Food in Plovdiv – The Best Restaurants and Craft Beer

Plovdiv is my new favorite place in Bulgaria. There are plenty of things to do in Plovdiv, everything from exploring the unique houses of the Old Town Plovdiv to vibrant street art. Another major attraction in Plovdiv is the food and craft beer scene. It could be useful to learn some Bulgarian in advance before you visit Plovdiv, especially since a few dishes are named in Bulgarian. So, here’s the best food you should try in Plovdiv and the craft beer to go with it.

Best Places to Eat and Food to Try in Plovdiv

I love Bulgarian food in general and all its regional influences. However, I found that the food scene in Plovdiv is quite spectacular. Moreover, they turned to traditional food and brought it back with a modern, upscale twist. Here are my top places to eat in Plovdiv and some food suggestions.

No.6 Gyroland

56 Vasil Aprilov Street, Plovdiv

This is a simple Greek gyros place and a perfect place for lunch. The meat at Gyroland is perfectly roasted, and you just have to try the aubergine dip with it-it’s exquisite.

No.5 Skapto Burgers

24 Yoakim Gruev Street, Plovdiv

Good burgers and fries, cold beer, what more could you wish for? Again, perfect for lunch. Sit outside and enjoy the art on the wall just across the street. They also have great vegetarian options. I especially liked the quinoa burger.

No.4 Sofra Turkish Restaurant

13 Jelezarska Street

Bulgaria has been under Ottoman domination for almost 500 years. There are many influences in Bulgarian food and good Turkish restaurants in this part of the country. One of them is Sofra Restaurant, where you can try some great lamb kebab and kunefe for dessert.

Just to clarify, this is an unpretentious place with a few grilled options, but the meat is fresh and tasty.

No.3 Aylyakria Gastro Bar

3 Kozhuharska Street, Kapana, Plovdiv

3rd place goes to Aylyakria, a trendy terrace in the summer and a cozy place in the winter. Aylyakria Gastro Bar has a short menu of reinvented traditional recipes. Try the salads and the pork breast or meatballs with lutenitsa, a sweet pepper sauce. They also have a great selection of Bulgarian wine.

One more thing, I recommend making reservations for dinner, especially on a summer weekend.

No.2 Hemingway

10 General Gurko Street, Plovdiv

Hemingway is a more upscale type of restaurant outside Kapana. It is tucked away on a pleasant street near the Odeon, and it’s a great place to spend the evening on the outside terrace.

I loved that their menu has a lot of local cheeses and meats. I highly recommend the beef croquettes, porcini risotto, and lamb at Hemingway restaurant.

No.1 Pavaj – The Very Best Food in Plovdiv

7 Zlatarska Street, Kapana, Plovdiv

And the winner is…that is to say my favorite restaurant in Plovdiv is Pavaj in the Kapana area. Pavaj is quite popular with the locals so reservations are usually required for the evening.

Another short menu with very fresh ingredients and the tasty food beautifully presented. They also try to bring local flavors to the table. Try the sausage, aubergine salads, the zucchini balls, or the incredible ribs. Everything is delicious here. They have an extensive drinks list too. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to dessert, but that’s a good reason to go back and see what it’s about.

Most of these restaurants are in the Kapana area of Plovdiv or close by. Exploring Kapana is one of the best things to do in Plovdiv. It’s also the place to hunt for some local craft beers.

Craft Beer and More

Plovdiv has a good vibe-it feels young and trendy. Locals like to spend their time outside, walking on the long pedestrian street in the city center, enjoying the sunset from the hills around the city center, or having a drink in the Kapana area.

While the craft beers scene is not really developed in Bulgaria, Plovdiv has something to offer in this area too.

Start exploring with a local beer at Hopium Taproom (7 Zagreb St, Plovdiv). Try a hazy Mango with me or Anthipa from Pelta Brewery and admire some of the incredible street art in Plovdiv just in front of the shop.

Another good place for a cold craft beer is Kotka i Mishka (Cat&Mouse) at 16 Hristo Dyukmedzhiev street. They have more than 100 craft beers to choose from. Then, you can spend some good time on its terrace enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of the city.

If craft beer is not your thing, there’s a nice bar just across from Kotka i Misha where you can have some great gin & tonics.

At 31 Otets Paisiy Street, Bar Fabric and Craft Shop Fabric will also offer local as well as international craft beer options. You can even buy some very decent draught IPA from the shop to take with you.

Disclosure:

Some of the above may be affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. However, I only recommend companies, activities, or products that I use myself. Thank you for your support in keeping my blog live!

Have you ever been to Bulgaria? Tell me all about it in the comments below and don’t forget to subscribe for more travel (and food) inspiration.

Some of the above may be affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. However, I only recommend companies, activities, or products that I use myself. Thank you for your support in keeping my blog live!

Have you ever been to Bulgaria? Tell me all about it in the comments below and don’t forget to subscribe for more travel (and food) inspiration.

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