Travel video guide
Where to Eat in Sofia: All 7 Spots + Addresses
This guide turns 48 Hour BULGARIAN STREET FOOD in Sofia 🇧🇬 Banitsa + Kebab + Mekitsa + Pork Leg & More from Abroad and Hungry into a practical restaurant map with 7 saved spots around bul."Stefan Stambolov", Old City Center, and Sofia. The mapped places include a restaurant stop, a bakery stop, and a bistro. Use it to understand the places, dishes, and trip context before saving the map in Varedelo.
What the creator captured
Abroad and Hungry was particularly impressed by the rich history and traditional flavors found in Sofia, from the bustling Women's Market to a unique restaurant serving ancient monastery recipes. The creator highlighted the Shkembe soup as the perfect winter breakfast and was fascinated by the 140-year-old dining setting decorated with saints and icons. The most memorable culinary moment was the contrast of textures in the banitsa and the surprising richness of the grilled pig ears.
What this map is good for
- Planning a restaurant stop or short itinerary in bul."Stefan Stambolov".
- Comparing food stops from a creator or saved local map before you commit time in the city.
- Saving 7 mapped spots into Varedelo so the list stays usable on the ground.
- Using the original video as context, then turning it into a clean place-by-place map.
Featured spots on this map
- Sofia Banitsa (Payo 90)
Bakery in София, жк. Младост 1а, бл. 508, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria, бл., Sofia, Bulgaria
Price level: Medium - Мекица и Кафе (Mekitsa and Coffee)
Brunch Restaurant in Old City Center, ul. "Graf Ignatiev" 28, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria, Old City Center, Sofia City Province, Bulgaria
Price level: Inexpensive
Hours: Hours available - Bistro 369
Bistro in Sofia Center, bul."Stefan Stambolov" 50, 1202 Sofia, Bulgaria, bul."Stefan Stambolov", Sofia, Bulgaria
Price level: Medium - The RITZ Specialty Coffee - Спешълти кафе, Аперитив и Сладки
Coffee Shop in Sofia Center, bul. "Tsar Osvoboditel" 12А, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria, Sofia, Bulgaria
Price level: High - Women's Market
Market in Sofia Center, bul."Stefan Stambolov", 1202 Sofia, Bulgaria, bul."Stefan Stambolov", Sofia, Bulgaria - Under the Linden Trees
Restaurant in g.k. Lozenets, ul. "Elin Pelin" 1, 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria, ul. "Elin Pelin", Sofia, Bulgaria
Price level: Medium - Manastirska Magernitsa Restaurant
Restaurant in Old City Center, ul. "Han Asparuh" 67, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria, ul. "Han Asparuh", Sofia, Bulgaria
Price level: Medium
Food notes from the video
- Shkembe (tripe soup)
- Chicken with bechamel sauce and vegetables
- Boiled potatoes with parsley and onions
- Banitsa with cheese
- Banitsa with spinach
- Boza (fermented corn drink)
- Mekitsa with salami and cheese
- Mekitsa with cream cheese and strawberry jam
- 1 more included in the app.
Experiences captured
- Explored the Women's Market in Sofia
- Observed local butchers selling offal and pork
- Visited a 32-year-old traditional banitsa bakery
- Ate mekitsa in a park near a church
- Dined at a 140-year-old house turned monastery-style restaurant
- Admired traditional Bulgarian decor and religious icons
- Experienced the cold winter atmosphere of Sofia
Planning notes for Sofia
Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain range. Historical records indicate continuous habitation of the site for approximately 7,000 years, beginning with Neolithic settlements in areas such as Slatina and the current city center. In the 8th century BCE, the Thracian tribe of the Serdi established a settlement named Serdica. The Roman Empire incorporated the city in 29 BCE.
Must-try foods nearby
- Banitsa
The quintessential Bulgarian breakfast pastry, consisting of layers of buttery phyllo dough filled with a mixture of whisked eggs and sirene (white brined cheese). - Shopska Salad
Bulgaria’s national dish, featuring a vibrant mix of diced tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and roasted peppers topped with a thick 'snowfall' of grated sirene cheese. - Tarator
A refreshing cold soup made from Bulgarian yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, walnuts, and dill. - Mekitsi
Deep-fried dough traditionally served for breakfast with powdered sugar, honey, or sirene. - Shkembe Chorba
A legendary tripe soup seasoned with a potent mix of garlic, vinegar, and hot chili flakes.
When to go: The best time to visit Sofia is from May to September, when the weather is warm and ideal for outdoor cafes and hiking in the nearby Vitosha Mountain. July and August are the peak tourist months with temperatures often exceeding 30°C (86°F).
Local tips
- Be aware that Bulgarians typically nod their head to mean 'no' and shake it from side to side to mean 'yes'.
- You can pay for all public transport, including the metro and trams, by simply tapping your contactless bank card or phone on the blue validators.
- It is customary to leave a tip of approximately 10% in restaurants, as service charges are rarely included in the bill.
- Tap water in Sofia is safe to drink and of high quality, so you can refill your bottle at any tap or public mineral fountain.
What travelers are noticing
- Eurozone Integration: Bulgaria officially adopted the Euro in January 2026, driving a surge in international investment and financial modernization across the capital.
- Sofia Airport Expansion: Construction of the new Terminal 3 is set to begin in Autumn 2026, part of a massive €450 million modernization project to increase regional connectivity.
- Jungle of the Future: A viral urban transformation project turning the Vladayska riverbed into a street art and community workshop hub.
Extra place context
- Mekitsa & Kafe
A specialized eatery dedicated to the 'mekitsa'—Bulgaria's traditional fried dough. It offers a variety of sweet and savory toppings, providing a trendy, fast-casual take on a nostalgic childhood staple.
food and Mekitsi - Zhenski Pazar
The 'Women’s Market' is Sofia’s oldest and most authentic open-air market. It is a bustling local favorite for fresh farm produce, traditional Bulgarian spices, pottery, and inexpensive clothing.
shopping
Planning questions
Where did Abroad and Hungry eat in Sofia?
This guide maps all 7 spots featured in the video, with names, addresses, and neighborhoods, so you can plan where to eat in Sofia.
What are the must-try foods in Sofia?
Creator picks from the video include Shkembe (tripe soup), Chicken with bechamel sauce and vegetables, Boiled potatoes with parsley and onions, Banitsa with cheese. Open the map in Varedelo to see which spot each one is at.
Can I save these spots to use on my trip?
Yes. Open the map in Varedelo to save every spot, get directions, and revisit the guide from your phone while you travel.
Use it on your trip
Save this restaurant map before you go
Keep the mapped spots, creator context, food notes, and planning details together. Varedelo turns the page into a phone-friendly map you can revisit when you are choosing where to go.