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Sofia
Contents:
About Sofia
Sofia
is the capital and the largest city in
Bulgaria with
population of about 1,4 million people. It is located in the
foot of mount
Vitosha and is the administrative and educational centre
of the country. Sofia (Serdika, Sredets) is a city with a
7000-year history, which makes it a unique phenomenon in
Europe, and places it among the settlements dating back to
most distant antiquity.
Changes in the political life in the wake of 9th of
September 1944 reflected strongly on the outlook of Sofia.
Buildings in urbanistic and Stalinist style were
constructed, the most prominent of which is the central
complex consisting of the Communist party building, Balkan
Hotel and
TSUM. Nowadays Sofia is different place, changes
in its appearance are imminent - old buildings are returned
to their owners, new buildings and shops emerge, private
companies establish themselves on the market. The city is in
constant flux, under way is gradual restoration of its
intransient cultural and architectural monuments, which make
it a typically European city with ancient culture,
impressive present and bright future.
Several buildings and venues vie for Sofia’s emblem. The
most frequent image is of the impressive edifice of
St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral and Memorial Church. In the eastern
part of the square rises the building of the
St. St. Cyril
and Methodius Foundation, which houses the National Gallery
of Foreign Arts. It contains unique exhibits of art from
Africa, Asia and Europe, Spanish baroque paintings, some
Rembrandts, and tableaux by the modern painter Nikolai
Roerich. Opposite to the south of it rises the building of
the Academy of Arts, where future artists study
icon-painting, restoration of old works of art, painting,
sculpture, stage design, etc.
The Ivan Vazov National Theatre is the capital’s other
emblem. The theatre employs some of the country’s best
actors and stage directors, many of whom enjoy popularity
all over Europe. The edifice of the
National Assembly (built in 1884) is the third rightful
candidate for the city’s emblem. A motto inscribed on its
main facade reads “Union makes Strength” – a key element of
the coat of arms of the Republic of Bulgaria. On the
opposite site rises
Tsar Osvoboditel Monument - it bears a written
dedication to the Russian Tsar and the Russian warriors who
gave their lives in the war for Bulgaria’s liberation.
Sofia is a pleasant place for city tours with its numerous
monuments and notable architecture. Sofia also have a lot of
night life, the city at nights is brighter from countless
bars and disco clubs.
Taxi services in Sofia
The usual rates in Sofia in BGN are:
- Initial Charge: 0.60
- Daytime rate (6am - 10pm): 0.59/km
- Nighttime rate (10pm - 6am): 0.70/km
- Wait rate: 0.18
- Call-out charge: 0.50
There are a lot of firms that offer taxi services, here are the most common ones:
- OK Supertrans - Tel: 973 21 21
- Yellow Taxi - Tel: 9 111 9
- Radio CV Taxi - Tel: 9 12 63, 088 12 63
- Taxi S-Express - Tel: 9 12 80
- 1 Euro Taxi - Tel: 956 55 05
Be careful when you choose a taxi and always check the sticker with the rates, there are a lot of fraud firms that take triple and even more than the normal rates.
Piano Bars in Sofia
Sofia is place full of life at night, there are a lot of places that you can visit in the late hours. Here are some of the Piano Bars in Sofia:
Piano Bar Magnito Grande
address: National Palace of Culture (NDK), Tel: 0888 44 90 44, web site
Piano Bar Sinatra
address: 5, Arsenalski Blvd, Tel: 0886 10 10 78
Piano Bar Camino
address: 70, Neofit Rilski str, Tel: 0896 67 76 88
Piano Bar The Big Apple
address: 61, Hristo Botev Bld, Tel: 0886 00 88 08, web site
address: 33, Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd, Tel: 0888 434 383
In many bars you can pay with credit card, but this is not widely spread in Bulgaria. Better count on cash.
Striptease Clubs in Sofia
There are a lot of striptease clubs in Sofia, here are some of them:
Club Fetish
Fetish Strip Club in Sofia - The Best of All Fetish Clubs in Europe
Working hours: Every night from 8 PM - Till morning
address: 4 Vitosha Blvd, Tel: (+3592) 9810770, web site
Erotic Piano Bar Angels
Angels erotic piano bar, where beauty meets music. The most beautiful girls dancing on the grand piano. Live music every night. No dress code.
Working hours: from 9pm to 4am.
address: Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan, Tel: (+3592) 9 807 930
Club Dolls
This club has a brand new name but there is hardly anyone who has not heard of Playboy Bar. And this is exactly the former name of that cult striptease bar Dolls. Playboy Bar is the first striptease bar in Sofia and it is a model for a place of that type. Next to the words 'xerox' and 'pampers' you can find 'playboy bar'. Many people nowadays say: 'Lets go to a playboy bar!' not 'striptease bar'. The bar has separate rooms for private performances and you will find out that the place is the right one if you need calm and intimate atmosphere.
address: Kempinski Hotel Zografski, Tel: (+3592) 963 39 64, web site
Taboo Club
Taboo Club is situated in the very heart of Sofia, in the most prestigious area in the city. It is a five stars category club distinguished for its exclusive interior design and a firm accent on the perfect attendance of the customers. The staff is carefully selected to meet with discretion the high requirements of our esteemed visitors.
Entrance fee: 4 euro.
Working hours: from 10pm to 4am.
address: Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan, Tel: (+3592) 9 807 930
Velvet
address: 12-14, Pencho Slaveikov Blvd, Tel: (+359) 885 620 205, web site
Restaurants in Sofia
A brief selection of restaurants in Sofia:
Chevermeto
Restaurant Chevermeto combines authentic atmosphere, dishes prepared according to old receipts and a folklore show. Every evening you can see a whole lamb roasted on fire as "cheverme", where the name of the restaurant comes from. If you want to be in a traditional Bulgarian atmosphere, to taste typical Bulgarian dishes, to learn the steps of the traditional dance "straight horo" and even one folk song together with the musicians and the dancers of the folk show – you will find all of these. If you wonder where to take your foreign friends, you can bring them to Chevermeto, the way it is done by ministers, presidents, royalties and celebrities.
address: 31, Cherni Vrah Blvd (Hemus Hotel-Green House), Tel: (+3592) 963 03 08, 866 17 79, web site
Captain Cook
Captain Cook Restaurant opened its doors to the public for the first time in October 2002. Since then it has become a benchmark for quality fish cuisine in the capital. The restaurant comprises of three different parts - a Sushi Bar, an entire non-smoking hall and the main restaurant. In the summer there is a lovely alfresco terrace, overlooking a swimming pool.
Capacity: main hall - 100, non-smoking hall - 50, alfresco terrace - 150
Opening hours: Monday - Sunday: 11am - 1am
Dress Code: Casual Smart
Credit Cards: Accept all major credit cards
address: 12-14 Pencho Slaveikov Blvd, Tel: (+3592) 954 90 98, 882 999 001, web site
Kristal
A couple of luxuriously decorated dining halls and an impeccably stylish VIP saloon exude charmingly discreet and intimate atmosphere that is just as appropriate for business appointments and office cocktail parties as for private meetings and dates. The exquisite aquarium with live Canadian lobsters in the center of the dining hall represents a truly unique attraction. The real gourmet cuisine connoisseurs will have a chance to choose the lobster for their appetizer themselves. Discover the finest European and Mediterranean cuisine complemented with a superb wine collection. Impressive choice of salads, appetizers, fish meals and gourmet chicken, veal and barbecued meat specialties.
address: 123 Rakovska Str. Tel. (+359 2) 980 62 60, 980 84 80, web site
Pri Orlite
Restaurant-panorama Pri Orlite is luxury place with magnificent view to Sofia.
address: 11 Dyakon Ygnatiy str, Tel: (+3592) 981 50 00, web site
Classic Gourmet Club
Not just restaurant and not just piano bar, Classic Gourmet combine romantic and aristocratic atmosphere from the past century with nowadays gourmet culinary.
address: 17, Alexander Stamboliiski Blvd, Tel: (+3592) 980 74 77, 980 74 78, web site
The Clock House Restaurant
The Clock House is a restaurant whose elegance enchants every guest. The cozy atmosphere, the exquisite interior, the faultless and welcoming staff, and the variety of dishes all encourage our guests to return. The uniqueness of the Clock House stems from its authenticity, the fact that it is accommodated in an ancient house dated back to the beginning of the last century, and a cultural monument. The house was renovated at the end of the XX century to transform into a restaurant. The restaurant offers its clients a main hall, three dining boxes and a unique garden. The garden is a place where every guest would prefer to hold their business event or personal meeting, as well as private parties, birth days etc. The garden fascinates with its charm and tranquility. The great variety of European and national cuisine, as well as barbecue, is sure to impress even the most discerning taste. You just need to reach the quiet street where the Clock House restaurant is situated to become part of this oasis that will bring a breath of fresh air to your life.
address: 15 Moskovska str. Tel: (+3592) 932 75 95, web site
Continental Plaza Restaurant
On entering Continental Plaza, guests will immediately notice an intimate feeling with a refreshing lack of pretension. The restaurant is warmly decorated in dark red with a display of bold modern works of art, generous table sizes and comfortable chairs. Staff’s graciousness, blend of informal conversation and professional discretion, creates a happy atmosphere with unobtrusive seamless service and, combined with modern culinary confidence and imagination will give you a most pleasurable experience.
address: National Palace of Culture (NDK), Tel: (+3592) 951 54 30, 916 69 55, web site
