Must-see restaurants in Bulgaria

  • Han Hadji Nikoli

    Veliko Târnovo

    Countless Veliko Târnovo inns were ransacked under Ottoman rule, as they were popular meeting places for revolution-minded locals. Fortunately Han Hadji…

  • Sevastokrator

    Bulgaria

    The shaded terrace of this hotel-restaurant peers over some of the finest forest views in Arbanasi. Service is prompt, the decor has traditional wooden…

  • Magnolia

    Bulgaria

    Inside this peach-coloured building, just across the river from the Thracian tomb, lies an unmissable mehana (tavern) with a menu of well-executed…

  • Pavaj

    Plovdiv

    This tiny hole-in-the-wall is one of Kapana's most happening restaurants. The formula for success follows can't-miss international trends like seasonal,…

  • Made In Home

    Sofia

    Sofia's popular entrant into the worldwide, locally sourced, slow-food trend (the name refers to the fact that all items are made in-house). The cooking…

  • Niko'las

    Sofia

    The menu boasts a 'taste of the Balkans with an Asian twist', which undersells the amazing food on offer here. Expect the likes of smoked trout topped…

  • Bay

    Black Sea Coast

    Discover the best food in Sveti Konstantin, and arguably in all of greater Varna, at this beachside Lebanese restaurant and cocktail bar. The specialities…

  • Mehana Chavkova Kâshta

    Pirin Mountains

    Sit beneath 500-year-old trees and watch Melnik meander past at this superb spot. Like many places in town, grilled meats and Bulgarian dishes are…

  • Gloria Mar

    Black Sea Coast

    For our money, this is the best dining option in touristy Nesebâr. Fresh seafood, wood-fired pizzas and grilled meats are on offer, as well as harder-to…

  • Ribarska Sreshta

    Black Sea Coast

    Even if you're not staying at the hotel, consider lunch or dinner at this authentic fish restaurant. There's an extensive menu of fresh fish, including a…

  • Garden Restaurant

    Ruse

    This outdoor restaurant is part of the Riga Hotel complex and features a beautiful view over the Danube, water fountains and lots of green. Choose from a…

  • Rosé

    Burgas

    Choose from a wide menu of grilled meats and fish, including a superlative lamb-shank offering, or fresh pasta at this superb restaurant in the city…

  • Riverside

    Bulgaria

    This casual, modern restaurant, just off the park lining the Danube River and near to the Drustar Hotel, serves excellent Bulgarian food, including…

  • Hebros Restaurant

    Plovdiv

    Genteel service and a tranquil setting is exactly what you would expect from the restaurant of the boutique Hebros Hotel. Classic Bulgarian flavours are…

  • Stariya Chinar

    Varna

    This is upmarket Balkan soul food at its best. Try the baked lamb, made to an old Bulgarian recipe, or the divine barbecued pork ribs; it also boasts some…

  • Ethno

    Burgas

    This downtown restaurant does splendid things with seafood: the Black Sea mussels alone are worth a trip to Burgas. With inviting blue-and-white surrounds…

  • Di Wine Restaurant & Wine Cellar

    Varna

    This formal but friendly restaurant is, in the eyes of many, Varna's best fine-dining spot, with a big menu of tempting dishes including rack of lamb, T…

  • Starata Loza

    Bulgaria

    The traditional Bulgarian mehana experience is given a whimsical twist with decorative touches such as wine casks bulging out of the walls. Meals are…

  • Kristo Restaurant

    Pirin Mountains

    The Kristo Hotel’s superb restaurant presents a dilemma: the terrace overlooks lovely Vavedenie Presvetiya Bogoroditsi church, but its interior is a cosy…

  • Pri Hadjiyata

    Bulgaria

    This festive local favourite set around a shaded courtyard, with indoor seating for winter, does excellent Bulgarian food prepared and served in the…

  • Manastirska Magernitsa

    Sofia

    This traditional mehana (tavern) is among the best places in Sofia to sample authentic Bulgarian cuisine. The enormous menu features recipes collected…

  • MoMa Bulgarian Food & Wine

    Sofia

    An update on the traditional mehana (taverna), serving typical Bulgarian foods such as grilled meats and meatballs, but in a more modern and understated…

  • Confetti

    Sofia

    Delicious, mouth-watering homemade ice cream in countless variations that call out for sampling from the wide, oval-shaped front counter. The chocolate…

  • Sun & Moon

    Sofia

    Very good vegetarian cooking, a warm, student-friendly atmosphere and a sunny, streetside terrace make this the ideal choice for a healthy, inexpensive…

  • Vila Rosich

    Sofia

    Step into the back garden of this hidden bakery and enter what feels like a secret world of freshly-made breads and cakes. It's a perfect spot for an…

  • Restaurant Uniqato

    Bulgaria

    Stara Zagora's best dining can be enjoyed at this sophisticated Italian place, with its stone-baked pizzas, prosciutto-draped salads and juicy meatballs…

  • New House

    Ruse

    The simple, no-frills interior hints at the owners' intention: to create a foodie destination in the centre of Ruse. The menu emphasises healthy choices,…

  • Tam's House

    Plovdiv

    One of the hit openings of 2018 was this labour of love fusing Bulgarian and South American cuisines by way of California. Expect a little of everything:…

  • Memory

    Plovdiv

    Candlelit tables in a secluded courtyard make Memory a venue to impress, with soul and jazz tunes completing the sultry mood. Its forte is creative…

  • Restaurant Ahtamar

    Black Sea Coast

    One of the few places in town that tries to go beyond the usual range of grills and salads. The speciality here is local fish, prepared in inventive ways…

  • Mr Baba

    Varna

    The coast-long trend for novelty ship restaurants has come to Varna, with this handsome, wooden-hulled venture stranded at the far southern end of the…

  • Hemingway

    Plovdiv

    Loosely channelling the cheek and chic of 1920s Paris with a modern twist, this classy spot near the Roman Odeon whips up some of Plovdiv's best dishes…

  • Boho

    Sofia

    Contemporary eclectic favorites like burgers and sweet-potato fries, hummus, pulled pork, avocado toast, and pancakes -- all reasonably priced and served…

  • Little Things

    Sofia

    It's the little things – knick-knacks, toys, books, flowers – that give this charming spot its name, but it's the large portions of delightful, homestyle…

  • Satsanga

    Burgas

    One of the few vegetarian-only restaurants in town, clean and upbeat Satsanga does a full range of international veg hits, drawing inspiration from Asian,…

  • Zafo

    Black Sea Coast

    This pretty garden restaurant located along the main street near the centre of town offers grilled meats and fresh fish. It's popular in the evenings and…

  • Francis Drake

    Black Sea Coast

    The restaurant of the Hotel Mistral is the place for some classier cuisine. Fried turbot, smoked salmon and locally caught fish are among the offerings.

  • Supa Star

    Sofia

    This small, laid-back and brightly decorated place offers a range of homemade soups, including meat and veggie options and filling lentils and beans…

  • Bistro Pesto

    Sofia

    Impossibly cute Italian-themed sandwich and coffee bar that makes for a great, inexpensive pit stop for lunch. The specialities here are panini (toasted…

  • Rahat Tepe

    Plovdiv

    Hands down the winner when it comes to shady beer-garden dining and lively atmosphere, Rahat Tepe's meals follow a simple formula: fresh, unfussy and…

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