Cheap Vegetarian Restaurants in Sofia

So you’ve chosen a city break in Sofia Bulgaria? Maybe you were lured here by a cheap fly ( Hi, Ryan Air). Maybe you’re curious about all the churches? Whatever your motive is for a city break in Sofia, we know you’re pumped to learn more about the Cheap Vegetarian restaurants in Sofia Bulgaria!

So whether you want to explore Bulgarian dishes that are naturally vegetarian friendly or try international cuisine, there are plenty of solid cheap vegetarian restaurants in Sofia. Try out our Sofia vegetarian recommendations that we enjoyed after spending a week on a city break in Sofia. And to answer a question that others genuinely asked us:

Does Bulgaria have vegetarian food?

Yes- yes it does! So scroll through our recommendations for both Bulgarian and International vegetarian dishes for you to explore on your next Sofia city break!

**Our picks for the top cheap vegetarian restaurants are NOT all fully vegetarian restaurants ( we will note if they ARE), but they offer plenty of substantial vegetarian options that warrant some attention.

Top Cheap Vegetarian Restaurants in Sofia Bulgaria

  1. Furna You’ll probably find Furna on most of your Sofia recommendations and that is because its worth all the shine! Furna is great for coffee ( they have several types of non-dairy milks too!) as it is for pastries. Though not fully a vegetarian spot, Furna offers many vegetarian friendly options! The most popular choices here are the Banitsa– arguable the most famous type of pastry in Bulgaria. Traditionally these wrapped pastries are served with feta cheese, but at Furna you’ll find both sweet and savory options that are also vegetarian friendly ( I’m looking at you lentil/potato combo!).
The fresh bread at Furna bakery. Furna is included on our cheap vegetarian restaurants in sofia bulgaria guide for delicious plant-based coffee options and vegetarian pastries.
The auther enjoying a traditional barista pastry at Furna cafe, one of the recommendations for a cheap vegetarian restaurant in Sofia bulgaria.

2.(Veg)Satsanga: A tiny spot that serves fresh vegetarian and vegan dishes. You’ll pay by weight and dishes often include a combination of vegetarian Bulgarian and/or Indian food. Praised for it’s favorable food and affordability- we think Satsanga is a solid vegetarian restaurant choice in Sofia.

3.( Veg)Sun Moon– A fully vegetarian restaurant and buffet with cozy two floor seating. There are several premade takeaway options, but we think the fresh food steals the show. The menu is quite extensive with a variety of soups, salads, sandwiches and beyond. They also have a daily rotating menu so you won’t be short on new foods to try here.

4.( Veg)Kring– Our favorite restaurant in Sofia. While it’s not the cheapest, it is so delicious that we went here four times! Like Satsanga, it’s a ” pay by weight” buffet model. We consistently had very full plates for around $10 USD ( so still a solid deal by Western pricing standards). There are consistently 15+ food options with lots of soy protein included! Flavorful food in a peaceful environment- what more could you want?

Full plates for less then $10 USD at Kring Vegetarian buffet- our top pick for Vegetarian Restaurants in Sofia!

5.SupaStar Food Bar– This is a great spot for a quick, cheap lunch option- especially if you’re visiting Bulgaria in the Fall/Winter like we did. What isn’t more enticing then a hot cup of soup? While this spot is NOT fully vegetarian, we went here three times and all three times there were at least THREE different ( delicious) vegetarian options. Including in the price is also a complimentary slice of fresh bread. You can get a heaping bowl of soup & fresh bread for less then $4 USD.

Vegetarian soup from Supa bar is photographed against a red table with a slice of brown bread. Supa is a recommendation for a cheap vegetarian restaurants in sofia bulgaria

In addition to our top 5 favorite vegetarian restaurants in Sofia, we have a few honorable mentions that we care to shout out.

If you’re looking for fully Vegan restaurants in Sofia, then Edgy Veggy is a popular choice! With a fully plant based menu, this vegan restaurant in Sofia offers lots of international favorites like veggie burgers, smoothies, and burritos. It’s a heathy-ish fast food option if that is what you’re craving! Per usual, we default to the amazing Happy Cow resource for a comprehensive list of vegan restaurants in Sofia!

Now that you know a bit about our top vegetarian restaurants in Sofia, dig in ( partial pun intended…) to learn a bit more about Bulgarian Food culture.

Understanding Bulgarian Food

What is traditional Bulgarian food like?

If you’ve traveled around the Balkans, that you’ll know that Bulgarian food , like its neighboring countries, is very meat and cheese heavy. Luckily, the cheese is delicious ( and in most traditional dishes so it would be a bit tricky to avoid).

Despite the focus on meat and cheese in traditional dishes, there are a solid handful of traditional naturally vegetarian dishes that you can find in local restaurants. Our top 3 Bulgarian vegetarian dishes are:

-Bean Stew

-Banitsa

-Shopska Salad

We also enjoyed Kyopulu ( more commonly known by its Serbian name of Ajvar)

And the best thing is that these dishes ( and more) are very cheap with a typical dish out being around $3 USD ( 6 LEV). With an affordable price point, we enjoyed more meals out then we typically do ( especially in Europe!) and felt like we had a fair chance to sample local dishes.

Is Sofia Bulgaria Vegan friendly?

While Sofia won’t go winning any awards for most Vegan friendly any time soon ( maybe in the next 15 years??), there are plenty of solid vegan options to explore. While we focus on cheap vegetarian restaurants, you can also find upscale plant based dining in Sofia at spots like Soul Kitchen or DaOrganic Restaraunt.

Final Thoughts on finding Cheap Vegetarian Restaurant’s in Sofia

Overall, we are pleasantly surprised with the vegetarian options in Sofia. While many may think ( and it is partially true) that Bulgarian dishes are meat heavy, there are a few classic staples that are naturally vegetarian free. In addition to traditional food, it’s easy to find international food that is also vegetarian friendly.

Planning your Sofia City Break

Looking for accommodation in Sofia?

We love using Agoda.com to compare accommodation options! Consistently, we find the lowest rates for hotels here.

Looking for more recommendations for where to go and what to do in Bulgaria? We’ve compiled our 15 Favorite ( cheap) things to do in Sofia.

Check out our 10 Cheap Things to Do in Plovdiv guide!

What about taking the bus from Sofia to Skopje to explore the quirky capital of North Macedonia

Love other food-focused travel? Then explore our Puerto Vallarta, Mexico guide with vegetarian options or our Kuala Lumpur guide that features some of our favorite vegetarian spots!

Check out some of our best budget itineraries here:

Welcome! We're Vic and Pat- 30 somethings that have accumulated 10+ years of international travel experience who finally have the guts to share their experiences. We focus on budget couple travel in unique locations that aren't necessarily on a "bucketlist." We don't believe in taking time for granted and we do believe in living our life on the move. Sometimes we have long weekends, sometimes we have a 2 week holiday, sometimes we travel and work remotely for 2+ months at a time. Regardless of what chapter of life we're in, we want to show you how to stretch your budget, maximize travel hacks, and create memorable experiences.