A local food guide for Bansko
By Javier Fernández
Bansko has so many great restaurants serving local food for very affordable prices. As a member of Coworking Bansko, I tried to visit as many local eateries as possible during the time I have been living in here. I have put together a list of great restaurants that you can check out without damaging your pocket.
In my experience, Bulgarians love to welcome visitors, feed them, and talk to them about their lives and culture. Maybe the language barrier does not help to start a random conversation with the locals, but if you make an effort and learn a few sentences in Bulgarian, you probably will gain their hearts and attention.
Maybe you have eaten Turkish or Greek food before. If this is the case, you will find some similarities between Bulgaria and its neighboring countries when talking about food. The traditional Bulgarian food is presented in a well-balanced menu which includes meat, fish, soups, yogurt, cheese, and vegetables that work perfectly for the Bulgarian weather. I am sure you will find something that matches your preferences because the variety of Bulgarian cuisine is awesome.
Places for breakfast
Breakfast is not the more important meal of the day in Bulgaria, neither the healthier. But if there is a traditional breakfast in Bulgaria, I would say is a Banitsa accompanied by a cult drink called Boza. Maybe you can also find some Ayran, a salty yogurt drink in case Boza is too sweet for you.
If you are working in the Old Town location, I recommend you to visit one of those little banitsa shops, like the one in the corner of Tsar Simeon Street with the taxi parking (only 2 minutes from the coworking space). Even closer is the Family Cafe, which had a good selection of pastries, sandwiches and hot & cold drinks. If you fancy a European style breakfast, I suggest you give a try to The Petit Nicolas, where you may find some of the best sweet and salty snacks in town. With a lovely interior decor and an awesome courtyard, Le Retro is a great place for making a coffee break and have the best hot croissant in town. You should go early because they are usually coming out of the oven at around 9:00 am.
Close to the Gondola Area, you will find an endless amount of restaurants to choose from. I would suggest the full English breakfast at The Smokey Mountain. You could find also other options on its morning menu, like the Breakfast Trio with pancakes, mini burger, and fruit salad. Also very close to our Gondola location is Danny’s Bar (Hotel Ida), where you can enjoy a breakfast buffet with coffee and juice for only 6 lev. Not far from the ski lift, Coconut Coffee & Smoothies probably offers the healthier option for a light breakfast.
Places for lunch & dinner
Once in Bansko, probably you are curious about those restaurants where locals eat daily. In here is possible to find quality food at affordable prices. The list of restaurants offering a lunch menu is huge, but definitely, Damyanitsa is one of the coworker’s favorite at the moment. Is it cheap, the lunch menu has soups, meat, fish and veggie options on the daily basis and, also important, the staff will make an effort to translate what they have (check our foodtionary for knowing more about Bulgarian specialties).
Recently opened, Chalet Yanitza (only 5 minutes from the Coworking space) is a homey feeling restaurant. I suggest you a bean soup and a pork neck steak, a delicious combination for about 10 lev. I have mixed feelings about Eagle’s Nest, but it is worth a visit if you want to have a cheap and decent meal in Vazrazhdane square (close to the Town hall). Another good option in the same square is Momini Davori, a.k.a Sheepskin place, a traditional mehana (Bulgarian tavern) with an affordable lunch menu and an endless a la carte meats, salads and fish options. If you are looking for an affordable lunch menu, one more option is Kancheto, a typical Bulgarian small eatery with a lunch menu designed by and for the locals.
If you are busy and in need of a fast bite to eat, you can also find some good fast food options close to our Old Town location. There is a small no-name pizza parlor next door which sells probably the best 1 euro pizza you ever had. There is also a street food spot, called Avonal, only 2 minutes from our office, right across the taxi park, which sells kebab, burgers and hot dogs all day long. If you are craving for pizza, you can also check Victoria, a restaurant which also offers delivery and has a menu in English published on its website (victoria.bg). Last pizza restaurant I want to recommend you is Adela, only 3 minutes walk from the coworking space, which offers good quality and variety.
Since a couple of months, we are glad to have the first Chinese restaurant in town. That said, do not expect something unique because Golden Dragon is just one more example of Chinese food adapted to European taste. Pretty much the same happens with Danny’s Bar, which offers a tex-mex menu with enchiladas, burritos, nachos con queso and guacamole that probably will satisfy you if looking for this type of food.
There are many mehanas in town, but in my opinion, Banski Han is one of the best because of the quality of the products, the service and the place itself. It is a big restaurant so big groups are welcome. On the weekends, it is usually full, so It’s recommendable to make a reservation in advance. The menu contains the ABC of the Bulgarian cuisine and the wine cart is also huge.
With good local food, especially lamb, cheese and soup, Dedo Pene is another traditional mehana with a nice interior within a historic building in the Old Town. Usually, there is a music band, so be sure you are in the mood of dinner while listening to the greatest hits of the Bulgarian folk.
Around the Gondola area, you can find many places selling all kind of fast food, but if you are looking for one of the best burgers in town just go straight to Happy Foods. A few meters from there, you can find the Skaptobusa, a food truck owned by Skaptobara, one of the best burger parlors in Sofia. Again Smokey Mountain is on the top of the list of burgers, ribs and every other mouthwatering meat on the bbq.
If you are tired of Bulgarian food, pizzas, kebabs, and hamburgers, I suggest you go and discover Oscar Wine Bar and Gastro, a fine dining restaurant with a rich and varied cuisine in a nice environment. Wood fired pizza, lamb croquettes, mozzarella salad, the t-bone, and the pork steak are only a few delicious options on the menu. Francisco, a chef from Argentina, rules the huge kitchen of Oscar, sited in an outdoor courtyard. On Sundays, they offer a lunch menu which includes paella, a glass of wine and dessert for only 18 lev.
We are very lucky to have an old-school farmer’s market, which is actually very close to our space in the Old Town. While during the weekdays only a few shops are open, on Sunday the market is buzzing and you can find all sort of goods produced in the region: honey, wine, fruits, vegetables, flowers, etcetera. There are also a couple of barbeques where you can order a kebapci to take away.
Are you interested in buffet options? Our dear colleague Shuli published a really cool article about the best buffets in town. She visited five of them and here you can find her conclusions.
Are you visiting Razlog or maybe shopping in that area? Well, you should know that there is a restaurant called Casa di Papi which has an excellent quality-price ratio.
Pubs in Bansko
I have to admit I am not very interested in the nightlife Bansko has to offer. That said, I am sure there are many options if you are looking for clubbing all night long. Anyways, I am happy to recommend you a few pubs and bars with a friendly staff and a chill vibe. In The Old Town, Kafe-Emar is one of my favorites because its traditional pub feeling, cheap prices for food and drinks and a big tv screen to watch a game. Cafe Eliz is a bit fancier and the music is louder, especially at night, but it is still a nice pub where frequented by locals. It is also affordable and the price for a Gin & Tonic is only 5 leva. Maybe the coziest is The Wine Bar, where you can find a great selection of Bulgarian wines and spirits.
If you are near the Gondola area, I recommend you to visit Pirin 75, a classic for starting or finishing your night out in Bansko. There is always a DJ mixing hip-hop and dance tunes, so get ready to shake your body and get warmer after a few glasses. With a very nice interior, Morris is a great pub with plenty of things to offer but my favorites are the pool, the foosball table, and the Guinness beer. The Smokey Mountain also has a nice pool area and live music many days of the week. By the way, if you are looking for live rock music, Amigo Pub is a great option with great drink prices and quick service.
Foodtionary
Banitsa (баница) is a traditional Bulgarian food in the börek family prepared by layering a mixture of whisked eggs and pieces of cheese between filo pastry and then baking it in an oven.
Boza (боза) is a sweet thick brown liquid with a slight acidic flavor made from fermented wheat.
Buhti (Бухти ) is a puff donut with feta cheese covered with honey.
Chushka Biurek (Чушка Бюрек) is a great appetizer or side dish made of stuffed peppers.
Kapama it is prepared of few types of meat, pork, chicken, veal and sauerkraut. You can even use preliminarily prepared stuffed cabbage leaves, sausage and rice.
Kashkaval (Кашкавал) is a type of yellow cheese made of cow milk (kashkaval vitosha), sheep milk (kashkaval balkan), or both (kashkaval preslav).
Kebapche (кебапче) is a dish of grilled minced meat with spices. The meat is shaped into an elongated cylindrical form, similar to a hot dog
Kozunak (козунак) is a cotton-soft, sugar-crusted sweet bread.
Kiselo Mlyako (Кисело Мляко) is the real bulgarian yogurt. Bulgarians consume this creamy yogurt daily and use it regularly for everyday cooking.
Gyuvech (гювеч) is a stew of just vegetables served in a clay pot, but there some versions which include beef, chicken and fish.
Lukanka (Луканка) is a dry-cured Bulgarian salami. It is a flattened oblong in shape and traditionally made of pork, beef, veal, black pepper, cumin, salt, and fenugreek, but there are variations.
Lozovi Sarmi (Лозови Сарми) it is made from cabbage leaves which are stuffed with rice and grounded meat and then boiled.
Lyutenitsa (лютеница) is a sauce-like spread that is made from tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants pureed together.
Meshana Skara (Мешана Скара) is a traditional Bulgarian meal consisting of a platter full of meat and sides. The platter should contain one kyufte, one pork steak, one kebapche, and one pork skewer.
Musaka (мусака) is very popular in Greece and Bulgaria but it has arabic origins. The Bulgarian musaka is made of potatoes, minced meat and spices, and it’s covered with a top layer of flour, eggs and yogurt.
Patatnik (Пататник) is made of grated potatoes, onions, salt and a type of very mild mint called Gyosum in Bulgarian, all mixed and cooked on a slow fire. Some restaurants add sirene (white cheese) or eggs.
Mekitsa is a dish made of kneaded dough made with yogurt that is deep fried. You should try with honey, chesse and peaches.
Mish-Mush is a a delicious omelet with bell peppers, tomatoes and sirene cheese.
Palačinka (Bulgarian Pancakes) is a thin pancake, often served with a sweet or savoury filling.
Sirene, also called Bulgarian feta, is a salty firm cheese with grainy structure, usually made from cow’s milk (although sheep, goat and buffalo milk is used too). Bulgarians add it to most of their traditional pastries (like banitsa), in vegetable stews, and in salads.
Shoska salad (шопска салата) is a traditional Bulgarian salad made with tomatoes, cucumbers, bell pepper, onion, olives, seasoned with extra virgin olive oil and salt. It’s topped with finely grated feta cheese.
Shkembe chorba (шкембе чорба) is a very simple tripe soup, but when mixed with enough chili pepper and garlic extremely tasty. Shkembe chorba is surprisingly effective to help you in case you are hangover.
Tarator (таратор) is a cold soup made of yogurt and cucumbers. It is excellent in the summertime because it helps you to col down.
Urdä is made with the whey of the cheese. It is like ricotta, relatively high protein and low in fat.
About the author:
Javier Fernandez is a journalist from Spain currently living in Bansko, where he is learning what coworking means and how important is having a real community behind it. He has lived and worked in Poland, Canada, Mexico, India, Sri Lanka and Scotland. If you are interested in volunteering, entrepreneurship or alternative music, Javier will be glad to talk with you until the wee hours of the morning.
