City Walk: a day in Lozenets

From the first coffee to the last glass of wine, Lozenets has plenty of small pleasures to offer.

Its quieter streets bring together restaurants with character, wine bars, fresh smoothies and places to move or unwind. Each stop offers something to notice: an unexpected pizza topping, a homemade dessert, a well-chosen drink or simply a moment when you’re glad you paused. Lozenets doesn’t shout for attention. Its details do the work. Even a short walk between favourite addresses can turn into a satisfying afternoon of discoveries. Let curiosity set the route and see what the neighbourhood has in store.

La Bottega Prima

Some places smell less of the city than of sea air and olive oil. At La Bottega Prima, a little of southern Italy seems to have arrived on the wooden floor. Light tables, an unhurried atmosphere and cooking that follows the seasons set the tone.

The original menu features chef Spas Pavlov’s pizza with pumpkin, gorgonzola and crunchy seeds,

alongside one with burrata, pesto Genovese and finely sliced potatoes, with smoked or truffle burrata among the options. The wine list keeps the meal company on a journey through Italy (in Bulgarian), from Trentino and Piedmont to Sicily and the slopes of Etna.

6 Milin Kamak Street
+359 88 578 0222

Next Level

If you’re looking beyond cardio and weights, Next Level offers another way to move: Reformer Pilates.

The equipment uses a moving platform, springs and straps

to provide adjustable resistance for controlled, whole-body movements. Sessions can be adapted to experience, whether you’re new to Pilates or familiar with the method. Precision, control and breathing are central to the practice; discuss the appropriate level with the instructor.

44 Zlatovrah Street, block 66
+359 87 801 5171

Padre

Padre began as an idea shared by two people and became a restaurant with a distinctly personal character. Antonia and Plamen set out in 2018 without a formula for success, but with an appetite for honest food and a quiet aesthetic. He is at the heart of the kitchen, keeping an eye on each plate. She creates the feeling of being at home.

Together they choose the ingredients carefully and cook everything on site,

letting flavour have the last word. The menu is concise and the interior warm, balancing comfort with elegance. Padre is a family restaurant in the fullest sense: somewhere you leave wanting to tell another person about the evening.

58 Chervena Stena Street
+359 88 979 8887
www.padre-restaurant.bg

Seewines

Since Seewines (in Bulgarian) arrived in Lozenets, it has given the neighbourhood another reason to meet over a glass. Black shelving reaches the ceiling, a long wooden table invites company and the lighting gives the room its own character. The wine selection is extensive,

from Bordeaux and Tuscany to boutique estates and adventurous New World finds.

The aim is to make wine culture approachable without flattening its individuality. The programme includes themed tastings with sommeliers and meetings with winemakers, while collectors can explore a dedicated selection of fine wines. Gift boxes offer another way to share a discovery. Check the current tasting dates directly.

20 Zlaten Rog Street
+359 88 484 3956
www.seewines.com

Smottie

On weekdays, Smottie offers a small escape from the city’s noise, smelling of raspberries, mint and coffee. The spring portrait captures the bustle of a Saturday farmers’ market, with friends catching up over cappuccinos, fresh juice and something just out of the oven. Everything is made on site, with an emphasis on straightforward, carefully prepared food.

The coffee is speciality, the ice cream artisan soft serve,

and the desserts follow old family recipes. Smoothies and juices range from velvety to light, always fresh and colourful. Glass bottles are a small sign that the team are thinking about what they leave behind.

Stara Stena Street
+359 88 911 9946

Umami

Umami feels like a secret garden amid the concrete, drawing its atmosphere from Hotel Marinela’s Japanese garden. Japanese precision meets Peruvian flair,

with dishes that give the two traditions something to say to each other.

Sushi, the heat of the robata grill and Nikkei flavours bring the menu together. It’s a meeting of refinement and adventure, with the garden adding another reason to settle in.

100 James Bourchier Boulevard, Hotel Marinela
+359 88 480 4040

Dar ot Bogovete

A little food-lover’s paradise may be waiting around the next Lozenets corner. At Dar ot Bogovete, whose name means “Gift of the Gods”, the team help you explore wine and delicacies, with tastings part of the original offering.

The selection takes in European meat and dairy specialities,

including artisan Parmigiano Reggiano made from red-cow milk and aged for 24 months, as well as slowly fermented French sourdough, homemade dips and desserts. Provenance matters here. Wines from established European estates sit alongside the food, while gourmet gift boxes bring several discoveries together. Ask about the current tasting schedule before planning around one.

17 Cherni Vrah Boulevard
+359 87 906 2677

Hitrata Lisitsa

You don’t need a wolf-sized appetite to step into “The Cunning Fox”. An appetite for something well made will do. Wood, brick, stone and wrought iron give the room its texture, while soft lighting draws the evening closer.

Earthy colours and Stefana Argirova’s original illustrations,

inspired by the fox’s story, add warmth and character. The kitchen is open and the provenance of the ingredients is part of the conversation. Ask about the seasonal weekday lunch menu and current serving hours. The main menu ranges across European cooking, with house recipes and carefully chosen drinks.

22 Lozenska Planina Street
+359 89 030 2011

A journey into old Lozenets and back

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