Must see nightlife in Plovdiv

The crowd at this hole-in-the-wall craft-beer hangout spills onto the street – such is the bar's deserved popularity, even against stiff competition in…

Coffee lovers can rest easy in the stripped-bare decor of Monkey House, purveyors of Plovdiv's best flat white. The interior is ornamented with bicycles…

Opening up from the blink-and-you'll-miss-it exterior is an airy brick-walled space where staff truly know their vintages. Delicious Bulgarian wines start…

Too pretty to be merely a dive bar, the Maria Luiza has dedicated owners who keep adapting the decor to suit their whims. The colourful downstairs is…

Take a seat on the outdoor military storage boxes, or huddle up within this novel whisky bar in Kapana. The crowd is spirited, and there are occasional…

This glamorous venue marries cocktails, live music and pan-European dining on an open-air verandah. Events range from DJ sets and risqué dance shows to…

A bastion of bohemia, this damp, bare-bones but always interesting spot hosts rock and indie bands, themed nights and plenty of drunken, late-night…

Gelato flavours, from cookie to lemon, as well as dainty patisserie, custard puddings and smooth coffee seduce passers-by at this exceptional Italian…

You can try to resist the chintz, but most revellers in Kapana (especially students and expats) are eventually hoovered into the '90s-pop whirlwind here…

Alt-rock, jazz, funk and electronica dominate the eclectic menu at Petnoto na Rorschach, beloved among Plovdiv's 20-somethings for its free-spirited…

Hard rock and metal set this bar vibrating – when the football's not on, that is. It's only Download's pre-midnight closing time that doesn't feel rock 'n…

Refreshing drinks with fruit syrups, soda water and ice cream are served in mason jars at this slick cafe, but you're really paying for the view: tables…

A cafe-diner by day – serving burgers, salads and mixed European cuisine – Avenue slips into its spikiest high heels by night for DJ sets, house and retro…

A hip – but not painfully so – spot in a wonderfully ramshackle building with chill-out music and occasional live acts.

House music is religion for punters at Plazma. Both the dress code and the crowd are more laid-back than most clubs in Bulgaria, and nights sometimes roll…