If you’re visiting Sofia on a budget, one of the ways you can save big is to find some excellent but cheap restaurants in Sofia. We have a comprehensive Sofia restaurant guide that includes all of our favorites, but those really run the gamut from inexpensive to slightly pricier, so we wanted to create a specific budget restaurant guide for Sofia.
So, here are our favorite 7 cheap restaurants in Sofia, perfect for if you visit Sofia on a budget but still want to eat like a queen!
In general, these cheap restaurants in Sofia all have options for a main course under 10 leva (5 euro). We understand that budget is relative, and we are not traveling on a super-strict budget — these are just some of our favorite relatively cheap eats in Sofia. We hope you find this list helpful and that you like them, too!
Top Cheap Restaurants in Sofia
Fabrika Daga
The heavyweight champion of the cheap restaurant scene in Sofia, Fabrika Daga is one of my favorite places in the city and when I’m in Sofia I often grab lunch from there 2-3 times a week because it’s just that good.
Their salads are incredible – my favorites are the pear and quinoa with toasted goat cheese and their bruschetta salad with avocado – when I’m feeling healthy.
And when I’m feeling slightly more gluttonous, which is usually, I love their sandwiches. Their bacon goat cheese mousse sandwich is a dream, as is their pork tortilla wrap which hits all my Mexican-esque food cravings. The pulled pork sandwich is also phenomenal.
So basically – yea, you can’t go wrong when eating at Fabrika Daga. They even have brunch on weekends!
Starata Gospoja
Speaking of brunch, Starata Gospoja (which means “The Old Lady”) in the trendy neighborhood of Oborishte is one of my favorite places to grab a delicious breakfast in Sofia.
Their prices are really affordable – basically everything is under 10 leva or 5 euro – and it’s one of the few places I’ve found in the city that serves my favorite brunch classic, eggs benedict!
I’ve only ever had their eggs benedict because once I find something I love it’s hard for me to move on from it, but Stephanie tried their banitsa and said it was one of the best banitsas she’s ever tasted.
Supa Star
Definitely in the cheap eats in Sofia hall of fame, Supa Star is one of my favorite places to eat in Sofia when I’m looking for an inexpensive lunch – especially in the winter months when all I want is a delicious bowl of soup that’ll warm me up from the inside out.
Supa Star generally has about six soups that rotate every day, so I can’t recommend anything that is guaranteed to be there. Some of the soups I’ve had and loved are the following: Moroccan chickpea soup (mmmm), chili con carne soup (to die for), and creamy sweet potato soup. The only soups I’ve had that weren’t a hit for me where the chicken noodle soup and the meatball soup.
At about 5 leva for a giant bowl of soup, it’s a fantastic lunch deal. Grab an airyan (Bulgarian yogurt drink) and a roll to complete the meal.
Genji
A lot of the time, Asian food in Sofia comes at a bit of premium because it’s not so common — luckily, the new Japanese-Korean street food shop, Genji, on Maria Luiza bucks that trend with some deliciously affordable Asian street food.
I had some chicken jap chae for less than 10 leva and it was delicious! I haven’t been back since (though clearly I need to return, as I’m nearly drooling as I write this) but their menu has a ton of other great things on it, from galbi to yakiudon and tempera, all for generally under 10 leva (5 euro).
If you need a break from sandwiches, soups, and traditional Bulgarian food – definitely check out Genji for some unique flavors!
Farmer’s
Another sandwich and soup focused healthy fast food restaurant, Farmer’s is a great choice and it’s on trendy Tsar Shishman Street, so it’s a great place to go when you’re in this part of the city (one of our favorites!)
I had their curry chicken sandwich and one of their soups and both were delicious. If you’re a little hungrier, you can try one of their burgers. They also have fantastic homemade lemonades which are great on a hot day.
Divaka
If you want traditional Bulgarian food and international comfort food, eaten alongside locals, at very affordable prices, Divaka is one of my top cheap restaurants in Sofia. Located right off G.S. Rakovski Street not far from Vitosha Boulevard, Divaka is a great place to eat local favorites and most dishes are well under 10 leva.
The food isn’t the most groundbreaking or creative, but every time I’ve eaten or ordered delivery from there, I’ve been satisfied. A few of my favorite cheap dishes there are the mushroom risotto and the cornflake-crusted chicken, although I’ve also loved their Bulgarian dip plate and their special Divaka chicken which is covered in a semi-spicy tomato sauce (pictured above).
Boom Burger
While not the cheapest place on this list, we love Boom Burger so much that we felt we had to list it. And at just 10 leva for the K-Pop chicken burger, there are definitely some good deals to be had — especially if you go at lunch when you can add fries and a beer for just around 3 leva. The meat is also much higher quality than elsewhere in Bulgaria (they use imported Irish beef!) so that’s part of what you’re paying for.
Just make sure you don’t go too crazy on their cocktail and craft beer selection if you’re trying to stick to a budget. Personally, their burgers are quite huge and so are their side orders, and it’s hard for me to finish both. It’s best if you can go with a friend, each order your own burger, and split a side.
Where to Stay in Sofia
We have a full guide on where to stay in Sofia already, but here are our top 3 recommendations!
Budget: For a hostel, we always recommend Hostel Mostel. I have never stayed at the Sofia location but several of my friends have and have always spoken highly of it. I stayed at the one in Veliko Tarnovo and it was excellent. Perks include a free vegetarian dinner in addition to breakfast included in your stay! Check rates and availability here. If you are traveling in peak season, be sure to book online, as Hostel Mostel is popular and tends to get booked up.
Mid-range: For a trendy new boutique hotel that is shockingly affordable, we recommend R34 Boutique Hotel. The location is fantastic, near the Ivan Vazov National Theater in central Sofia. It has gorgeous, loft-inspired details like exposed brick, giant windows, and streamlined but modern décor. It’s a great bargain, too – check rates, reviews, photos, and availability here.
Luxury: As far as we see it, there’s only one option for the best hotel in town: Sense Hotel. We go to their upscale, beautiful rooftop bar all the time when we have guests in town – it has one of the best views in the entire city and they make fantastic cocktails. With beautiful views over Alexander Nevsky, Sofia’s most iconic landmark, the hotel couldn’t be in a better location. Sense Hotel also boasts a state-of-the-art fitness center, an art gallery in the lobby, an excellent spa with luxe treatments, and an indoor pool. It’s truly the best choice in town. Check rates, reviews, photos, and availability here.
More Sofia Travel Resources
If budget isn’t a concern, we have a general restaurant guide for Sofia which covers more ground, and a Bulgarian food guide. We also have a bar guide and recommendations for what to do in Sofia at night.
Don’t miss our post on the most essential Sofia travel tips, which is a great resource for first-time visitors.
You may want to check out our guide on things to do in Sofia, which has 101 fantastic ideas to get you started!
Other helpful practical information includes where to stay in Sofia, how to get a SIM card in Bulgaria, and things to do in Sofia.
If Sofia is not the only place you’ll visit in Bulgaria, check out our post on the best places to visit in Bulgaria for more inspiration. The most popular cities to visit are Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo, and we have posts on things to do in Plovdiv as well as what to do in Veliko Tarnovo.
Planning a Trip to the Balkans? Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
We always recommend that you travel to the Balkans with a valid travel insurance policy. It’s important to be covered in case you have an accident or fall victim to theft. Should something happen, travel insurance will help you recover your expenses and continue to enjoy your trip.
For travel insurance, we use World Nomads. I’ve been a happy customer of theirs for almost three years, and I’ve never had an issue when making a claim. I’m happy to refer them to anyone I meet.
Originally from California, Allison has been living in Bulgaria for the last two years and is obsessed with traveling around the Balkans. She has been published in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, Matador Network, and the Huffington Post. She loves befriending dogs, drinking coffee, geeking out about wine, and cooking food from around the world.
