Our agents went
out in the field
checking on
every restaurant in the area
and here are their
recommendations
Where to eat
Sofia has an impressively high number of cosy restaurants and cafés offering very good value for money and catering to almost every taste. Below we have compiled a selection of some of our favourite places (most of them in the vicinity of the festival venues) which doesn’t claim to be exhaustive or objective. Should you be interested in exploring more thoroughly the food scene of Sofia, you could also check one of the City Guides or speak to the local dancers for their suggestions and recommendations.
Coffee or tea
Tea House in the Factory
Hot chocolate and team of more than 50 varieties. Home made cakes and bicuits as well as various vegetarian and vegan dishes. Often hosts jazz concerts or children’s shows.
11, Georgi Benkosvski St.; tel: +359 88 705 1080
Plus tova
Trendy café, organizing small events and exhibitions. A place of artistic randez-vous where many freelancers come to work. Serving a good version of the traditional Bulgarian pastry “baniza”, although it is famous for its cheesecake.
Pick up a book or a magazine from the shelf, and enjoy a cup of coffee or hot chocolate.
30, Marin Drinov St.,
On the go
Corso Street (ground level)
Fast food corner serving traditional lunch dishes such as mussaka or stffed peppers, soups, salads and pasta for lunch. Freshly squeezed fruit juices, coffee and croissants are available for breakfast too. Open daily 08.00 – 22.30. Free Wi-Fi/ electricity plugs.
Corso Restaurant (floors 1 and 2 above Corso Street)
A restaurant featuring its own selection of wines, which could be bought to take away too. Open daily 11.00- 22.30
Contemporary design, unpretentious cuisine, featuring Bulgarian and European dishes.
10, Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd. (opposite to the Russian Church); Tel: +359 888 100 113;
Supa Star
A modern soup bar serving a choice of hot and cold soups, home made sandwiches and sweets, and freshly squeezed juices.
8, Tsar Ivan Shishman St.; Open daily: 10.30 – 21.00;
Around the clock
Victoria
Anyone who has been dancing tango in Sofia knows Victoria! Originally conceived as a traditional pizzeria, this is now the most famous 24 hours restaurant in the center of the city where local tango dancers go for a bite after a late night milonga. The menu goes far beyond pizza and pasta, including vast selection of meat, fish salads, warm dishes with plenty of vegetarian options too.
The atmosphere is casual and prices are very reasonable. Also possible to order take away or home delivery.
7, Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd., in the Military Club; open 24/7;
For the wine junkies
VinoVino
Dedicated to wine and decorated with Venetian style glassware, this bohemian restaurant serves Bulgarian and Mediterranean cuisine, along with a selection of Bulgarian wines. Just round the corner from the main festival venue, this is the place where artists and staff from the nearby National Opera Theatre usually hang around.
121, G.S. Rakovski St.; Open daily 11.00 – 23.00; Tel: +359 88 447 4003;
Background
This modern bistro is located on one of the main shopping street Vitosha. If you are into wine, do ask for Emo who is responsible for the versatile wine selection. He will recommend you excellent food and wine pairings for every budget and bewilder you with his knowledge of the European wine regions and their grape varieties.
14, Vitosha Blvd; Open daily: 10.00 – 24.00; Tel: +359 89 789 5325;
Grape Central
Probably the best wine bar & restaurant in the city. Run by two ladies from the wine industry and a talented young chef, it offers a new selection of wines every month and organizes regularly wine tastings. Reservation is recommended.
45, Tsar Samuil St.; Open daily: 12.00 – 23.00; Tel: +359 88 982 0444;
Vegan and Vegetarian
Soul Kitchen
A bit distant from the festival location if you plan to walk, but it’s worth the trip. A taxi trip from the festival venues will cost you no more than 5 BGN (2.5€) Relaxed atmosphere in an old city house. A well prepared selection of creative vegetarian and vegan dishes.
13, Kokitche St.; Open daily 10.00 – 24.00; Tel: +359 876 440 003;
For casual dinner or lunch
Mahaloto
The name of this place means a clock pendulum. The restaurant décor features a number of clocks and other antiquities and vintage posters.
A place to relax and enjoy some local and European style cuisine (trout with spinach, Wiener Schnitzel, crème brulee)
51, Vasil Levski Blvd; Tel: + 359 88 761 7972;
Lokal
Small stylish bistro serving lunch and dinner; open daily from 10.00 till midnight;
2, Sheynovo St.; Tel: +359 884 333 781;
Traditional Bulgarian specialties
Edno Vreme
This restaurant with a meseum-like décor aims at representing some of the folkloric Bulgarian dishes as they used to be served in the old days.
The location is the entrance of the Sofia’s biggest park –the Ariana lake of the Borisova Gradina – an artificial lake transformed into a skating rink in the winter.
Borisova gradina / Orlov most ; Tel: +359 88 822 3355;
World cuisines
Edo Sushi & Teppanyaki
The closest sushi place to the festival location- just opposite the Military Club. Famous for its Teppanyaki chef.
96, G.S. Rakovski St., Tel: +359 878 920 100; Open daily: 11.00 – 22.00
Bodega Sofia
Spanish tapas bar with wine and sometimes – live guitar music.
8A, Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd (opposite to the Russian Church); Open daily 10.00 – 23.00;
Multi-kulti map of world cuisine in Sofia
Online map of traditional restaurants and food stores offering authentic food from more than 20 countries. A paper version of the map will be available at the reception desk.
Fine dining
Club Pouchkine
This newly open club combines a stylish bar and a fine restaurant. In the premises of the House of Moscow in Sofia, enjoy an invigorating fusion cuisine and excellent selection of drinks in one of the most stylish ambiances in the city!
92 Rakovski St., +359 888 717187
Moskovska 15
This restaurant named after its address is located in one of the oldest building in the city which has been associated with good food since many years. The menu is always changing with new meals, prepared in different and surprising ways. The connoisseurs will enjoy the selection of quality wines from all corners of the world.
15 Moskovska 15 St., +359 2 878 167080, moskovska15sofia@gmail.com