Entertainment in Bulgaria
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A
Bally
This new club playing hip-hop and techno has both its supporters and detractors. With its large central dance floor, it can seem empty unless there’s a weekend crowd.
reviewed
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Kraybrezhna aleya
Officially known as aleya Georgi Georgiev but more commonly referred to either as Plazhna aleya or Kraybrezhna aleya, the coastal lane along the beach is the centre of Varna's summer nightlife. In summer it's lined with clubs, bars and restaurants, only a handful of which operate at other times of year, and many change names from one season to the next. Pick up the Summer Seaside Guide to see what's new.
reviewed
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B
Cinema Arena
The latest Hollywood films are on at Cinema Arena in the new shopping centre, Central Mall, which also has a nightclub, bowling alley and casino. (A taxi is the easiest way to get there.) In addition to the mall, the new town, little-visited by tourists, is where many students reside and thus also offers heavy-duty entertainment during term.
reviewed
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C
National Palace of Culture
The NDK (as it’s usually called) has 15 halls and is easily the country’s largest cultural complex. It maintains a regular programme of events in summer (when most other theatres in Sofia are closed) and offers an eclectic range of shows throughout the year (recently featured artists have included George Michael and Chuck Berry).
reviewed
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D
Alibi
In summer, nightclubs and bars materialise among the trees of Maritime Park; among the more reliable is Alibi, with a varied programme including ‘retro nights’, dance and Latino music. Live music, dance and drama performances often take place at the Summer Theatre, which was being rebuilt at the time of research.
reviewed
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Sobieski LABB
The most visually alluring café on ul Tsar Simeon Veliki is also the first you come to after turning right from the square (from ul Metropolit Metodii Kusev). Its stylish black-and-white décor extends to the outside benches facing the park. There are plenty of interesting drinks on offer and house music plays most of the time.
reviewed
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E
Pri Kmeta
At the Mayor’s’ is a convivial microbrewery serving its own ‘Kmetsko’ beer, which is available in litre and, for the very thirsty, metre-length measures. There are seats at ground level, but the cellar beer hall, with its gleaming copper vats, is more atmospheric, and hosts regular live music events.
reviewed
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F
10th Town Café
The name of this sleek café refers to Shumen’s rank among Bulgarian cities. It aspires, with its wireless connection, colourful décor and Spanish coffee, to scale new cosmopolitan heights. The café offers that relative rarity in the Balkans, a room for nonsmokers, plus a summer garden.
reviewed
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G
King’s Stables Café
This summer-only outdoor café has two parts: a lower area beside the restaurant, with live music stage, and a funky upper bar (the ‘second stage’), offering a short list of well-made cocktails. A DJ here spins chilled-out tracks, sometimes accompanied by wafting, pungent incense.
reviewed
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Escada
The smooth modern look of this café/bar/restaurant with striped couches, a long bar and canopied outdoor seating is reminiscent of the smart Grecian cafés of Thessaloniki. It’s good for a light lunch and has an upstairs nightclub. It’s 2km west of the train station.
reviewed
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Xtreme Club
There is a handful of clubs in the new town, including Xtreme Club, while La Bomba, on South Beach, is a popular tourist haunt, offering regular live music and DJ parties during the summer. For livelier nightlife, head to nearby Sunny Beach (Slânchev Bryag).
reviewed
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H
Naylona
They say that the owners of this Kapana dive bar purposefully didn’t fix the roof, so that the rain would trickle in; whatever the story, this damp, bare-bones place usually playing classic (and other) rock remains the unwashed, long-haired antithesis of Plovdiv style.
reviewed
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I
Caligula
Plovdiv’s only gay club is, Bulgarian men only half-jokingly say, a nice place to meet girls. Whatever the case, the mixed crowd comes not only for the greased-up male pole dancers, but for the live music, DJs and neighbouring facilities (the Sky Bar is in the same complex).
reviewed
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J
Art Bar Maria Luisa
Too pretty to be just a dive bar, the Maria Luisa has dedicated owners who keep adapting the décor to suit their whims. The colourful downstairs is particularly stylish, vaguely reminiscent of 1920’s Paris. This little place has a dedicated local following.
reviewed
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K
Red House
Occupying a unique, early-20th-century mansion, this avant-garde institution hosts everything from political and cultural debates (in various languages) to poetry readings and dance performances. Many events are free; check the website for the current programme.
reviewed
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L
Plazma Light
A very, very chic new bar with a nightclub behind, Plazma Light is one of the prime places to chill out to house music, with detached, island-like bars set in a sea of cream-and-black décor. Shiny screens and shiny people complete the mesmerizing effect.
reviewed
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M
Nightclub Colosseum
Drunken Bulgarians, aerosol cans and a lighter might seem a dangerous combination, but there are even hotter things besides 6ft-high flames inside this big student nightclub. Different theme nights range from student nights to DJ parties and retro.
reviewed
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N
Marmalad
This two-floor place is one of Kapana’s best for live music. The upper floor is a bar, and the lower one a club where nationally known rock bands perform on Thursday. Tuesday features a piano bar, karaoke’s on Wednesday, and DJs play on weekends.
reviewed
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O
Pepy’s Bar
[ourpick] Pepy’s Bar If you were an expat in Târnovo, Pepy’s might well be your local. The dark-lit, popular bar doesn’t put on airs like the more studenty places; it’s just a cosy, chilled-out nightspot with subdued style.
reviewed
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Monastirska Bara
Monastirska Bara is a decent and cheap mehana next to the monastery. Service can be a bit rough, though, and the modern Bulgarian pop playing doesn’t really enhance the hallowed atmosphere of the monastery.
reviewed
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P
Kino Trakiya
Kino Trakiya shows recent Hollywood films every evening. For something a bit more sophisticated, find out what’s on offer at the Adriana Boudevska Drama Theatre or the Burgas Opera House.
reviewed
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Q
Makalali
While the African tribal theme is somewhat less obvious than the owners might think, Makalali is still a good, and often busy place, with a big cocktail menu, cool lighting and Fashion TV aspirations to go with its ambient house music.
reviewed
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R
Shekerdzinitsa
This lovely little café with traditional furnishings in the old market is the place to go for real Turkish coffee –appealingly prepared the old-school way, in a diminutive copper pot run across a basin of heated sand.
reviewed
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S
Arizona Cocktail Bar
Arizona Cocktail Bar. This popular nightspot with both an outdoor terrace and indoor bar serves over 50 different cocktails, made and transported by friendly bar hands. It usually only gets busy after midnight.
reviewed
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T
Soundgarden
The once frequent live rock shows held here had become, at the time of writing, sadly rare; nevertheless, this weathered place between the square and the river retains its alternative edge and cultivates a pub ambience.
reviewed