Sofia Eateries
Over the course of the last six weeks, I’ve had more than my fair share of encounters with gastronomic heaven. Here’s a brief and practical list of my top 13 Sofia eateries with a bonus wine shop. If you have a suggestion for a place I should try, just send me a message.
Please note that the list is not ranked. And don’t ask me how many pounds I may or may not have gained while compiling it. Nobless oblige. Gluttony obliges even more.
Enjoy!
Bagri
ul. "Dobrudzha" 10, 1000 Sofia Center, Sofia
Exquisite food, prepared from carefully sourced local ingredients with great attention to flavor and taste.
Chicken meatballs at Bagri
33 Gastronauts
ul. "Professor Asen Zlatarov" 14, 1504 Sofia Center, Sofia
Inventive and uncompromisingly excellent food.
Black lentil salad at 33 Gastronauts
Lavanda
ul. "Tsar Shishman" 12, 1000 Sofia Center, Sofia
Fun, fresh and delectable.
Sea bream frittata at Lavanda
Aubergine
ul. "Carnegie" 11, 1142 Sofia Center, Sofia
Flawlessly executed contemporary international cuisine.
A finger-licking smoked pepper eggplant dip at Aubergine
HleBar
ul. "Oborishte" 16, 1504 Sofia Center, Sofia
Hearty and heavenly homemade fare.
Bulgarian tarator, mish-mash with feta and craft red ale
Soul Kitchen
ul. "Kokiche" 13, 1164 g.k. Lozenets, Sofia
A very creative and decidedly delicious vegetarian and vegan food
The lovely garden of Soul Kitchen serves as a stage for delectable vegetarian food
Bankovich
ul. "6-ti septemvri" 55, 1142 Sofia Center, Sofia
Balkan staples at their best. The grilled meats are outstanding. So is the homemade bread....
The mixed grill at Bankovich
The Architects’ Club
Reliably delicious food in an elegant setting - both indoor and outdoor.
ul. "Krakra", 1000 Sofia
Chopped tomatoes, spring onions at feta at The Architects' Club
Made in Home
ul. "Angel Kanchev" 30, 1000 Sofia Center, Sofia
Fun and creative. Loved that they had black sea mussels on the menu - and they were prepared very well!
Steamed Black Sea Mussels
Atelier
ul. "Professor Asen Zlatarov" 16, 1504 Sofia Center, Sofia
I ordered the beef tartare with a quail egg and it was remarkable.
Beef tartare with quail egg at Atelier
Chef’s
ul. "Lyubata", 1407 g.k. Lozenets, Sofia
A fine dining restaurant with a masterfully created seasonal menu of Bulgarian and international fare, often with a twist.
Pineapple brulée at Chef's
The Buffet
ul. "Ekzarh Yosif" 44, 1000 Sofia Center, Sofia
A funky neighborhood restaurant with a simply excellent take on traditional Bulgarian dishes
Grilled kidneys with spring onions at The Buffet
The Tea House
This place is a real gem. A marvelous tea selection with many traditional and often rare herbal teas plus a fantastic vegetarian menu. I just can’t get enough…. And they have the coolest restroom I’ve ever been in!
The Tea House's delicious food was devoured before it could be photographed....
EnjoyWine
ul. "Tsar Shishman" 19, 1000 Sofia Center, Sofia
EnjoyWine is what happens when people who love Bulgarian wine and who care about how it is made, presented, and consumed, get to work. Very hard and highly professional work. Eva is the relentlessly creative mind behind the concept. Svetlyo, originally an engineer by trade, got a degree in oenology so he can ensure he has the right expertise for this spirited endeavor.
Disclaimer - Eva and Svetlyo are old friends I recently reconnected with. And no, this is not the reason I am endorsing their shop. The store is a veritable Bulgarian wine heaven - a formidable selection of wines from small winemakers, including the owners’ own line of creative and beautifully executed wines. Their tastings will have you meet some remarkable wines and they do wine tours, too. I know their storefront will be a staple in my walks around Sofia.
EnjoyWine's own line, called Joy