Wine & Drinks
Rakia before dinner, Mavrud and Melnik reds from grapes that grow almost nowhere else, and the bars of Sofia that pour them. Start with what is in the glass, then find the bar.
Bulgarian Drinks: What to Drink in Bulgaria and Where to Try It in Sofia
Bulgaria is known for rakia, wine and yogurt drinks: what to order, when locals drink each one and where to try it.
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Bulgarian Wine: A Visitor's Guide
Bulgaria has made wine since the Thracians: the grapes to order, how to read a label and where to taste it in Sofia.
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Rakia: Bulgaria's Fruit Brandy
Rakia is the drink Bulgarians pour for guests: what it is, the types to try and how to drink it the local way.
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The Best Bulgarian Wines to Try
Bulgaria's best wines come from grapes found almost nowhere else: the 12 I'd order and the bottles to look for.
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The Best Wine Bars in Sofia: 9 Places for Bulgarian Wine
Sofia's wine bars pour small Bulgarian producers by the glass. My 9 picks, plus tastings, glass prices and shops.
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The Best Bars in Sofia: 11 Bars Worth Finding
Sofia's best bars hide in basements and back streets. These are the 11 I rate, with prices, hours and where they are.
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The Best Cocktail Bars in Sofia: 9 Bars and 3 Speakeasies
Sofia's cocktail bars hide behind locked doors and bookcases. Here are my 9 favorites and 3 speakeasies, with prices.
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The Best Rooftop Bars in Sofia: 7 Terraces with a View
Sofia's rooftops look at gold domes and a mountain. My 7 favorite terraces, with prices, views and seasons.
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Craft Beer in Sofia: The Bars, Breweries and Prices
Sofia is the craft beer capital of Bulgaria: the bars to drink at, the breweries to order and what a pint costs.
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Bulgarian Beer: The Brands, the History and What to Order
Bulgaria came to beer late but drinks plenty of it: the big brands, their history, the craft scene and the prices.
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Bulgarian Wine Regions: The 5 Regions and How to Visit
Bulgaria has 2 official wine zones and 5 real regions: what each one grows and how to reach it from Sofia.
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Bulgarian Grape Varieties: The Native Grapes to Know
Bulgaria grows grapes found almost nowhere else: the native reds and whites, what they taste like and what to order.
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Boza and Ayran: Bulgaria's Breakfast Drinks and Where to Try Them in Sofia
Bulgarians start the day with boza or ayran next to a banitsa. What each drink is and where to buy it in Sofia.
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