Restaurants in Plovdiv
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A
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 such as 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.
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B
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.
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C
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.
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D
Art Cafe Philipopolis
Adjacent to the Philipopolis Art Gallery, the café has a garden section with views, while indoors there’s 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.
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E
Efir-100
Adjoining Djoana, and serving similar grilled meat specialities, this busy place (pronounced efir-sto in Bulgarian) has an eclectic, jungle-like décor. Entrées range from common standbys such as shopska salad and chicken shishle to more unknown commodities like ‘dinosaur’s tail on fire’.
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F
XIX Vek
Pronounced devetnaystee vek, this local favourite in a garden near the pedestrian mall offers traditional satch (a stew baked in a clay pots) dishes, charcoal-grilled shish kebabs and more. Its walls are decorated with traditional implements and décor reminiscent of a 19th-century village.
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G
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 nonalcoholic drinks. There’s also a spacious upstairs hall.
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H
Gusto
Across the road from the Hotel Bulgaria, 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.
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I
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.
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J
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.
reviewed
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K
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.
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L
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.
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Skandarliya
Another north-side eatery, and Plovdiv’s best place for Serbian skara (grilled meats), with an extensive wine list.
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M
Ristorante Da Lino
Plovdiv’s best place for Italian food, Da Lino occupies a converted monastery; however, prices are high and portions are small.
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N
Djoana
This big and often full taverna -style place north of the river is great for a hearty grilled meat and beer dinner.
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O
Restaurant Rahat Tepe
Way up in the old town, the outdoors Rahat Tepe serves simple meals such as salads, beef kebabs and fried fish.
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Malâk Bunardzhik
Quality Bulgarian cuisine is served at this popular place with garden dining and live music most nights.
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