Delicious traditional food.
Mind-blowing handmade pizzas and vegan treats.
Bansko truly has something for every taste and budget!
The mountain town and ski resort has a thriving food scene with an increasing variety of international cuisines alongside the traditional Bulgarian mehana-style restaurants.
While living in Bansko for a month, we set out to try out as many different restaurants as we could. But we definitely had our favorites that we kept going back to!
The unique thing about restaurants in Bansko is the variety of cuisines you can try here in comparison to the average Bulgarian town.
I’m getting hungry just by writing this, so let’s dive straight in and make your visit super delicious with the 11 best restaurants in Bansko.
Prepare for your trip to Bansko
➔ Book your accommodation in advance – find the best hotel deals for Bansko here.
➔ Find the best tours in Bansko – book your adventures in Bansko in advance.
➔ Rent a car – the best and easiest way to get around Bansko is by renting a car.
➔ Travel Insurance – make sure you’re covered before your trip! I always use SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance which is super affordable and flexible.
➔ Travel cards – Get a Wise or Revolut bank cards to avoid overseas charges and save money on your travels.
Best restaurants in Bansko
Fine dining
Five Points Restaurant
Prices: $$ | 8 lev – 20 lev (£4 – £10)
Menu: Bulgarian cuisine and Italian-inspired dishes
Location: Five Points Restaurant
Hours: 8am – 11pm
Card payment: Accepted
Five Points is definitely one of Bansko’s best restaurants with some of the most interesting and diverse menu in town.
We came here for our last night in Bansko and our only regret is not trying out this place sooner!
The candle-lit setting inside creates the perfect romantic atmosphere for date night with a true sense for luxury and fine dining.
What differentiates Five Points from the other restaurants in Bansko is that there’s a different chef coming in from Sofia every few weeks, changing up the menu and bringing in their own unique dishes to the table.
So if you visit more than once, you may be surprised with a whole new set of delicious meal options on your next visit!
As for the food, we were blown away by the amazing selection of salads, vegetarian options and meat specialties on the menu.
The correlation between price and quality here is incredible, considering you receive a five-star service and a fine dining experience for a very similar price to some of the other restaurants in Bansko.
White Lavina
Prices: $$ | 12 lev – 30 lev (£6 – £15) Menu: Modern Italian menu and Traditional Bulgarian dishes Location: White Lavina Hours: 8am – 11pm Card payment: Accepted
For a true sense of luxury and fine dining experience, White Lavina is definitely one of the best restaurants in Bansko for you.
There’s two things that they do best here, in true Italian fashion – the wine and the pasta!
The focus here is on quality rather than quantity, as the exquisite modern-style Italian menu is limited to only the best Italian specialties mixed with traditional Bulgarian cuisine.
And yet, I still had a hard time choosing what to have as everything sounded so delicious! The pasta dishes we eventually picked was some of the best I’ve ever had, and it’s certainly the best pasta in Bansko.
In fact, the only downside of the sublime food we had was that the portions were a tad smaller and we were left longing for more (definitely encouraged us to want to go back!).
Apart from the food, the interior design and the atmosphere contribute to an intimate experience whether you are sharing dinner with friends or with your significant other.
Although I’m not a wine drinker, I can share with you a recommendation based on my friends’ experience – make sure to order wine by the bottle, rather than by glass. According to my friends, the quality and taste is much better!
Traditional Bulgarian Food
The House
Prices: $$ | 12 lev – 40 lev ( €6 – €15 ) Menu: Traditional Bulgarian dishes Location: The House Hours: 10am – 12am Card Payment: Accepted (make sure to specify your payment method before getting the bill)
The House is one of the best and most authentic traditional-style restaurants in Bansko, that will make you love Bulgarian cuisine and culture. If you come here for dinner your meal will be accompanied by live music, traditional dancing and singing shows, making your evening one to really immerse yourself in Bulgarian culture.
The incredible food quality encompasses some of the best traditional Bulgarian dishes from the region and beyond, with some that I’ve personally never come across in other Bulgarian restaurants. There’s also a selection of fragrant local wines that you add to your meal to really blend in with the locals.
The delicious food is only topped by the cozy atmosphere created by the log style interior design and wooden carvings, making this the perfect traditional-style dinner spot.
Dishes we tried and recommend:
Bunare Ethno Restaurant
Prices: $$ | 8 lev – 16 lev ( €4 – €8 ) Menu: Traditional Bulgarian dishes Location: Bunare Ethno Restaurant Hours: 10am – 12am Card payment: Not accepted. Cash only
Walking into Bunare instantly makes you feel as if you have gone back in time. The upstairs area is decorated in the most eye-catching way, with traditional elements and wooden furniture creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.
As we came here during the quiet lunch hours (this was one of the only restaurants in the Old Town that was welcoming customers before 5pm, so extra points for that), we were the only ones in the restaurant at that time. Nonetheless, we were greeted with a smile and provided some lovely ‘entertainment’ while waiting for our food, provided by the restaurant’s adorable cat 😀
The food itself was absolutely delicious and presented in a beautiful way, as we tried a small variety of local dishes, served in traditional style pottery. If you want to try something a little bit different, they offer ‘live draft beer’ which is basically beer that hasn’t gone through pasteurization yet – very few places offer this so it’s quite unique!
Four Directions
Prices: $$ | 8 lv – 16 lv ( €4 – €8 )
Menu: Traditional Bulgarian dishes
Location: Four Directions
Hours: 12pm – 10pm
Pay by card: Yes
Quiet atmosphere and a selection of traditional dishes unique to the region, providing a great opportunity to try something different than the basic Bulgarian dishes.
I would highly recommend you try ‘Bochurmoz’ here which both wins my points for taste and presentation. It’s quite impressive as the dish is served to you while literally being ‘on fire’ which is definitely something we didn’t expect.
If you fancy something more western, 4 Directions also has a bunch of different options including burgers and pasta so there’s definitely something for everyone.
Healthy snacks & light meals
Coconut Coffee & Smoothies
Prices: $$ | 3 lv – 10 lv ( €1.5 – €5 )
Menu: Healthy snacks and drinks
Location: Coconut Coffee & Smoothies
Hours: 11am – 6pm
Pay by card: Yes
Coconut is definitely one of my favourite places in Bansko!
Located right next to the flowing river going through the middle of Bansko, it creates a magical space to enjoy delicious smoothie bowls perfect for a healthy breakfast or afternoon snack.
With a dedication to use the highest quality ingredients, Coconut is also a favourite of coffee lovers and those looking for superfood add-ons to spice up their food even more.
It’s perfect for vegans, being one of the few places in Bansko that offers vegan options.
Le Petit Nicolas
Prices: $$ | 2 lv – 12 lv ( €1 – €6 )
Menu: Sanwdiches, salads and pastries
Location: Le Petit Nicolas
Hours: 9:30am – 6:30pm
Pay by card: Yes
Le Petit Nicolas is a bakery style cafe offering an assortment of fresh sandwiches and salads, as well as bakery items.
There’s limited seating inside and it’s always busy, being a favorite both with locals and visitors alike.
I love their banitsa (traditional Bulgarian pastry) with cheese as well as their vegan version – banitsa with tofu – for an interesting and delicious take on the original recipe.
It’s a great spot to grab healthy breakfast or lunch and if you’re craving some sweets I’ve got good news for you – their chocolate cookies are absolutely divine!
Pizza, Burgers & Sandwiches
Victoria Restaurant Bansko
Prices: $$ | 8lv – 20lv (€4 – €10)
Menu: Western cuisine & Traditional Bulgarian dishes
Location: Victoria Restaurant Bansko
Hours: 11am – 12am
Pay by card: Yes
Victoria is hands down the best place in Bansko to go for pizza!
It won’t be an exaggeration when I say as well that the pizza here might be some of the best I’ve ever had!
If you don’t fancy pizza there’s also a big selection of traditional dishes which are also impeccable. I could wholeheartedly say that I could eat every day here and I won’t get bored of it. This is how much I love Victoria restaurant!
As for the restaurant itself, it’s beautifully decorated in authentic style with lots of wooden carvings and ski references.
The staff is extremely friendly and accommodating, and make you feel right at home. A must visit in Bansko!
Station Bansko
Prices: $$ | 8lv – 16lv (€4 – €8)
Menu: Fast food burgers, pancakes and gyros sandwiches
Location: Station Bansko
Hours: 8am – 3am
Pay by card: Yes
Burgers, Greek-style gyros, falafel wraps and pancakes. The Station has a wide variety of hearty snacks and is a popular spot with skiers and locals both for lunch and dinner time.
I haven’t met anyone yet that has been to The Station and hasn’t gone back! The food is absolutely delicious and the service is phenomenally quick. Exactly what you want from your local fast food place!
Oh, and for the fellow vegetarians – there’s fantastic mouth-watering vegan and veggie options.
All around, The Station is the best fast food restaurant in Bansko perfect for a quick delicious bite or a hearty meal to reward yourself after a long day on the slopes.
Street Food Bar Groshe
Prices: $$ | 5 lv – 10 lv ( €2.5 – €5 )
Menu: Sandwiches
Location: Street Food Bar Groshe
Hours: 10am – 8pm
Pay by card: Yes
Fresh toasted sandwiches with high quality ingredients and pure deliciousness!
Grosh is a hole-in-the-wall type of place on the outskirts of Bansko’s Old Town. But if you’re not up for the walk, you can always order it as a takeaway to get your sandwich fix.
The fresh ingredients make the sandwiches a bit of a healthier fast food option.
There’s also a fresh fruit and veg market right outside Grosh where you can get a vast variety of exotic fruits and freshly squeezed juices.
Great choice for any sandwich lover!
Other cuisines
Avalon
Prices: $$ | 35 lv per person (€17.5 per person)
Menu: Indian cuisine
Location: Avalon Bansko
Hours: Curry night on Thursday, order in advance by messaging them on Facebook or Whatsapp (0894488224)
Pay by card: Cash only
If you’re craving something different than Balkan food, I’ve got you covered.
While Indian cuisine is not very wide spread or popular in Bulgaria at all, you’ll be happy to hear that there’s a place in Bansko that prepares delicious Indian curry on a weekly basis.
The owner of Avalon, James, makes some of the best curry I’ve ever had, and luckily for me with a good selection of vegetarian and vegan options!
The chickpea and lentil curries were exclusively amazing, and we only wish they would have curry nights more often.
With that said, at the moment Avalon runs curry nights only once a week (make sure to check with them in advance) and you reserve your spot in advance as spots are limited – whether that’s for takeaway or dine-in visit.
While the price per person comes at a higher rate than most restaurants in Bansko, it’s definitely worth it and I’m sure you’ll want to go back week after week!
Final thoughts
While visiting Bansko you can choose from a range of dining options to suit your taste and budget, whether you’re looking for a casual bite or a more upscale dining experience.
Due to Bansko’s growing popularity both tourists and expats, in recent years the Bulgarian ski resort has experienced an explosion of new and diverse international cuisine restaurants popping up. So much so that I’ve recently heard from a friend that there’s a new sushi restaurant in Bansko that has recently opened (I’m yet to try it out!)
Its growing diversity in offerings makes Bansko the perfect place to enjoy both traditional Bulgarian cuisine as well as international classics and exotic tastes during your trip. And if you’re looking for the best things to do in Bansko, make sure to check out this blog post to make the most of your trip to the Bulgarian ski resort!
Leave a Reply