Home › Travel Guides › Europe Travel Guide › Bulgaria › Sofia › Restaurants in Sofia
Image gallery

The National Theatre, Sofia

© 123rf.com

+200
Sofia Local time

Weather in Sofia
Partly Cloudy Day
-
7
°C
Bulgaria

Restaurants in Sofia

In traditional Bulgarian restaurants, dinner usually begins with one of many salads, accompanied by a glass of rakia (plum brandy). To have one without the other is regarded as unusual, and bear in mind that in Bulgaria, salads are not just for women: men also heartily tuck into crunchy vegetable dishes, often with dips. Reservations are recommended wherever possible; in the case of upscale and popular restaurants, they are essential.

The Sofia restaurants below have been grouped into three pricing categories:
Expensive (over €50 / 100 Lev)
Moderate (€20 to €50 / 40 Lev to 100 Lev)
Cheap (up to €20 / 40 Lev)
These Sofia restaurant prices are for an average three-course meal with a half-bottle of house wine or cheapest equivalent; they do not include tax or tip.

La Capannina

Price: Expensive

With striking views of the Parliament and Aleksandar Nevski Memorial Church, La Capannina's authentic Italian cuisine is one of the best in Bulgaria. With hot and cold antipasti, veal, fresh pasta and a top-notch wine list, this Sofia restaurant is a real treat. Try for the terrace in warmer months. Reservations essential.

Address: Ploshtad Narodno Sabranie 9, Sofia, Bulgaria
Telephone: (02) 980 4438

Motto

Price: Moderate

This cavernous interior, with brick walls and dark wooden floors, is a popular Sofia restaurant attracting trendy locals. Cuisine is international, veering towards modern European, like tuna skewers with sushi risotto and honey-baked goat's cheese salad, and a good range of pasta. Comfy sofas and designer décor turns it into a trendy cocktail bar late into the night.

Address: Ulitsa Aksakov 18, Sofia, Bulgaria
Telephone: (02) 987 2723
http://www.motto-bg.com/

Pod Lipite

Price: Moderate

Located southwest of the centre, this Sofia restaurant is a wonderful place to sample traditional local dishes in this popular tavern-like mehana , and a garden for the warmer months. Favourite dishes include pork knuckle in white wine and assorted shashlik (grilled kebabs) with a good choice of vegetarian starters and salads. Service is friendly, and there is live music on Friday and Saturday nights.

Address: Ulitsa Elin Pelin 1, Sofia, Bulgaria
Telephone: (02) 866 5053
http://www.podlipitebg.com

Pri Yafata

Price: Moderate

Typical Bulgarian cuisine in a colourful cosy mehana (tavern), going strong for generations, this is a great place to try cavarma (hearty pork and vegetable casserole) and shashlink (mixed barbecued meats). The large selection of top local wines is perfectly accompanied with live Balkan folk music nightly. The small garden and the few tables on the pavement outside are popular in warmer months. Reservations highly recommended.

Address: Corner of ulitsa Solunska and Tzar Assen, Sofia, Bulgaria
Telephone: (02) 980 1727
http://www.pri-yafata.com

Dream House

Price: Cheap

Difficult to find, located inside a small shopping arcade, this is one of Sofia's few vegetarian restaurants. Its large menu has crunchy salads, soups and local dishes, with a nudge towards Asian flavours with dishes such as vegetarian sushi and spicy tofu. It has a small selection of local wines and beers, plus unusual herbal teas and infusions. Cool, fresh décor, this is a popular Sofia restaurant at lunchtime.

Address: 1/F, Sofia, Bulgaria
Telephone: (02) 980 8163
http://www.dreamhouse-bg.com/

Halbite

Price: Cheap

Halbite is a lovely earthy bar with Bulgarian food at very reasonable prices. With a little leafy garden, plus wooden tables in a series of small rooms inside, this friendly place has dishes like baked peppers with dill, or chicken casserole with mushrooms and peppers, and the usual long list of great starters. Vegetarians have a good choice. Good Bulgarian beer on tap.

Address: Ulitsa Neofit Rilski 72, Sofia, Bulgaria
Telephone: (02) 980 4147

Kibea

Price: Cheap

An organic, predominantly vegetarian cuisine is served at this quiet restaurant, located above the owner's publishing house. With emphasis on healthy and holistic dining, typical dishes might include rosemary and lemon marinated chicken breast or Japanese seaweed salad with soy sprouts.

Address: Ulitsa Dr G Valkovic 2A, Sofia, Bulgaria
Telephone: (02) 980 3067
http://www.kibea.net/en/restaurant
Travel Deals

Recommended Sites:

Protect yourself from malaria
Before you travel, find out if your holiday destination is in a malaria zone.
(An educational initiative organised and funded by GlaxoSmithKline Travel Health. UK/MARK/0173/10 September 2010)
Africa, the way it should be seen
We´re cutting the cost of Africa overland trips by up to a whopping 40%. 25% off many trips departing by 30/6/12.
Travel insurance
For residents of over 150 countries. High levels of medical, evacuation, emergency & most adventure activities covered.