Bulgaria Ski discussion board

Hi Mel

We found three really good mehanas around the Lions pub area, and whilst I don’t have the names of all of them I’ve tried to give directions below.

The restaurant Ivel – walk down towards the Lions pub from the gondola and turn right at the Italian restaurant on the corner. The Ivel is approx 100 metres along that road. We had some good local dishes and we got a free drink plus free dessert each too.

The next one was just up from the Lions pub – it was the 3rd or 4th building on the left (if you stand with your back to the Lions pub). There’s a man called George standing outside in a huge striped blanket coat with a hood. Following a moderate sized starter each we shared 2 huge skewers of pork and chicken (cost 20 lev for each one) between three of us and we couldn’t finish them. We also had lunch in there one day which was nice too - large beer 2.1 lev.

The third was on the way down to the old town on the right hand side of the road. A lady called Mimi stood outside and again their food was very good and reasonable.

Restauarant Bankso (on way into old town on left hand side) - the food was OK but the service deteriorated when we didn't order the specials that the waitress was trying to promote. The Bulgarian lad outside is very funny though (he has developed a funny Australian/English accent) - he always had a laugh with us when we passed.

The first days lunch on the slopes at the top of the gondola station was awful – approx 37 lev for 3 portions of stone cold sausage & chips and 2 small bottles of water. The Friends restaurant, however, did a really good pasta and pizza for 10 lev and chicken kebab for 7 lev.

Tut tut Mel - if this is your 3rd visit you should have checked out the good mehanas by now - and you ribbed me about getting a car at the Perun - lol

Have eaten at various different ones and never come across a bad one - trouble is I am never entirely sure of their names!!

Dedo Penne is mentioned often as being good. See this link: http://www.dedopene.com/location.htm

I have been in 2 or 3 or the mehanas shown on here:

http://pubs.bansko.org/

The Kashta is nice.

Mehana Chardaka is good - that's on the main road down to the square (Pirin Street).

Chovanov Han, Tsar Simeon Street, Bansko - read good reports of this.

Valevitsata Mehana in Glazne Street

There's also the Golden Fox (towards end of Pirin Street) which is good for pizza, pasta etc. There are one or two other smaller mehanas down there on right hand side which I am not sure of name but have eaten in and had skewers etc - very nice.

Another place more up by gondola and Perun etc is the Friendly Bar at the Fortuna - very good pizza in there + all sorts of other BG dishes etc.

A pal of mine has been into the newly opened London Pub and that was supposed to be very nice - they have a website http://www.londonpub.biz I personally would prefer the character, warmth, smells and atmosphere of the mehanas I think to a more modern or English-style pub - but that's just me.

Of course there is the Lion bar - serves 24 hours and friendly staff and good for a burger and chips and watching sports TV.

A once little known favourite of the SkiDVD crew but more well known as we keep telling everyone is what was formerly the Bondi Bar (opposite the ice rink) but is now called Bistro Pirin - cheapest beer in town and good cheap food too.

On the slopes I gather a new hut has opened down on the ski road serving cheap beer/food - I look forward to investigating that in 3 weeks time!!

Crikes - all that talk of food and me remembering the lovely skewers etc has got me hungry now!!

When is it you go?

Kim

Hi Mel

Was only ribbing you after the taxi comment the other week - ha ha. This is it - when in hotels, you tend to eat in hotels. I have only really gotten to know the mehanas since going out independently - they are nice and there is some lovely food to be had.

I thought it was 28th you went but couldn't remember for sure. Oooh not long now then - yes let's hope for snow - I am out on 7th March. It is looking very murky at Tordorka - can't work out if it fog or snow but it looks like there is fresh(ish) snow on the roof of the gondola building etc.

What time do you get out on 28th - that's when the FIS Ladies Downhill is on - was reading the itinerary for it earlier - you can read it here:-

http://www.xtdev.com/ski/wmview_en.php?ArtID=2418&fen=0

Was looking at the seating stands etc on the webcam last night and wanted to see it in daylight today but they have fixed the webcam to one position - grrr!!