Republika Východu

Top choice in Košice


With its tongue-in-cheek declaration of independence from Western Slovakia, Republika Východu (Republic of the East) sets a spirited tone. The menu, too, doesn't play by any rules: breakfast on avocado toast or quinoa porridge, studded with raspberries, then hang around to lunch on steak or goat's cheese salad. Bonus: it's lined with bookshelves and there's a children's play area.

Effective service keeps this republic running like clockwork.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Košice attractions

1. East Slovak Gallery

0.02 MILES

A thoughtfully curated gallery space with rotating exhibitions of contemporary art, the East Slovak Gallery also has a permanent collection of 19th- and…

2. Shire Hall

0.02 MILES

One of the main square's grandest buildings is this 1779 hall crowned with a coat of arms; today it's home to the East Slovak Gallery.

3. Cathedral of St Elizabeth

0.03 MILES

This 14th-century cathedral dominates Košice's main square, its gables bristling above tall, stained-glass windows while colourful roof tiles evoke a…

4. St Michael's Chapel

0.03 MILES

To the south of the Cathedral of St Elizabeth you can admire the outside of 14th-century St Michael's, a Gothic chapel dedicated to the patron saint of…

5. Lower Gate Underground Museum

0.07 MILES

The underground remains of medieval Košice – lower gate, defence chambers, fortifications and waterways dating from the 13th to 15th centuries – were only…

6. Singing Fountain

0.08 MILES

This water feature, framed by flowerbeds, dances to the merry tune of a nearby 22-bell sculpture every hour. In summer, come after sundown when…

7. Hlavné Nám

0.12 MILES

Much of Košice's finery is assembled along Hlavné nám, a long plaza with flower gardens, fountains and cafes on either side. Stroll past the central…

8. Rodošto & Mikluš Prison

0.17 MILES

This complex's motley attractions form a whirlwind tour of Košice's history. In the bastion, whose walls date to the 15th century, Košice is revealed as a…