Plovdiv Restaurants

  1. Art Cafe Philipopolis

    Adjacent to the Philopopolis Gallery, the café has a garden section with views, while the indoors has a nonsmoking section. Light breakfasts and lunches are served, along with coffees and cocktails, though the musical offerings (the rock ballads of Bryan Adams and Aerosmith, over and over) could hardly be called arty.

    Read more about Art Cafe Philipopolis

  2. Café Avenue

    Very popular with locally known personalities, black-clad 'businessmen' and students too, this fashionable, dressed-up café plays retro, house and dance music.

    Read more about Café Avenue

  3. Café Starino

    One of Plovdiv's oldest and most atmospheric cafés, this dark, weathered place next to the Hotel Renaissance has a thick bar and pillowy, Ottoman-style bench-tables on the upper section. Behind the antique, handpainted walls are even older, Turkish-era sections. The Starino attracts mostly a subdued, local crowd.

    Read more about Café Starino

  4. Café Taksim Tepe

    With its patio setting overlooking Plovdiv's old red roofs, this tiny place has a relaxing vibe and (sometimes) plays ragtime and jazz. Despite the allusive name, it doesn't serve Turkish coffee.

    Read more about Café Taksim Tepe

  5. Dayana

    This big place off the pedestrian mall, popular with locals and foreigners alike, has a huge (and colourful) menu strong on grilled meats. The staff seem overworked, so service can be slow.

    Read more about Dayana

  6. Djoana

    This big and often full taverna-style place north of the river is great for a hearty grilled meat and beer dinner.

    Read more about Djoana

  7. Dreams

    This excellent and very popular café on pl Stambolov is the perfect place to relax before the square's giant gushing fountain on a balmy summer's day. It serves surprisingly good cakes, along with numerous alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. There's also a spacious upstairs hall.

    Read more about Dreams

  8. Efir-100

    Adjoining Djoana, and serving similar grilled meat specialties, this busy place (pronounced efir-sto in Bulgarian) has an eclectic, jungle-like décor. Entrées range from common standbys like shopska salata and chicken shishle to more unknown commodities like 'dinosaur's tail on fire'.

    Read more about Efir-100

  9. Gusto

    The friendly Gusto has diner-style booths upstairs and cosy tables downstairs, both with classy décor. While it's arguably not even the best thing served, pasta accompanied by wine seems the most popular choice.

    Read more about Gusto

  10. Hebros Hotel Restaurant

    The upscale garden restaurant of the upmarket Hebros Hotel does excellent, and innovative Bulgarian cuisine, like rabbit with plums, trout, pork with blue cheese and more.

    Read more about Hebros Hotel Restaurant

  11. Advertisement

  12. King's Stables

    The sprawling, summer-only King's Stables, opposite the Hikers Hostel, occupies a rolling hill ending in Roman walls. Offerings range from breakfast crepes to hearty meat dishes like Thracian gouviech (melting cheese and sausage with seasonings cooked in a clay pot). It also features that relative rarity in Bulgaria - friendly service. The restaurant has two adjacent cafés.

    Read more about King's Stables

  13. Malâk Bunardzhik

    Quality Bulgarian cuisine is served at this popular place with garden dining and live music most nights.

    Read more about Malâk Bunardzhik

  14. Puldin Restaurant

    The magical Puldin is one of Plovdiv's most atmospheric restaurants. In one dining room, the famous whirling dervishes of the Ottoman Empire once whirled themselves into ecstatic exhaustion, while in the cellar hall Byzantine-era walls and Roman artefacts predominate. Although expensive, the décor alone makes it worthwhile.

    Read more about Puldin Restaurant

  15. Restaurant Kambanata

    Beneath the Church of Sveta Bogoroditsa, the Kambanata has tables set in ascending rows for watching live music. The food however, is more prosaic, and somewhat overpriced, and they don't do breakfasts.

    Read more about Restaurant Kambanata

  16. Restaurant Rahat Tepe

    Way up in the old town, the outdoors Rahat Tepe serves simple meals like salads, beef kebabs and fried fish.

    Read more about Restaurant Rahat Tepe

  17. Ristorante Da Lino

    Plovdiv's best place for Italian food, Da Lino occupies a converted monastery; however, prices are high and portions are small.

    Read more about Ristorante Da Lino

  18. Skandarliya

    Another north-side eatery, and Plovdiv's best place for Serbian skara (grilled meats), with an extensive wine list.

    Read more about Skandarliya

  19. XIX Vek

    Pronounced devetnaystee vek, this local favourite in a garden near the pedestrian mall offers traditional satch dishes, charcoal-grilled shish kebabs and more. Its walls are decorated with traditional implements and décor reminiscent of a 19th-century village.

    Read more about XIX Vek

  20. Advertisement