A Foodie’s Cultural Day Out in Sofia

Considered one of Europe’s most affordable cities, Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia, is also receiving well deserved accolades for its emerging food scene. Markets, food tours, trendy restaurants, independent bakeries and cafes are all contributing to local specialties and freshly made offerings catering to all types of food lovers. Eating your way around Sofia in a day is quite a challenge, but here’s a good start to the city’s flavors and sights.

Start out by drinking coffee in Vitosha Boulevard where you can devise your plan for the day while taking in the early tourists and chic shoppers. This pedestrian-only, fashionable shopping street stretches from Cathedral Church Sveta Nedelya to The National Palace of Culture and Park with inspiring views of Vitosha Mountain not far away, making it a perfect spot for a coffee break any time of the day. The streets here are waking up to vibrant diversity as Sofia sheds its former Communist skin and transforms itself into a lively and stylish urban destination for travelers

Bulgarians take coffee seriously, a trait inherited largely from the Ottoman days. But while you won’t find Turkish coffee prepared in any of the al fresco cafes, bars or gelato shops, you’ll easily find a comfortable café to drink some delicious coffee. Young students and working Sofians huddle on cosy sofas, catching up on gossip and exchanging news, and it’s easy to join them for some people watching. Bulgarians generally like their coffee without milk so be aware that ordering a simple kafe here, will mean espresso, and you can choose to have it long or short, with single or double shots.

To continue reading my article and find out more about Sofia’s markets, restaurants and the
Balkan Bites Free Food Tour, head to Real Food Traveler

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