opening hours
are for the ticket box office. On concert days this opens
also one hour prior to the concert. EJ
City Stage
Live music club and bar on the lower ground level in front of
the National Palace of Culture (NDK) north side. An exciting
recent addition to the event venues in Sofia, with a generous sized stage and dance area, plenty of seating, a large
well stocked bar and ‘pub’ food. All types of live music are
presented here and a great party location.QD-3, pl. Bulgaria 1, MNDK, tel. (+359) 886 988 688, www.citystage.
bg. Open Tue, Wed, Thu 20:00-02:00; Fri, Sat, Sun 20:00-
05:00. Closed Mon. PGEJW
International Expo Centre
Multifunctional congress and exhibition centre on the outskirts of the city but with direct underground access and adjacent hotel facilities.Qbul. Tsarigradsko Shosse 147, MInter
Expo Centre, tel. (+359) 2 965 5220, www.iec.bg/en In the Park
Event location in what is known as ‘little NDK’, the smaller
building adjacent to the National Palace of Culture. On
the first floor above Kino Lumiere.QD-3, pl. Bulgaria 1,
MNDK, tel. (+359) 88 669 4422.
Joy Station
Concert and event venue in Students Town. Mainly tribute
bands.Qul. Akad. Stefan Mladenov 3, Studentski grad,
Sofia 1700, tel. (+359) 2 862 2967, www.joystation.bg.
Music Jam Club
Live music club.QC-3, ul. Pirotska 5, MSerdika, tel.
10 residents recomanen
Bulgaria Hall
1 ul. AksakovCultural Venues
Arena Armeets
Multifunctional sports and concert stadium holding 12 000
for sporting events and up to 18 000 for concerts, 4km from
city centre.Qbul. Asen Yordanov 1, MG.M. Dimitrov,
tel. (+359) 2 9033 606, (+359) 2 9033 748, (+359) 2 90 33
749, 2 90 33 696, www.arenaarmeecsofia.com/en. Open
10:00-17:30. Closed Sat, Sun. Working hours are for the
Box Office.
Bulgaria Hall
Home to the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, this building
dates back to the late 1930’s and comprises several concert halls; Bulgaria Hall,which seats 1100, and the smaller
Chamber Hall, Marble Studio and Art-gallery. Regular cycles of classical music concerts. Other classical concerts by
the New Symphony Orchestra or the Classic FM Orchestra
also take place here on occasion.Qul. Aksakov 1, MSofiyski Universitet, tel. (+359) 2 988 3195/(+359) 2 987 76 56, www.sofiaphilharmonic.com/en. Open 09:30-
14:30, 15:00-19:30; Sat, Sun 11:00–19:30. Opening hours
are for the ticket box office. On concert days this opens
also one hour prior to the concert. EJ
City Stage
Live music club and bar on the lower ground level in front of
the National Palace of Culture (NDK) north side. An exciting
recent addition to the event venues in Sofia, with a generous sized stage and dance area, plenty of seating, a large
well stocked bar and ‘pub’ food. All types of live music are
presented here and a great party location.QD-3, pl. Bulgaria 1, MNDK, tel. (+359) 886 988 688, www.citystage.
bg. Open Tue, Wed, Thu 20:00-02:00; Fri, Sat, Sun 20:00-
05:00. Closed Mon. PGEJW
International Expo Centre
Multifunctional congress and exhibition centre on the outskirts of the city but with direct underground access and adjacent hotel facilities.Qbul. Tsarigradsko Shosse 147, MInter
Expo Centre, tel. (+359) 2 965 5220, www.iec.bg/en In the Park
Event location in what is known as ‘little NDK’, the smaller
building adjacent to the National Palace of Culture. On
the first floor above Kino Lumiere.QD-3, pl. Bulgaria 1,
MNDK, tel. (+359) 88 669 4422.
Joy Station
Concert and event venue in Students Town. Mainly tribute
bands.Qul. Akad. Stefan Mladenov 3, Studentski grad,
Sofia 1700, tel. (+359) 2 862 2967, www.joystation.bg.
Music Jam Club
Live music club.QC-3, ul. Pirotska 5, MSerdika, tel.
National Musical Theatre
Recently renovated, it stages international operettas
and musicals, usually sung in Bulgarian although there
are occasional guest performances from abroad.Qbul.
Vassil Levski 100, MSofiyski Universitet, tel. (+359)
2 943 19 79, www.musictheatre.bg. Open Tue, Wed,
Thu, Fri, Sat 09:30-19:30; Sun 10:00-17:30. Closed
Mon. EJ
National Palace of Culture (NDK)
Referred to as NDK: En-De-Ka. Built in 1981 to mark the
country’s 13th centennial, it is Sofia’s most prominent
modern landmark, housing concert halls, exhibition
space, offices, cafés, restaurants and more. Throughout
the year (except August) it hosts a variety of cultural
events from classical to avant garde; concerts, film festivals, art exhibits, fashion shows and trade fairs as well as
major conferences. Hall 1, the largest of 12 halls, seats approximately 4000 and is used for major concerts, including international pop stars, as well as movie premieres.
There are several live music clubs within the complex,
but these are listed separately. The smaller halls 8 and 9
host classical recitals or chamber music. The various halls
and foyers themselves are home to some of the most
impressive specially commissioned contemporary art.
QD-3, pl. Bulgaria 1, MNDK, tel. (+359) 2 916 6300/02
916 6400, www.ndk.bg. Open 10:00-20:00. PUELJWKH
Puppet Theatre (Kuklen teatar)
Children’s theatre, using a mix of puppets and actors. The
lounge is fairly basic and performances are in Bulgarian
only but this does not necessarily matter for young children who get caught up in the general atmosphere of
excitement.Qul. Gen. Gurko 14, MSerdika, tel. (+359)
2 988 54 16/(+359) 2 987 38 15, www.sofiapuppet.
com/en. Open 10:00-18:00; Sun 09:00-14:00. Closed
Mon. Working hours are for the box office. 2-4 leva.
TJ
Sala Universiada
Multi-functional sports hall for smaller scale sporting
events and concerts etc.Qul. Shipchenski Prohod 2. Sofia Event Center
Multifunctional hall for 20 to 2000 people, suitable for all
kinds of events; conferences, gala dinners, award ceremonies, fashion shows, weddings and more.Qbul. Cherni
Vrah 100, Paradise Center, MVitosha, tel. (+395) 2
4470707/0882 444 650, 0882 444 663, www.secevents.
bg/eng.
Sofia Live Club
One of the most happening places in Sofia, Sofia Live Club
is a large spacious venue with a different band every night,
playing anything from jazz and blues to soul and salsa.
Great music is this place’s selling point and many big international names have appeared here. Located on the lower
underground level of the National Palace of Culture.QD-3,
pl. Bulgaria 1, NDK underpass, MNDK, tel. (+359) 886
661 045, www.sofialiveclub.com. Open Tue-Wed 20:00 –
06:00, Thu 22:00 – 06:00, Fri-Sat 23:00 – 06:00, Sun
sometimes, Closed Mon. Admission price varies according to event. APGELJW
Sofia National Opera and Ballet
Built in 1909, the interior of the opera, even though it
cannot match Vienna or Prague, still evokes the glamour
of that era. Seating 1200, the repertoire is a mix of internationally recognised operas and ballets, usually sung in
Bulgarian or Italian.Qul. Vrabcha 1, MSerdika or Sofiyski
Universitet, tel. (+359) 879 40 76 43/02 987 1694, www.
operasofia.bg. Open Mon-Fri 9:00-19:00; Sat 11:00-
19:00; Sun 11:00-16:00. Opening hours are for the ticket
office. EJ
Sofia Tech Park
First science and technology park in Bulgaria, opened in 2016
and in addition to providing office space for various ‘tech’
companies it has a large multifunctional hall/event centre –
the John Atanassov Hall.Qbul. Tsarigradsko Shosse 111B, tel.
(+359) 2 447 28 80, www.sofiatech.bg/en. WK
Studio 5
Lovely intimate venue with live music/entertainment
nearly every night; on weekends often 2 gigs one early at
19:00, the other at 22:30. The orientation is mainly jazz –
although the spectrum is wide! You can hire the place
for a private event. Programme details: clubstudio5.com/
eventsQD-3, NDK Entrance A3, MNDK, tel. (+359) 2
963 1254, www.clubstudio5.com. Open 11:00-03:00.
Admission is charged for certain live music events –
usually around 10 leva.
The Art Foundation
Hidden in a delightful courtyard in the centre, the Art
Foundation is a relatively new cultural centre and event
venue in the heart of Sofia. An alluring place for creative
people who live for the arts, this artistic and intimate
space welcomes all art forms from all over the world.Qul.
Dyakon Ignatiy 19, MSerdika, tel. (+359) 88 287 0208.
Open 10:00-22:00.
182 residents recomanen
Parc del Palau Nacional de la Cultura
Bulevard "Bulgaria"National Musical Theatre
Recently renovated, it stages international operettas
and musicals, usually sung in Bulgarian although there
are occasional guest performances from abroad.Qbul.
Vassil Levski 100, MSofiyski Universitet, tel. (+359)
2 943 19 79, www.musictheatre.bg. Open Tue, Wed,
Thu, Fri, Sat 09:30-19:30; Sun 10:00-17:30. Closed
Mon. EJ
National Palace of Culture (NDK)
Referred to as NDK: En-De-Ka. Built in 1981 to mark the
country’s 13th centennial, it is Sofia’s most prominent
modern landmark, housing concert halls, exhibition
space, offices, cafés, restaurants and more. Throughout
the year (except August) it hosts a variety of cultural
events from classical to avant garde; concerts, film festivals, art exhibits, fashion shows and trade fairs as well as
major conferences. Hall 1, the largest of 12 halls, seats approximately 4000 and is used for major concerts, including international pop stars, as well as movie premieres.
There are several live music clubs within the complex,
but these are listed separately. The smaller halls 8 and 9
host classical recitals or chamber music. The various halls
and foyers themselves are home to some of the most
impressive specially commissioned contemporary art.
QD-3, pl. Bulgaria 1, MNDK, tel. (+359) 2 916 6300/02
916 6400, www.ndk.bg. Open 10:00-20:00. PUELJWKH
Puppet Theatre (Kuklen teatar)
Children’s theatre, using a mix of puppets and actors. The
lounge is fairly basic and performances are in Bulgarian
only but this does not necessarily matter for young children who get caught up in the general atmosphere of
excitement.Qul. Gen. Gurko 14, MSerdika, tel. (+359)
2 988 54 16/(+359) 2 987 38 15, www.sofiapuppet.
com/en. Open 10:00-18:00; Sun 09:00-14:00. Closed
Mon. Working hours are for the box office. 2-4 leva.
TJ
Sala Universiada
Multi-functional sports hall for smaller scale sporting
events and concerts etc.Qul. Shipchenski Prohod 2. Sofia Event Center
Multifunctional hall for 20 to 2000 people, suitable for all
kinds of events; conferences, gala dinners, award ceremonies, fashion shows, weddings and more.Qbul. Cherni
Vrah 100, Paradise Center, MVitosha, tel. (+395) 2
4470707/0882 444 650, 0882 444 663, www.secevents.
bg/eng.
Sofia Live Club
One of the most happening places in Sofia, Sofia Live Club
is a large spacious venue with a different band every night,
playing anything from jazz and blues to soul and salsa.
Great music is this place’s selling point and many big international names have appeared here. Located on the lower
underground level of the National Palace of Culture.QD-3,
pl. Bulgaria 1, NDK underpass, MNDK, tel. (+359) 886
661 045, www.sofialiveclub.com. Open Tue-Wed 20:00 –
06:00, Thu 22:00 – 06:00, Fri-Sat 23:00 – 06:00, Sun
sometimes, Closed Mon. Admission price varies according to event. APGELJW
Sofia National Opera and Ballet
Built in 1909, the interior of the opera, even though it
cannot match Vienna or Prague, still evokes the glamour
of that era. Seating 1200, the repertoire is a mix of internationally recognised operas and ballets, usually sung in
Bulgarian or Italian.Qul. Vrabcha 1, MSerdika or Sofiyski
Universitet, tel. (+359) 879 40 76 43/02 987 1694, www.
operasofia.bg. Open Mon-Fri 9:00-19:00; Sat 11:00-
19:00; Sun 11:00-16:00. Opening hours are for the ticket
office. EJ
Sofia Tech Park
First science and technology park in Bulgaria, opened in 2016
and in addition to providing office space for various ‘tech’
companies it has a large multifunctional hall/event centre –
the John Atanassov Hall.Qbul. Tsarigradsko Shosse 111B, tel.
(+359) 2 447 28 80, www.sofiatech.bg/en. WK
Studio 5
Lovely intimate venue with live music/entertainment
nearly every night; on weekends often 2 gigs one early at
19:00, the other at 22:30. The orientation is mainly jazz –
although the spectrum is wide! You can hire the place
for a private event. Programme details: clubstudio5.com/
eventsQD-3, NDK Entrance A3, MNDK, tel. (+359) 2
963 1254, www.clubstudio5.com. Open 11:00-03:00.
Admission is charged for certain live music events –
usually around 10 leva.
The Art Foundation
Hidden in a delightful courtyard in the centre, the Art
Foundation is a relatively new cultural centre and event
venue in the heart of Sofia. An alluring place for creative
people who live for the arts, this artistic and intimate
space welcomes all art forms from all over the world.Qul.
Dyakon Ignatiy 19, MSerdika, tel. (+359) 88 287 0208.
Open 10:00-22:00.
Private Galleries
Little Bird Place
Little Bird Place is a new art space in the heart of Sofia –
a small gallery with a specific thematic focus – modern
and contemporary art dedicated to nature, the biological
world and ecology.Qul. 11ti Avgust 7, MSofiyski Universitet, tel. (+359) 2 426 8080, www.littlebirdplace.
com. Open 11:00-19:00. Closed Mon. J
Oborishte 5 Gallery & Hall
Historic former music school building in the heart of Sofia has been magnificently restored as an art gallery and
assembly or function hall available for private hire.QC-5,
ul. Oborishte 5, MSofiyski Universitet, tel. (+359) 88
797 4519, www.oborishte5.com. Open Tue, Wed, Thu,
Fri 10:30–18:30; Sat, Sun 11:00-18:00. Closed Mon. J
Red Dot Gallery (Depot for Art)
Qul. Kiril i Methodi 24, MLavov Most/Lions Bridge,
tel. (+359) 88 867 9667, www.chervenatatochka.bg.
Open 14:00-19:00. Closed Sun, Mon.
Structura Gallery
Structura Gallery presents and showcases contemporary
art. It is committed to promoting a new and innovative artistic position in all media, identifying the current tendencies in the world of art and evaluating individual artistic development.Qul. Kuzman Shapkarev 9, www.structura.
gallery/en. Open Tue-Sat 12:00-19:00. Closed Mon, Sun
Cinemas
Once upon a time there were lots of little cinemas dotted all
around the city centre. True, the seats were hard and uncomfortable; true, people used to smoke during the film, true that
sometimes the heating didn’t work but still there was that
unique feeling of ‘going to the pictures’ that you just don’t get
with the new multiplexes. The old cinemas have all but gone
and only Cinema House and Euro Cinema still delight filmgoers
in Sofia with independent cinema.
Cine Grand Bulgaria (Park CentEr Sofia)
Cinema concept with comfy reclining seating and at seat
service. 6 screens.Qbul. Arsenalski 2nd floor, MEuropean Union, tel. (+359) 875 300 982, 0875 300 983. City
Center Sofia, www.cinegrand.bg.
Cine Grand Ring Mall
QOkolovrusten Pat 214, 2nd floor, tel. +359 2 904 80
70, www.cinegrand.bg.
CinemaCity Mall of Sofia
13 screens plus the largest IMAX in BulgariaQbul. Alexander
Stamboliiski 101, MOpalchenska, tel. (+359) 2 929 29 29/
(02) 903 7444, www.cinemacity.bg/en/home. The Box
Office opens 30 minutes before the first movie screening.
CinemaCity Paradise Center
14 screens 2D, 3D and 4DX.Qbul. Cherni Vrah 100,
MJames Bouchier, tel. (+359) 2 903 74 74, www.
cinemacity.bg/en/home. The Box Office opens 30 minutes before the first movie screening.
Cinema House (Dom na Kinoto)
The Cinema House is the most important cinematic and
cultural centre for both professionals and true film buffs
in Bulgaria. Founded as the cinema centre of the Union
of Bulgarian Filmmakers, the cinema opened its doors to
the public in 1990. The Cinema House is part of Europa
Cinemas network and is one of the key cinema theatres
for the big Sofia film festivals – Sofia International Film
Festival, Cinemania and the Festival of European Coproductions.QC-3, ul. Ekzarh Yosif 37, MSerdika, tel.
(+359) 2 987 63 21, www.domnakinoto.com. Ticket
prices: 4-7 leva.J
Euro Cinema
Small Cinema in the centre of town showing international
films that are not part of the general big release circuit.
This venue is usually included in most film festivals.QC-3,
bul. Alexandar Stamboliyski 17, MSerdika, tel. (+359)
2 980 41 61. Open 12:30-22:00; Sun, Sat 12:00-22:00.
Ticket price: 6 leva/children under 18, pensioners and
disabled persons – 5 leva. PUJ
Kino Lumiere Lidl
This 350 capacity projection hall is adjacent to the main
National Palace of Culture building, often referred to as
little NDK. It tends to show films that are not on the main
distribution circuit and plays an important role during
film festivals and other art events. The recent makeover
was more than welcome and has given the movie theatre a new lease of life.QD-3, pl. Bulgaria 1, MNDK, tel.
(+359) 2 9166 841, (+359) 2 9166 830, www.ndk.bg/
Cinema/Lumiere+Cinema/Lumiere+Cinema-22EN.
html
Kino Odeon
The Odeon Film Cinema, owned by the Bulgarian National Film Archive, is unlike any other cinema in the capital: billboards allow the public to make their choice from
the variety of films shown in cycles celebrating Bulgarian
and foreign filmmakers.QD-4, bul. Patriarch Evtimiy1,
MPatriarch Evtimiy, tel. (+359) 2 989 2469, www.bnf.
bg/en/odeon. The Box Office opens 1 hour before the
first screening of the day.
Kino Vlaikova
Charming retro theatre that is now part of the local ‘chitalishte’ – arts and educational centre, where you can
take music or dance classes and also hire the premises.
There is a café and occasional authentic film projections
where you can still hear the whir of the film projector.
Qul. Tsar Ivan Assen II, №11, tel. (+359) 89 222 6868.
Open 10:00-22:00.
8 residents recomanen
CineGrand
2 bul. "Arsenalski"Private Galleries
Little Bird Place
Little Bird Place is a new art space in the heart of Sofia –
a small gallery with a specific thematic focus – modern
and contemporary art dedicated to nature, the biological
world and ecology.Qul. 11ti Avgust 7, MSofiyski Universitet, tel. (+359) 2 426 8080, www.littlebirdplace.
com. Open 11:00-19:00. Closed Mon. J
Oborishte 5 Gallery & Hall
Historic former music school building in the heart of Sofia has been magnificently restored as an art gallery and
assembly or function hall available for private hire.QC-5,
ul. Oborishte 5, MSofiyski Universitet, tel. (+359) 88
797 4519, www.oborishte5.com. Open Tue, Wed, Thu,
Fri 10:30–18:30; Sat, Sun 11:00-18:00. Closed Mon. J
Red Dot Gallery (Depot for Art)
Qul. Kiril i Methodi 24, MLavov Most/Lions Bridge,
tel. (+359) 88 867 9667, www.chervenatatochka.bg.
Open 14:00-19:00. Closed Sun, Mon.
Structura Gallery
Structura Gallery presents and showcases contemporary
art. It is committed to promoting a new and innovative artistic position in all media, identifying the current tendencies in the world of art and evaluating individual artistic development.Qul. Kuzman Shapkarev 9, www.structura.
gallery/en. Open Tue-Sat 12:00-19:00. Closed Mon, Sun
Cinemas
Once upon a time there were lots of little cinemas dotted all
around the city centre. True, the seats were hard and uncomfortable; true, people used to smoke during the film, true that
sometimes the heating didn’t work but still there was that
unique feeling of ‘going to the pictures’ that you just don’t get
with the new multiplexes. The old cinemas have all but gone
and only Cinema House and Euro Cinema still delight filmgoers
in Sofia with independent cinema.
Cine Grand Bulgaria (Park CentEr Sofia)
Cinema concept with comfy reclining seating and at seat
service. 6 screens.Qbul. Arsenalski 2nd floor, MEuropean Union, tel. (+359) 875 300 982, 0875 300 983. City
Center Sofia, www.cinegrand.bg.
Cine Grand Ring Mall
QOkolovrusten Pat 214, 2nd floor, tel. +359 2 904 80
70, www.cinegrand.bg.
CinemaCity Mall of Sofia
13 screens plus the largest IMAX in BulgariaQbul. Alexander
Stamboliiski 101, MOpalchenska, tel. (+359) 2 929 29 29/
(02) 903 7444, www.cinemacity.bg/en/home. The Box
Office opens 30 minutes before the first movie screening.
CinemaCity Paradise Center
14 screens 2D, 3D and 4DX.Qbul. Cherni Vrah 100,
MJames Bouchier, tel. (+359) 2 903 74 74, www.
cinemacity.bg/en/home. The Box Office opens 30 minutes before the first movie screening.
Cinema House (Dom na Kinoto)
The Cinema House is the most important cinematic and
cultural centre for both professionals and true film buffs
in Bulgaria. Founded as the cinema centre of the Union
of Bulgarian Filmmakers, the cinema opened its doors to
the public in 1990. The Cinema House is part of Europa
Cinemas network and is one of the key cinema theatres
for the big Sofia film festivals – Sofia International Film
Festival, Cinemania and the Festival of European Coproductions.QC-3, ul. Ekzarh Yosif 37, MSerdika, tel.
(+359) 2 987 63 21, www.domnakinoto.com. Ticket
prices: 4-7 leva.J
Euro Cinema
Small Cinema in the centre of town showing international
films that are not part of the general big release circuit.
This venue is usually included in most film festivals.QC-3,
bul. Alexandar Stamboliyski 17, MSerdika, tel. (+359)
2 980 41 61. Open 12:30-22:00; Sun, Sat 12:00-22:00.
Ticket price: 6 leva/children under 18, pensioners and
disabled persons – 5 leva. PUJ
Kino Lumiere Lidl
This 350 capacity projection hall is adjacent to the main
National Palace of Culture building, often referred to as
little NDK. It tends to show films that are not on the main
distribution circuit and plays an important role during
film festivals and other art events. The recent makeover
was more than welcome and has given the movie theatre a new lease of life.QD-3, pl. Bulgaria 1, MNDK, tel.
(+359) 2 9166 841, (+359) 2 9166 830, www.ndk.bg/
Cinema/Lumiere+Cinema/Lumiere+Cinema-22EN.
html
Kino Odeon
The Odeon Film Cinema, owned by the Bulgarian National Film Archive, is unlike any other cinema in the capital: billboards allow the public to make their choice from
the variety of films shown in cycles celebrating Bulgarian
and foreign filmmakers.QD-4, bul. Patriarch Evtimiy1,
MPatriarch Evtimiy, tel. (+359) 2 989 2469, www.bnf.
bg/en/odeon. The Box Office opens 1 hour before the
first screening of the day.
Kino Vlaikova
Charming retro theatre that is now part of the local ‘chitalishte’ – arts and educational centre, where you can
take music or dance classes and also hire the premises.
There is a café and occasional authentic film projections
where you can still hear the whir of the film projector.
Qul. Tsar Ivan Assen II, №11, tel. (+359) 89 222 6868.
Open 10:00-22:00.
Sofia’s top Annual Events & Festivals
Sofia International Film Festival
www.siff.bg
When: 12th – 22nd March 2020
SIFF is the biggest film festival in Bulgaria. It has a 20+ year
history dating back to 1997 and manages to attract more
than 85 000 attendees annually. One of the main objectives of the festival is to present the best of contemporary
cinema to local audiences and likewise regional Bulgarian
and Balkan cinema to international audiences. SIFF is the
only cinema festival in Bulgaria that is accredited by the
FIAPF (Fédération Internationale des Associations de Producteurs de Films) Sofia Music Weeks
www.sofiaweeks.com
When: May
50 years since the festival began, it is now well and truly
established in the calendars of classical music lovers in the
capital. Concerts, opera and ballet – the best of Bulgaria’s
stars and also many a big name from around the world.
Broken Balkanz
www.facebook.com/BrokenBalkanz
When: May
One of the longest music festivals in Bulgaria devoted to the
Drum & Bass, Jungle and Dub music. The last 2 years it was
held in one of the liveliest clubs in Sofia (Terminal 1). Every
year the festival gathers an interesting collection of artists
from the Balkans working in the sphere of electronic music.
Sofia Restaurant Week
restaurantweek.bg
When: May and September
Twice a year, SRW offers you the chance to dine out and try
out new restaurants in Sofia for a fixed price set menu. The
specially selected participating restaurants offer a broad
spectrum of cuisine styles and dining experiences to be
had across Sofia. First started in 2016, the event has become hugely popular among locals and foreigners alike.
Opera in the Park
www.operasofia.bg
When: Mid June – Mid July
The national opera takes some of its productions outdoors
into the park of the Military Academy. Opera and Ballet,
premieres and favourite productions as well as children
adaptations.
A to Jazz Festival
www.atojazz.bg
When: 3rd – 5th July 2020
There is no better start to summer than enjoying the
magical sound of jazz in the outdoor setting of the South
Park in the city centre. In 2020 ‘A to JazZ’ will celebrate its
10th anniversary.
KvARTal Festival
www.facebook.com/kvARTal.kolektiv/
When: Closest weekend to 17th September
KvARTal Festival celebrates the culture of Sofia in the zone
enclosed by four of the main boulevards – Maria Louisa,
Vasil Levski, Slivnitsa and Dondukov. Held on the weekend
closest to The Day of Sofia, the rich programme has something for everyone, young and old; art exhibitions, musical
performances, dance competitions, food and drink, workshops, handmade products and more.
Cinelibri: Book and Movie FestivaL
www.cinelibri.com
When: Usually in October for 10-15 days
This festival has to date been held for 5 consecutive years
during the month of October and shows the best examples of movie adaptations based on literary works.
New Year’s Music Festival
www.ndk.bg
When: December until January 1st
Inspired by the traditional Viennese New Year’s concert,
there is a build-up to the main classical concert on New
Year’s Day. Concerts, opera, ballet – live and on screen.
S.I.F.F
12 Via Giuseppe VerdiSofia’s top Annual Events & Festivals
Sofia International Film Festival
www.siff.bg
When: 12th – 22nd March 2020
SIFF is the biggest film festival in Bulgaria. It has a 20+ year
history dating back to 1997 and manages to attract more
than 85 000 attendees annually. One of the main objectives of the festival is to present the best of contemporary
cinema to local audiences and likewise regional Bulgarian
and Balkan cinema to international audiences. SIFF is the
only cinema festival in Bulgaria that is accredited by the
FIAPF (Fédération Internationale des Associations de Producteurs de Films) Sofia Music Weeks
www.sofiaweeks.com
When: May
50 years since the festival began, it is now well and truly
established in the calendars of classical music lovers in the
capital. Concerts, opera and ballet – the best of Bulgaria’s
stars and also many a big name from around the world.
Broken Balkanz
www.facebook.com/BrokenBalkanz
When: May
One of the longest music festivals in Bulgaria devoted to the
Drum & Bass, Jungle and Dub music. The last 2 years it was
held in one of the liveliest clubs in Sofia (Terminal 1). Every
year the festival gathers an interesting collection of artists
from the Balkans working in the sphere of electronic music.
Sofia Restaurant Week
restaurantweek.bg
When: May and September
Twice a year, SRW offers you the chance to dine out and try
out new restaurants in Sofia for a fixed price set menu. The
specially selected participating restaurants offer a broad
spectrum of cuisine styles and dining experiences to be
had across Sofia. First started in 2016, the event has become hugely popular among locals and foreigners alike.
Opera in the Park
www.operasofia.bg
When: Mid June – Mid July
The national opera takes some of its productions outdoors
into the park of the Military Academy. Opera and Ballet,
premieres and favourite productions as well as children
adaptations.
A to Jazz Festival
www.atojazz.bg
When: 3rd – 5th July 2020
There is no better start to summer than enjoying the
magical sound of jazz in the outdoor setting of the South
Park in the city centre. In 2020 ‘A to JazZ’ will celebrate its
10th anniversary.
KvARTal Festival
www.facebook.com/kvARTal.kolektiv/
When: Closest weekend to 17th September
KvARTal Festival celebrates the culture of Sofia in the zone
enclosed by four of the main boulevards – Maria Louisa,
Vasil Levski, Slivnitsa and Dondukov. Held on the weekend
closest to The Day of Sofia, the rich programme has something for everyone, young and old; art exhibitions, musical
performances, dance competitions, food and drink, workshops, handmade products and more.
Cinelibri: Book and Movie FestivaL
www.cinelibri.com
When: Usually in October for 10-15 days
This festival has to date been held for 5 consecutive years
during the month of October and shows the best examples of movie adaptations based on literary works.
New Year’s Music Festival
www.ndk.bg
When: December until January 1st
Inspired by the traditional Viennese New Year’s concert,
there is a build-up to the main classical concert on New
Year’s Day. Concerts, opera, ballet – live and on screen.
Кулинарна сцена
7 Chocolate worKshop at Chicolatti
Chocolate House
Once upon a time Sylvia and Petko had a dream. Now it is
a reality! Born out of their passion to make people happy,
what better than a chocolate house? Here you can enjoy
the welcoming cosy atmosphere whilst sampling the magical creations of master chocolatier, Petko Mirchev! Handmade Belgian chocolates, truffles, pralines, along with
special chocolate desserts for diabetics, vegans or Keto
fans. And don’t miss trying the French eclairs and exquisite
mousse cakes. If you too are passionate about chocolate,
Chicolatti offer special workshops and chocolate parties
for young and old, whether it’s a birthday party or even a
team building exercise. And of course the beautiful hand
made pralines make beautiful gifts for any occasion. QC-3,
bul. Makedonia 10, MSerdika, tel. (+359) 888 312 050,
www.chicolatti.com. Open 10:00-19:00; Sat 10:00-
15:00. Closed Sun. PGTBSJ
Stanimira Chocolate House
42 ulitsa Serdika
7 Chocolate worKshop at Chicolatti
Chocolate House
Once upon a time Sylvia and Petko had a dream. Now it is
a reality! Born out of their passion to make people happy,
what better than a chocolate house? Here you can enjoy
the welcoming cosy atmosphere whilst sampling the magical creations of master chocolatier, Petko Mirchev! Handmade Belgian chocolates, truffles, pralines, along with
special chocolate desserts for diabetics, vegans or Keto
fans. And don’t miss trying the French eclairs and exquisite
mousse cakes. If you too are passionate about chocolate,
Chicolatti offer special workshops and chocolate parties
for young and old, whether it’s a birthday party or even a
team building exercise. And of course the beautiful hand
made pralines make beautiful gifts for any occasion. QC-3,
bul. Makedonia 10, MSerdika, tel. (+359) 888 312 050,
www.chicolatti.com. Open 10:00-19:00; Sat 10:00-
15:00. Closed Sun. PGTBSJ
8 Private art class
at The Little Atelier
The Little Atelier is a gallery space and atelier of the artist Souad Al Jindi in Simeonovo, just on the outskirts of
Sofia. Her work is exhibited there and available for sale.
The space also provides exhibition opportunities for
other artists as well as providing an event space for art
related gatherings. Classes/tuition available on request.
QSimeonovsko Shosse 205, Simeonovo, tel. (+359) 88
871 1103. Upon appointment.
9 Start a knitting project
at Woolgathering
A place not only to buy your yarn – they specialise in
small batch indie dyed luxury yearns – but also where
groups can come together every Friday evening on a
regular creative basis for knitting, crocheting, embroidering, macrame, needle felting, bobbin knitting, you name
it; chatting, sharing and befriending each other. Different
events and workshops throughout the year, this is defi nitely a great chance to mix and learn with like minded
creatives.QD-5, bul. Evlogi Georgiev 80, MEagles
Bridge, tel. (+359) 88 851 0208. Open 14:00-20:00; Sat
11:00-17:00; Sun 11:00-14:00. Closed Mon, Tue.
10 Mix with other expats over a creative project at Sequoia Events
Sequoia Events is a boutique event house surrounded by
a lush green yard in the beautiful suburb of Boyana. Under
their motto “happiness and success come when you do
things you love”, they host a variety of creative and social
events every month, where everyone is welcome. They offer a variety of activities including jewellery making, painting classes, coaching, pottery classes, felt making, yoga
classes, cooking talks and demos, exhibitions, seminars. If
you are organising a special birthday party or looking for
an intimate, homely venue to organise some other event,
this could well be the place for you. They play a central
role in the resident expat community, offering all classes in
English, some also taught by other expats. You can find the
monthly programme online. Please sign up for events in
advance as most are with a limited number of participants.
Refreshments usually included in the price, as well as required materials.Qul. Sasha Popov 5, Boyana, tel. (+359)
88 910 3323, www.sequoiaevents.net. Open 10:00 until
late. Subject to events. NGTIW 11 Create your own unique mug
or plate at Matzalo
If you want to create your very own unique piece, at Matzalo you will find a large selection of raw ceramic shapes
(mugs, plates, bowls, dishes and figurines) which you can
decorate/paint exactly as you please. All materials provided on site. The studio will then glaze and fire your finished product and you can collect it after 48 hours. Price
is based on the ceramic object chosen somewhere in the
range of 10 – 25 leva.Qul. Parchevich 48, MNDK, tel.
(+359) 88 943 5586, www.matzalo.com.
matzalo
48 ul. "Petar Parchevich"8 Private art class
at The Little Atelier
The Little Atelier is a gallery space and atelier of the artist Souad Al Jindi in Simeonovo, just on the outskirts of
Sofia. Her work is exhibited there and available for sale.
The space also provides exhibition opportunities for
other artists as well as providing an event space for art
related gatherings. Classes/tuition available on request.
QSimeonovsko Shosse 205, Simeonovo, tel. (+359) 88
871 1103. Upon appointment.
9 Start a knitting project
at Woolgathering
A place not only to buy your yarn – they specialise in
small batch indie dyed luxury yearns – but also where
groups can come together every Friday evening on a
regular creative basis for knitting, crocheting, embroidering, macrame, needle felting, bobbin knitting, you name
it; chatting, sharing and befriending each other. Different
events and workshops throughout the year, this is defi nitely a great chance to mix and learn with like minded
creatives.QD-5, bul. Evlogi Georgiev 80, MEagles
Bridge, tel. (+359) 88 851 0208. Open 14:00-20:00; Sat
11:00-17:00; Sun 11:00-14:00. Closed Mon, Tue.
10 Mix with other expats over a creative project at Sequoia Events
Sequoia Events is a boutique event house surrounded by
a lush green yard in the beautiful suburb of Boyana. Under
their motto “happiness and success come when you do
things you love”, they host a variety of creative and social
events every month, where everyone is welcome. They offer a variety of activities including jewellery making, painting classes, coaching, pottery classes, felt making, yoga
classes, cooking talks and demos, exhibitions, seminars. If
you are organising a special birthday party or looking for
an intimate, homely venue to organise some other event,
this could well be the place for you. They play a central
role in the resident expat community, offering all classes in
English, some also taught by other expats. You can find the
monthly programme online. Please sign up for events in
advance as most are with a limited number of participants.
Refreshments usually included in the price, as well as required materials.Qul. Sasha Popov 5, Boyana, tel. (+359)
88 910 3323, www.sequoiaevents.net. Open 10:00 until
late. Subject to events. NGTIW 11 Create your own unique mug
or plate at Matzalo
If you want to create your very own unique piece, at Matzalo you will find a large selection of raw ceramic shapes
(mugs, plates, bowls, dishes and figurines) which you can
decorate/paint exactly as you please. All materials provided on site. The studio will then glaze and fire your finished product and you can collect it after 48 hours. Price
is based on the ceramic object chosen somewhere in the
range of 10 – 25 leva.Qul. Parchevich 48, MNDK, tel.
(+359) 88 943 5586, www.matzalo.com.
Bulgarian Cuisine
what to eat
Bulgarian cuisine tends to be simple, seasonal
and tasty. There are many dishes similar to those
of neighbouring countries.
It relies heavily on fresh salads, a compulsory start
to any meal along with a good measure of the local
brandy rakia. Topping the list is the ‘Shopska’ Salad
(diced cucumber, tomatoes, sometimes peppers
and onions, generously covered in grated white
cheese and parsley) which not only combines the
colours of the national flag, but the purest of locally produced ingredients. In the winter months
these are partly replaced by pickled cabbage salad
and mixed vegetables ‘turshiya’.
Many of the traditional warm starter dishes make
good vegetarian options e.g. ‘Sirene po Shopski’
(white cheese and egg baked in a ceramic pot),
‘chushki byurek’ (peppers stuffed with white cheese
mixture) or baked peppers with a tomato sauce.
The most popular soups include; chicken, bean,
lentil, nettle and tripe but be sure to try the
refreshing cold ‘tarator’ (yoghurt with cucumber, dill garlic and walnuts) during the summer
months.
Grilled meats are very popular and a safe bet, either in the form of pork or chicken chops or as
minced meatballs ‘kyufteta’ or sausage shaped
‘kebabcheta’. As a side dish potatoes sautéed
with garlic and dill are hard to beat. In spring take
the opportunity to enjoy the taste of fresh whole
lamb cooked on a spit ‘cheverme’ or slow roasted
in special ovens, stuffed with rice and innards.
Traditional slow cooked stews in pretty earthenware pots combine a variety of seasonal vegetables ‘Gyuvech’ with meat ‘Kavarma’ as do the hot
sizzler plates known as ‘satch’.
Bulgarian cuisine is a little poor when it comes
to desserts especially in restaurants. Usually the
offer is limited to pancakes, ice cream or crème
brule, but in the autumn baked pumpkin with
honey and walnuts makes a regular appearance
on local menus and is a healthy and tasty end to
any meal.
‘Banitsa’ is probably the most popular snack in
Bulgaria. Thin filo pastry, filled with a variety of
mixtures such as custard, white cheese, spinach,
leeks or pumpkin, can be found at special bakery shops known as ‘banicharnitsi’. Together with
a bottle of ‘Airyan’ (yoghurt drink) this is a filling
and tasty snack at any time of day.
Also popular but harder to find are ‘mekitsi’, Bulgaria’s version of a doughnut, fried dough pieces
dusted in icing sugar.
And finally just a quick word about some of the
things Bulgarians enjoy – things that not everyone will enjoy! These include tripe soup, pigs
trotters, tongue in butter, and similar delicacies.
Be adventurous and enjoy!
what to Drink
Drinking the local brews won’t pose much of a
problem here in Bulgaria, as besides being one
of Europe’s top wine producers it also has excellent beers and spirits, and if non-alcoholic is your
choice then there are also excellent mineral waters that are very affordable. Worth trying are the
waters laced with rose water which you can find
at select stores around town. The refreshing yogurt drink familiar in Turkey and the Middle East
is known locally as ‘airyan’ and is still very popular,
despite the glut of locally produced fizzy drinks.
The overwhelming drink of choice, though, is
coffee and is consumed throughout the day. The
leader is espresso. You can also ask for a ‘dulgo’
espresso, which gets you a watered-down version. Filter coffee (known by its German name
Schwarzkaffee) is really only served in the most
modern cafés and hotels. Turkish coffee is rarely
found in Sofia, but you can find it in Plovdiv and
the southern parts of the country, where it is
served with ‘byalo sladko’, a sweet white syrup.
Tea, on the other hand, hardly gets a look-in; locally produced herbal teas are widely available
but usually only consumed in the winter and by
those suffering from a cold or flu. Those who are
particular about their black tea will find it almost
impossible to be satisfied here. Best bring plenty
of supplies with you and travel the country with
your own stash of tea bags. You can then just order a pot of hot water. Milk is not automatically
served with tea.
It is said that grapes were first cultivated for wine
around the Black Sea region, so it is only natural
that Bulgaria has many excellent wines on offer.
Most of Bulgaria’s breweries have been bought
by foreign companies and produce a good to
high quality lager beer. The most popular local
brews include: Astika, Kamenitsa and Zagorka. In
recent years there has been a boom in the craft
ale business and the choice is excellent. Try our
favourite the Divo Pivo brand.
Spirits such as vodka and whisky are also very
popular with Bulgarians along with the traditional rakia (clear grape or plum spirit). They are
usually drunk neat (with ice), and accompanied
by a fizzy drink in a separate glass. Rakia is also
considered a cold cure when it is drunk warm.
Do be wary of homemade rakia, which can have
a very high alcohol content and can have you
drunk before you realise it.
105 residents recomanen
Ракия Ракета Бар
17 bul. "Yanko Sakazov"Bulgarian Cuisine
what to eat
Bulgarian cuisine tends to be simple, seasonal
and tasty. There are many dishes similar to those
of neighbouring countries.
It relies heavily on fresh salads, a compulsory start
to any meal along with a good measure of the local
brandy rakia. Topping the list is the ‘Shopska’ Salad
(diced cucumber, tomatoes, sometimes peppers
and onions, generously covered in grated white
cheese and parsley) which not only combines the
colours of the national flag, but the purest of locally produced ingredients. In the winter months
these are partly replaced by pickled cabbage salad
and mixed vegetables ‘turshiya’.
Many of the traditional warm starter dishes make
good vegetarian options e.g. ‘Sirene po Shopski’
(white cheese and egg baked in a ceramic pot),
‘chushki byurek’ (peppers stuffed with white cheese
mixture) or baked peppers with a tomato sauce.
The most popular soups include; chicken, bean,
lentil, nettle and tripe but be sure to try the
refreshing cold ‘tarator’ (yoghurt with cucumber, dill garlic and walnuts) during the summer
months.
Grilled meats are very popular and a safe bet, either in the form of pork or chicken chops or as
minced meatballs ‘kyufteta’ or sausage shaped
‘kebabcheta’. As a side dish potatoes sautéed
with garlic and dill are hard to beat. In spring take
the opportunity to enjoy the taste of fresh whole
lamb cooked on a spit ‘cheverme’ or slow roasted
in special ovens, stuffed with rice and innards.
Traditional slow cooked stews in pretty earthenware pots combine a variety of seasonal vegetables ‘Gyuvech’ with meat ‘Kavarma’ as do the hot
sizzler plates known as ‘satch’.
Bulgarian cuisine is a little poor when it comes
to desserts especially in restaurants. Usually the
offer is limited to pancakes, ice cream or crème
brule, but in the autumn baked pumpkin with
honey and walnuts makes a regular appearance
on local menus and is a healthy and tasty end to
any meal.
‘Banitsa’ is probably the most popular snack in
Bulgaria. Thin filo pastry, filled with a variety of
mixtures such as custard, white cheese, spinach,
leeks or pumpkin, can be found at special bakery shops known as ‘banicharnitsi’. Together with
a bottle of ‘Airyan’ (yoghurt drink) this is a filling
and tasty snack at any time of day.
Also popular but harder to find are ‘mekitsi’, Bulgaria’s version of a doughnut, fried dough pieces
dusted in icing sugar.
And finally just a quick word about some of the
things Bulgarians enjoy – things that not everyone will enjoy! These include tripe soup, pigs
trotters, tongue in butter, and similar delicacies.
Be adventurous and enjoy!
what to Drink
Drinking the local brews won’t pose much of a
problem here in Bulgaria, as besides being one
of Europe’s top wine producers it also has excellent beers and spirits, and if non-alcoholic is your
choice then there are also excellent mineral waters that are very affordable. Worth trying are the
waters laced with rose water which you can find
at select stores around town. The refreshing yogurt drink familiar in Turkey and the Middle East
is known locally as ‘airyan’ and is still very popular,
despite the glut of locally produced fizzy drinks.
The overwhelming drink of choice, though, is
coffee and is consumed throughout the day. The
leader is espresso. You can also ask for a ‘dulgo’
espresso, which gets you a watered-down version. Filter coffee (known by its German name
Schwarzkaffee) is really only served in the most
modern cafés and hotels. Turkish coffee is rarely
found in Sofia, but you can find it in Plovdiv and
the southern parts of the country, where it is
served with ‘byalo sladko’, a sweet white syrup.
Tea, on the other hand, hardly gets a look-in; locally produced herbal teas are widely available
but usually only consumed in the winter and by
those suffering from a cold or flu. Those who are
particular about their black tea will find it almost
impossible to be satisfied here. Best bring plenty
of supplies with you and travel the country with
your own stash of tea bags. You can then just order a pot of hot water. Milk is not automatically
served with tea.
It is said that grapes were first cultivated for wine
around the Black Sea region, so it is only natural
that Bulgaria has many excellent wines on offer.
Most of Bulgaria’s breweries have been bought
by foreign companies and produce a good to
high quality lager beer. The most popular local
brews include: Astika, Kamenitsa and Zagorka. In
recent years there has been a boom in the craft
ale business and the choice is excellent. Try our
favourite the Divo Pivo brand.
Spirits such as vodka and whisky are also very
popular with Bulgarians along with the traditional rakia (clear grape or plum spirit). They are
usually drunk neat (with ice), and accompanied
by a fizzy drink in a separate glass. Rakia is also
considered a cold cure when it is drunk warm.
Do be wary of homemade rakia, which can have
a very high alcohol content and can have you
drunk before you realise it.
the best of
B
ulga
rian
Bulgarian cuisine traditionally means lots of salads,
platters of cold cuts, grilled meats, fried potatoes washed
down with the local tipple, rakia. There are of course
many other cooked dishes worth trying with plenty of
vegetarian options in the starters section. In recent years
we have noticed several restaurants trying to develop
their own take on getting Bulgarian Cuisine to the next
level, whether it is by digging out grandma’s old recipes or
developing sustainable local production or experimenting
with traditional techniques such as fermentation, they
each have something to contribute to the popularity of
Bulgarian Cuisine. Listed here is our favourite cross section
of Bulgarian Dining Experiences... some complete with live
folk music. Traiani
n
i Koshari
Traditional Bulgarian style restaurant with some mod
-
ern updates – a cosy interior with large open spit and
cooking station at the rear. Particularly attractive is
the pared back menu, all dishes neatly listed on one
card featuring a variety of Bulgarian specialities and
some more unusual dishes made with individually lo
-
cally sourced ingredients from sustainable farms and
regional dairy farms. The best of fresh, seasonal and
regional, carefully selected. For those who want to ex
-
perience traditional folklore, there is live music every
Wednesday through to Saturday with folk dance shows
on Friday and Saturdays.
Q
G
-3, bul. Nikola Vaptsarov 1,
MVitosha, tel. (+359) 877 404 040, www.koshari.bg.
Open 10:30-00:00. APBIESWK Cosmos
The light contemporary almost Scandinavian furniture is
firmly anchored on traditional Bulgarian rugs, ‘cosmic’ me
-
tallic light fittings are set off against rustic bare brick walls.
And so too the food is a juxtaposition of new/trendy vs
old/traditional. The presentation of the dishes is ‘out of this
world’, food quality and pricing are on a par and the general
consensus is that this is one of the best dining experiences
in Sofia. Go see for yourself. By the way, Cosmos is part of the
Raketa & Sputnik group, all of them recommended as great
places.
Q
C-3, ul. Lavele 19,
MSerdika, tel. (+359) 888 200
700. Open 11:00-01:00. APGJWK
MOMA
MOMA describes itself as traditional Bulgarian food and
wine, but it is done with such style and imagination that
puts it right in there with the contemporary trendy restau
-
rants. The menu also makes some allowances for more in
-
novative dishes, such as quinoa tabbouleh – which how
-
ever still tie in well with other more traditional dishes. All
our dishes were fresh and tasty, seasoned just right. The
service was friendly and attentive, the courtyard provid
ing enough shade on a sunny hot day. Definitely the place
to go for Bulgarian cuisine, without all the usual overdone
decor of red tablecloths and brown terracotta crockery!
The Bulgarian word ‘Moma’ means young maiden!
Q
C-3,
ul. Solunska 28,
MNDK, tel. (+359) 885 622 020, www.
moma-restaurant.com. Open 11:00-23:00. APJ Hadjidraganovite Kashti
Traditional Bulgarian restaurant in a complex of restored
19th century houses close to the central station. There are
four themed houses named after the typical architectural
styles in the beautiful towns of Bansko, Melnik, Zheravna and
Koprishtitsa. Traditional Bulgarian cuisine, open fireplace,
courtyard and live music.
Q
B
-3, ul. Kozlodui 75,
MLavov
Most, tel. (+359) 899 917 837, www.kashtite.com/en.
Open 11:30-01:00. APGUBIEJW Raketa Rakia Bar
Raketa is full of memorabilia from the socialist era. Its main
pride is the extensive list of Rakia (the local brandy) on
offer, accompanied by an excellent and varied menu of
hearty local dishes with a new take. The ribs are fantas
-
tic and there are several dishes that even Bulgarians have
forgotten about. The terrace is shared with the adjacent
cocktail bar Sputnik which is run by the same group and
sometimes offers an overflow from the restaurant on busy
days. Definitely both offer a novel and original experience
in Sofia.
Qbul. Yanko Sakazov 15-17, tel. (+359) 2 4446
111. Open 11:00-00:00; Sat, Sun 9:00-00:00. BJ Bagri
Bagri is probably one of the most exciting dining experi
-
ences you can have in Sofia, a shining beacon for new
-
Bulgarian Cuisine. Food served here is seasonal, with an
emphasis on local produce, farm to table and healthy
cooking techniques. Bagri is more than just a meal; there
is a lot of thought and a great slow food philosophy be
-
hind it, which is also reflected in the eclectic interior, split
into several medium sized areas and separated by natural
birch tree trunk dividers. The staff are friendly and refresh
-
ingly helpful. On weekends they now serve ‘brunch’ dur
-
ing the day, introducing new seasonal dishes – choose
from 8 or so different items, both sweet and savoury,
vegetarian and non – veg.
Q
C-4, ul. Dobroudzha 10,
MSofiyski Universitet, tel. (+359) 88 507 7927, www.
bagri-restaurant.bg. Open 12:00–15:00, 18:30–22:00.
Closed Mon. Closed for vacation in August. Vodenitsata
This is definitely only recommended in fine weather as the
restaurant is set in the forest, part way up the mountain
from Dragalevtsi Square. As the name implies, a charm
-
ing watermill welcomes guests to a traditional Bulgarian
restaurant setting with a regular folklore programme. This
is now the only place in Sofia to witness the ‘Nestinari’-
fire walking according to the ancient Bulgarian tradition. QDragalevtsi, next to the ski lift, tel. (+359) 2 967 1058.
Restaurants Restaurants
Saffron
This is our favourite Indian, tucked away in Studentsi Grad
(students’ town) near the ‘Fantastiko’ supermarket – but
don’t be put off by the location – it is definitely worth going to, and in fact for those living in suburbia it is ideally
located with easy street parking. Prakash, the chef and
owner, serves authentic top quality Indian food, as well
as innovative fusion dishes with a passion that is absent
in the other Indian restaurants. Not without reason Saffron was chosen to cater for the visit of the Indian President to Bulgaria in 2018. In the summer months there is
a pleasant outdoor dining area.Qul. Francois Mitterand,
Studentski Grad, tel. (+359)87 633 8370/(+359) 890-
917203, www.saffron-bg.com/en/. Open 12:00-23:00;
Mon 17:00-23:00. PGXS
Gurkha
The menu features excellent traditional Nepali and Indian
cuisine and without a doubt this is one of the best restaurants in this category. Anyone who has been to Nepal will
be happy to find Momos on the menu here! An open fire
place and ethnic decor makes for a dining ambience that
transports you to the magical Himalayas, with friendly
service and delicious food.QF-2, ul. Tsvetna Gradina
56, MEvropeyski Soyuz, tel. (+359) 2 865 02 16/(+359)
88 493 9100, www.gurkhabg.com. Open 12:00-24:00.
Closed Mon. (15 – 25 leva). APBISV
Social Café & Kitchen Bar
We love the concept, decor, food and view. The dishes
are a fresh innovative mix of regional and Italian, with an
open kitchen concept where you can watch your meal
being prepared. Laid out either side of a central bar area,
the ambience is lively and dynamic. The upper level provides a calmer restaurant dining experience. The Social
Café is a great place to stop for coffee, lunch or dinner,
a drink with friends and a bit of people watching. For a
more intimate experience you could try their new location, Social Signature.QC-3, bul. Vitosha 16, MNDK,
tel. (+359) 8 767676 47, www.socialcafe.bg/index.php.
Open 9:00-02:00.
Bistro Krug
Another exciting recent addition to the ever growing and
popular smaller dining spaces in Sofia that focus on the
creative use of local and seasonal products. Accompanied by tasty local wine and friendly service – what more
can you ask for? By the way ‘krug/krag’ is the Bulgarian word for circle and is tricky to transliterate into English. QC-5, ul. Sheinovo 4A, MSofiyski Universitet, tel.
(+359) 2 992 5543. Open 18:00-22:00; Sat 12:00-22:00;
Sun 12:00-17:00. Closed Mon. AGBSJ6W
Moments by Andre Tokev
The restaurant promotes itself as a cocktail bistro – we
think the label Gastro Pub also fits it well. This large spacious restaurant just off busy Vitosha Blvd with a small
garden area (too small for the summer months unless
you reserve in advance) was the earlier home of Wagamama (sadly failed in Sofia) and they have kept the original
open kitchen and communal table concept. What we love
about this place is that it is the perfect place to come with
a group of friends where each has a different appetite and
plans for the evening. You can have a meal with creative
dishes from around the world, adapted in the way Andre
does best or you can just have some drinks with dips and
nibbles. Beer and chips or salmon and wine – everything
goes! Above all, we were very pleasantly surprised at how
reasonable the prices were for the good quality of food and
pleasant service. Definitely the kind of place you can revisit
many times.QC-3, ul. Uzundzhovska 7-9, MSerdika, tel.
(+359) 88 333 6313. Open 12:00-23:00; Sun 12:00-15:00.
Sunday brunch only. €€. APBJ
By The Way
Massively popular bar for people who wear suits by day
and surf and snowboard all summer. Centrally located,
By the Way is equally good for morning coffee and a
croissant, a quiet lunch of good salads and sandwiches
or to meet up with friends in the evening over cocktails.
QD-3, ul. Georgi Rakovski 166, MNDK, tel. (+359) 2
980 3836/(+359) 2 988 3836, www.bytheway.bg. Open
09:00-01:00; Sun 09:00-22:30. APBJ
Genji
Genji markets itself as Japanese and Korean Street Food
and for those of us who have never had authentic Korean
street food – it sure tastes convincing and it seems this
place is rapidly becoming a favourite among Sofia’s foodies! Genji is also the funky chef wielding his stuff behind
the hot grill plates where pretty much everything is prepared fresh to order. The menu is relatively short but still
offers plenty of choice as most of the main dishes come in
a variety of vegetarian, chicken, pork or prawns. If beokkeumbap, ja jang meon and onigirazu leave you clueless, fear not – there are photos to help you choose and
the staff are happy to advise. Self service.QB/C-3, bul.
Maria Luiza 28, MSerdika, tel. (+359) 88 725 8186.
Open 11:00-22:00; Sun 16:00-22:00. Closed Sat. SJ
Made in Home
Quirkily designed restaurant on one of Sofia’s popular city
centre back streets. Wide-ranging menu of imaginative
dishes, mostly with a healthy theme, there is plenty of
choice on the daily menu whether you are vegan, veg
etarian or a carnivore. Portions are generous and the staff
friendly. Always busy. Also their sister venue Made in
Blue set out in an old house on ul. Yuri Venelin 6 offers
a similar experience with the added benefit of a summer
courtyard.QD-3, ul. Angel Kanchev 30, MNDK, tel.
(+359) 87 688 4014. Open 11:00-22:30.
Public Bar
Public is all about cocktails (and definitely not to be confused with the old British notion of a public bar) Situated
in the buzzing city centre you will find an exciting drinks
menu here showcasing cocktails infused with the passion
of Sofia’s most popular barman ‘Drago Ivanov’. Not only
does he want to revive the traditional classics, but each
month he creates his own new, inspirational take on them.
So if you thought that cocktails were only for the summer
on the beach, think again and enjoy both innovative as well
as classic drinks (including some very tasty non-alcoholic
options) in a very lively bar setting, with a charming balcony area. DJ on Fridays and SaturdaysQC-3, ul. Angel
Kanchev 1, 2nd floor, MSerdika, tel. (+359) 884 333 781.
Open Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu 15:00–0:00; Fri, Sat 17:00-
02:00; Sun 15:00–0:00. APGBEJW
Skapto (formerly Skaptobara)
Great place – great burgers! We had incredibly friendly
service (for Sofia standards). The burgers are very juicy
and tasty, cooked to order using only fresh meat. Original
sauces and generous portions all add to the experience.
There is always a vegetarian burger on the menu and for
anyone on a diet you can replace the bun with iceberg
lettuce. For those who love their beer, plenty of regional
craft ales to choose from. Don’t skip the fries ; -) Nice outdoor seating.Qul. Iskar 11a, MSerdika, tel. (+359) 87
733 3233, www.skapto.bg. Open 10:00-00:00. Kitchen
12:00 – 23:30. €€. BSJW
Boom! Burgers
The first of now several Gourmet Burger venues in Sofia.
On offer – quality burgers and steaks in a genuine ‘diner’
style presentation with hand-cut fries. There is a choice of
6 or so burgers made with prime Irish beef patties – plus
one vegetarian (aubergine and goat’s cheese) and a skinny
option i.e. no bun. Additionally there is a selection of steaks
(fillet or rib-eye) and half a dozen salad choices and regular
monthly specials.QC-3, ul. Karnigradska 15, MNDK/Serdika, tel. (+359) 89 442 0440, www.boomburgers.bg.
Open 12:00-22:00; Fri, Sat 12:00-22:30. Also on bul. Tsar
Osvoboditel 12. €€. APGTSVJW
Street Chefs
To be honest when Street Chefs opened this first food
truck a few years ago, we didn’t believe they would be
able to hold the location for long, but they have, and they
have since expanded to several other locations in town,
including the Business Park. High quality burgers, meaty
sandwiches including one vegetarian and one fishy option,
steaks, salads, crispy fries – everything very tasty and fresh.
To avoid waiting too long in line, especially during peak periods, you can order ahead online.QD-3, ul. Parchevich 58-
60, MNDK, tel. (+359) 88 905 2565, www.streetchefs.
bg/en. Open 11:00-22:00. €€. BJ6
Green Deli Café
Bulgaria’s answer to the international coffee chains, Green
Deli Café offers warm and cold food as well as tea, coffee and fresh juices. Try their fresh salads using healthy,
natural ingredients in unusual combinations, freshly made
soups and delicious sandwiches.QD-3, ul. Rakovski 165,
MNDK, tel. (+359) 879 256 565, www.greendelicafe.
com. Open 07:00-20:00; Sun, Sat 09:00-19:00. APJ
Edo Sushi Teppanyaki Ring Mall
We have to deduct points for their smoking policy (they
actually ask you if you want smoking or non-smoking) and,
yes, smokers get the lovely view to Vitosha Mountain from
the glazed terrace during the winter months. That said, it is
a good restaurant to have on hand in the Sofia Ring Mall –
equally suited to eating out with family or friends. The food
is authentic, tasty and well presented. Classic sushi, teppanyaki (hot metal grill plate) and other traditional Japanese
dishes, including a variety of noodle dishes. The service is
friendly, efficient and discreet. You can choose low level
Japanese style seating, sit around the grill (kids love this as
the chef delivers an entertaining show) or standard classic
dining.QSofia Ring Mall, Back Terrace level 2, MSofia
Business Park, tel. (+359) 886 661 614, www.Edosushi.
bg. Open 11:00-23:30. APGXTUBS6W
60 residents recomanen
Cosmos Restaurant / Космос
19 ul. "Laveleye"the best of
B
ulga
rian
Bulgarian cuisine traditionally means lots of salads,
platters of cold cuts, grilled meats, fried potatoes washed
down with the local tipple, rakia. There are of course
many other cooked dishes worth trying with plenty of
vegetarian options in the starters section. In recent years
we have noticed several restaurants trying to develop
their own take on getting Bulgarian Cuisine to the next
level, whether it is by digging out grandma’s old recipes or
developing sustainable local production or experimenting
with traditional techniques such as fermentation, they
each have something to contribute to the popularity of
Bulgarian Cuisine. Listed here is our favourite cross section
of Bulgarian Dining Experiences... some complete with live
folk music. Traiani
n
i Koshari
Traditional Bulgarian style restaurant with some mod
-
ern updates – a cosy interior with large open spit and
cooking station at the rear. Particularly attractive is
the pared back menu, all dishes neatly listed on one
card featuring a variety of Bulgarian specialities and
some more unusual dishes made with individually lo
-
cally sourced ingredients from sustainable farms and
regional dairy farms. The best of fresh, seasonal and
regional, carefully selected. For those who want to ex
-
perience traditional folklore, there is live music every
Wednesday through to Saturday with folk dance shows
on Friday and Saturdays.
Q
G
-3, bul. Nikola Vaptsarov 1,
MVitosha, tel. (+359) 877 404 040, www.koshari.bg.
Open 10:30-00:00. APBIESWK Cosmos
The light contemporary almost Scandinavian furniture is
firmly anchored on traditional Bulgarian rugs, ‘cosmic’ me
-
tallic light fittings are set off against rustic bare brick walls.
And so too the food is a juxtaposition of new/trendy vs
old/traditional. The presentation of the dishes is ‘out of this
world’, food quality and pricing are on a par and the general
consensus is that this is one of the best dining experiences
in Sofia. Go see for yourself. By the way, Cosmos is part of the
Raketa & Sputnik group, all of them recommended as great
places.
Q
C-3, ul. Lavele 19,
MSerdika, tel. (+359) 888 200
700. Open 11:00-01:00. APGJWK
MOMA
MOMA describes itself as traditional Bulgarian food and
wine, but it is done with such style and imagination that
puts it right in there with the contemporary trendy restau
-
rants. The menu also makes some allowances for more in
-
novative dishes, such as quinoa tabbouleh – which how
-
ever still tie in well with other more traditional dishes. All
our dishes were fresh and tasty, seasoned just right. The
service was friendly and attentive, the courtyard provid
ing enough shade on a sunny hot day. Definitely the place
to go for Bulgarian cuisine, without all the usual overdone
decor of red tablecloths and brown terracotta crockery!
The Bulgarian word ‘Moma’ means young maiden!
Q
C-3,
ul. Solunska 28,
MNDK, tel. (+359) 885 622 020, www.
moma-restaurant.com. Open 11:00-23:00. APJ Hadjidraganovite Kashti
Traditional Bulgarian restaurant in a complex of restored
19th century houses close to the central station. There are
four themed houses named after the typical architectural
styles in the beautiful towns of Bansko, Melnik, Zheravna and
Koprishtitsa. Traditional Bulgarian cuisine, open fireplace,
courtyard and live music.
Q
B
-3, ul. Kozlodui 75,
MLavov
Most, tel. (+359) 899 917 837, www.kashtite.com/en.
Open 11:30-01:00. APGUBIEJW Raketa Rakia Bar
Raketa is full of memorabilia from the socialist era. Its main
pride is the extensive list of Rakia (the local brandy) on
offer, accompanied by an excellent and varied menu of
hearty local dishes with a new take. The ribs are fantas
-
tic and there are several dishes that even Bulgarians have
forgotten about. The terrace is shared with the adjacent
cocktail bar Sputnik which is run by the same group and
sometimes offers an overflow from the restaurant on busy
days. Definitely both offer a novel and original experience
in Sofia.
Qbul. Yanko Sakazov 15-17, tel. (+359) 2 4446
111. Open 11:00-00:00; Sat, Sun 9:00-00:00. BJ Bagri
Bagri is probably one of the most exciting dining experi
-
ences you can have in Sofia, a shining beacon for new
-
Bulgarian Cuisine. Food served here is seasonal, with an
emphasis on local produce, farm to table and healthy
cooking techniques. Bagri is more than just a meal; there
is a lot of thought and a great slow food philosophy be
-
hind it, which is also reflected in the eclectic interior, split
into several medium sized areas and separated by natural
birch tree trunk dividers. The staff are friendly and refresh
-
ingly helpful. On weekends they now serve ‘brunch’ dur
-
ing the day, introducing new seasonal dishes – choose
from 8 or so different items, both sweet and savoury,
vegetarian and non – veg.
Q
C-4, ul. Dobroudzha 10,
MSofiyski Universitet, tel. (+359) 88 507 7927, www.
bagri-restaurant.bg. Open 12:00–15:00, 18:30–22:00.
Closed Mon. Closed for vacation in August. Vodenitsata
This is definitely only recommended in fine weather as the
restaurant is set in the forest, part way up the mountain
from Dragalevtsi Square. As the name implies, a charm
-
ing watermill welcomes guests to a traditional Bulgarian
restaurant setting with a regular folklore programme. This
is now the only place in Sofia to witness the ‘Nestinari’-
fire walking according to the ancient Bulgarian tradition. QDragalevtsi, next to the ski lift, tel. (+359) 2 967 1058.
Restaurants Restaurants
Saffron
This is our favourite Indian, tucked away in Studentsi Grad
(students’ town) near the ‘Fantastiko’ supermarket – but
don’t be put off by the location – it is definitely worth going to, and in fact for those living in suburbia it is ideally
located with easy street parking. Prakash, the chef and
owner, serves authentic top quality Indian food, as well
as innovative fusion dishes with a passion that is absent
in the other Indian restaurants. Not without reason Saffron was chosen to cater for the visit of the Indian President to Bulgaria in 2018. In the summer months there is
a pleasant outdoor dining area.Qul. Francois Mitterand,
Studentski Grad, tel. (+359)87 633 8370/(+359) 890-
917203, www.saffron-bg.com/en/. Open 12:00-23:00;
Mon 17:00-23:00. PGXS
Gurkha
The menu features excellent traditional Nepali and Indian
cuisine and without a doubt this is one of the best restaurants in this category. Anyone who has been to Nepal will
be happy to find Momos on the menu here! An open fire
place and ethnic decor makes for a dining ambience that
transports you to the magical Himalayas, with friendly
service and delicious food.QF-2, ul. Tsvetna Gradina
56, MEvropeyski Soyuz, tel. (+359) 2 865 02 16/(+359)
88 493 9100, www.gurkhabg.com. Open 12:00-24:00.
Closed Mon. (15 – 25 leva). APBISV
Social Café & Kitchen Bar
We love the concept, decor, food and view. The dishes
are a fresh innovative mix of regional and Italian, with an
open kitchen concept where you can watch your meal
being prepared. Laid out either side of a central bar area,
the ambience is lively and dynamic. The upper level provides a calmer restaurant dining experience. The Social
Café is a great place to stop for coffee, lunch or dinner,
a drink with friends and a bit of people watching. For a
more intimate experience you could try their new location, Social Signature.QC-3, bul. Vitosha 16, MNDK,
tel. (+359) 8 767676 47, www.socialcafe.bg/index.php.
Open 9:00-02:00.
Bistro Krug
Another exciting recent addition to the ever growing and
popular smaller dining spaces in Sofia that focus on the
creative use of local and seasonal products. Accompanied by tasty local wine and friendly service – what more
can you ask for? By the way ‘krug/krag’ is the Bulgarian word for circle and is tricky to transliterate into English. QC-5, ul. Sheinovo 4A, MSofiyski Universitet, tel.
(+359) 2 992 5543. Open 18:00-22:00; Sat 12:00-22:00;
Sun 12:00-17:00. Closed Mon. AGBSJ6W
Moments by Andre Tokev
The restaurant promotes itself as a cocktail bistro – we
think the label Gastro Pub also fits it well. This large spacious restaurant just off busy Vitosha Blvd with a small
garden area (too small for the summer months unless
you reserve in advance) was the earlier home of Wagamama (sadly failed in Sofia) and they have kept the original
open kitchen and communal table concept. What we love
about this place is that it is the perfect place to come with
a group of friends where each has a different appetite and
plans for the evening. You can have a meal with creative
dishes from around the world, adapted in the way Andre
does best or you can just have some drinks with dips and
nibbles. Beer and chips or salmon and wine – everything
goes! Above all, we were very pleasantly surprised at how
reasonable the prices were for the good quality of food and
pleasant service. Definitely the kind of place you can revisit
many times.QC-3, ul. Uzundzhovska 7-9, MSerdika, tel.
(+359) 88 333 6313. Open 12:00-23:00; Sun 12:00-15:00.
Sunday brunch only. €€. APBJ
By The Way
Massively popular bar for people who wear suits by day
and surf and snowboard all summer. Centrally located,
By the Way is equally good for morning coffee and a
croissant, a quiet lunch of good salads and sandwiches
or to meet up with friends in the evening over cocktails.
QD-3, ul. Georgi Rakovski 166, MNDK, tel. (+359) 2
980 3836/(+359) 2 988 3836, www.bytheway.bg. Open
09:00-01:00; Sun 09:00-22:30. APBJ
Genji
Genji markets itself as Japanese and Korean Street Food
and for those of us who have never had authentic Korean
street food – it sure tastes convincing and it seems this
place is rapidly becoming a favourite among Sofia’s foodies! Genji is also the funky chef wielding his stuff behind
the hot grill plates where pretty much everything is prepared fresh to order. The menu is relatively short but still
offers plenty of choice as most of the main dishes come in
a variety of vegetarian, chicken, pork or prawns. If beokkeumbap, ja jang meon and onigirazu leave you clueless, fear not – there are photos to help you choose and
the staff are happy to advise. Self service.QB/C-3, bul.
Maria Luiza 28, MSerdika, tel. (+359) 88 725 8186.
Open 11:00-22:00; Sun 16:00-22:00. Closed Sat. SJ
Made in Home
Quirkily designed restaurant on one of Sofia’s popular city
centre back streets. Wide-ranging menu of imaginative
dishes, mostly with a healthy theme, there is plenty of
choice on the daily menu whether you are vegan, veg
etarian or a carnivore. Portions are generous and the staff
friendly. Always busy. Also their sister venue Made in
Blue set out in an old house on ul. Yuri Venelin 6 offers
a similar experience with the added benefit of a summer
courtyard.QD-3, ul. Angel Kanchev 30, MNDK, tel.
(+359) 87 688 4014. Open 11:00-22:30.
Public Bar
Public is all about cocktails (and definitely not to be confused with the old British notion of a public bar) Situated
in the buzzing city centre you will find an exciting drinks
menu here showcasing cocktails infused with the passion
of Sofia’s most popular barman ‘Drago Ivanov’. Not only
does he want to revive the traditional classics, but each
month he creates his own new, inspirational take on them.
So if you thought that cocktails were only for the summer
on the beach, think again and enjoy both innovative as well
as classic drinks (including some very tasty non-alcoholic
options) in a very lively bar setting, with a charming balcony area. DJ on Fridays and SaturdaysQC-3, ul. Angel
Kanchev 1, 2nd floor, MSerdika, tel. (+359) 884 333 781.
Open Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu 15:00–0:00; Fri, Sat 17:00-
02:00; Sun 15:00–0:00. APGBEJW
Skapto (formerly Skaptobara)
Great place – great burgers! We had incredibly friendly
service (for Sofia standards). The burgers are very juicy
and tasty, cooked to order using only fresh meat. Original
sauces and generous portions all add to the experience.
There is always a vegetarian burger on the menu and for
anyone on a diet you can replace the bun with iceberg
lettuce. For those who love their beer, plenty of regional
craft ales to choose from. Don’t skip the fries ; -) Nice outdoor seating.Qul. Iskar 11a, MSerdika, tel. (+359) 87
733 3233, www.skapto.bg. Open 10:00-00:00. Kitchen
12:00 – 23:30. €€. BSJW
Boom! Burgers
The first of now several Gourmet Burger venues in Sofia.
On offer – quality burgers and steaks in a genuine ‘diner’
style presentation with hand-cut fries. There is a choice of
6 or so burgers made with prime Irish beef patties – plus
one vegetarian (aubergine and goat’s cheese) and a skinny
option i.e. no bun. Additionally there is a selection of steaks
(fillet or rib-eye) and half a dozen salad choices and regular
monthly specials.QC-3, ul. Karnigradska 15, MNDK/Serdika, tel. (+359) 89 442 0440, www.boomburgers.bg.
Open 12:00-22:00; Fri, Sat 12:00-22:30. Also on bul. Tsar
Osvoboditel 12. €€. APGTSVJW
Street Chefs
To be honest when Street Chefs opened this first food
truck a few years ago, we didn’t believe they would be
able to hold the location for long, but they have, and they
have since expanded to several other locations in town,
including the Business Park. High quality burgers, meaty
sandwiches including one vegetarian and one fishy option,
steaks, salads, crispy fries – everything very tasty and fresh.
To avoid waiting too long in line, especially during peak periods, you can order ahead online.QD-3, ul. Parchevich 58-
60, MNDK, tel. (+359) 88 905 2565, www.streetchefs.
bg/en. Open 11:00-22:00. €€. BJ6
Green Deli Café
Bulgaria’s answer to the international coffee chains, Green
Deli Café offers warm and cold food as well as tea, coffee and fresh juices. Try their fresh salads using healthy,
natural ingredients in unusual combinations, freshly made
soups and delicious sandwiches.QD-3, ul. Rakovski 165,
MNDK, tel. (+359) 879 256 565, www.greendelicafe.
com. Open 07:00-20:00; Sun, Sat 09:00-19:00. APJ
Edo Sushi Teppanyaki Ring Mall
We have to deduct points for their smoking policy (they
actually ask you if you want smoking or non-smoking) and,
yes, smokers get the lovely view to Vitosha Mountain from
the glazed terrace during the winter months. That said, it is
a good restaurant to have on hand in the Sofia Ring Mall –
equally suited to eating out with family or friends. The food
is authentic, tasty and well presented. Classic sushi, teppanyaki (hot metal grill plate) and other traditional Japanese
dishes, including a variety of noodle dishes. The service is
friendly, efficient and discreet. You can choose low level
Japanese style seating, sit around the grill (kids love this as
the chef delivers an entertaining show) or standard classic
dining.QSofia Ring Mall, Back Terrace level 2, MSofia
Business Park, tel. (+359) 886 661 614, www.Edosushi.
bg. Open 11:00-23:30. APGXTUBS6W
special occasion Dining
There is no shortage of restaurants in Sofia if you want a
lively atmosphere in which to meet up with friends, but
if you are looking for something quieter, possibly a little
more upmarket with a great menu, discreet service and
maybe even a good view for that very special date night,
the choice might be more limited. Here are just a few of
our suggestions.
Pastorant
Charming and intimate restaurant, its small cosy yet arty
interior has won us over with its consistently high standard of cuisine and impeccable service. The pasta is some
of the best in Sofia.Qul. Tsar Assen 16, MSerdika, tel.
(+359) 2 9814482, www.pastorant.eu. Open 12:00-
22:30. BJ
33 Gastronauts
Another cosy restaurant that has stood the test of time
with an enchanting outdoor area for romantic summer nights. The interior is light and homely, the service
friendly and the menu is best described as innovative European. Everything we have ever tried was very fresh and
tasty. It is important to make a reservation here.QC 6,
ul. Prof. Asen Zlatarov 14, MSofiyski Universitet, tel.
(+359) 879 375233 www.33gastronauts.com. Open
12:00-23:00. APBISJ6W
Sage
If you are looking for an adventurous ride out of town,
where a roaring fire welcomes you with excellent food
and friendly service, then Sage may well be what you are
looking for. Take the Bistritsa Road and enjoy the view onto
the city lights below. Situated up in the village of Bistritsa
(around 15 km from the city), this restaurant is a popular
choice for expats and locals who live in the suburbs. The
menu is relatively short and features salads, pasta, risotto
and meat dishes, primarily with an Italian flavour. There
is no outdoor seating and reservation is recommended.
Qul. Stefan Stambolov 63, Bistritsa village, tel. (+359)
2 9927140, www.sage.bg. Open 17:00-24:00; Sun, Sat
11:00-24:00. Closed Mon. APG
Seasons
Who better to spoil you on your special occasions than
the staff at the Seasons Restaurant at the Hilton? Mouthwatering Bulgarian and international dishes prepared
with the finest and freshest local ingredients by Executive
Chef Iliyan Aleksandrov and his team of culinary experts.
In the warmer months guests can enjoy the delightful
terrace overlooking the adjacent South Park. Dress code:
smart casual.QE-3, Hilton Hotel, bul. Bulgaria 1, MEvropeyski Soyuz, tel. (+359) 2 933 5062, www.www3.
hilton.com/en/hotels/bulgaria/hilton-sofia-SOFHIHI/
dining/seasons.html. Open 06:30-23:00. Lunch 12:00
– 14:00 Dinner 18:00 – 23:00. €€€€. APGXTUBJW
Ahora by Sevda Dimitrova
Upmarket restaurant in the Lozenets district featuring
food by celebrity chef Sevda Dimitrova, winner of Bulgaria’s ‘Masterchef’ 2016. The full dinner menu features
a 6-course tasting menu and a 3-course “surprise me”
chef’s choice menu, both great options for that perfect
night out. Each dish is elegantly plated, with a focus on
creativity. Expect foam, smoke, edible flowers and the
like. The service is professional and the wine list is extensive; this is a place for discerning locals rather than trendy
foodies. Daily weekday lunch specials are announced
on her Facebook page.QG-3, bul. Nikola Vaptsarov 25a,
Lozenets, MVitosha, tel. (+359) 888 932 467/(+359) 2
468 0570, www.ahora.bg/en. Open 12:00-23:00. APGBW
Floret (Social Lounge and Bar)
Floret is the very stylish all day dining experience on the
ground floor of the InterContinental Sofia in the heart
of the city. Open from early to late, you can stop by
for; an energising breakfast, coffee, drinks and bar food
throughout the day or enjoy the full dining experience
and feast both visually and palate-wise on the exciting
creations combining traditional, local and international.
Their signature cocktails are also definitely worth checking out.QC-4, pl. Narodno Sabranie 4, MSofiyski Universitet, tel. (+359) 877 340 000/(+359) 2 933 4405.
Open 08:00-01:00; Fri, Sat 08:00-02:00. AZPG
XBJWKLili Pham
Lili Pham combines stunning decor with unique Asian
flavours – hard to find elsewhere in Sofia. No expense
has been spared on the very stylish interior design and
the presentation of the dishes is beautiful and so inviting. The cuisine is predominantly Vietnamese (check
out the Pho), Chinese (Dim Sum) and Thai. Book the
private room for your special date night. You can enjoy coffee and croissants first thing in the morning or
some great signature cocktails followed by tasty oriental dishes in the evening.QC-4, ul. Slavyanska 29,
MSofiyski Universitet, tel. (+359) 89 684 0507. Open
08:00-01:00. APGTSJWK
NEBO Restaurant & Bar
Nebo is a recent addition to the upmarket dining options in the heart of the city, with a generous sheltered
terrace offering plenty of outdoor dining space for the
warmer months. The menu is with an overall Mediterranean flavour but focuses on meat and fish specialities
many of which prepared in the special Josper Barbeque,
giving the dishes their unique flavour. There is a special
daily lunch menu served between 11:30 – 15:30. The bar
area is great for catching up with friends over a drink or
catching up on some work over coffee.QC-5, ul. Shipka
34, MSofiyski Universitet, tel. (+359) 88 858 0580,
www.nebo.bg. Open 10:00-03:00. APBLJ
eating out with kids
Long gone are the days when eating out with kids had you
running in search of the Golden M for a kid-friendly, smokefree environment. Bulgarians usually like to go out to eat with
kids in tow, often until late at night. There are definitely enough
places where you will receive relatively prompt service, good
quality food at reasonable prices, with play areas or special
children menus. Here are some of our recommendations.
Tempero
Stylish dining for adults with a separate monitored children’s area away from the main dining area. Definitely a win
win except you are not dining together as such. Tempero
is the kind of restaurant that reminds us what we are really looking for when we go out to eat: tasty cuisine using quality products, cooking from scratch, combining
flavours and colours, with some original touches to delight
and surprise the diner. The interior is stylish and yet cosy,
very continental, with a sheltered courtyard for the summer months.The main focus of the menu is on grilled meat
and fish, but there are also some mouth-watering seafood
options and plenty of vegetarian choices. Cooked with
love and served with a smile! For those with small children
who like to go out to eat – this has got to be one of the best
options in the city. The venue of course is also ideal for children’s birthday parties.QF-2, ul. Golo Bardo 4, MJames
Bourchier, tel. (+359) 878 704 470, www.tempero.bg.
Open 10:00-23:00. APXTUBSW
Villa Spaggo
What better than heading out of town with the kids for
some lunch and fresh air? Villa Spaggo perfectly fits the
bill. Located just beyond Bistritsa village on the way
across Vitosha mountain, approximately 40 minutes from
the city centre. The main attraction during the summer is
the outdoor pool with a fantastic view of the mountain,
but also during the cooler months the restaurant offers a
good excuse to get out of the city. Pasta, Pizza, fish and
grilled meats feature on the menu. Food and service are
above par but not necessarily gourmet level. There are
hotel facilities as part of the complex, so not a bad choice
for a special event. The large children’s play area is very
welcome and the outdoor adventure playground ensures that the kids spend plenty of time outdoors in the
fresh air.QBistritsa village, ul. Nikola Krushkin-Cholaka
63, tel. (+359) 88 603 0444, www.spaggo.com.
Mr Pizza Original
Which kid – big or small – doesn’t like pizza and when
you can choose from a healthy wholegrain flour it can be
a guilt free indulgence. Offering an excellent selection
of tasty pizzas with a choice of doughs on all as well as
other Mediterranean inspired dishes, served in an efficient and friendly manner. This restaurant and the one
in the Paradise Centre are quite fancy looking without
all the formalities but with excellent service. Ideal if you
have hungry kids in tow and are after a satisfying yet no
12 residents recomanen
33 Гастронавта
14 ul. "Professor Asen Zlatarov"special occasion Dining
There is no shortage of restaurants in Sofia if you want a
lively atmosphere in which to meet up with friends, but
if you are looking for something quieter, possibly a little
more upmarket with a great menu, discreet service and
maybe even a good view for that very special date night,
the choice might be more limited. Here are just a few of
our suggestions.
Pastorant
Charming and intimate restaurant, its small cosy yet arty
interior has won us over with its consistently high standard of cuisine and impeccable service. The pasta is some
of the best in Sofia.Qul. Tsar Assen 16, MSerdika, tel.
(+359) 2 9814482, www.pastorant.eu. Open 12:00-
22:30. BJ
33 Gastronauts
Another cosy restaurant that has stood the test of time
with an enchanting outdoor area for romantic summer nights. The interior is light and homely, the service
friendly and the menu is best described as innovative European. Everything we have ever tried was very fresh and
tasty. It is important to make a reservation here.QC 6,
ul. Prof. Asen Zlatarov 14, MSofiyski Universitet, tel.
(+359) 879 375233 www.33gastronauts.com. Open
12:00-23:00. APBISJ6W
Sage
If you are looking for an adventurous ride out of town,
where a roaring fire welcomes you with excellent food
and friendly service, then Sage may well be what you are
looking for. Take the Bistritsa Road and enjoy the view onto
the city lights below. Situated up in the village of Bistritsa
(around 15 km from the city), this restaurant is a popular
choice for expats and locals who live in the suburbs. The
menu is relatively short and features salads, pasta, risotto
and meat dishes, primarily with an Italian flavour. There
is no outdoor seating and reservation is recommended.
Qul. Stefan Stambolov 63, Bistritsa village, tel. (+359)
2 9927140, www.sage.bg. Open 17:00-24:00; Sun, Sat
11:00-24:00. Closed Mon. APG
Seasons
Who better to spoil you on your special occasions than
the staff at the Seasons Restaurant at the Hilton? Mouthwatering Bulgarian and international dishes prepared
with the finest and freshest local ingredients by Executive
Chef Iliyan Aleksandrov and his team of culinary experts.
In the warmer months guests can enjoy the delightful
terrace overlooking the adjacent South Park. Dress code:
smart casual.QE-3, Hilton Hotel, bul. Bulgaria 1, MEvropeyski Soyuz, tel. (+359) 2 933 5062, www.www3.
hilton.com/en/hotels/bulgaria/hilton-sofia-SOFHIHI/
dining/seasons.html. Open 06:30-23:00. Lunch 12:00
– 14:00 Dinner 18:00 – 23:00. €€€€. APGXTUBJW
Ahora by Sevda Dimitrova
Upmarket restaurant in the Lozenets district featuring
food by celebrity chef Sevda Dimitrova, winner of Bulgaria’s ‘Masterchef’ 2016. The full dinner menu features
a 6-course tasting menu and a 3-course “surprise me”
chef’s choice menu, both great options for that perfect
night out. Each dish is elegantly plated, with a focus on
creativity. Expect foam, smoke, edible flowers and the
like. The service is professional and the wine list is extensive; this is a place for discerning locals rather than trendy
foodies. Daily weekday lunch specials are announced
on her Facebook page.QG-3, bul. Nikola Vaptsarov 25a,
Lozenets, MVitosha, tel. (+359) 888 932 467/(+359) 2
468 0570, www.ahora.bg/en. Open 12:00-23:00. APGBW
Floret (Social Lounge and Bar)
Floret is the very stylish all day dining experience on the
ground floor of the InterContinental Sofia in the heart
of the city. Open from early to late, you can stop by
for; an energising breakfast, coffee, drinks and bar food
throughout the day or enjoy the full dining experience
and feast both visually and palate-wise on the exciting
creations combining traditional, local and international.
Their signature cocktails are also definitely worth checking out.QC-4, pl. Narodno Sabranie 4, MSofiyski Universitet, tel. (+359) 877 340 000/(+359) 2 933 4405.
Open 08:00-01:00; Fri, Sat 08:00-02:00. AZPG
XBJWKLili Pham
Lili Pham combines stunning decor with unique Asian
flavours – hard to find elsewhere in Sofia. No expense
has been spared on the very stylish interior design and
the presentation of the dishes is beautiful and so inviting. The cuisine is predominantly Vietnamese (check
out the Pho), Chinese (Dim Sum) and Thai. Book the
private room for your special date night. You can enjoy coffee and croissants first thing in the morning or
some great signature cocktails followed by tasty oriental dishes in the evening.QC-4, ul. Slavyanska 29,
MSofiyski Universitet, tel. (+359) 89 684 0507. Open
08:00-01:00. APGTSJWK
NEBO Restaurant & Bar
Nebo is a recent addition to the upmarket dining options in the heart of the city, with a generous sheltered
terrace offering plenty of outdoor dining space for the
warmer months. The menu is with an overall Mediterranean flavour but focuses on meat and fish specialities
many of which prepared in the special Josper Barbeque,
giving the dishes their unique flavour. There is a special
daily lunch menu served between 11:30 – 15:30. The bar
area is great for catching up with friends over a drink or
catching up on some work over coffee.QC-5, ul. Shipka
34, MSofiyski Universitet, tel. (+359) 88 858 0580,
www.nebo.bg. Open 10:00-03:00. APBLJ
eating out with kids
Long gone are the days when eating out with kids had you
running in search of the Golden M for a kid-friendly, smokefree environment. Bulgarians usually like to go out to eat with
kids in tow, often until late at night. There are definitely enough
places where you will receive relatively prompt service, good
quality food at reasonable prices, with play areas or special
children menus. Here are some of our recommendations.
Tempero
Stylish dining for adults with a separate monitored children’s area away from the main dining area. Definitely a win
win except you are not dining together as such. Tempero
is the kind of restaurant that reminds us what we are really looking for when we go out to eat: tasty cuisine using quality products, cooking from scratch, combining
flavours and colours, with some original touches to delight
and surprise the diner. The interior is stylish and yet cosy,
very continental, with a sheltered courtyard for the summer months.The main focus of the menu is on grilled meat
and fish, but there are also some mouth-watering seafood
options and plenty of vegetarian choices. Cooked with
love and served with a smile! For those with small children
who like to go out to eat – this has got to be one of the best
options in the city. The venue of course is also ideal for children’s birthday parties.QF-2, ul. Golo Bardo 4, MJames
Bourchier, tel. (+359) 878 704 470, www.tempero.bg.
Open 10:00-23:00. APXTUBSW
Villa Spaggo
What better than heading out of town with the kids for
some lunch and fresh air? Villa Spaggo perfectly fits the
bill. Located just beyond Bistritsa village on the way
across Vitosha mountain, approximately 40 minutes from
the city centre. The main attraction during the summer is
the outdoor pool with a fantastic view of the mountain,
but also during the cooler months the restaurant offers a
good excuse to get out of the city. Pasta, Pizza, fish and
grilled meats feature on the menu. Food and service are
above par but not necessarily gourmet level. There are
hotel facilities as part of the complex, so not a bad choice
for a special event. The large children’s play area is very
welcome and the outdoor adventure playground ensures that the kids spend plenty of time outdoors in the
fresh air.QBistritsa village, ul. Nikola Krushkin-Cholaka
63, tel. (+359) 88 603 0444, www.spaggo.com.
Mr Pizza Original
Which kid – big or small – doesn’t like pizza and when
you can choose from a healthy wholegrain flour it can be
a guilt free indulgence. Offering an excellent selection
of tasty pizzas with a choice of doughs on all as well as
other Mediterranean inspired dishes, served in an efficient and friendly manner. This restaurant and the one
in the Paradise Centre are quite fancy looking without
all the formalities but with excellent service. Ideal if you
have hungry kids in tow and are after a satisfying yet no
Suburban Bakeries
There are several bakeries cum café in suburbia that
are particularly popular with expats. Here you find an
assortment of fresh bread, cakes and pastries as well
as a cosy corner in which to enjoy them along with a
good cup of coffee or tea. As so many expats live in the
suburbs it gives an option to meet up without having
to go downtown.
For
est
e
Situated in the heart of Bistritsa village below Sge res
-
taurant; Foreste is more of a patisserie than a bakery,
in that they don’t do bread – but they have an amaz
-
ing line of cakes, tarts and home made ice cream (salt
caramel!!!). The walnut tart along with the lemon tart
are probably our recommendations but pretty much
everything is very good and you can order whole
cakes for your special occasions.
Qul. Stefan Stam
-
bolov 63, Bistritsa, tel. (+359) 87 652 2770. Open
09:00-19:00. Closed Mon. BS Ishy Unique Bakery
Daily fresh croissants
and bread rolls all made
from the purest ingre
-
dients, as well as a se
-
lection of cakes, sweet
treats and savoury veg
-
etarian lunch bites are
all an excuse to drop by
what must be the most
welcoming place in the
whole of Sofia, espe
-
cially when the owner Hadas is there. Her enthusiasm
and dedication is reflected in all she does and you
will never feel lonely at Ishy. She also stocks a good
selection of wines for sale as well as other delicacies.
Birthday cakes and other special cakes made to or
-
der.
Qul. Nartsis 49, Dragalevtsi, tel. (+359) 88 524
2401. Open 08:00-18:00. GTBS Orenda Bakery
Small bakery in Pancharevo on the road up to the
village of Bistritsa. Daily freshly baked varieties
of bread, cakes as well as the traditional ‘banitsa’
snacks, savoury and sweet. Enjoy with a cup of tea
or coffee, on the sunny pavement, weather permit
-
ting. At lunchtime there is usually also soup and
pizza can be ordered. What we love about this place
is that it acts as a focal point for locals (no outra
-
geous prices) but the design says ‘forward thinking’
and they carry products on their shelves promoting
alternative health and clean living, like a series of
locally produced chakra enhancing teas, bio honey
and more.
Qul. Vasil Levski 12b, Pancharevo.
and health through the food it serves. A daily fresh
lunch menu of inspired delicious vegetarian and vegan
dishes, as well as a mouth watering selection of cakes
and treats to keep you going throughout the day with
none of the guilt. The whole ambience is soul nourish
-
ing with an incredible attention to detail and quality
in everything and that includes the music, a pleasant
jazzy soul that firmly remains in the background so
that conversation is possible.
Q
F
-2, bul. Vitosha 192,
MEvropeyski Soyuz, tel. (+359) 89 688 0878, www.
cafeparallel43.com. Open 10:00-22:00; Sun 10:00-
20:00. €€. PBSW
Edgy Veggy
This vegan café has a slightly Mexican twist, featuring bur
-
ritos and quesadillas plus sandwiches, smoothies, granola
bowls and healthy desserts. We recommend the “notchick
-
en burrito” and a vegan lemon cookie.
Qul. Gladston 18,
tel. (+359) 87 733 3397, www.edgyveggy-sofia.com.
Open 11:00-21:00. Closed Mon, Sun. SJW Apartment
A hidden gem of a place right in the heart of the city – an
old apartment with a myriad of rooms and spaces all cre
-
atively decorated. Choose your space according to your
mood and enjoy some of the great fresh juices, Ayurvedic
drinks, teas with the vegetarian and vegan snacks, sweets
and cakes all freshly prepared in the small kitchen area
(self service). Also a popular place for travellers to check
in, with 120-minute free wifi access giving you enough
time to catch up on your correspondence.
Qul.Neofit
Rilski 68,
MNDK. Open 12:00-01:45. €. NGJ6W
D
r
eam H
o
u
s
e
With their affordable lunch and regular menus this res
-
taurant is one of the locals’ best kept secret. On a Sunday,
visit the all-you-can-eat buffet. For just 12 leva you can eat
some of the best vegetarian food in the city. Be there be
-
tween 12 noon and 4 pm and you’ll leave full. Make sure
to try the ginger lemonade. Martin Gore from Depeche
Mode recommends it ; -) During the week there is always
a fresh menu of daily specials. Dream House is the longest
established vegetarian restaurant in Sofia. A little tricky
to find – you need to enter a passage with some shops
and go up to the first floor.
Qul. Alabin 50a, 1st floor,
MSerdika, tel. (+359) 2 9808163, www.dreamhousebg.com/english. Open 11:00-22:00. GJ Salted Café
What a great find this place is. A little off the beaten track,
this vegetarian café near the upper end of “The Women’s
Market” with healthy food and drinks by day and art/mu
-
sic events by night is worth the detour. It has a Bohemian
ambience with plenty of seating and a tempting menu of
smoothies, vegetarian and vegan dishes and nice but not
naughty cakes and raw desserts.
Qul. Bratia Miladinovi
38,
MSerdika, tel. (+359) 89 837 1408. Open 10:00-
19:00; Sun 10:00-18:00. Closed Sat. BESWtoo pricey meal. Check out the seasonal menus as an alternative to pizza. A new location with kids playground
just opened on bul. Nikola Vaptsarov 6.
Q
D
-3, ul. Verila 5,
MNDK, tel. (+359) 895 616 111, www.mrpizza.bg/en.
Open 10:00-01:00. Other locations bul. Vasil Levski 53,
bul. Cherni Vrah 38A; bul. Cherni Vrah 100 (MALL Para
-
dise); bul. Bulgaria 49B; bul. Jerusalem 22. €. APGTUBSVLJWK Happy Bar & Grill
Some people might gasp at this suggestion but kids love
Happy, the menu has something for everyone, the prices
are very reasonable and service is among the best I have
had anywhere in Bulgaria. And if you happen to celebrate
your birthday there you will be treated to a very special
rendition of Happy Birthday. Happy is one of Bulgaria’s
biggest success stories when it comes to fast convenient
dining. Resembling the atmosphere of an American din
-
ing chain, the restaurants are relatively large and lively, al
-
ways busy but service non the less is prompt. The picture
menu offers plenty of choice of salads and freshly pre
-
pared dishes inspired from around the world, with sea
-
sonal promotion menus and some fun dishes as well as
tasty desserts. The price/quality level is very good, mak
-
ing this a popular go to for those on a budget.
Q
C-3/4, ul.
Rakovska 145,
MSofiyski Universitet, tel. (+359) 886
000 700, www.happy.bg/en. Open 12:00-23:30; Mon,
Sun 12:00-23:00. Also pl. St. Nedelya 4 and 7 other lo
-
cations. €€. PTBSJ Leo’s Pizza Il Rustico
Perfect for family lunches or dinners with a large safe play
area for children. Tasty Italian cuisine from a family of Ital
-
ian restaurant owners, Leo probably is one of the first ‘ce
-
lebrity’ chefs in Bulgaria after participating in the local Big
Brother.
Qul. Nartsis 58, Dragalevtsi, tel. (+359) 2 470 98
18, 878 642 827. Open 12:00-23:30. €€€. TBSL
Seaso
n
s
The Sunday Brunch at the Hilton every Sunday between
12:00 and 3:30 pm is very popular especially among the
expat community. For the youngest guests there is a
special play corner together with Wonder Party’s team of
entertainment professionals. Treat yourself to a lavish in
-
ternational buffet including various food stations, scrump
-
tious desserts, refreshing drinks and a welcome glass of
sparkling wine.
Q
E
-3, Hilton Hotel, bul. Bulgaria 1,
MEv
-
ropeyski Soyuz, tel. (+359) 2 933 5062, Sunday brunch
from 12:00-15:30. €€€€. APGXTUBJW Vegetarian
Listed here are our favourite places for vegetarian or vegan fare. Café Parallel 43
Not far from the entrance to the ‘South Park’ with the
motto ‘Food for Life’ this café is all about sharing ‘joy’
16 residents recomanen
Leo's Pizza Trattoria
5 bul. "Nikola Y. Vaptsarov"Suburban Bakeries
There are several bakeries cum café in suburbia that
are particularly popular with expats. Here you find an
assortment of fresh bread, cakes and pastries as well
as a cosy corner in which to enjoy them along with a
good cup of coffee or tea. As so many expats live in the
suburbs it gives an option to meet up without having
to go downtown.
For
est
e
Situated in the heart of Bistritsa village below Sge res
-
taurant; Foreste is more of a patisserie than a bakery,
in that they don’t do bread – but they have an amaz
-
ing line of cakes, tarts and home made ice cream (salt
caramel!!!). The walnut tart along with the lemon tart
are probably our recommendations but pretty much
everything is very good and you can order whole
cakes for your special occasions.
Qul. Stefan Stam
-
bolov 63, Bistritsa, tel. (+359) 87 652 2770. Open
09:00-19:00. Closed Mon. BS Ishy Unique Bakery
Daily fresh croissants
and bread rolls all made
from the purest ingre
-
dients, as well as a se
-
lection of cakes, sweet
treats and savoury veg
-
etarian lunch bites are
all an excuse to drop by
what must be the most
welcoming place in the
whole of Sofia, espe
-
cially when the owner Hadas is there. Her enthusiasm
and dedication is reflected in all she does and you
will never feel lonely at Ishy. She also stocks a good
selection of wines for sale as well as other delicacies.
Birthday cakes and other special cakes made to or
-
der.
Qul. Nartsis 49, Dragalevtsi, tel. (+359) 88 524
2401. Open 08:00-18:00. GTBS Orenda Bakery
Small bakery in Pancharevo on the road up to the
village of Bistritsa. Daily freshly baked varieties
of bread, cakes as well as the traditional ‘banitsa’
snacks, savoury and sweet. Enjoy with a cup of tea
or coffee, on the sunny pavement, weather permit
-
ting. At lunchtime there is usually also soup and
pizza can be ordered. What we love about this place
is that it acts as a focal point for locals (no outra
-
geous prices) but the design says ‘forward thinking’
and they carry products on their shelves promoting
alternative health and clean living, like a series of
locally produced chakra enhancing teas, bio honey
and more.
Qul. Vasil Levski 12b, Pancharevo.
and health through the food it serves. A daily fresh
lunch menu of inspired delicious vegetarian and vegan
dishes, as well as a mouth watering selection of cakes
and treats to keep you going throughout the day with
none of the guilt. The whole ambience is soul nourish
-
ing with an incredible attention to detail and quality
in everything and that includes the music, a pleasant
jazzy soul that firmly remains in the background so
that conversation is possible.
Q
F
-2, bul. Vitosha 192,
MEvropeyski Soyuz, tel. (+359) 89 688 0878, www.
cafeparallel43.com. Open 10:00-22:00; Sun 10:00-
20:00. €€. PBSW
Edgy Veggy
This vegan café has a slightly Mexican twist, featuring bur
-
ritos and quesadillas plus sandwiches, smoothies, granola
bowls and healthy desserts. We recommend the “notchick
-
en burrito” and a vegan lemon cookie.
Qul. Gladston 18,
tel. (+359) 87 733 3397, www.edgyveggy-sofia.com.
Open 11:00-21:00. Closed Mon, Sun. SJW Apartment
A hidden gem of a place right in the heart of the city – an
old apartment with a myriad of rooms and spaces all cre
-
atively decorated. Choose your space according to your
mood and enjoy some of the great fresh juices, Ayurvedic
drinks, teas with the vegetarian and vegan snacks, sweets
and cakes all freshly prepared in the small kitchen area
(self service). Also a popular place for travellers to check
in, with 120-minute free wifi access giving you enough
time to catch up on your correspondence.
Qul.Neofit
Rilski 68,
MNDK. Open 12:00-01:45. €. NGJ6W
D
r
eam H
o
u
s
e
With their affordable lunch and regular menus this res
-
taurant is one of the locals’ best kept secret. On a Sunday,
visit the all-you-can-eat buffet. For just 12 leva you can eat
some of the best vegetarian food in the city. Be there be
-
tween 12 noon and 4 pm and you’ll leave full. Make sure
to try the ginger lemonade. Martin Gore from Depeche
Mode recommends it ; -) During the week there is always
a fresh menu of daily specials. Dream House is the longest
established vegetarian restaurant in Sofia. A little tricky
to find – you need to enter a passage with some shops
and go up to the first floor.
Qul. Alabin 50a, 1st floor,
MSerdika, tel. (+359) 2 9808163, www.dreamhousebg.com/english. Open 11:00-22:00. GJ Salted Café
What a great find this place is. A little off the beaten track,
this vegetarian café near the upper end of “The Women’s
Market” with healthy food and drinks by day and art/mu
-
sic events by night is worth the detour. It has a Bohemian
ambience with plenty of seating and a tempting menu of
smoothies, vegetarian and vegan dishes and nice but not
naughty cakes and raw desserts.
Qul. Bratia Miladinovi
38,
MSerdika, tel. (+359) 89 837 1408. Open 10:00-
19:00; Sun 10:00-18:00. Closed Sat. BESWtoo pricey meal. Check out the seasonal menus as an alternative to pizza. A new location with kids playground
just opened on bul. Nikola Vaptsarov 6.
Q
D
-3, ul. Verila 5,
MNDK, tel. (+359) 895 616 111, www.mrpizza.bg/en.
Open 10:00-01:00. Other locations bul. Vasil Levski 53,
bul. Cherni Vrah 38A; bul. Cherni Vrah 100 (MALL Para
-
dise); bul. Bulgaria 49B; bul. Jerusalem 22. €. APGTUBSVLJWK Happy Bar & Grill
Some people might gasp at this suggestion but kids love
Happy, the menu has something for everyone, the prices
are very reasonable and service is among the best I have
had anywhere in Bulgaria. And if you happen to celebrate
your birthday there you will be treated to a very special
rendition of Happy Birthday. Happy is one of Bulgaria’s
biggest success stories when it comes to fast convenient
dining. Resembling the atmosphere of an American din
-
ing chain, the restaurants are relatively large and lively, al
-
ways busy but service non the less is prompt. The picture
menu offers plenty of choice of salads and freshly pre
-
pared dishes inspired from around the world, with sea
-
sonal promotion menus and some fun dishes as well as
tasty desserts. The price/quality level is very good, mak
-
ing this a popular go to for those on a budget.
Q
C-3/4, ul.
Rakovska 145,
MSofiyski Universitet, tel. (+359) 886
000 700, www.happy.bg/en. Open 12:00-23:30; Mon,
Sun 12:00-23:00. Also pl. St. Nedelya 4 and 7 other lo
-
cations. €€. PTBSJ Leo’s Pizza Il Rustico
Perfect for family lunches or dinners with a large safe play
area for children. Tasty Italian cuisine from a family of Ital
-
ian restaurant owners, Leo probably is one of the first ‘ce
-
lebrity’ chefs in Bulgaria after participating in the local Big
Brother.
Qul. Nartsis 58, Dragalevtsi, tel. (+359) 2 470 98
18, 878 642 827. Open 12:00-23:30. €€€. TBSL
Seaso
n
s
The Sunday Brunch at the Hilton every Sunday between
12:00 and 3:30 pm is very popular especially among the
expat community. For the youngest guests there is a
special play corner together with Wonder Party’s team of
entertainment professionals. Treat yourself to a lavish in
-
ternational buffet including various food stations, scrump
-
tious desserts, refreshing drinks and a welcome glass of
sparkling wine.
Q
E
-3, Hilton Hotel, bul. Bulgaria 1,
MEv
-
ropeyski Soyuz, tel. (+359) 2 933 5062, Sunday brunch
from 12:00-15:30. €€€€. APGXTUBJW Vegetarian
Listed here are our favourite places for vegetarian or vegan fare. Café Parallel 43
Not far from the entrance to the ‘South Park’ with the
motto ‘Food for Life’ this café is all about sharing ‘joy’
Shopping Malls
With 8 malls and counting, one could say Sofia is oversupplied. Several are now located close to underground stops
(Mall of Sofia, Park Center and Paradise) – for others you will
need a car or have to take a bus. In general all malls have
a good mix of international and local brand names, most
have decent restaurants and a supermarket and some have
cinemas, bowling alleys and other entertainment options.
All offer reprieve from extreme weather, summer and winter
alike, and are relatively quiet during the week.
Bulgaria Mall
Probably the most elegant in terms of design, close to
the suburb of Boyana. Sadly, Debenhams is no more and
shopwise there is not much to get one excited.Qbul. Bulgaria 69, www.bulgariamall.bg. PTK
Mall of Sofia
Fairly centrally located shopping mall with a large cinema
complex. As one of the first malls to be built, it is smaller
than some of the more recent malls but its proximity to the
city centre and the nearby metro station ensure it is well
frequented.Qbul. Alexander Stamboliiski 101, MOpalchenska, tel. (+359) 2 9293377, www.mallofsofia.bg.
Open 10:00-22:00.
Paradise Centre
Large mall with amusement rides on the roof and several
decent restaurants, fitness and more. Unfortunately it is on
one of the most congested main roads out of town and
trying to get in or out during peak hours can be quite a
challenge.Qbul. Cherni Vrah 100, MJames Bouchier,
www.paradise-center.com.
Park Center Sofia
The first mall to be built in Sofia is now the smallest. Located fairly centrally, at the edge of South (Yuzhen) Park
behind the Hilton hotel, it has been affected by the arrival of the mega malls on the outskirts. Despite that, it
is a manageable size and has a good cinema complex, a
couple of restaurants, a food court offering fast food and
a children’s indoor play zone, in an area of the city where
there is not much else in terms of competition. The cafés looking out onto the South Park are popular meeting
points.Qbul. Arsenalski 2, MEvropeyski Soyuz, www.
parkcenter.bg/home.
Serdika CentEr
Large shopping mall, opened in 2010, offers by far the best
retail mix with convenient location which is easily accessible
from the city centre by car and public transport. Ample parking with up to 4 hours free you will find the broadest spectrum of shops here and although there is no entertainment
as such, there is a regular programme of events for young
and old. German retail giants (Deichmann, Humanic (shoes),
Peek & Cloppenburg (fashion brands) and dm drugstore)
tend to dominate, but there is no shortage of other chain
stores including H&M, Zara, the Body Shop and the amazing
Spa Ceylon Luxury Ayurveda store with a wonderful range
of products for gifting or self-pampering.Qbul. Sitnyakovo
48, tel. :(+359) 2 495 21 21, www.serdikacenter.bg.
Sofia Ring Mall
Large mall on the main Ring Road directly next to IKEA
and ideally located for all who live in the suburbs. The restaurants here offer great views to the mountain and there
are several good ones to choose from including Edosushi.
Greek Notos Galleries is the closest to a department store
you will find and for youngsters there is a trampoline park
as well as go karting. Qul. Okolovrusten Pat 214, www.
sofiaring.bg. PKF
The Mall
Opened in 2010, it is another of Sofia’s larger malls with
plenty of good shops (Lush, The Body Shop, Sephora, Imaginarium) and also 8 cinema screens, large entertainment
centre with bowling alley, pool tables, etc, large food court
area on the upper level.Qbul. Tsarigradsko Shosse 115, tel.
(+359) 2 87 87 813, www.themall.bg. 10.00-22.00 for the
main shopping area, 10.30 – 01.30 for cinema, 10.00-
24.00 for food hall, 10.00-03.00 Playground. PF
TZUM Retail Centre
Anyone who remembers Bulgaria’s premier department
store from days gone by may well be sad at the loss of
grandeur of this building. Re-vamped as a retail centre
just before the ‘mall boom hit the country, it really has
never managed to attract the foot traffic that one would
expect with such a central location. Still it has a few things
going for it – decent WC facilities being one. There are a
couple of restaurants, a few shops, a dance studio and
a very handy location for a beauty parlour (Dupissima).
The customer service centre for Sofiyska Voda is also here.
QC-3, bul. Knyaginya Maria Luiza 2, MSerdika. PJ
artists and designers, offering their creations. Be sure to
check out ‘Zona Urbana’ and ‘100 grama sladki’.QC/D-3,
ul. Angel Kanchev, MNDK.
Krakra
Krakra street is just one of several smaller streets in the
popular residential city centre area around the Doctor’s
Garden. Here you can still see some of Sofia’s grander
mansions, including the beautiful Turkish embassy residence. Many of the shops here are small and art orientated, either in terms of supplying artist materials, or selling
arty, locally produced gifts and souvenirs. Other streets
worth exploring in the area are Sheinovo and San Stefano.
QC-5, ul. Krakra, MSofiyski Universitet.
Pirotska
The ‘other’ pedestrian street where most shops are
related to local or regional manufactured textiles and
fashion accessories. Definitely fun to wander along and
see something different from the usual global chains.
QB/C-3, ul. Pirotska, MSerdika.
Shishman
The street that starts behind the Intercontinental hotel
and runs through to Graf Ignatiev is one of the most vibrant in Sofia. Narrow and usually parked up with cars, it
would lend itself to pedestrianisation but... that’s another
story. Arty boutiques and jewellery shops sit side by side
with soup bars, burger bars, home furnishings, eclectic
book and gift stores and more.If you are looking for a
creative or unusual gift for someone this is a good place
to start.QC/D-4, ul. Shishman, MSofiyski Universitet.
Slaveikov Square
The refurbishment of this square in 2019 caused a huge
outcry mainly because of the poor quality of workmanship. Gone is the tatty but beloved book market and for
now Petko and Pencho Slaveikov are left gazing into an
urban space that needs to find its own new character.
Qpl. Slaveikov.
‘Vitoshka’
Sofia’s central shopping street is now pedestrianised
between bul. Patriarh Evtimiy and ul. Alabin and has just
experienced its second spring! This is the place to stroll
along with family or friends on a sunny afternoon, enjoy a
coffee, ice cream or drink, watch buskers and street artists
and generally watch the world go by.
Once upon a time this was the only place to shop in Sofia, with the Central Department Store (TsUM) at one end
and any shop worth its salt being located here. With the
arrival of the shopping malls ‘Vitoshka’ went into decline.
As the new pavements and planters came so did the
cafés, and with that the crowds gradually returned. And
once the people returned so too did the shops, and now
in fact many shops that first opted only for the malls on
the outskirts are also opening on bul. Vitosha.Qbul. Vitosha, MNDK/Serdika.
Shopping Streets
With so many malls trying to take shoppers away from the
city centre, Sofia’s central streets are filling up with small, craft
shops, local designers, cafés and bars. Some of our favourites
are listed here.
Angel Kanchev
Angel Kanchev runs parallel to bul. Vitosha, from bul. Patriarch Evtimiy down to pl. Garibaldi, and offers a more
eclectic mix of shops, cafés and restaurants. You can find
small bakeries offering freshly baked bread and other
snacks, as well as a variety of small shops run by Bulgarian
151 residents recomanen
Centre Serdika
48 bul. "Sitnyakovo"Shopping Malls
With 8 malls and counting, one could say Sofia is oversupplied. Several are now located close to underground stops
(Mall of Sofia, Park Center and Paradise) – for others you will
need a car or have to take a bus. In general all malls have
a good mix of international and local brand names, most
have decent restaurants and a supermarket and some have
cinemas, bowling alleys and other entertainment options.
All offer reprieve from extreme weather, summer and winter
alike, and are relatively quiet during the week.
Bulgaria Mall
Probably the most elegant in terms of design, close to
the suburb of Boyana. Sadly, Debenhams is no more and
shopwise there is not much to get one excited.Qbul. Bulgaria 69, www.bulgariamall.bg. PTK
Mall of Sofia
Fairly centrally located shopping mall with a large cinema
complex. As one of the first malls to be built, it is smaller
than some of the more recent malls but its proximity to the
city centre and the nearby metro station ensure it is well
frequented.Qbul. Alexander Stamboliiski 101, MOpalchenska, tel. (+359) 2 9293377, www.mallofsofia.bg.
Open 10:00-22:00.
Paradise Centre
Large mall with amusement rides on the roof and several
decent restaurants, fitness and more. Unfortunately it is on
one of the most congested main roads out of town and
trying to get in or out during peak hours can be quite a
challenge.Qbul. Cherni Vrah 100, MJames Bouchier,
www.paradise-center.com.
Park Center Sofia
The first mall to be built in Sofia is now the smallest. Located fairly centrally, at the edge of South (Yuzhen) Park
behind the Hilton hotel, it has been affected by the arrival of the mega malls on the outskirts. Despite that, it
is a manageable size and has a good cinema complex, a
couple of restaurants, a food court offering fast food and
a children’s indoor play zone, in an area of the city where
there is not much else in terms of competition. The cafés looking out onto the South Park are popular meeting
points.Qbul. Arsenalski 2, MEvropeyski Soyuz, www.
parkcenter.bg/home.
Serdika CentEr
Large shopping mall, opened in 2010, offers by far the best
retail mix with convenient location which is easily accessible
from the city centre by car and public transport. Ample parking with up to 4 hours free you will find the broadest spectrum of shops here and although there is no entertainment
as such, there is a regular programme of events for young
and old. German retail giants (Deichmann, Humanic (shoes),
Peek & Cloppenburg (fashion brands) and dm drugstore)
tend to dominate, but there is no shortage of other chain
stores including H&M, Zara, the Body Shop and the amazing
Spa Ceylon Luxury Ayurveda store with a wonderful range
of products for gifting or self-pampering.Qbul. Sitnyakovo
48, tel. :(+359) 2 495 21 21, www.serdikacenter.bg.
Sofia Ring Mall
Large mall on the main Ring Road directly next to IKEA
and ideally located for all who live in the suburbs. The restaurants here offer great views to the mountain and there
are several good ones to choose from including Edosushi.
Greek Notos Galleries is the closest to a department store
you will find and for youngsters there is a trampoline park
as well as go karting. Qul. Okolovrusten Pat 214, www.
sofiaring.bg. PKF
The Mall
Opened in 2010, it is another of Sofia’s larger malls with
plenty of good shops (Lush, The Body Shop, Sephora, Imaginarium) and also 8 cinema screens, large entertainment
centre with bowling alley, pool tables, etc, large food court
area on the upper level.Qbul. Tsarigradsko Shosse 115, tel.
(+359) 2 87 87 813, www.themall.bg. 10.00-22.00 for the
main shopping area, 10.30 – 01.30 for cinema, 10.00-
24.00 for food hall, 10.00-03.00 Playground. PF
TZUM Retail Centre
Anyone who remembers Bulgaria’s premier department
store from days gone by may well be sad at the loss of
grandeur of this building. Re-vamped as a retail centre
just before the ‘mall boom hit the country, it really has
never managed to attract the foot traffic that one would
expect with such a central location. Still it has a few things
going for it – decent WC facilities being one. There are a
couple of restaurants, a few shops, a dance studio and
a very handy location for a beauty parlour (Dupissima).
The customer service centre for Sofiyska Voda is also here.
QC-3, bul. Knyaginya Maria Luiza 2, MSerdika. PJ
artists and designers, offering their creations. Be sure to
check out ‘Zona Urbana’ and ‘100 grama sladki’.QC/D-3,
ul. Angel Kanchev, MNDK.
Krakra
Krakra street is just one of several smaller streets in the
popular residential city centre area around the Doctor’s
Garden. Here you can still see some of Sofia’s grander
mansions, including the beautiful Turkish embassy residence. Many of the shops here are small and art orientated, either in terms of supplying artist materials, or selling
arty, locally produced gifts and souvenirs. Other streets
worth exploring in the area are Sheinovo and San Stefano.
QC-5, ul. Krakra, MSofiyski Universitet.
Pirotska
The ‘other’ pedestrian street where most shops are
related to local or regional manufactured textiles and
fashion accessories. Definitely fun to wander along and
see something different from the usual global chains.
QB/C-3, ul. Pirotska, MSerdika.
Shishman
The street that starts behind the Intercontinental hotel
and runs through to Graf Ignatiev is one of the most vibrant in Sofia. Narrow and usually parked up with cars, it
would lend itself to pedestrianisation but... that’s another
story. Arty boutiques and jewellery shops sit side by side
with soup bars, burger bars, home furnishings, eclectic
book and gift stores and more.If you are looking for a
creative or unusual gift for someone this is a good place
to start.QC/D-4, ul. Shishman, MSofiyski Universitet.
Slaveikov Square
The refurbishment of this square in 2019 caused a huge
outcry mainly because of the poor quality of workmanship. Gone is the tatty but beloved book market and for
now Petko and Pencho Slaveikov are left gazing into an
urban space that needs to find its own new character.
Qpl. Slaveikov.
‘Vitoshka’
Sofia’s central shopping street is now pedestrianised
between bul. Patriarh Evtimiy and ul. Alabin and has just
experienced its second spring! This is the place to stroll
along with family or friends on a sunny afternoon, enjoy a
coffee, ice cream or drink, watch buskers and street artists
and generally watch the world go by.
Once upon a time this was the only place to shop in Sofia, with the Central Department Store (TsUM) at one end
and any shop worth its salt being located here. With the
arrival of the shopping malls ‘Vitoshka’ went into decline.
As the new pavements and planters came so did the
cafés, and with that the crowds gradually returned. And
once the people returned so too did the shops, and now
in fact many shops that first opted only for the malls on
the outskirts are also opening on bul. Vitosha.Qbul. Vitosha, MNDK/Serdika.
Shopping Streets
With so many malls trying to take shoppers away from the
city centre, Sofia’s central streets are filling up with small, craft
shops, local designers, cafés and bars. Some of our favourites
are listed here.
Angel Kanchev
Angel Kanchev runs parallel to bul. Vitosha, from bul. Patriarch Evtimiy down to pl. Garibaldi, and offers a more
eclectic mix of shops, cafés and restaurants. You can find
small bakeries offering freshly baked bread and other
snacks, as well as a variety of small shops run by Bulgarian
Shopping
Markets
Use the markets for fresh produce whenever you can. They
offer an insight into the nation’s habits. Each market has its
own traditions and character, some being quite upmarket
and selling exotic fruits and veg, others almost oriental in
character.
Farmers’ Market (Хран Кооп)
Farmers market held regularly at different locations in
Sofia.Local producers offer pesticide-free and often certified organic fruit and veg, honey, cosmetics, drinks, dairy
products and more.
Every Tuesday 11:00 – 16:00 at the Business Park Sofia
Every Wednesday 14:00 – 18:00 at the Ivan Vazov Market
Every Saturday 10:00 – 14:00 at the Rimska Stena (Roman
Wall) market in the Lozenets district.Qwww.hrankoop.
com. Open Sat 11:00-15:00.
Mladost 1
Right by the metro station, this is quite a large market
with an excellent supply of seasonal fruit and vegetables.
Qul. Andrei Saharov, MMladost 1.
Rimska Stena (ROMAN WALL)
Farmer’s market held here every Saturday. There is actually some dispute as to whether it is a Roman wall, so some
refer to it as The Old Wall.Qul. Stara Stena 3, MVasil
Levski Stadium. Open Sat 10:00-14:00.
Sitnyakovo
Located just behind the Romanian Embassy off Shipchenski Prohod is probably Sofia’s most attractive market with plenty of fresh local and imported produce to
choose from, even if it is no longer that what it once was.
Qul. Sirak Skitnik 9. Open 08:00-19:00.
Zhenski Pazar
Situated behind ‘Halite’, Zhenski Pazar (Ladies’ Market) is
probably the biggest market in Sofia and until recently a
delight for bargain hunters or those seeking the exotic!
It has recently received a major makeover and with it
probably lost some of its initial appeal, although it is still
the cheapest for fruit and vegetables. Catch the Pendara
farmers market every Saturday 10:00-16:00. Among the
surrounding shops you can find authentic Arabic and Chinese products, including Halal meat. Take a walk down
here as part of your tour of this part of town but do keep
your bag tightly shut and beware of pickpockets.Qbul.
Stefan Stambolov, MLavov Most.
SUPERMARKETS
The increase in the number of super/hypermarkets in Sofia does not appear to be slowing down, making shopping a much easier experience all round for expats. All are
self serve (with the exception of the deli counters) and air
conditioned. Most have trolleys with child seats, easy car
access, and accept debit and credit cards. Your favourite
choice will depend on the location of the supermarket and
your personal preference of products on offer. Help the environment by using cloth shopping bags or recycling your
plastic ones!
Billa
Austrian chain with outlets all over the country. Their focus is on offering locally produced fruit and vegetables
although the ready food counter in the store on Bulgaria
Blvd. offers a mouthwatering choice of ready meals and
salads to take away. With more than 45 locations around
the city, you are almost guaranteed to find a Billa near
to you. Qbul. Bulgaria 55 – central office, tel. (+359) 2
818 81 00, www.billa.bg. Open 07.30-23.00; Sun 8.30-
22.00.
Hit Hypermarket
Large originally German run hypermarket conveniently
located for anyone living in the suburbs or working in the
business park. A large selection of products from around
the world including a well stocked bio food section. On
the premises you can also find other shops such as JYSK,
Hippoland, Paula Venti bags, a pet store, dry cleaners etc.
Popular with the expat community partly because of the
vast variety of quality products it stocks. An exotic selection of fruit and veg, an extensive range of bio and other
health products (such as gluten-free) as well as a good
range of ingredients required for oriental cooking. As the
change in management is recent – it remains to be seen
if they will keep their success formula. There is a second
location in Lyulin.Qbul. Alexander Malinov 75, MAlexander Teodorov Balan, www.hit-hypermarket.bg.
Open 08:00-22:00.
Kaufland
Over the years Kaufland has turned into one of Bulgarians’
favourite supermarket chain, primarily because of extremely low prices. Listed here is one of Kaufland’s main
locations, which is strategically placed between Billa and
Hit in the Mladost area. It is large and has a precooked
food counter as well as a fresh bread counter. Qbul. Phillip Avramov 3, Mladost 3, MMladost 3, tel. (+359) 2
4 01 54 00, www.kaufland.bg. Open 07:00–22:00; Tue
07:00-17:00; Sun 08:00-21:00.
Lidl
Probably the most popular supermarket across the board
with locals and expats alike. Lidl have invested a lot in
Bulgaria and it shows. Bright stores and friendly staff. The
quality vs pricing is excellent and you will find everything
you need for your weekly shop here, even if lacking in
some of the more exotic or unusual products. Keep a look
out for their weekly promotions, and don’t forget to stock
up on the cheddar cheese or halloumi when it comes
round. Their own brands of dairy are top quality, the veg-
Shopping Shopping
certified in London. Apollowine discovers and offers the best
of Bulgarian wines to those who are eager to explore and
have a passion for wine. Services include: free delivery on all
orders of 6 and more bottles in the territory of Bulgaria, payment with VISA & MasterCard, express deliveries and pick-up
point in Sofia (ul. Kiril and Metodi 139). Quick response to any
request.Qwww.apollowine.com. Open 00:00-24:00.
Butcher
Two shops side by side offering top quality meat, separated into beef and lamb & pork and chicken. Everything
clearly visible and prepared to order in front of you.Qul.
Gen. Gurko 27А & 27B, tel. (+359) 2 954 54 57/089
978 78 44, 089 232 26 42, www.butcher.bg/en. Open
09:30–19:30; Sat 09:30–18:00. Closed Sun.
Chilli Hills Farm Shop
If you like a bit of spice in your life, you will love this shop. All
chilli sauces from mild through to hotter than hell are 100%
natural, free from additives and preservatives. The chillies are grown on a family farm on Vitosha Mountain and
production has just expanded to a second location. The
brand’s signature line ‘Balkan Hot Sauce’ is the hottest craft
chilli sauce in Bulgaria and sits alongside a creative selection of pastes, spreads, jam, dried spices, nut butters and
more.QC-3, ul. Solunska 29, MSerdika, tel. (+359) 87
829 1211, www.chilli-hills.com/en. Open 11:00-20:30.
Dobrev Cheese Shop (Mlekarnicata)
This rustic shop offers not just exceptional Bulgarianproduced cheeses, dairy products, wine and chocolates,
but also has a sandwich counter where your salad or baguette can be made up before your eyes using the company’s own produce. Try their fresh white cheese (sirene),
mozzarella, yogurt and milk, all of which have been produced to the highest standards. They also offer a selection of high quality cured meats.Qul. Frityof Nansen 31.
Jovan Dutch Bakery
This charming bakery in the centre of Sofia is run by John
the Dutch baker, who has been baking for most of his
life. Here you will find a variety of different breads from
around the world, all baked on the premises. Pop in and
choose from the tempting assortment on display: crusty
white loaf, ciabatta, pain d’or, German Landbrot, French
6 grains and more. They also do snacks to take out: ham
croissants, curry sticks, as well as many sweet pastries
Chilli Hills Farm Shop
etable selection always fresh and the freshly baked bread
and pastries are irresistible. A regular family favourite. Too
many locations to list (currently 28 in Sofia) but other popular locations for expats include the Sofia Ring Mall and
Mladost 3.Qul. Cherni Vrah 173, tel. (+359) 80014141,
www.lidl.bg. Open 07:00–22:00; Sun 08:00-21:00.
Metro Cash & Carry
Before you can shop here you need to get a customer card.
This can either be registered to your business or, as a foreigner, you can get a day card against your passport. As
the name suggests; some items need to be purchased in
bulk, the price tags will inform you of this. Metro is large
and can be a bit overwhelming but you will find items
here that maybe you won’t find elsewhere. Probably the
best fresh fish counter in Sofia and largest wine and spirit
selection. The freezer section also offers plenty of pleasant surprises. They have developed their bio and health
food ranges in recent years. If you are looking to furnish
your home you can also find bedding, towels, crockery,
garden furniture and more here. Works 24 hours.Qbul.
Tsarigradsko Shosse 7th–11th km(open 24 hrs), Evropa
boulevard (Lyulin), tel. (+359) 0700 100 71, www.metro.
bg. Open 00:00-00:00.
Organic or Bio Shops
Most of the upmarket supermarkets now have sections promoting ‘healthier living’ including local and international organic products. The places listed here will give you a broader
spectrum of choice; many work with online orders.
Balev Bio Market
They have a shop on the lower ground floor (-2) in The Mall
or you can order online. Website is also in English. Also on
bul. Vitosha 202 (near the South Park).Qbul. Tsarigradsko
Shosse 115, tel. 0800 20333/(+359) 88 564 4500, www.
balevbiomarket.com. Open 09:00-22:00.
Biomag
You can find all the ‘harmonica’ products here plus lots
of other local and international organic and eco friendly
products. You can also order online for delivery. Also ul.
Dorian 10А, and bul. Yanko Sakazov 50.Qpl. Journalist 1,
tel. (+359) 88 660 1152, www.biomag.bg. Open 8:30–
20:00; Sat, Sun 10:00-19:00.
dm
This chain of drugstores also carries an excellent in-house
bio food range – offering value for money.Qwww.dmdrogeriemarkt.bg/store.
Farmhopping
Farm to table produce – you can order online (website
also in English) or visit the shop near to the South Park (top
end of bul. Vitosha). Qbul. Vitosha 137, tel. 0700 20 080,
www.farmhopping.com. Open 09:30-20:30.
Kashon Harmonica
The home delivery service from harmonica – giving you
the option to order online or to subscribe to one of their
regular box deliveires containing a selection of seasonally
available produce.Qwww.kashonharmonica.bg/en.
Zelen (Art of Living)
Good selection of organic and Ayurvedic products. Cosmetics, dietary supplements, teas, vegan products and a
smoothie bar with daily specials and other treats. Other
locations include: bul. Yanko Sakuzov 24 and Serdika Center (-1 level) on bul. Sitnyakovo 48.Qul. Rakovski 140, tel.
(+359) 879 368 774, www.zelen.bg. Open 8:00–20:00;
Sat 10:00-18:00. Closed Sun.
Zoya Organic Shop
Probably the forerunner in bringing organic products to
the Bulgarian shopping scene, they now have 3 stores in
Sofia offering a broad spectrum of natural, organic, ethical and handmade products from cosmetics, food staples
and household products. They are probably the only store
that lets you fill pulses and grains from bulk according to
your requirement in paper bags. They also have a special
shop only for cosmetics – including their own brand ‘Zoya
goes pretty’ and more recently a sweet shop. The website
is also in English and you can order directly from it. Other
locations include: ul. Neofit Rilski 63 (Zoya Organic Shop),
ul. Angel Kanchev 2 – pl. Garibaldi (Zoya Organic Shop),
ul. Dobrudzha 12 (Zoya: Herbs, Oils & Cosmetics), ul. Han
Krum 13 (Zoya Sweets Shop).Qul. Aksakov 22, MSofiyski Universitet, tel. 0878 686 006, www.zoya.bg/en.
Open 09:00-20:00; Sat 10:00-20:00; Sun 12:00-19:00.
Specialist Food Shops
Sofia has only a few speciality food shops, most having
bowed to pressure from the hypermarkets, which have
even started to open smaller city centre shops. What remains are the chocolate shops, usually foreign brands, a
few speciality cheese shops and two speciality Italian foodshops in the city centre. Health food shops have also found
their niche, as have fresh fish shops.
Alex Fish
For all things fishy – whether frozen or fresh – Alex Fish
is the recommendation from the Japanese community in
Sofia and they should know. Order online. Free delivery.
Minimum order 30/40 leva depending on location.Qtel.
(+359) 2 983 2483, www.alexfish.bg.
Apollowine
A professional, family-owned online wine shop with an extended Bulgarian wine selection. Both the selection and the
owners’ experience have quickly earned it recognition as a
trusted place to shop for wine online. All wines come from
small boutique wineries, with limited ranges tasted and carefully judged by the Apollowine team, both of whom are WSET and seasonal sweet breads and cakes. Second location:
ul. Hristo Belchev 1 (corner of Hristo Belchev and Graf Ignatiev).Qul. Angel Kunchev 37, tel. (+359) 885 886 190,
www.jovan.bg. Open 08:00-20:00. Closed Sun.
Little London – British Foods
If you are missing all those British comfort foods and other
curiosities like HP sauce and Marmite, you need to visit Little
London. The bacon and sausages produced locally to British standards come highly recommended.Qul. Krakra 1,
MSofiyski Universitet, tel. (+359) 885 205 553. Open
08:00-18:00; Sat 10:00-17:00; Sun 12:00-15:00.
Sokoni (Indian and British foods)
Online delivery service from their Varna based shop. Indian
and British supplies: a vast range of Indian foods, spices,
ready meals and ayurvedic cosmetics, as well as teas, cereals, British biscuits and chocolates.Qtel. (+359) 52 699 449;
(+359) 52 699 229, www.mysupermarketbulgaria.com.
ViVenda Fine Butchery
If you are a lover of fine meat with a good selection from
Black Angus to Wagyu, poultry through to game, you should
check out the offerings of Vivenda who have been supplying
meat to hotels and restaurants in Bulgaria for over 20 years.
There are daily ready cooked specials as well as prepared
dishes for easy cooking at home. Also on bul. Cherni Vrah
69-71.QC-5, ul. Oborishte 13, MSofiyski Universitet, tel.
(+359) 888 895 899, www.vivenda.bg. Open 10:00-21:00.
11 residents recomanen
Farmers Market Roman Wall - Sofia
3 ul. "Stara stena"Shopping
Markets
Use the markets for fresh produce whenever you can. They
offer an insight into the nation’s habits. Each market has its
own traditions and character, some being quite upmarket
and selling exotic fruits and veg, others almost oriental in
character.
Farmers’ Market (Хран Кооп)
Farmers market held regularly at different locations in
Sofia.Local producers offer pesticide-free and often certified organic fruit and veg, honey, cosmetics, drinks, dairy
products and more.
Every Tuesday 11:00 – 16:00 at the Business Park Sofia
Every Wednesday 14:00 – 18:00 at the Ivan Vazov Market
Every Saturday 10:00 – 14:00 at the Rimska Stena (Roman
Wall) market in the Lozenets district.Qwww.hrankoop.
com. Open Sat 11:00-15:00.
Mladost 1
Right by the metro station, this is quite a large market
with an excellent supply of seasonal fruit and vegetables.
Qul. Andrei Saharov, MMladost 1.
Rimska Stena (ROMAN WALL)
Farmer’s market held here every Saturday. There is actually some dispute as to whether it is a Roman wall, so some
refer to it as The Old Wall.Qul. Stara Stena 3, MVasil
Levski Stadium. Open Sat 10:00-14:00.
Sitnyakovo
Located just behind the Romanian Embassy off Shipchenski Prohod is probably Sofia’s most attractive market with plenty of fresh local and imported produce to
choose from, even if it is no longer that what it once was.
Qul. Sirak Skitnik 9. Open 08:00-19:00.
Zhenski Pazar
Situated behind ‘Halite’, Zhenski Pazar (Ladies’ Market) is
probably the biggest market in Sofia and until recently a
delight for bargain hunters or those seeking the exotic!
It has recently received a major makeover and with it
probably lost some of its initial appeal, although it is still
the cheapest for fruit and vegetables. Catch the Pendara
farmers market every Saturday 10:00-16:00. Among the
surrounding shops you can find authentic Arabic and Chinese products, including Halal meat. Take a walk down
here as part of your tour of this part of town but do keep
your bag tightly shut and beware of pickpockets.Qbul.
Stefan Stambolov, MLavov Most.
SUPERMARKETS
The increase in the number of super/hypermarkets in Sofia does not appear to be slowing down, making shopping a much easier experience all round for expats. All are
self serve (with the exception of the deli counters) and air
conditioned. Most have trolleys with child seats, easy car
access, and accept debit and credit cards. Your favourite
choice will depend on the location of the supermarket and
your personal preference of products on offer. Help the environment by using cloth shopping bags or recycling your
plastic ones!
Billa
Austrian chain with outlets all over the country. Their focus is on offering locally produced fruit and vegetables
although the ready food counter in the store on Bulgaria
Blvd. offers a mouthwatering choice of ready meals and
salads to take away. With more than 45 locations around
the city, you are almost guaranteed to find a Billa near
to you. Qbul. Bulgaria 55 – central office, tel. (+359) 2
818 81 00, www.billa.bg. Open 07.30-23.00; Sun 8.30-
22.00.
Hit Hypermarket
Large originally German run hypermarket conveniently
located for anyone living in the suburbs or working in the
business park. A large selection of products from around
the world including a well stocked bio food section. On
the premises you can also find other shops such as JYSK,
Hippoland, Paula Venti bags, a pet store, dry cleaners etc.
Popular with the expat community partly because of the
vast variety of quality products it stocks. An exotic selection of fruit and veg, an extensive range of bio and other
health products (such as gluten-free) as well as a good
range of ingredients required for oriental cooking. As the
change in management is recent – it remains to be seen
if they will keep their success formula. There is a second
location in Lyulin.Qbul. Alexander Malinov 75, MAlexander Teodorov Balan, www.hit-hypermarket.bg.
Open 08:00-22:00.
Kaufland
Over the years Kaufland has turned into one of Bulgarians’
favourite supermarket chain, primarily because of extremely low prices. Listed here is one of Kaufland’s main
locations, which is strategically placed between Billa and
Hit in the Mladost area. It is large and has a precooked
food counter as well as a fresh bread counter. Qbul. Phillip Avramov 3, Mladost 3, MMladost 3, tel. (+359) 2
4 01 54 00, www.kaufland.bg. Open 07:00–22:00; Tue
07:00-17:00; Sun 08:00-21:00.
Lidl
Probably the most popular supermarket across the board
with locals and expats alike. Lidl have invested a lot in
Bulgaria and it shows. Bright stores and friendly staff. The
quality vs pricing is excellent and you will find everything
you need for your weekly shop here, even if lacking in
some of the more exotic or unusual products. Keep a look
out for their weekly promotions, and don’t forget to stock
up on the cheddar cheese or halloumi when it comes
round. Their own brands of dairy are top quality, the veg-
Shopping Shopping
certified in London. Apollowine discovers and offers the best
of Bulgarian wines to those who are eager to explore and
have a passion for wine. Services include: free delivery on all
orders of 6 and more bottles in the territory of Bulgaria, payment with VISA & MasterCard, express deliveries and pick-up
point in Sofia (ul. Kiril and Metodi 139). Quick response to any
request.Qwww.apollowine.com. Open 00:00-24:00.
Butcher
Two shops side by side offering top quality meat, separated into beef and lamb & pork and chicken. Everything
clearly visible and prepared to order in front of you.Qul.
Gen. Gurko 27А & 27B, tel. (+359) 2 954 54 57/089
978 78 44, 089 232 26 42, www.butcher.bg/en. Open
09:30–19:30; Sat 09:30–18:00. Closed Sun.
Chilli Hills Farm Shop
If you like a bit of spice in your life, you will love this shop. All
chilli sauces from mild through to hotter than hell are 100%
natural, free from additives and preservatives. The chillies are grown on a family farm on Vitosha Mountain and
production has just expanded to a second location. The
brand’s signature line ‘Balkan Hot Sauce’ is the hottest craft
chilli sauce in Bulgaria and sits alongside a creative selection of pastes, spreads, jam, dried spices, nut butters and
more.QC-3, ul. Solunska 29, MSerdika, tel. (+359) 87
829 1211, www.chilli-hills.com/en. Open 11:00-20:30.
Dobrev Cheese Shop (Mlekarnicata)
This rustic shop offers not just exceptional Bulgarianproduced cheeses, dairy products, wine and chocolates,
but also has a sandwich counter where your salad or baguette can be made up before your eyes using the company’s own produce. Try their fresh white cheese (sirene),
mozzarella, yogurt and milk, all of which have been produced to the highest standards. They also offer a selection of high quality cured meats.Qul. Frityof Nansen 31.
Jovan Dutch Bakery
This charming bakery in the centre of Sofia is run by John
the Dutch baker, who has been baking for most of his
life. Here you will find a variety of different breads from
around the world, all baked on the premises. Pop in and
choose from the tempting assortment on display: crusty
white loaf, ciabatta, pain d’or, German Landbrot, French
6 grains and more. They also do snacks to take out: ham
croissants, curry sticks, as well as many sweet pastries
Chilli Hills Farm Shop
etable selection always fresh and the freshly baked bread
and pastries are irresistible. A regular family favourite. Too
many locations to list (currently 28 in Sofia) but other popular locations for expats include the Sofia Ring Mall and
Mladost 3.Qul. Cherni Vrah 173, tel. (+359) 80014141,
www.lidl.bg. Open 07:00–22:00; Sun 08:00-21:00.
Metro Cash & Carry
Before you can shop here you need to get a customer card.
This can either be registered to your business or, as a foreigner, you can get a day card against your passport. As
the name suggests; some items need to be purchased in
bulk, the price tags will inform you of this. Metro is large
and can be a bit overwhelming but you will find items
here that maybe you won’t find elsewhere. Probably the
best fresh fish counter in Sofia and largest wine and spirit
selection. The freezer section also offers plenty of pleasant surprises. They have developed their bio and health
food ranges in recent years. If you are looking to furnish
your home you can also find bedding, towels, crockery,
garden furniture and more here. Works 24 hours.Qbul.
Tsarigradsko Shosse 7th–11th km(open 24 hrs), Evropa
boulevard (Lyulin), tel. (+359) 0700 100 71, www.metro.
bg. Open 00:00-00:00.
Organic or Bio Shops
Most of the upmarket supermarkets now have sections promoting ‘healthier living’ including local and international organic products. The places listed here will give you a broader
spectrum of choice; many work with online orders.
Balev Bio Market
They have a shop on the lower ground floor (-2) in The Mall
or you can order online. Website is also in English. Also on
bul. Vitosha 202 (near the South Park).Qbul. Tsarigradsko
Shosse 115, tel. 0800 20333/(+359) 88 564 4500, www.
balevbiomarket.com. Open 09:00-22:00.
Biomag
You can find all the ‘harmonica’ products here plus lots
of other local and international organic and eco friendly
products. You can also order online for delivery. Also ul.
Dorian 10А, and bul. Yanko Sakazov 50.Qpl. Journalist 1,
tel. (+359) 88 660 1152, www.biomag.bg. Open 8:30–
20:00; Sat, Sun 10:00-19:00.
dm
This chain of drugstores also carries an excellent in-house
bio food range – offering value for money.Qwww.dmdrogeriemarkt.bg/store.
Farmhopping
Farm to table produce – you can order online (website
also in English) or visit the shop near to the South Park (top
end of bul. Vitosha). Qbul. Vitosha 137, tel. 0700 20 080,
www.farmhopping.com. Open 09:30-20:30.
Kashon Harmonica
The home delivery service from harmonica – giving you
the option to order online or to subscribe to one of their
regular box deliveires containing a selection of seasonally
available produce.Qwww.kashonharmonica.bg/en.
Zelen (Art of Living)
Good selection of organic and Ayurvedic products. Cosmetics, dietary supplements, teas, vegan products and a
smoothie bar with daily specials and other treats. Other
locations include: bul. Yanko Sakuzov 24 and Serdika Center (-1 level) on bul. Sitnyakovo 48.Qul. Rakovski 140, tel.
(+359) 879 368 774, www.zelen.bg. Open 8:00–20:00;
Sat 10:00-18:00. Closed Sun.
Zoya Organic Shop
Probably the forerunner in bringing organic products to
the Bulgarian shopping scene, they now have 3 stores in
Sofia offering a broad spectrum of natural, organic, ethical and handmade products from cosmetics, food staples
and household products. They are probably the only store
that lets you fill pulses and grains from bulk according to
your requirement in paper bags. They also have a special
shop only for cosmetics – including their own brand ‘Zoya
goes pretty’ and more recently a sweet shop. The website
is also in English and you can order directly from it. Other
locations include: ul. Neofit Rilski 63 (Zoya Organic Shop),
ul. Angel Kanchev 2 – pl. Garibaldi (Zoya Organic Shop),
ul. Dobrudzha 12 (Zoya: Herbs, Oils & Cosmetics), ul. Han
Krum 13 (Zoya Sweets Shop).Qul. Aksakov 22, MSofiyski Universitet, tel. 0878 686 006, www.zoya.bg/en.
Open 09:00-20:00; Sat 10:00-20:00; Sun 12:00-19:00.
Specialist Food Shops
Sofia has only a few speciality food shops, most having
bowed to pressure from the hypermarkets, which have
even started to open smaller city centre shops. What remains are the chocolate shops, usually foreign brands, a
few speciality cheese shops and two speciality Italian foodshops in the city centre. Health food shops have also found
their niche, as have fresh fish shops.
Alex Fish
For all things fishy – whether frozen or fresh – Alex Fish
is the recommendation from the Japanese community in
Sofia and they should know. Order online. Free delivery.
Minimum order 30/40 leva depending on location.Qtel.
(+359) 2 983 2483, www.alexfish.bg.
Apollowine
A professional, family-owned online wine shop with an extended Bulgarian wine selection. Both the selection and the
owners’ experience have quickly earned it recognition as a
trusted place to shop for wine online. All wines come from
small boutique wineries, with limited ranges tasted and carefully judged by the Apollowine team, both of whom are WSET and seasonal sweet breads and cakes. Second location:
ul. Hristo Belchev 1 (corner of Hristo Belchev and Graf Ignatiev).Qul. Angel Kunchev 37, tel. (+359) 885 886 190,
www.jovan.bg. Open 08:00-20:00. Closed Sun.
Little London – British Foods
If you are missing all those British comfort foods and other
curiosities like HP sauce and Marmite, you need to visit Little
London. The bacon and sausages produced locally to British standards come highly recommended.Qul. Krakra 1,
MSofiyski Universitet, tel. (+359) 885 205 553. Open
08:00-18:00; Sat 10:00-17:00; Sun 12:00-15:00.
Sokoni (Indian and British foods)
Online delivery service from their Varna based shop. Indian
and British supplies: a vast range of Indian foods, spices,
ready meals and ayurvedic cosmetics, as well as teas, cereals, British biscuits and chocolates.Qtel. (+359) 52 699 449;
(+359) 52 699 229, www.mysupermarketbulgaria.com.
ViVenda Fine Butchery
If you are a lover of fine meat with a good selection from
Black Angus to Wagyu, poultry through to game, you should
check out the offerings of Vivenda who have been supplying
meat to hotels and restaurants in Bulgaria for over 20 years.
There are daily ready cooked specials as well as prepared
dishes for easy cooking at home. Also on bul. Cherni Vrah
69-71.QC-5, ul. Oborishte 13, MSofiyski Universitet, tel.
(+359) 888 895 899, www.vivenda.bg. Open 10:00-21:00.