Smolyan Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Smolyan

December 27, 2017 Florencio Paulino

Smolyan (Bulgarian: Смолян) is a town and ski resort in the far south of Bulgaria near the border with Greece. It is the administrative and industrial centre of the homonymous Smolyan Province. The town is situated in the valley of the Cherna ("Black") and the Byala ("White") Rivers in the central Rhodopes at the foot of the mountains' highest part south of the popular ski resorts Pamporovo and Chepelare. As of February 2011, it has a population of 30,283 inhabitants.
Things to do in Smolyan

1. Rodopski Kat

Smolyan, Bulgaria
Excellent
58%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
28%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 7 reviews

Rodopski Kat

Reviewed By Jon75 - Guildford, Surrey

This Restaurant is absolutely fantastic, I have stayed five nights in Smolyan and absolutely loved Rodopski Kat. The Restaurant is located across the Smolyan Theater and The Borough Council of Smolyan – 3 Boulevard Bulgaria.
This place is an old traditional Bulgarian restaurant that has many traditional dishes which me and my wife loved eating. It is delities. We were invited on a cocktail party and end up having dinner every night there ever since. The staff is lovely, food is always good and the barbeque is fantastic. The garden has beautiful view over the Mountains. I would highly recommend Restaurant Rodopski Kat to anyone that travels near Smolyan or Pamporovo. It is worth it.

2. Gloria Mar Restaurant

Ul. Shipka N 34, Pamporovo 4870, Bulgaria Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Waitstaff, Television, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi Pizza, Mediterranean, Steakhouse, Seafood, Barbecue, Vegetarian Friendly Lunch, Dinner, Drinks, Breakfast, Brunch, Late Night HK$141 - HK$385 +359 89 355 0055
Excellent
56%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
6%
Terrible
9%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 202 reviews

Gloria Mar Restaurant

Reviewed By bkitching2013 - Leicester, United Kingdom

We visited here for a holiday meal as it looked upmarket, we were soon to learn that was a thin facade.
The service is stiff and formal.. The waiters are also pushy, my friend wanted steak and the waiter told us they were for two people as they were huge, hence the reason they were twice the price of everything else on the menu. The menu had other things I would rather order but I changed so my friend could get a steak when it turned up they weren’t for sharing it just turned out the waiter had blagged us into ordering two of the most overpriced things on the menu.
The steaks weren’t even very good, tasteless and fatty, certainly not worth their inflated price.
Our other friend had sushi which he said was lacklustre.
The waiter even tried to keep our change despite knowing we wouldn’t have wanted to tip him.
Avoid this place

3. The White Dog

Malina, ski centre 2, Pamporovo 4870, Bulgaria Seating, Serves Alcohol European, Brew Pub, Bar, Pizza, Pub, Vegetarian Friendly Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Excellent
68%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
8%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 36 reviews

The White Dog

Restaurant and bar at the foot of the ski slopes offering lunch and evening meals. A mix of Bulgaria BBQ and also english fare.

Reviewed By Millasan - Varna Province, Bulgaria

Very nice and professional staff, warm and cozy atmosphere, perfect food. The ski instructors are just great - dealing with kids very well; the equipment and person in charge who help with it is just great. Peter is the best instructor ever and my kid simply loves him!

4. Alex's Pub 1

Malina | Malina, Pamporovo 4870, Bulgaria Outdoor Seating, Seating, Waitstaff, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Television, Highchairs Available Bar, European, Grill, Pub, Vegetarian Friendly Lunch, Breakfast, Dinner, Brunch HK$16 - HK$196 +359 30 999 091
Excellent
67%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
0%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 146 reviews

Alex's Pub 1

Reviewed By MJZAJ - Weybridge, United Kingdom

The servings are huge and the food is good and served pretty quickly although we opted for slightly earlier lunches to avoid the masses. The 10% discount card you might get from your travel company does work here although they don't like applying it. Tell them at the time of asking for the bill and be adamant as we ate here 3 times and had different experiences but each time they accepted it. Average cost per sitting for 3 kids and 2 adults was 80 LEV

5. Rodopchanka

Bulgaria Boulevard, Smolyan, Smoljan 11, Smolyan 4700, Bulgaria Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Waitstaff, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible European, Eastern European, Central European, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Lunch, Dinner
Excellent
83%
Good
10%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 65 reviews

Rodopchanka

Steakhouse, BBQ Joint, Winery

Reviewed By Bambi12345

Great restaurant with a varied menu. The meals don't only look good, but also very tasty. While you eat, you hear live music. A player plays the organ and sings. It's an amazing experience. Highly recommended!

6. Starata Kushta

Miniorska Street 67, Smolyan 4700, Bulgaria Eastern European
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 3 reviews

Starata Kushta

Reviewed By Lily A - Matlock, United Kingdom

We visit Smolyan a lot so have been to many of the restaurants and my family all agrees that this is the best! There's always a lovely warm welcome and fabulous food. The restaurant is an old house (starata kushta) built in the Bulgarian revival style, with lots of lovely original artefacts and photos around the place. The original rooms are all still there so the chances are you'll be dining in a private room, laid out like a dining room in a Bulgarian home.
We've never had a poor meal there and have particularly liked the lamb cheverme, all of the 'sach' ('sizzler') dishes and the trout but any choice would be a good one! We've often been given a significant discount off the (already extremely reasonable) bill for our attempts to read and speak Bulgarian and have several times been squeezed in somewhere when the restaurant has been full so we always feel amazingly welcome - as we always do across the region.
When I think of the Starata Kushta I think of feeling full, warm and happy - so you can't say fairer than that!

7. Bohemi

Rhodope Mountains | Pamporovo Ski Resort, Smolyan 4700, Bulgaria Reservations, Seating, Waitstaff European, Soups, Central European Lunch, Breakfast, Brunch
Excellent
62%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
0%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 31 reviews

Bohemi

Reviewed By almond6 - Melbourne

This restaurant is very nice after skiing. With an open fire and a drinks list to warm you up, but it doesn’t stop there. The pizzas are amazing, probably the best we’ve had in a very long time and the chicken curry was the perfect blend of sweet and savoury and not too heavy. The burgers are plentiful and fresh also. Cannot fault this place.

8. Venus

Bulgaria Boulevard 11 | 4700, Smolyan 4700, Bulgaria
Excellent
68%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
16%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 6 reviews

Venus

Reviewed By HalDavies - Ramsgate, United Kingdom

Friends took us to Venus this time.
The waiter was charming and friendly as ever.
We noted the sausages hanging in the wine cellar, they are made from meat/animals reared on the owner's land.
Starters were Calamari, lots of it, crispy batter and cooked perfectly. Oven baked Brie on apple, lovely, and Bruschetta with proscuitto, again, lovely.
Mains were two pizzas, enormous, tasty and cheap. Two others had the lamb cutlets. Heaps of them with roasted veg and a lovely gravy.
Two puddings, the largest Tiramisu ever, enough for two, so good, and a Creme Brulee, bruleed at the table. Perfect.
We will not hesitate to return

9. Black Horse

Pamporovo | Bulgaria, Pamporovo 4700, Bulgaria Outdoor Seating, Seating, Waitstaff Breakfast, Lunch +359 89 794 3860
Excellent
49%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
4%
Terrible
13%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 23 reviews

Black Horse

Reviewed By Boratino69 - Sofia, Bulgaria

This restaurant is right at the ski slopes in Pamporovo.Always nice food and hot drinks.Staff is friendly.On a sunny day its fantastic.Pamporovo is the most sunny resourt in Europe..

10. PamPi Apres ski bar

4870 Pamporovo Plc, Smolyan 4780, Bulgaria +359 89 334 3422
Excellent
40%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
20%
Poor
0%
Terrible
20%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 5 reviews

PamPi Apres ski bar

Reviewed By Deborah M - Chester-le-street durham

best night for music and entertainment, thanks to all the staff at the bar and also the staff from ski centre 2 especially marie, koce and anie. we will be back next year see you then debbie peter ritchie and jess

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