Where to eat in Sofia: 10 best cafés & restaurants in Sofia, Bulgaria

I recently visited the Bulgarian capital, and the food scene really impressed me. From ruin cafes to modern kitchens, I was very intrigued by the food options. While the city itself may not be as attractive as other European capital cities, the food and drink spots definitely deserve your attention. Especially that most places sit within the very budget friendly category. This can be refreshing after visiting some well-known, Western European locations. So, I listed 10 food and drinks spots that I visited on my trip and would highly recommend to anyone who’s planning a trip to Sofia, Bulgaria. 

Keep reading to find some of the best food spots of the Bulgarian capital.

Before you dive into Sofia’s food scene, it’s worth remembering that great meals are part of travelling slowly and staying grounded. If you enjoy building small moments of calm into your trips, you can download my free Travel Wellness Routine Builder, a gentle resource with simple routines, grounding rituals, and check-ins to help you feel more present and at ease wherever you’re exploring.

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Sofia’s food scene is one of those things that tends to catch you off guard, especially if you arrive without many expectations. There’s a strong focus on fresh ingredients and traditional flavours, but you’ll also find a growing number of modern spots that bring a more contemporary twist to Bulgarian cuisine. This mix makes it easy to try something new while still experiencing the local food culture.

This Sofia food guide is perfect for you if…

• you love cozy cafés and aesthetic interiors

• you enjoy discovering underrated European cities

• you prefer slow travel over rushed sightseeing

• you are travelling Europe on a budget

• you work remotely or enjoy laptop-friendly cafés

• you like mixing local food with modern brunch spots

• you want a more authentic European city experience

  
  

Sofia may not be the first city people mention when talking about European food destinations, but that is exactly why it still feels special.

Quick Sofia food guide

Before getting into the full list, here are a few quick recommendations depending on what kind of experience you are looking for in Sofia.

Best brunch: 718

Best café for digital nomads: StayAwake.38

Best traditional Bulgarian food: 1920

Best aesthetic restaurant: Made in Blue

Best sweet treat: Cinnamoms

Best fine dining: COOKÓ Kitchen:Drinks

Average meal cost: €5–15

Best area for food: Sofia city centre

Why Sofia is such an underrated food city

I genuinely did not expect Sofia’s food scene to impress me as much as it did. Before visiting Bulgaria, I mostly associated the Balkans with hearty comfort food and affordable prices, but Sofia adds a much more modern and creative twist to that experience. The city blends traditional Bulgarian flavours with trendy cafés, beautifully designed interiors and a surprisingly strong specialty coffee culture. One minute you are eating banitsa from a small local bakery, and the next you are sitting in a minimalist brunch café that would fit perfectly somewhere in Copenhagen or Berlin. Another thing I loved is that Sofia still feels relatively undiscovered compared to other European capitals. You do not have to queue for hours to get into restaurants, prices still feel reasonable, and many places feel genuinely local rather than built entirely around tourism. For slow travellers, digital nomads or anyone who enjoys discovering cities through food, Sofia is honestly one of the best underrated places to visit in Europe right now. And if you love exploring underrated places, make sure you checkout my post on 10 underrated destinations in Europe that are worth your attention!

Sofia food map

One thing I quickly realised while exploring Sofia is that many of the best cafés and restaurants are within walking distance of each other around the city centre. This makes Sofia an amazing city for slow travel days where you can wander between coffee spots, bookstores, bakeries and restaurants without needing a strict itinerary. I highly recommend saving all the places from this guide onto Google Maps before your trip. Some of my favourite moments in Sofia came from simply walking around and spontaneously stopping somewhere that looked cozy.

Sofia is perfect for budget-friendly food lovers

Compared to many popular European cities, Sofia still feels refreshingly affordable. Even some of the most aesthetic cafés and beautifully designed restaurants are reasonably priced, especially if you are used to Western European travel costs. This means you can actually enjoy slow mornings, long brunches and relaxed dinners without constantly worrying about your budget. For me, that completely changed the pace of the trip in the best way possible. Sofia is one of those cities where you can genuinely enjoy quality food, beautiful cafés and a creative atmosphere without the pressure to rush through everything.

FAQ Section

Is Sofia cheap for food?

Yes, Sofia is one of the more affordable European capitals when it comes to eating out. You can find great local meals, pastries and coffee for very reasonable prices compared to cities like Paris, Amsterdam or Rome.

What traditional Bulgarian food should I try in Sofia?

Some must-try foods include banitsa, Shopska salad, grilled meats, Bulgarian yogurt dishes and local pastries. Sofia also has an excellent modern brunch and café scene.

Is Sofia good for solo travellers?

I personally found Sofia very comfortable for solo travel. The café culture makes it easy to slow down and spend time alone without feeling awkward, and the city overall feels calm and manageable to explore.

How many days do you need in Sofia?

I would recommend at least 2–3 days in Sofia if you want enough time to enjoy the food scene, cafés, museums and slower pace of the city without rushing.

And now, let's see my top food spots in Sofia, Bulgaria!

369 

Let’s start this post with some spots with some coffee shop options. 369 is a quirky, little cafe where you can grab a nice coffee and a bite to eat before you explore the city/get on with your day. It’s also laptop friendly, so perfect for digital nomads. 

Another city, another ideal location for digital nomads!

StayAwake.38 

I particularly loved the interior of this central cafe, there is a cozy, big window with pillows, perfect for people watching, and a beautiful space upstairs with a balcony and a co-working area. The atmosphere is rustic and equally elegant, giving the whole cafe a unique vibe. And of course the drinks are great too! I visited during the day for tea and coffee, but I believe they also offer cocktails, so it can be the perfect spot for some drinks in the evening too. 

Great coffee and rustic vibes

LATE Cafe and Roastery 

Another cafe that left me wanting to come back for more. This one is more modern, spacious and light fitted with beautiful big windows and a huge mirror. If the interiors are not convincing enough, there are some tasty sweet treats and great quality coffee. This cafe is located at the corner of a crossroads, so if you enjoy a slow morning/afternoon, watching people pass by with a nice, warm drink in hand, this is the perfect spot. It’s also very central, just a 3-4 minutes walk from the main cathedral of Sofia. 

I loved how bright and spacious this little corner spot felt!

718 

I am not sure what’s up with numbers and the food spots in Sofia, but many of the places I visited (and really liked) have a number in its name. This brunch spot is no exception, and this may mean something because the food, the atmosphere and the service were all great. If you’re looking for a cozy brunch spot, I can highly recommend visiting 718. 

I tried the pulled pork tacos, and it was amazing!

1920 

I told you, good food spots in Sofia are named after numbers. 1920 is no exception, this is a great food spot for any time of the day. It has a combination of local, Bulgarian and international dishes, so everyone will find something they love. Whether you’re looking for a great brunch spot or a nice place for dinner, you won’t be disappointed. 

Traditional dishes for breakfast

Made in blue 

May be my favourite food spot in Sofia, specifically because of its interior and the atmosphere. This quirky, 3 storey building offers kind of an experience, the design and colours differs in each room, so depending on where you get a table, you get a different feel of this restaurant. The food also matches the energy of the restaurant, there is a great and unique variety of dishes to choose from. 

The pumpkin cheesecake was so creamy and light!

The beautiful stair-case was just one of the many details I loved about this place!

Meat 

If you are in the mood for some gourmet burgers or sandwiches, this is gonna be a spot you love. The burgers are tasty, the interior is minimalistic and the staff is friendly. This is the option between street food and fine dining. 

This spot will up your daily protein intake for sure!

Cinnamoms 

A unique concept; regular cinnamon buns combined with different toppings like tiramisu or mango. If you are looking for something sweet and unique, you may want to pay a visit to this corner of Sofia. One thing to note, it’s only for takeaway, so you won’t be able to sit inside. 

If you are craving something sweet!

COOKÓ Kitchen:Drinks

One of the perks of visiting underrated places is that prices for a fine dining experience may be much lower than elsewhere. Sofia is no exception, even nicer restaurants like this one are still within the affordable range. So, if you want to add one of these types of restaurants to your list, I can highly recommend COOKÓ Kitchen:Drinks, I especially loved the mocktails and the modern interior. 

Both, the dishes and the service were excellent!

Claire Bakery 

Another low-key spot if you want grab something sweet or sit inside for a hot drink. There are lots of biscuits, including local favourites, to choose from, and they are priced per kilo. Whether you grab something small for on the go, or sit inside for a little while to slow down, this central spot can be a perfect addition to your Sofia food spots list. 

Lots of treats to choose from!

+ 1: I loved visiting the Central Food Hall for some local food, although this is not a restaurant, you can certainly find some Bulgarian food options among the isles. 

Final thoughts on where to eat in Sofia, Bulgaria

Sofia completely surprised me in the best possible way. It is one of those cities that may not immediately appear on everyone’s Europe bucket list, but once you visit, you end up wondering why more people are not talking about it. Between the cozy cafés, affordable restaurants, creative food scene and slower atmosphere, Sofia quickly became one of my favourite underrated cities in Europe for food lovers and slow travellers alike.

If you end up visiting any of these places, feel free to let me know which one became your favourite too. And if you are planning more underrated Europe trips, you may also enjoy my other food and travel guides across the Balkans and beyond. Hope you enjoyed my list of where to eat in Sofia, I absolutely loved the culinary experiences that this city has to offer.