It may be in the neighbourhood, but Vino Bar Trovatore is not the average neighbourhood hangout. The bar serves mostly quality Italian and Bulgarian cuvees, in an intimate, chic setting. It’s not a place for organised wine tastings or flowery language.
Trovatore would be easy enough to miss, on a quiet residential street in Lozenets. A path windes through a small grass lawn, a rectangular wooden sign on a post the only indication that it is not a house. Once inside, you are greeted with warmth (temperature and personnel), seven or eight sleek, dark-stained rectangular wooden tables of both bar and dining height, two brick columns in the centre of the room, a curved bar at the back, and a fish tank built into the back wall. Music plays not softly, but not deafeningly, either, with mostly ambient chill, jazz, light rock, classical… anything except chalga and pop-folk. The latter are forbidden, even for private parties, to which people can bring their own music.
Two party menus exist – the wine menu and the alcohol menu. The wine menu (19.50 leva a head) per person includes: one-750ml bottle of Italian (red – Sangiovese DOC, Salice Salentino DOC, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC, Barbera d’Asti DOC; white – Orvieto Classico DOC, Frascati DOC, Soave DOC) or Bulgarian (Mavroud Assenovgrad 2002) wine; 600ml mineral water; and tappas . The alcohol menu (21.50 leva a head) per person includes: three 50ml drinks (whisky – Jameson 12-years, Jack Daniel’s Gentleman Jack; vodka – Moskovska, Stolichna, Absolut, Finlandia); two 330ml soft drinks; 120g chips; 150g nuts. In all cases, a 100 leva deposit is required and the total price must be paid out no later than two days before the event. Reservations for private parties can be made up to three days before the party is to happen. Something cool – Trovatore creates invitations for you to send to all your guests. Just note that the printed invitation is the ticket through the door!
Or, if simply looking for a place to unwind after a long day or week, Trovatore also meets that end. Like at enotecas in Italy, all drinks are served with a bite to eat – mezze, tapas, hors d’oeuvres, whatever you chose to call them. For instance, a glass of wine costs 7 leva. First, this wine is not a questionable domashen product, but a quality wine from a selection of bottles. Second, it comes with 150ml of mineral water, tappas and deli meats. A bottle costs from 26 leva for a one-crest rating (red, white and rose wines in the party menu and others) to 210 leva for a three-crest. There is also sparkling wine for 36 leva. This is accompanied by 600mL mineral water; and tapas. So, while the wine bar technically isn’t a restaurant – meaning that it does not offer a full kitchen – you will not go hungry.
Go there to sample wines that cannot easily be found in shops in Bulgaria in a classy, calm setting.
Vino Bar Trovatore
23 Midjour St, Sofia
For reservations: +359 886 66 14 66
Working hours:
Mon–Sun, 4pm to midnight
