Plovdiv
This tiny hole-in-the-wall is one of Kapana's most happening restaurants. The formula for success follows can't-miss international trends like seasonal,…
Must-see restaurants in Plovdiv & Southern Mountains
Pirin Mountains
Sit beneath 500-year-old trees and watch Melnik meander past at this superb spot. Like many places in town, grilled meats and Bulgarian dishes are…
Plovdiv
Genteel service and a tranquil setting is exactly what you would expect from the restaurant of the boutique Hebros Hotel. Classic Bulgarian flavours are…
Pirin Mountains
The Kristo Hotel’s superb restaurant presents a dilemma: the terrace overlooks lovely Vavedenie Presvetiya Bogoroditsi church, but its interior is a cosy…
Bansko
This homespun eatery in a 19th-century stone building is decked out with classic Balkan trimmings such as crimson tablecloths and nostalgic crockery. It…
Plovdiv
One of the hit openings of 2018 was this labour of love fusing Bulgarian and South American cuisines by way of California. Expect a little of everything:…
Plovdiv
Candlelit tables in a secluded courtyard make Memory a venue to impress, with soul and jazz tunes completing the sultry mood. Its forte is creative…
Plovdiv
Loosely channelling the cheek and chic of 1920s Paris with a modern twist, this classy spot near the Roman Odeon whips up some of Plovdiv's best dishes…
Bansko
This 18th-century inn, just southeast of the main square, once entertained Bulgarian revolutionaries. These days it's hungry hikers and skiers who file in…
Plovdiv & Southern Mountains
Gaze at the glassy surface of Lake Iskâr from this chic hotel-restaurant, which draws stressed-out city dwellers to its tranquil, pine-fringed setting…
Plovdiv
Hands down the winner when it comes to shady beer-garden dining and lively atmosphere, Rahat Tepe's meals follow a simple formula: fresh, unfussy and…
Plovdiv
A few steps from pl Stambolov, Gusto strikes an agreeable note between sophisticated and friendly. There are diner-style booths upstairs; punters fight…
Plovdiv & Southern Mountains
Touristy but difficult to resist, this big restaurant ploughs its folksy furrow with no apology. Expect traditional woven tablecloths, and decor somewhere…
Plovdiv & Southern Mountains
The 'Old Willow Tree' is a local favourite for its juicy salads, frisbee-sized omelettes and meat dishes, grilled simply with a squeeze of lemon or…
Pirin Mountains
Midway up the main road, by the bridge, Chinarite's folk-music soundtrack and sword-like shish kebab skewers will draw you in. Its summer garden is a…
Plovdiv
A local favourite, this fabulous nook serves hefty portions of Bulgarian salads, grills and satch (meat and vegetables served on a hotplate), only a…
Plovdiv & Southern Mountains
The always-popular 'Waterfall Restaurant' has a breezy courtyard ranged around a cascade and fish pond. Service can be sluggish, but the wide-ranging menu…
Plovdiv
You can't miss the screaming bright green facade of Kapana's 'Green Library', not a repository of books but rather of healthy foods, smoothies, sandwiches…
Plovdiv
Despite having the outward appearance of a Bulgarian TGI Friday's, this popular place serves impressive sushi, American-inspired caesar salads and steaks,…
Plovdiv & Southern Mountains
In the western neighbourhood of Nevyasta, this hospitable restaurant and guesthouse specialises in seafood, such as mountain trout. Riben Dar is at the…
Pirin Mountains
This tavern has a lovely upper porch overlooking the main street down towards the end of the village. It's popular with locals and does the full run of…
Bansko
A traditional Bulgarian restaurant just west of pl Vaptsarov, the Vodenitsata offers hearty portions and live music. Barbecue is a speciality, and the…
Plovdiv & Southern Mountains
On the left as you exit Rila Monastery's Samokov gate, this fine place has outdoor tables and a brook practically gushing beneath it. It's an atmospheric…
Plovdiv
The restaurant of the Hotel Renaissance cooks up grills, risottos and fresh fish. Kavarma (a stew of pork and veggies) is a speciality, and glides down…
Plovdiv
American-style burgers, fries and coleslaw, as well as snacks like tortilla chips, plus specialty beers, all served in an informal, diner-like setting…
Plovdiv & Southern Mountains
Dark, polished wooden decor gives a cosy feel to the Alpin Hotel's restaurant. The menu spans nourishing soups and stews, barbecue, and classic skiing…
Plovdiv & Southern Mountains
This popular little bakery, in a stone building opposite Rila Monastery's Samokov gate, attracts queues for its banitsa (cheese pastry) and sheep’s-milk…
Plovdiv & Southern Mountains
Within the Orpheus Spa & Resort, the Oriental serves Turkish kebabs and is decorated with the requisite couches, pillows and gauze.
Plovdiv
This bakery has a sociable twist, with places to perch while you tuck into oven-warm bread, fresh pastries and other goodies.
Plovdiv
This reliable cafe is anchored in prime people-watching territory, near the foaming fountains at pl Stambolov where shoppers, lovers and gelato-lickers…
Philippopolis Restaurant & Café
Plovdiv
There's a swanky vibe to this old-town restaurant attached to an art gallery. Italian-inspired dishes such as rabbit and polenta, and expertly seasoned…
Plovdiv
This popular mini-chain of restaurants has a huge menu that's strong on meat, whether grilled, roasted or satch (sizzled with vegetables on a hotplate)…
Pirin Mountains
The vine-covered outdoor area and snug dining hall are equally inviting at this simple tavern within a 19th-century building. Nourishing salads and…
Pirin Mountains
In fine weather, sit in the shady courtyard; if it's chilly, dine beneath medieval chandeliers inside. Either way, come with a hunger for plates heaving…
Plovdiv & Southern Mountains
Not quite a 'Viennese salon', as the name suggests, but this unfussy spot serves everything from breakfast banitsa (cheese pastry) to Rodopi specialities…
Plovdiv
In a shady location at the northern end of Bunardzhika Park, this popular garden restaurant serves quality Bulgarian cuisine, from enormous smoky shish…
Plovdiv
Within the walls of an early 19th-century Dervish monastery, Puldin immediately impresses with its huge courtyard fresco of a wedding. Befitting the…
Plovdiv & Southern Mountains
Part of Spa Hotel Devin, this place does reasonably priced meat dishes and more expensive regional specialities. The folk decor is enhanced by an open…
Plovdiv & Southern Mountains
The attractive National Revival–style house has a few rough-hewn outdoor tables and benches, and a menu of Bulgarian classics such as grills and cheese…
Pirin Mountains
This swish Italian joint has a people-watching location by the main square. Its pizzas are the best choice on the menu, but Napoli also serves a range of…
