Where to eat in Bratislava: the best restaurants

Besides visiting the popular attractions such as the Bratislava Castle and the Bratislava Old Town, you should also indulge in traditional Slovakian food. In this blog post I’ll share my recommendations on where to eat in Bratislava so you can check out the best places while in town. This blog post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.

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Bratislava Flagship Restaurant

Bratislava Flagship is one of the most popular traditional restaurants in the capital of Slovakia. It was even recommended to me by locals, so you know it’s a good spot for authentic local cuisine.

The restaurant is located in an old theatre, it has wooden tables and chairs, and it is one of the largest restaurants in Europe. It is located in the heart of the city, very close to the Old Town. You don’t need a reservation since the restaurant is large.

You should try the most popular traditional dishes, including bryndzove halusky. They are soft small potato dumplings (like potato gnocchi) served with sheep cheese and the most delicious crispy bacon.

The restaurant has an extensive menu of Slovakian cuisine, so feel free to also try other things besides bryndzové halušky, such as garlic soup in a bread bowl, potato pancakes, or pork knuckle.

I tried their potato dumplings filled with meat and served with cabbage. So good!

Local food tends to be very heavy and the portions are big. But it’s worth trying the local dishes even though you won’t be able to finish everything on the plate.

Meanto

Meanto is a cute little place in the Old Town that serves traditional Slovak food. The prices are affordable and I also liked that they have a tasting plate of different dumplings.

It’s perfect for both solo travelers and families that just want to try a bit of everything. 

Their sour cabbage soup is also very good. It comes with sausage, sour cream (used in almost every dish in this part of the world) and bread. It’s the perfect mix of salty and sour.

For drinks you can go with their lemonades because they are made in house, are delicious, and they even look amazing!

Cafe Verne

This is where I met my local friend for a Sunday brunch. He recommended the place and it was very good. 

It’s located along the park that ends at the Slovak National Theatre and it has outdoor seating. The area has lots of trees and is shaded, so you can sit outside even during hotter days.

​They offer a broad range of food from Slovak cuisine to regular menu items you can find in most restaurants across the world.

So you can try Slovak dishes here as well or you can take a break and go with something else. I went with the chicken pancakes and they were delicious.

Gatto Matto

While I didn’t eat here myself, I heard from my local friend that the best Italian restaurant in Bratislava is Gatto Matto. I checked the reviews online and they were glowing.

So if you need some Italian gnocchi or pizza while in Bratislava, this is a good option. Your taste buds will thank you.

Arthur’s Gelato

Ok, I never thought I would find good gelato in Bratislava, but boy was I wrong. There are some really good gelato shops in the old town.

My favorite was Arthur’s. It’s a short walk from the man at work statue. You can take your gelato to go or you can eat it there since they have a few tables outside.

It’s a very popular place, so there is always a line. But it moves fast. I think I only waited about 5 minutes.

They have both traditional flavors like strawberry or chocolate and premium flavors like Dubai chocolate and white nougat. I tried these two premium flavors and they were delicious.

It’s probably the most expensive ice cream shop in town. I paid 7 euros for 2 scoops, which is more than I paid in Southern Italy for 2 gelato scoops for example. But I think it’s worth it.

Luculus Gelato

Another great gelato shop I tried was Luculus. My local friend introduced me to this place and it was really good. They have multiple locations in Bratislava.

Local pastries from the oldest shop in town

You should definitely try this local crescent-shaped pastry while in Bratislava. They come with just 2 fillings: walnuts or poppy seeds.

Poppy seed pastries are very popular in Eastern Europe. Romanians also use this filling a lot, especially for a pastry called cozonac that we eat for Christmas and other big holidays.

They are really flaky, not too sweet, and the fillings are incredible. You can find them at the oldest shop in town (that’s the actual name of the shop and it has a sign outside so you can’t miss it).

Pro tip: they go very well with a cup of coffee.

Bloom Bakery

I didn’t try it, but I saw this bakery when I was passing by that had really good-looking pastries. It was called Bloom Bakery and it was located between the Old Town and the Blue Church.

FAQs about Bratislava

What should I see in Bratislava?

Check out my itineraries for 1, 2 or 3 days in Bratislava:

• One-day itinerary
• 2 day itinerary
• 3-day itinerary

What is the best time to visit Bratislava?

I visited in July, which is peak season. The weather was hot and there were a lot of tourists. Especially since there are a lot of people visiting Vienna and Budapest during the summer months and they take day trips to Bratislava.

While I’m not a huge fan of peak summer season travel, I had a good experience in Bratislava, so I didn’t mind it.

I also visited my friend who lives in Bratislava during December a few years ago and the city had no tourists in sight. So if you want to explore like a local and avoid crowds go during the shoulder season or during the winter. If you visit during the winter you can also check out the Christmas market.

How can I get around Bratislava?

Bratislava is a very walkable city and most attractions are clustered together. Plus, it’s a small city. However, if you need to go between places that are further apart you can use public transportation.

Either the bus or the tram are great options. Otherwise, you can order a car through the Bolt app.

How can I get to the city center from the train station?

If you come to Bratislava by train you can walk from the main train station since it takes only about 15-20 minutes to reach the old town. You can also use public transport. There are both buses and trams that stop near the train station.

Or you can order a car through the Bolt app.

How to get cell phone data when visiting from abroad?

The cheapest and most convenient way to get data while visiting from abroad is to buy an eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM that lets you activate a data plan from a provider without having to use a physical SIM card. They are super easy to use.

I use Airalo. You can go to their website, select the country you’re traveling to, select how many GB of data you want, and how many days you want the eSIM to be active for. After you pay you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to activate the eSIM.

You can activate it on your phone in under 1 minute. Once the eSIM is activated you don’t have to do anything else. When you’re at your destination you will automatically get data.

Is Bratislava safe for a solo female traveler?

Yes, I felt very safe in Bratislava. Contrary to popular belief, the countries in Eastern and Central Europe are much safer than the ones in Western Europe.

There is less petty theft and less scammers. I personally haven’t seen any pickpocket or scammers in any Central and Eastern European capital I visited. But I saw plenty in all Western European cities I’ve been to. Even locals in Barcelona warned me about pickpockets that steal cell phones over there.

What currency do they use in Bratislava?

They use the Euro. Slovakia is part of the European Union and it is also in the Eurozone.

Do I need cash for my trip to Bratislava?

I never used cash in Bratislava. But it’s always a good idea to carry some with you in case you want to tip tour guides or servers, for example.

Pro tip: always get cash from an ATM in the airport instead of going to an exchange place. Your bank will always have better exchange rates when taking out cash in a foreign currency from an ATM.

Do I have to tip in Bratislava?

Tipping is not mandatory, but it is highly encouraged. I usually leave 1-2 euros as tip when I eat out. They highly appreciate it when you do this.

Do I need to book tickets for attractions in advance?

I highly recommend you book tickets for popular attractions online in advance of your trip. This will give you peace of mind.

Do people speak English in Bratislava?

Yes, they do. They get a lot of tourists, so they speak English. Even the menus at restaurant are translated to English.

Do you recommend Bratislava as a solo destination?

I highly recommend Bratislava as a destination for solo travelers. It’s a small city, it’s safe, and there are plenty of things to do for a day trip.

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