The 5 Best Cafes for Working in Sofia, With Totally Different Vibes

Because you love your coworking space, but sometimes you’ve got to keep it fresh. 

While coworking spaces are the easiest and most reliable solution for a mobile office, sometimes you want to switch things up every once in a while.

In that case, there’s always a huge selection of great places to dip your feet in and get some work done.

Because as you know, part of the beauty of being a remote worker is that you have the freedom to choose your office depending on your mood.

After all the essentials are taken care of, like excellent Wifi, solid tables, and an environment where you don’t feel like a jerk for taking up a table for hours on end, there are always other priorities that we have the privilege to consider, and they change daily.

Feeling tired? Make coffee your goal. Trouble focusing? Choose somewhere quiet. Had a bit too much fun last night? Dim and cozy it is.

Luckily, in Sofia, there are ample options for places for you to choose from.

So that’s why I made it my mission during my two-month stay to find the perfect cafe vibe for each day of work.

The following is a list of the top 5 places I frequented, and all for totally different reasons.

1. Peroto – The Focuser

You know when it’s impossible to focus? Like, you have so much work to do but all the commotion around you is hell bent on demanding your precious attention?

It happens to the best of us. 

You’ll never have to deal with that at Peroto.

Peroto is more like a library-cafe, and it’s targeted at students. So, as you could imagine, they totally ‘get it’ when it comes to a working space.  

Wide, flat tables. Sensible chairs. Classical music. The space, particularly in the very front, is refreshingly bright with huge windows. In the rest of the room, shelves of colorful books break up the wide open, airy space.

And the kicker about this place is that everyone around you is there for the same reason: to do some kind of work. That means the vibes are super chill, and the collective mindset has a tuning in effect that helps you focus. 

Try it out: Peroto is situated next to the National Palace of Culture (NDK), in the same building. Facing the front of the building, you walk around to the left, and go up the stairs. They’re open from 8:00 am – 11:00 pm, and they do serve both coffee / tea and alcohol, but no food. 

PRO TIP: The official hours say they open at 8:00 am, but I’ve rarely seen them ready at that time. If you’re an early bird like me, play it safe and don’t bother going until about 9:00.

Peroto is a bright and studious library-cafe in the center of Sofia

2. The Green Deli – The People Watcher

Sometimes a subtle, disorderly murmur is just the ticket you need to productivity town. There’s just something pleasant about the world quietly bustling around you while you sit studiously with your laptop and absorb the action.  

The Green Deli is perfect for this. 

This chain of cafes around Sofia has a lot to offer a remote worker. 

First of all, at the location that I frequented, the whole front and side is made of windows. There’s an ample flood of sunlight, making a bright and cheery office. It’s perfect for watching the world go by.  

Second, it’s on a popular corner, so there’s a modest amount of movement coming in and out. And who doesn’t love a good dose of people watching in Bulgaria?

Third, the food and coffee are great. It’s an order-at-the-counter type of place, and everything is freshly made daily. The food is meant to be on the healthier side of things, like salads and whole grain croissants, but they have great desserts and fried food, too. And since it is, first and foremost, a cafe, the coffee is extremely tasty. 

Try it out: You have a few choices. The one I frequented the most was on ulitsa “Georgi S. Rakovski” 165, in the Sofia city center, at the same intersection as Lidl Supermarket. The hours vary on location, but they’re some time between 8:30am – 7:00 pm. 

PRO TIP: Get there early for the morning croissants. They’re incredibly decadent, and they have different choices, but they’re limited.

The Green Deli is a bright and cheery cafe with huge windows and excellent coffee.

3. The Apartment – The Homey Boozer

This place is, well, an apartment. 

An apartment-converted-cafe, to be precise. It has multiple rooms, and each one is fitted with homey sofas, classic coffee tables and random knick-knacks. It feels like you’re hanging out in the living room at your boujee friend’s house with quirky taste. 

Since it doesn’t get too much daylight, you might prefer working here in the evening, as I did. In the evenings there’s a gentle glow of lamp light, and assuming it’s not too busy, you can lay out on a couch with your computer on your lap and a glass of wine at arm’s reach. 

And hey, that’s a darn good way to set the mind at ease and let the creativity flow.  

Now, the last interesting thing about the The Apartment is its location. Adding to the vibes of being a person’s normal home, there are no signs or directions on the street. You have to be ‘in the know’ to get there. 

Well, that’s pretty lucky for you, isn’t it!

Try it out: The address is ul. “Neofit Rilski” 68, and it’s open from 10:00 am – 1:45 am. The door is indicated with a small Tibetan flag. You enter and walk up the stairs, and voila! Welcome home. 

PRO TIP: You have to make your order directly from the staff in the kitchen. It’s not a full service joint, just like you wouldn’t expect your friend to wait on you in their home. 

There are multiple rooms and seating arrangements to choose from

The Apartment entrance is marked with a Tibetan flag in front of the gate.

4. From Barista Coffee and More – The Cozy Non-Corporate

For those of us who’d rather avoid a corporate joint when there are so many interesting local options available, but secretly crave the familiar, classic atmosphere typical of a Starbucks or Coffee Bean, you’ll appreciate this place. 

While not actually corporate at all, From Barista instantly gives off a coffee-shop-classic warmth and coziness, in a non-assuming, roomy interior. There’s a huge coworking table in the middle of the cafe, and smaller tables, some with sofa chairs, lining the walls and windows.

There’s usually a steady stream of people coming in and out, and there are plenty on the same page as you who are sticking around to work or study. 

Another thing I love about this place is the neighborhood it’s situated in. It has distinctly hipster vibes, with seemingly barren streets that are littered with fun surprises! 

Try it out: str. 26-30, ul. “Bacho Kiro” – just head north on ul. Georgi S. Rakovski, and it’ll take you down a hill. The walk is about 20 minutes from the center. Hours are 7:30 am – 8:00 pm. 

PRO TIP: When you’re done working, you’ve gotta cross the street to Skaptabara. They’ve got great craft beers and burgers! 

From Barista is super cozy with plenty of spaces for coworking

5. Sun Moon – The Fresh Air Foody

Ahh, deep breath.

How pleasant is this? A table outside, absorbing some sweet, sweet sunshine.

Thank god for Sun Moon. This is your destination when you need some fresh air, and they take nature (and food) seriously. 

They’re an organic, locally sourced vegetarian cafe that delivers some high quality food and caffeine to their loyal guests. I loved to sit here with an appetite and order a long, slow meal to enjoy while pluggin’ away. 

There are multiple locations, and at each one there are ample tables for outdoor seating. If you go to the main location, called Sun Moon Alabin, the outdoor seating is under a leafy canopy that let’s in select areas of sunshine, and shades others. 

At another location, on the five corners, the tables are totally open, and ready to let the sunshine pour over their busily working visitors. They also have ample indoor seating, with big tables and comfortable chairs.  

Try it out: The locations I mentioned are: Sofia, ul. “Alabin” 22 (the main location) and ul. “6-ti Septemvri” 39 (the five corners). And regarding the hours, which they don’t define exactly, I can tell you that I’ve been there as early as 7:30 am, and seen a crowd there as late as 10:00 pm. So it’s pretty safe to say they’ll be open whenever you stop by. 

PRO TIP: While they do serve croissants and other pastries for breakfast, the full kitchen doesn’t open until 12:30. At that time they offer a Daily Menu, which is freshly created each day by their chefs. 

Sun Moon Alabin has ample outdoor seating, complete with greenery and shade.

Sun Moon Five Corners gets plenty of sunlight on their outdoor tables

Work Hard, Have Fun!

As you can see, Sofia is ripe with choices for you and your working needs. You’ll be blown away by the consistent quality of the Wifi and excellent coffee virtually anywhere you go. 

I had an awesome time wandering around trying out new places, and I know you will, too.

So let your feelings flow, and let the vibes of these cafes carry you to your own personal working heaven, you savvy laptop toter, you!