The BEST Food & Restaurants In Bratislava, Slovakia

Thought gnocchi was Italian? When I first saw bryndzové halušky on Bratislava restaurant menus, I wondered if it was an Italian dish that the Slovakians had come to love.

I was wrong: this is typical in Slovakia. In fact, it’s the country’s national dish. These potato dumplings are smaller than Italian gnocchi but they taste virtually the same.

Sheep’s cheese is the most famous type of cheese in countries including Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria. It’s crumbly with a rich salty, taste milder than feta.

Bryndzové halušky is served in a cream sauce and topped with chives and crispy fried bacon. There’s absolutely nothing healthy about this dish but it’s truly delicious!

For the second dish in my Bratislava food guide, I’m introducing cabbage soup. This is a dish that doesn’t sound overly delicious – in fact, it sounds pretty grim.

However, I’d advise you to cast all notions of watery cabbage soup from your mind. In Slovakia, this dish is rich, buttery and packed with flavoursome chorizo. Heaven!

I ate this dish as a starter at Slovak Pub, one of the best restaurants in Bratislava, but it really could have been a main meal.

Goulash

Who doesn’t love a hearty goulash? The answer might be anyone who’s spent considerable time in Eastern Europe and has eaten far too many!

Goulash is typically a Hungarian dish but you’ll also find it in Romania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Goulash is a hearty stew served with meat (usually beef), potatoes and vegetables. In Slovakia, you’ll often find it with a side of bready dumplings or, better yet, served inside an edible bowl.

If you recognise the word bryndzové from the first entry in this blog, you’ll know that this dish involves more sheep’s cheese.

I found these potato dumplings even richer and more indulgent than bryndzové halušky because they’re stuffed with generous portions of sheep’s cheese. They’re also drizzled with sour cream and bacon like much of the food in Slovakia.

They could serve as a main dish but I’ll salute you if you eat them as a starter.

After a hearty dinner of bryndzové halušky, I made the ambitious decision to peruse the Slovakian dessert counter.

I came away with a crescent-shaped pastry stuffed with a sweet poppy seed mix, something I’d also tried in Prague a few days previously.

You’ll find these in bakeries and even corner shops for less than a Euro, making them one of the cheapest Slovakian foods to try.

Trdelník

Another Eastern European staple, chimney cake should be eaten wherever you go. Trdelník originated in Hungary but that’s no reason not to indulge while in Slovakia. Heated dough wrapped into a circle shape can be eaten with chocolate, nuts, cream or fruit.

Best restaurants in Bratislava

If you’re like me and only have time to visit one city in Slovakia, it’s likely to be Bratislava. There are plenty of overpriced, touristy restaurants in the city centre that serve bryndzové halušky alongside burgers and pizza. Do yourself a favour and skip these.

For well-priced, authentic food in Slovakia, check out these best restaurants in Bratislava Old Town…

Slovak Pub

Here you’ll find some of the best food in Bratislava. Yes, Slovak Pub is touristy but for good reason: the food is cheap, the prices reasonable and the decor quirky and welcoming.

Must-try dishes include the bryndzové halušky and spicy cabbage soup with chorizo. Alternatively, you can order a sharing platter with 3 dishes (or just eat them to yourself, naturally).

Cafe Verne

A born and bred local told me to check out Cafe Verne so I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity. This typical restaurant is one of the best places to eat in Bratislava partly due to its outside tables overlooking a public garden.

I had my first portion of bryndzové halušky here with €1 wine. It was here I decided that Bratislava and I were going to get along quite nicely.

Urban House

While I wouldn’t usually recommend dining on the most touristic street of a city, Urban House is surprisingly one of the best places to eat in Bratislava thanks to quirky interior, outdoor seating and excellent coffee and brunch menu.

It may not serve traditional Slovakian but who can resist avo toast and a flat white? Not I.

Lab.cafe

One thing I love about Bratislava? The coffee shops serve alcohol. Fancy having your morning croissant with wine instead of coffee? Bring it. Slovakia doesn’t judge.

Lab.cafe is a colourful spot overlooking a sunny square with big tables that are great for co-working. The lemonades, hot chocolates and cakes look great also.

Pollito Cheesecake

A whole cafe dedicated to cheesecake? Foodies visiting Bratislava need to visit Pollito Cheesecake pronto. This cafe serves so many different types of cheesecake alongside quality coffee. The interior is very stylish and elegant, plus the prices aren’t bad either.

Slovakian drinks to try

Now we’ve covered the best restaurants in Bratislava, here are some typical Slovakian drinks to wash it down with. I’ve never seen these elsewhere so I’d highly recommend seeking them out…

Kofola

When the Soviet government banned Western brands in what was once Czechoslovakia, the locals got savvy. They tried to crack the secret Coca-Cola recipe and didn’t do a bad job.

Kofola is a cola-flavoured fizzy drink that Czech and Slovakian people still choose to drink even though Coke is widely available again. Kofola is flatter and sweeter than Coke and has a spiced flavour that made me think of Christmas.

Lemonade

Plot twist – it’s not about lemons. Lemonade in Eastern Europe generally refers to fizzy fruit waters that are carbonated and homemade by the venue serving them. This raspberry lemonade at Eleven Books and Coffee was filled with mint, pomegranate and blueberry.

Borovička

The Slovakian national drink. This juniper-flavoured spritz isn’t a refreshing cocktail but a stiff spirit. It’s rumoured to be great for digestion and metabolism. Worth a try, right?