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"A cosy basement with extraordinarily fresh food. We had Granny’s salad, homemade meatballs and trout with figs, with an authentic house wine. Highly recommend!"
"Traditional Bulgarian cooking at below-average prices, with excellent and very fast service. A real tavern in the centre of Sofia. Absolutely book ahead."
"Very good food with options for vegetarians, immediate service and a clean space. An ideal choice for traditional cuisine on a classic visit to Sofia!"
"An excellent evening with delicious, typical Bulgarian dishes. Impeccable service and a warm welcome. We recommend this restaurant with our eyes closed."
"Charming and typical, with the menu in many languages. The garlic bread, chicken kavarma and goat cheeses were spectacular. Do not miss the kapama."
Book a tableAsk for a group offerIzbata Tavern is a traditional Bulgarian restaurant in a cellar on Slavyanska Street, between Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the National Assembly. For 19 years it has served recipes gathered from all over Bulgaria, from kavarma and kapama to trout with figs, under low ceilings with folk textiles and clay pottery. Most guests spend €20 to 30 each on food and drinks.
Book a table on WhatsAppIzbata means "the cellar", and that is where you eat: a few steps down from Slavyanska Street, under low ceilings, among folk textiles, clay pots and wooden furniture. The team has collected recipes from all over Bulgaria, so the menu runs from dips for rakia to slow-cooked kapama and sizzling sach skillets. There is no live music, which makes it a good pick for a relaxed meal and a proper conversation. For a dinner with a folk show, see Chevermeto.
| Pikantna, spicy tomato, chilli and cheese dip, 150 g | 5.50 |
| Potato dip with gherkins, 150 g | 4.50 |
| Snezhanka, yoghurt, cucumber and walnuts, 150 g | 5.50 |
| Kiopoolu, roast aubergine and pepper dip, 150 g | 5.90 |
| Katak with roasted peppers, 150 g | 4.90 |
| Egg dip, 150 g | 5.50 |
| Meze for rakia, salad, cheeses and dried sausage, 400 g | 14.50 |
| Valcho meze, mixed traditional sausages, 150 g | 16.80 |
| Dip platter, 400 g | 16.50 |
| Shopska salad, 300 g | 6.90 |
| Granny's salad, aubergine, courgette and cheese, 300 g | 8.80 |
| Ovcharska, with mushrooms, sausage and egg, 350 g | 10.50 |
| Garden salad with roasted peppers and pesto, 300 g | 8.90 |
| Karakachanska, tomatoes, peppers, cheese and egg, 300 g | 8.50 |
| Green salad with baked goat cheese, 350 g | 10.50 |
| Carrot and cauliflower salad, 300 g | 7.50 |
| House salad with chickpeas and pomegranate, 300 g | 8.80 |
| Rhodope salad, tomatoes, peppers, katak and walnuts, 300 g | 8.50 |
| Wild mushroom soup, 250 g | 7.20 |
| Lentil soup with bacon, 250 g | 4.50 |
| Beef broth, 250 g | 9.20 |
| Tarator, cold yoghurt and cucumber soup, 250 g | 4.20 |
| Patatnik with porcini, Rhodope potato bake, 250 g | 11.80 |
| Courgettes with goat cheese, 200 g | 8.90 |
| Mish-mash, eggs, cheese, tomatoes and peppers, 200 g | 8.50 |
| Baked goat cheese in filo with jam, 150 g | 9.80 |
| Eggs Panagyurishte style, with yoghurt, 250 g | 7.50 |
| Kachamak with cheese in filo, 250 g | 7.50 |
| Kashkaval on a hot plate with honey and walnuts, 150 g | 9.20 |
| Aubergine stuffed with beef, 200 g | 12.50 |
| Prazhki, crispy pork with onion, 200 g | 10.80 |
| Rice with prunes and spinach, 250 g | 7.50 |
| Beans in a clay pot, 350 g | 6.50 |
| Parsley patties with milk sauce, 350 g | 7.80 |
| Stuffed aubergine with cherry tomatoes, 200 g | 7.50 |
| Breaded white fish fillet, 300 g | 11.50 |
| Trout with figs and almonds, 350 g | 16.80 |
| Homemade meatballs, 3 pcs | 11.80 |
| Kebapcheta, 2 pcs | 11.80 |
| Veal meatballs, 3 pcs | 13.50 |
| Homemade sudzhuk sausage, 350 g | 13.90 |
| Lamb dzhumuri, spiced lamb rolls, 250 g | 13.50 |
| Lamb meatballs with mint, 3 pcs | 13.80 |
| Chicken fillet with rosemary, 300 g | 10.80 |
| Pork steaks, 250 g | 13.80 |
| Boyar mixed grill for four, 30 min, 1400 g | 55.00 |
| Homemade parlenka with garlic, cheese or kashkaval, 100 g | 4.20 |
| Gypsy banitsa, 50 g | 2.00 |
| Granny's chicken in filo with bacon and cheese, 350 g | 12.80 |
| Chicken kavarma with mushrooms and white wine, 300 g | 12.20 |
| Kapama, mixed meats and sauerkraut baked under dough, 400 g | 17.50 |
| Sarmi, cabbage rolls with pork and rice, 300 g | 12.80 |
| Slow-roast pork neck with thyme and mustard, 300 g | 16.50 |
| Pork kebab in red wine with rice, 350 g | 10.80 |
| Moussaka, 350 g | 11.80 |
| Veal shank with wild mushrooms, 300 g | 18.90 |
| Roast lamb with potatoes, 300 g | 19.50 |
| Chicken sach skillet, 30 min, 400 g | 13.80 |
| Pork knuckle sach skillet, 350 g | 14.50 |
| Sach Starata Izba, chicken, sausage and bacon, 30 min, 500 g | 20.80 |
| Rice pudding with orange and cinnamon, 150 g | 4.20 |
| Strained yoghurt with honey and walnuts, 150 g | 5.50 |
| Semolina halva with raisins, 150 g | 5.80 |
| Homemade ice cream with fig jam, 150 g | 6.50 |
| Chocolate mousse with brandy and walnuts, 150 g | 7.20 |
| Burgas muscat rakia, 50 ml | 3.20 |
| Dyadova usukanitsa rakia, 50 ml | 3.20 |
| Pear rakia, 50 ml | 4.20 |
| Quince rakia, Zemunska Premium, 50 ml | 4.20 |
| Burgas 63 barrel rakia, 50 ml | 4.50 |
| Troyan plum rakia, 12 years, 50 ml | 5.50 |
| Homemade cherry liqueur, 50 ml | 7.20 |
| Mastika Peshtera, 50 ml | 2.30 |
| Ouzo Plomari, 50 ml | 3.50 |
| Vodka, 50 ml | from 3.00 |
| Whisky, 50 ml | from 4.20 |
| Gin Beefeater, 50 ml | 3.50 |
| Brandy Pliska Reserve 7 years, 50 ml | 2.90 |
| Draught Shumensko, 330 ml | 3.00 |
| Draught Shumensko, 500 ml | 4.00 |
| Shumensko or Pirinsko, 500 ml | 3.20 |
| Tuborg, 500 ml | 3.50 |
| Carlsberg, 500 ml | 4.30 |
| Carlsberg alcohol-free, 330 ml | 4.20 |
| Somersby cider, apple or blueberry, 330 ml | 4.20 |
| Ayran, yoghurt drink, 250 ml | 2.50 |
| Homemade lemonade, 250 ml | 3.50 |
| Fresh juice, 250 ml | 2.50 |
| Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite or tonic, 250 ml | 2.80 |
| Mineral water, 330 ml | 1.80 |
| Mineral water, 750 ml | 3.00 |
| Coffee | 2.50 |
| Tea | 2.00 |
| House red, Mavrud, Zagreus, 200 ml | 3.50 |
| House red, Mavrud, Zagreus, 500 ml | 8.00 |
| House white, Sauvignon Blanc, Midalidare, 200 ml | 4.00 |
| House white, Sauvignon Blanc, Midalidare, 500 ml | 10.00 |
| White Mavrud and Dimyat, Zagreus, 750 ml | 16.00 |
| Raspberry wine, Zagreus, 750 ml | 22.00 |
| Tamyanka, Magura, 750 ml | 24.00 |
| Vrachanski Misket and Riesling, Magura, 750 ml | 23.00 |
| Rosé Rubin, Magura, 750 ml | 23.00 |
| Lava rosé, Damianitza, 750 ml | 18.00 |
| Gamza and Syrah, Magura, 750 ml | 24.00 |
| Mavrud and Raspberry, Zagreus, 750 ml | 19.00 |
| Merlot and Cabernet Franc, Midalidare, 750 ml | 23.00 |
| Mavrud Black Label, Terra Tangra, 750 ml | 24.00 |
| Vinica Mavrud, Zagreus, 750 ml | 39.00 |
Send us the date, time and how many of you. We check availability and arrange the table.
Izbata Tavern is at 18 Slavyanska St., in the centre of Sofia, about 8 minutes on foot from Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, 4 minutes from the National Assembly and 19 minutes from NDK. The entrance is down the side of the building and leads into the basement, so look for the sign rather than a shop front.
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