Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is a vibrant city and home to a great selection of restaurants, bars and cafes. We found the availability of great food in the city to be much better than we expected and the dishes and meals we ate here were some of the best we had in the Balkans. As well to there being many great restaurants in Sofia serving up traditional Bulgarian food, there is also an array of other cuisines available including Japanese, Indian and Middle Eastern, making the city a great place to try a diverse range of foods. On top of all this, eating out in the city is incredibly reasonably priced, you can have a mid-range restaurant meal for as little as 25BGN ($15) per person, making Sofia the perfect place to make the most of dining out. Here’s our pick of where to eat in Sofia including some of the best restaurants in Sofia for brunch, lunch, dinner and drinks, all at a reasonable price.
Where To Eat In Sofia For Breakfast & Brunch
Rainbow Factory – ($$)
Bulgarian, Cafe, Quick Bites
This cosy, modern café serves up a great breakfasts, including more traditional Bulgarian varieties, healthier options and some standard style options. The breakfasts are complimented by freshly made juices, great coffee and a wide selection of teas. The place can get quite busy for breakfast, so you may have to wait for a table, but takeaway is also available. They also offer lunch and alcoholic drinks for those that want to visit but in the afternoon or early evening.
- Opening times: Mon-Fri 08:00-18:00, Sat-Sun 09:00-18:00
- Address: ul. Veslets 10, 1000 Sofia Center, Sofia
- Website: http://www.fabrikadaga.bg/
Where To Eat In Sofia For Lunch
Happy Bar & Grill – ($$)
International, Bulgarian, European
A Bulgarian chain, Happy is very much a family friendly environment and perfect for those looking for something for everyone. Being a chain, the service is very prompt and efficient and the menu offers everything from traditional Bulgarian dishes to Greek, Spanish, Turkish and American. Even so, the food is tasty, reasonably priced and served up in a comfortable setting. It’s also worth noting that there a several of these throughout Sofia city, as well as in other cities in Bulgaria.
- Opening times: Mon-Sun 11:00-22:30
- Address: pl. Sveta Nedelya № 4, 1000 Sofia Center, Sofia
- Website: https://happy.bg/
Skaptobara – ($$)
American, Fast Food
This local burger chain started in Sofia in 2013 and has since expanded to several new sites in Sofia, and others outside of the capital in Bulgaria. Offering fresh, delicious burgers of many varieties, this is the perfect place to grab a bit for lunch to enjoy with a crisp Bulgarian beer. The types of burgers include many beef varieties, pork, chicken and vegetarian. It’s not just the burgers, the fries are also very good. This particular site, addressed below, is their flagship site and has outdoor seating and a modern, industrial interior for a rainy day.
- Opening times: Mon-Thurs 11:30-22:30, Fri-Sun 11:30-23:00
- Address: ul. Iskar 11А, 1000 Sofia Center, Sofia
- Website: https://skapto.bg/
The Best Restaurants In Sofia For Dinner
Shtastliveca – ($$)
International, European, Eastern European
With a prime location on Vitosha Boulevard, first thoughts would be that this restaurant is a tourist trap and overpriced, but it is far from it. The prices are exceptionally reasonable given its location and the standard of food. As another local chain, the food is consistently good here and the service is also great. The extensive menu features traditional Bulgarian and Balkan cuisine, some dishes with a twist, but all presented beautifully and deliciously tasty. We think this is one of the best restaurants in Sofia and is a must try. The restaurant gets very busy so be sure to book a table.
- Opening times: Mon-Sun 11:30-00:00
- Address: bul. Vitosha 27, 1000 Sofia Center, Sofia
- Website: https://www.shtastliveca.com/
Annette – ($$)
Moroccan, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
Annette is centrally located, close to Vitosha Boulevard and the National Palace of Culture and offers a great selection of Moroccan and Middle Eastern cuisine, in the form of smaller mezze/tapas dishes and also some bigger plate options. The food is authentic, cooked fresh and a feast for the eyes. The restaurant has a large outdoor seating area which features cosy sofas, colourful pillows and cute lanterns. It makes a great spot for a social dinner or those looking for something romantic.
- Opening times: Mon-Sun 10:00-23:00
- Address: ul. Angel Kanchev 27, 1000 Sofia Center, Sofia
- Website: https://www.annette.bg/
Krâchme Divaka – ($$)
Bulgarian, Traditional
This particular site of the traditional Bulgarian pub chain, Divaka, has simple dark wood fittings, wooden floors and decorated walls. It is the perfect setting to enjoy some unfussy and reasonably priced traditional Bulgarian dishes and Bulgarian drinks. They have an extensive menu that includes a vast selection of meat dishes including the mixed meat selection pictured to the right which comes serves in a bread bowl.
- Opening times: Mon-Sun 10:00-00:30
- Address: ul. 6-ti septemvri 41А, 1000 Sofia Center, Sofia, Bulgaria
- Website: https://divaka.bg/
The Best Restaurants In Sofia For Something Different
The Sushi Bar – ($$)
Japanese, Asian
Having been open for over 15 years, this sushi bar is well established in Sofia and serves up a good selection of Japanese and Asian cuisine, including tempura, sushi, Vietnamese spring rolls, Japanese curry’s and noodles, and much more. There are also Japanese beers and drinks on offer. The restaurant has been beautifully fitted out to suit a calming Japanese style and offers customers an all round pleasurable dining experience.
- Opening times: Mon-Sun 12:00-22:00
- Address: ul. Ivan Denkoglu 18, 1000 Sofia Center, Sofia, Bulgaria
- Website: http://www.thesushibar.bg/
Where To Go For Drinks In Sofia
Barabar – ($$)
This cosy bar is situated close to the central area of Sofia and Vitosha Boulevard, but just far enough away to keep it popular with locals. They specialise in craft beers and have a great selection to choose from, as well as wines and spirits. The warm and inviting setting makes a great place to relax with a drink, meet some new people or catch up.
- Opening times: Mon-Sat 16:00-00:00, Sun 14:00-22:00
- Address: ul. Triaditsa 4, 1000 Sofia Center, Sofia
- Website: https://barabar.business.site/
If you’re looking for more information about Sofia, Bulgaria check out our Sofia travel guide where we have explored how to get to and from the city, where to stay and what to see and do. We also have guides for other Bulgarian destinations including Varna and Burgas. If you’re more interested in learning about Bulgarian food so you can enjoy as much of it as possible on your trip, check out our guide to the best Bulgarian food.
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