Around Town

There are a wide range of places to eat within a few minutes walking distance of the apartment. All mehanas serve traditional Bulgarian cuisine and a selection of house wines. Many of the wines are made in the Mehana, and will come straight from the barrel.

On a Sunday, Tsar Simeon comes to life as the street market attracts hundreds of locals and tourists.

Dining Out

Bulgaria has for a long time been a supplier of full bodied Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wines to Europe. Inside Bulgaria, there is an even wider variety of wines on offer. Some of the most popular reds are the mellow Melnik and Gumza; rich, dark Mavrud; and the smooth strawberry-flavoured Haskovski Merlot. There are also plenty of white and rose wines available. A reasonable bottle of red wine will cost around 10 Leva (about £3.50).

The usual spirits can be found in every bar and Mehana. Here, you will find everything from local and imported Russian vodkas to Irish whiskey. You could always try the local spirit called Rakiya. A very potent spirit, usually taken neat, or with a glass of juice to one side to put the flames out! One point to note is that the normal Bulgarian measure is 5cl (roughly equivalent to a British double).

Late Night Entertainment

Bansko has plenty of fun bars, pubs, nightclubs etc for the most die hardy. Many are located along the full length of Pirin, but expect to pay tourist prices.

Casino

Bansko has two Casinos, both within 5 minutes walk of the apartment. Here you can play all of the usual one-arm bandits, roulette, blackjack, poker etc. The Gold club is on your right hand side as you head down Pirin towards the town square. The other is beside the Strazhite hotel.

Ten-pin bowling

The Ten Pin Bowling complex also provides various arcade machines, pool tables, a café and bar. Ideal for families and those still suffering from the night before. It is situated next to the Strazhite hotel on the main road (Glazne) coming into Bansko and is about 5 minutes walk from the apartment.

Late Night Shopping

For those not content with shopping during the day, you can continue late into the evening, with most shops staying open until around 8pm. You may find that some of the shops close for siesta between 12pm and 3pm. Heading from the apartment along Pirin, you will pass a varied mix of street cafés, mehanas, restaurants and many small family run shops selling everything from clothes to furniture, ornaments, souvenirs and of course ski & snow boarding shops, including an official Burton outlet. We have found that most of them offer discounts on multiple purchases and sales of up to 50% on boards, skis and equipment are common out of the ski season. One point of note is that some of the prices seem so cheap that it may be worth being sceptical about the authenticity of some goods!!!

Local Hotels

 
Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena

Hotel Strazhite

Live Music

 
Live music at the Irish Pub, just 30 seconds away from the apartment