eating out in SOFIA
POD LIPITE RESTAURANT
THE MOST TRADITIONAL
This restaurant is almost 80 years old and yes indeed, it's situated under a couple of Linden trees.
This is possibly the best Bulgarian-themed restaurant in the city. Step inside and you've left the city for a classic timber-beamed rural mehana; four rooms decorated with traditional weavings, musical instruments, and farm implements. Outside in the lovely courtyard (replete with fountain) are more rustic timber tables, each with the traditional ceramic spice dish containing pepper, salt, and other traditional spice mixtures (used regularly in Bulgaria like salt and pepper) such as chubritsa, lyut, and sharena sol, so you can spice up to taste, and a candle lantern to add atmosphere. If you haven't yet tried Bulgarian cuisine, this is the place to do so. There's a great selection of salads, delicious breads, followed by a selection of delicately spiced charcoal-grilled meats , zucchini, eggplant, and or pepper-and-cheese dishes, or "leaf" rolls. The food is excellent, the live music in the evenings is good, and the waiters know what they're talking about. No wonder its been going strong since 1926.
RESTAURANT KRIM
THE MOST FAMOUS
Krim Restaurant is the favourite and preferred place of our capital's intellectuals. One of the most beautiful buildings, built 100 years ago, Krim is distinguished by the typical for its time elegant style. After a long restoration the restaurant has opened doors in 2007 once again and welcomes its guests in an exceptionally cozy and refined atmosphere. The restaurant boasts a beautiful garden. Excellent wine list, excellent food, interesting menu choices, excellent interior with extremely high ceilings and perfect service.
PANORAMA RESTAURANT PRI ORLITE
THE MOST FABULOUS VIEW TO OLD SOFIA
Pri Orlite – “At the Eagles Place” – is on the 18th floor of the Ministry of Transport building, a few moments’ walk from the National and City Art Galleries, the Bulgaria Hall, the main post office and the French Cultural Institute. Its presence is etched on large elegant ground floor windows; Get to the top and you find the finest view imaginable of Sofia. The restaurant is worth a visit for this alone. The place is very comfortable, design-led, the food is superb, the waiters unpressing and the view... the view is peerless. The gentle piano music also contributes to relaxing atmosphere. Since 2004 Restaurant-Pamorama “Pri Orlite” has been a member of the “American Beef Club”.
RESTAURANT THE CLOCKHOUSE
THE MOST ELEGANT
The Clock House is a restaurant whose elegance enchants every guest. The cozy atmosphere, the exquisite interior, the faultless and welcoming staff, and the variety of dishes all encourage our guests to return.
The uniqueness of the Clock House stems from its authenticity, the fact that it is accommodated in an ancient house dated back to the beginning of the last century, and a cultural monument. The house was renovated at the end of the XX century to transform into a restaurant.
The Clock House’s close vicinity to the old imperial palace, St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Presidency, the City Hall and a number of other administrative buildings make it an elite restaurant visited by government officials and celebrities. The garden is a place where every guest would prefer to hold their business event or personal meeting, as well as private parties, birth days etc. The garden fascinates with its charm and tranquillity.
The great variety of European and national cuisine, as well as barbecue, is sure to impress even the most discerning taste.
PRI YAFATA
LOCAL TAVERN
A cult place, a folk style restaurant, situated in an extraordinary beautiful and impressive antic three-story house, built in the beginning of the last century in the very centre of the capital – at 28 Solunska Str. An entirely traditional, folk style interior. Known as an appropriate place to bring your foreign guests. Two summer gardens with 40 and 65 seats respectively.
The restaurants offer: Bulgarian traditional cuisine and a charcoal barbecue where guests can observe the preparation of the special dishes; selection of more than 100 white and red Bulgarian wines; live music from the Balkans, played by an attractive acoustic quartet; rich folklore program on request.
EGUR-EGUR (COME-COME) RESTAURANT
ARMENIAN CUISINE
Armenian food, superbly prepared, and presented with old-school elegance in a restaurant owned by Bulgarian-Armenian jazz singer Hilda Kazasyan. No-holds-barred carnivores should plump for the Caucasian flame-grilled kebabs, although there’s plenty in the way of subtly-spiced stews, and loads of vegetarian options involving aubergines, peppers, courgettes and other tasty fresh things. There’s an extensive list of both Bulgarian and international wines.
UNO BBQ GARDEN RESTAURANT
Italian orientated cuisine. Near the National opera. The restaurant's location at the center of Sofia is easily accessible for everyone who would like to have lunch during their midday break. The way tables are arranged, the stylish decoration and the cheerful smiles of the personnel create a calm and enjoyable setting.
The menu offers a rich variety - clients have the opportunity to choose among a large collection of fine wines and for those that prefer to consume wine together with fish, there is a diversity of European fish specialties. Light Mediterranean dishes prevail in the menu that makes the dinner in restaurant an enjoyable experience. There is a variety of salads and pasta, prepared in accordance with European recipes. A monthly menu is offered in this place. Each month clients are surprised with new, delicious specialties.
RESTAURANT VODENITSATA
UNIQUE FIRE DANCING
The ideal combination of beautiful nature, woods, nice and vivid coloured flowers among watermill stones makes this place cosy. The rich collection selected from Bulgarian national treasure will allow You to understand Bulgarian people. The dishes from Bulgarian national cuisine You can taste here are deliciously prepared and perfectly served. “Vodenitsata” is one of the pearls in contemporary Bulgarian tourism.
The authentic Bulgarian folklore, rituals and traditions represented by folk-dance troupe full of temperament will obsess You and give to Your visit unique pleasure and taste.
The rich collection of Bulgarian fine wines and matured brandies makes “Vodenitsata” a real oasis for connoisseurs of good drinks.
RESTAURANT CHEVERMETO
Near ideal city center, unique ambience, authentic folk show program every evening, dishes made from old-days recipes; folk singers;
The restaurant combines authentic interior, delicious meals, prepared from old traditional recipes and folklore show. The most visited folk-style restaurant in Sofia has received many eminent guests- just here the Bulgarian president Mr. Georgi Parvanov welcomed as a host the Russian president Mr. Vladimir Putin. The presidents of many countries, as well as royalties, ministers and diplomats have also been their guests. A whole lamb is baked on barbecue every evening just in front of your eyes. Folklore performance starts at 20:00 p.m. At the end the dancers involve the guest to dance traditional Bulgarian round dance "horo".
