Food & Culture
Plovdiv's culture is a blend of ancient history and modern vibrancy, reflected in its monuments, lively districts and diverse food scene.
Traditional Food Highlights
Bulgarian cuisine is hearty and full of flavour. The dishes below are some of the most typical foods you can try in Plovdiv, shown with a small photo and a short explanation.
Banitsa
A flaky filo pastry usually filled with cheese and eggs. It is often eaten for breakfast with yoghurt or boza.
Shopska Salad
The classic Bulgarian salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and onions, topped with grated white cheese.
Tarator
A cold soup made from yoghurt, cucumbers, garlic, dill and walnuts. Perfect on hot summer days.
Gyuvech
A slow-cooked one-pot meal of meat and vegetables baked together in a clay pot.
Pulneni Chushki (Stuffed Peppers)
Peppers filled with rice and sometimes minced meat, baked until soft and full of flavour.
Kebapche
Grilled rolls of seasoned minced meat, often served with chips, bread and shopska salad.
Meshana Skara
A mixed grill plate combining several types of grilled meat such as kebapche, kyufteta and steaks.
Lozovi Sarmi
Vine leaves stuffed with a mixture of rice, herbs and sometimes minced meat.
Lukanka
A traditional dry-cured Bulgarian salami with a distinctive flattened shape and rich flavour.
Traditional Drinks
Drinks are an important part of Bulgarian hospitality. From strong fruit brandies to sweet fermented drinks and herbal teas, Plovdiv offers many flavours to try.
Rakia
A strong fruit brandy, often made from grapes or plums. It is usually around 40% alcohol and traditionally served as an aperitif.
Bulgarian Wine
The Plovdiv region is known for grape varieties such as Mavrud and Broad-Leaf Melnik. Local wineries produce rich red and white wines.
Pelin
A wine infused with herbs, giving it a characteristic aroma and slightly bitter taste.
Boza
A thick, slightly sweet fermented drink made from grains such as millet or wheat, usually enjoyed with banitsa.
Mursalski Chai
A herbal tea from the Rhodope Mountains, often sweetened with honey and believed to have various health benefits.
Other Herbal Teas
Bulgarians enjoy many other herbal infusions, often drunk in the evening or in winter for comfort and warmth.
Coffee
Strong, short coffee is very popular in Bulgaria and is often enjoyed slowly while chatting with friends.