Good To Know About (Eating Out In) Bratislava

🟠 Where To Book Accomodation

You don't need to book your hotel or airbnb in the City Centre. The historical centre is rather small and most of it isn't accesible by a cab. On Fridays and Saturdays it will be very crowded and noisy.

There are much more peaceful and accessible neighborhoods close to historical centre, i.e. Palisady, but not too far from Staromestska street. Or the part around Dunajska street which will also get you closer to the shopping district of Eurovea.

My favorite kind of neighborhood would be Nivy between the streets Karadzicova and Kosicka. It's both old and new and unlike historical centre, there are much better food spots and cafes.

🟠 How To Get Around

Parking can get expensive if you come by car, make sure do download the PAAS app and pay for the parking.

Public transport is a great way to get around. Download the IDS BK app to pay for your tickets, but most of the buses and trams have an option to pay in the car after you get on.

Always use apps like Uber, Bolt or Hopin when ordering cabs. NEVER STOP IT ON THE STREET, NEVER GET IN ONE ON THE STREET WITHOUT ORDERING IT FIRST because it's gonna get super expensive.

🟠 What Is Bratislava Like

It's no huge city, it only has half a million inhabitants, but it's quite beautiful and green. The culture is tricky right now because i.e. The National Gallery has been seized by our Culture Secretary that wages her holy war against the free art, so it's pretty much only the architecture of it that you can admire from the outside.

But the architecture in general is a great way how to enjoy Bratislava. Lot of brutalism and functionalism and some really exceptional buildings like Slovak Radio building or my favorite apartment building on 2 Medena street.

If you're a fan of weird things you can go check out Petrzalka district which is the biggest European neighborhood of prefabricated pannel apartment buildings. There are also lots of cold war bunkers accessible for the public, check out especially those that serve as museums.

It you're a fan of great views, go to Slavin monument or Bratislava castle.

🟠 The Food and Drink Scene In Bratislava
There is a difference between Slovak and Bratislavian food. The first is rather rural and simple (hence the Slovak national dish "bryndzove halusky"), Bratislavian cuisine is a mixture of its Hungarian, German, Austrian, Czech and Jewish heritage. Meats in sauces, lots of potatoes, dumplings or rice, and even our own "thing" called "privarok" which is like a thicker sauce that IS the dish.

There are however other types of cuisines that are really exceptional in Bratislava. In my guide you'll find great Vietnamese spots (the Vietnamese people have been around in Czechoslovakia since the 1980s), some amazing ramens, awesome burgers and pizzas and even one truly exceptional Mexican place.

Bratislava is an amazing city for people with sweet tooth. There are lots of great artisan bakeries and patisseries, but also places with traditional Slovak desserts. Look them up in my guide as well.

There is a couple of exceptional bars including one rated in the World's 50 Best chart, but Bratislava is mostly the wine city. Make sure to look up spots in my guide that offer local wines including the natural choices and orange wines which are truly special.

And then there's one more thing. The coffee. Not sure what exactly happed in the Eastern Central Europe, but Prague, Brno and Bratislava are a paradise for the lovers of specialty coffees. We have our own roasters roasting coffe with good origin, producing truly exceptional brews that will make everyone happy, whether you prefer the OG ways or the modern and creative techniques. I only listed my absolute favorites but if you're into coffee, download the app European Coffee Trip and you won't sleep for days.

These are the basics, consult me if you need anything else and enjoy your stay.

Oh and whatever bad things you've heard about Slovakia and our current government, Bratislava is the island of civilisation in the sea of crazy.🙂