Bulgarian gastronomy: what to eat in Sofia
Banitsa, the queen of Bulgarian breakfast
No stay in Sofia is complete without tasting banitsa, a golden and crispy pastry filled with sirene (Bulgarian white cheese) and eggs. This iconic dish is enjoyed at breakfast in «banitsarnitsa», specialised bakeries found on nearly every street corner. Accompanied by a glass of boza, a fermented cereal drink with a slightly sweet taste, banitsa is a sacred morning ritual for Sofia's residents. There are also versions filled with spinach, leeks or pumpkin depending on the season. At Christmas, tradition calls for tucking a small good-luck note inside the pastry.
Shopska salad and tarator, Balkan freshness
The shopska salad is Bulgaria's unofficial national dish. Made with juicy tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, peppers and onions, it is generously topped with grated sirene that melts slightly over the fresh vegetables. Its white, green and red colours even echo the Bulgarian flag. Tarator is a cold soup made from yoghurt, cucumber, garlic, dill and walnuts, served ice-cold in summer. Bulgarian yoghurt, fermented with the Lactobacillus bulgaricus bacterium discovered in Bulgaria in 1905, is renowned for its thick texture and health benefits.
Kebapche and kavarma, must-try meat dishes
Kebapche is the star of the Bulgarian barbecue: an elongated sausage of spiced minced meat (pork and beef), chargrilled and served with chips and a shopska salad. Sofia's residents are so fond of them that they can be found in restaurants and street kiosks alike. Kavarma, a stew simmered in an earthenware pot, combines pork or chicken with mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes and onions, all enhanced with spices and a poached egg on top. Served piping hot, it is the ultimate comfort food during the winter months.
Bulgarian wine and places worth knowing
Bulgaria is one of the world's oldest winemaking countries with a tradition dating back to the Thracian era over 3,000 years ago. Local grape varieties such as mavrud and gamza produce bold and fruity reds that pleasantly surprise wine enthusiasts. Several wine bars in central Sofia offer tastings from 5 euros. To discover local cuisine, the covered Zhenski Pazar (Women's Market), Sofia's oldest market, offers an authentic and lively atmosphere with stalls of fruit, vegetables, spices and cheese. Expect to pay between 5 and 10 euros for a full meal at a traditional restaurant, making Sofia one of Europe's most affordable capitals for food lovers.