Irena and Georgi's Guidebook to the best of Sofia
Food scene
A must try restaurant in Sofia, a contemporary spin on traditional Bulgarian cuisine. Apart from the regular menu you can also enjoy brunch on the weekends as well as an affordable daily lunch menu throughout the workweek.
Make sure to book a table
60 המלצות של מקומיים
Cosmos Restaurant / Космос
19 ul. "Laveleye"A must try restaurant in Sofia, a contemporary spin on traditional Bulgarian cuisine. Apart from the regular menu you can also enjoy brunch on the weekends as well as an affordable daily lunch menu throughout the workweek.
Make sure to book a table
nica is not just another Italian restaurant.
Unica. It is an Italian restaurant, but in Bulgaria. You will find a Bulgarian trace in the integration of Bulgarian products and spices in their dishes. It is worth a try!
UNICA Restaurant
8A bulevard "Tsar Osvoboditel"nica is not just another Italian restaurant.
Unica. It is an Italian restaurant, but in Bulgaria. You will find a Bulgarian trace in the integration of Bulgarian products and spices in their dishes. It is worth a try!
Raketa Rakia offers hearty Bulgarian food in a setting reminiscent to the communist era. It’s an ideal spot to explore the traditional Bulgarian drink rakia as the restaurant offers a great selection. Make sure to book a table!
105 המלצות של מקומיים
Ракия Ракета Бар
17 bul. "Yanko Sakazov"Raketa Rakia offers hearty Bulgarian food in a setting reminiscent to the communist era. It’s an ideal spot to explore the traditional Bulgarian drink rakia as the restaurant offers a great selection. Make sure to book a table!
Bistro Pesto
18a ul. "Angel Kanchev"The best pasta in town!
Make sure to book a table
Franco's Pizza
37 ul. "Han Asparuh"The best pizza in town!
Make sure to book a table
Egur Egur - Armenian Restaurant
92 улица „Георги С. Раковски“Tasty and authentic armenian restaurant
Very popular restaurant among locals with healthy options. Make sure to book a table.
99 המלצות של מקומיים
Made in Blue
6 ul. "Yuri Venelin"Very popular restaurant among locals with healthy options. Make sure to book a table.
TEMPORARILY CLOSED! Tasty Korean and Japanese street food. The place is tiny and usually busy so make sure to book a table.
Genji Street Food
TEMPORARILY CLOSED! Tasty Korean and Japanese street food. The place is tiny and usually busy so make sure to book a table.
It’s a nice Japanese restaurant. If you’re in the mood for ramen it’s the place to go to.
14 המלצות של מקומיים
Японски ресторант "Мияби"
5 ul. "Stara Planina"It’s a nice Japanese restaurant. If you’re in the mood for ramen it’s the place to go to.
Moshi Moshi Sushi
Good sushi spot
Modern Japanese cuisine which digresses from traditional cuisine and its strict rules towards fusion. The food is based on Japanese product combinations, but is presented in a contemporary European way.
18 המלצות של מקומיים
HAMACHI-Ni - Japanese Fish Restaurant
179 ulitsa „Georgi S. Rakovski“Modern Japanese cuisine which digresses from traditional cuisine and its strict rules towards fusion. The food is based on Japanese product combinations, but is presented in a contemporary European way.
When in the mood for ramen, this is the place to be! Keep in mind that their kitchen closes at 20:30pm.
Haikara Ramen
When in the mood for ramen, this is the place to be! Keep in mind that their kitchen closes at 20:30pm.
Cozy restaurant with a sunny and quite front garden. The menu is short, but each meal is carefully selected. It is the first restaurant in Bulgaria, that is paring its meals with local craft beers.
18 המלצות של מקומיים
Aubergine - Craft beer. Craft food.
11 ul. "Carnegie"Cozy restaurant with a sunny and quite front garden. The menu is short, but each meal is carefully selected. It is the first restaurant in Bulgaria, that is paring its meals with local craft beers.
Great new restaurant, apart from their regular menu they also offer a very tasty brunch menu during the weekend. It’s quite small so we recommend calling to book a table.
KOMAT Restaurant
Great new restaurant, apart from their regular menu they also offer a very tasty brunch menu during the weekend. It’s quite small so we recommend calling to book a table.
Healthy options
Satsanga
8 ul. "Georgi Benkovski"Tasty vegetarian and vegan Indian food at an amazing price
Great vegeterian restaurant, perfect for lunch
34 המלצות של מקומיים
Vegetarian restaurant and bakery "Sun Moon"
39 ulitsa "6-ti septemvri"Great vegeterian restaurant, perfect for lunch
Great option for healthy dining out. Their kitchen is very small, make sure to book a table.
31 המלצות של מקומיים
Soul Kitchen
13 ul. "Kokiche"Great option for healthy dining out. Their kitchen is very small, make sure to book a table.
Zoya is a natural & organic shop that had a great selection of organic and natural foods, local foods and natural cosmetics. They also offer raw deserts and smoothies. There are multiple locations in the center.
Zoya.bg 3 - Garibaldi
2 площад ГарибалдиZoya is a natural & organic shop that had a great selection of organic and natural foods, local foods and natural cosmetics. They also offer raw deserts and smoothies. There are multiple locations in the center.
Brunch sports
Фабрика ДЪГА / Rainbow Factory
10 ul. "Veslets"A very popular Bulgarian-style brunch spot
Traditional brunch dishes such as eggs benedict, avocado toast and waffles are served there along with cocktails. Take note that it gets busy over the weekend and the staff are not as quick with delivering the food as one might expect.
17 המלצות של מקומיים
Старата Госпожа (Starata Gospoja)
18 ul. "Oborishte"Traditional brunch dishes such as eggs benedict, avocado toast and waffles are served there along with cocktails. Take note that it gets busy over the weekend and the staff are not as quick with delivering the food as one might expect.
Tasty brunch option with a Bulgarian spin to it. Keep in mind that they don’t do reservations and it gets quite busy during weekends, you might have to wait to be seated.
13 המלצות של מקומיים
Cafe 1920
60 булевард „кн. Мария Луиза“Tasty brunch option with a Bulgarian spin to it. Keep in mind that they don’t do reservations and it gets quite busy during weekends, you might have to wait to be seated.
DARO is definitely a personal favorite breakfast/brunch place, keep in mind that it’s quite small and they don’t take reservations and you kind need to wait a bit for a table if you come on Saturday or Sunday morning.
Sofia Center, ul. "Angel Kanchev" 20, 1000 Sofia, בולגריה
DARO is definitely a personal favorite breakfast/brunch place, keep in mind that it’s quite small and they don’t take reservations and you kind need to wait a bit for a table if you come on Saturday or Sunday morning.
Drinks and Cocktails
Sense Hotel Rooftop Bar
blvd bul. "Tsar Osvoboditel"Rooftop bar with a great view.
Sputnik Cocktail Bar
17 bul. "Yanko Sakazov"Good cocktails and music
A hidden gem that offers great cocktails as well as tasty snacks. It is ideal for a quiet night out. Note that the garden is open until 10pm.
9 המלצות של מקומיים
V Bar
13 ul. "General Parensov"A hidden gem that offers great cocktails as well as tasty snacks. It is ideal for a quiet night out. Note that the garden is open until 10pm.
A bar offering cocktails and music. It is popular among young people and is usually very busy during the weekends.
6 המלצות של מקומיים
K.E.B.A.
114 ulitsa „Georgi S. Rakovski“A bar offering cocktails and music. It is popular among young people and is usually very busy during the weekends.
This is where you are most likely to run into us having some drinks. The bar is situated within a city garden and delivers great cocktails.
Bar Crystal
7Б ul. AksakovThis is where you are most likely to run into us having some drinks. The bar is situated within a city garden and delivers great cocktails.
Tobacco Garden Bar
6A ul. "Moskovska"Cocktail bar with music with a nice garden
Nightlife
An alternative club hidden behind a vinyl shop. Check out their events in their instagram page microrecords.bg
Micro
19 ulitsa "Karnigradska"An alternative club hidden behind a vinyl shop. Check out their events in their instagram page microrecords.bg
Probably the most underground bar in Sofia. If you'd like to go message us for directions.
48 המלצות של מקומיים
Hambara Bar
22 ul. "6-ti septemvri"Probably the most underground bar in Sofia. If you'd like to go message us for directions.
A small club in the center, you can check out their events on instagram at follow.the.rabbits
28 המלצות של מקומיים
Tell Me Bar
12 ul. "Ivan Vazov"A small club in the center, you can check out their events on instagram at follow.the.rabbits
Carrusel club
108 ulitsa „Georgi S. Rakovski“Popular club in Sofia
A new addition to the nighlife in sofia, you can check their events at kupe.sofia in instagram
КУПЕ / KUPE
8 ulitsa "Slavyanska"A new addition to the nighlife in sofia, you can check their events at kupe.sofia in instagram
Museums
If Bulgarian history and culture are appealing to you this is a must-see
111 המלצות של מקומיים
National Museum of History
16 ul. "Vitoshko lale"If Bulgarian history and culture are appealing to you this is a must-see
The most valuable exhibits of the Gallery funds are displayed on four floors, housed in 19 rooms, with a total exhibition area of approximately 3,200 sqm. The Gallery holds over 10,000 museum items – graphic works, paintings, sculptures, fine arts.
53 המלצות של מקומיים
National Gallery
1 ul. "19-ti fevruari"The most valuable exhibits of the Gallery funds are displayed on four floors, housed in 19 rooms, with a total exhibition area of approximately 3,200 sqm. The Gallery holds over 10,000 museum items – graphic works, paintings, sculptures, fine arts.
Our National Art Gallery hosting multiple exhibitions and Bulgarian authors
178 המלצות של מקומיים
National Art Gallery
1 пл. „Княз Александър I“Our National Art Gallery hosting multiple exhibitions and Bulgarian authors
The museum of icons inside the Alexander Nevski cathedral crypt houses what is claimed to be the largest collection of Orthodox icons in Europe. The collection of works covered a long period – the adoption of Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire in the fourth century to the Bulgarian National Revival (XVIII – XIX century) and is represented mainly by icons.
Alexander Nevsky Crypt Icon museum
ploshtad "Sveti Aleksandar Nevski"The museum of icons inside the Alexander Nevski cathedral crypt houses what is claimed to be the largest collection of Orthodox icons in Europe. The collection of works covered a long period – the adoption of Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire in the fourth century to the Bulgarian National Revival (XVIII – XIX century) and is represented mainly by icons.
Entering the Red Flat means travelling back in time to Communist Bulgaria of the 1980’s. By visiting the home of an average family you will discover what everyday life was like for ordinary Bulgarians during the Cold War.
7 המלצות של מקומיים
The Red Flat - Everyday Life in Communist Bulgaria
24 улица „Иван Денкоглу“Entering the Red Flat means travelling back in time to Communist Bulgaria of the 1980’s. By visiting the home of an average family you will discover what everyday life was like for ordinary Bulgarians during the Cold War.
Archeological museum occupying the building of the largest and oldest former Ottoman mosque in the city, originally known as Koca Mahmut Paşa Camii.
47 המלצות של מקומיים
המוזיאון הארכיאולוגי
площад „Атанас Буров“Archeological museum occupying the building of the largest and oldest former Ottoman mosque in the city, originally known as Koca Mahmut Paşa Camii.
For the ones that want to explore collections of objects, weapons, decorations, seals, artworks, and many more
34 המלצות של מקומיים
National Museum of Military History
92 ul. "Cherkovna"For the ones that want to explore collections of objects, weapons, decorations, seals, artworks, and many more
Sightseeing
One of Sofia’s symbol and the largest cathedral in the Balkans
369 המלצות של מקומיים
קתדרלת סנט אלכסנדר נבסקי
ploshtad "Sveti Aleksandar Nevski"One of Sofia’s symbol and the largest cathedral in the Balkans
The largest multifunctional conference and exhibition centre in eastern Europe. You can take a pleasant walk around the garden and fountains just in front of it.
182 המלצות של מקומיים
Park National Palace of Culture
Bulevard "Bulgaria"The largest multifunctional conference and exhibition centre in eastern Europe. You can take a pleasant walk around the garden and fountains just in front of it.