The Best Boutique Places to Stay in Sofia, Bulgaria

For your next Euro break, look no further than Sofia. It’s super affordable and has great architecture and enough convivial bars to hop through over a long weekend. It’s also home to the colourful and leafy Borisova Gradina and the lively Slaveykov Square. To help plan your trip, here’s our pick of the best boutique hotels in the capital of Bulgaria – bookable on Culture Trip.
Sofia has a quaint, folksy streak, too – look out for locals, clad in embroidered dresses, dancing in the square beside the Ivan Vazov National Theatre. When looking for a place to stay, take advantage of the city’s great value hospitality and crash in style at a boutique hotel – from slick, minimalist rooms in the city centre to classically chic digs with an on-site spa.
Hotel 36
Boutique Hotel

This sharp, minimalist base is tastefully but simply decorated – think exposed brick walls, black anglepoise lamps and grey fabric headboards. It’s a five-minute walk from central Vitosha Boulevard, and some of its rooms have swirling wrought-iron balconies on which you can sit and watch passers-by. A chic little cafe downstairs sends you on your way for the day, complete with strong coffee and a continental breakfast.
Viko Apart Hotel
Hotel

Fancy living it up like Sofia’s jet-setter crowd? These glossy apartments are the place to do it. Each one features pitch-perfect decor, generous living spaces and all the perks of a hotel, including a minibar, room service, slippers and a hairdryer. Book either the spacious deluxe, superior or president option, complete with an oven, hobs and a washing machine, for extended stays.
R34 Boutique Hotel
Hotel

There’s a young, trendy vibe at the R34 Boutique Hotel, with its industrial-chic styling, bric-a-brac stuffed bar and 24/7 check-in. Rooms feel huge for a city pad, with whitewashed brick and forest-green feature walls, softened by thick rugs and sofa-stuffed nooks, and the odd ceramic cactus. It’s surrounded by bars and restaurants and just as handy for the sights – it’s a short walk from the Serdika II metro stop.
Arena di Serdica Boutique Hotel
Boutique Hotel, Luxury

Sense Hotel Sofia
Hotel

A cloud of suspended, liquid-looking metal blobs greets you at the entrance of the first design hotel in Sofia. At the Sense Hotel, rooms feature architectural flair – think floor-to-ceiling windows framing the domes, spires and treetops adorning the city. Get high and go low to see the best of it – in the glass-fronted, sheltered rooftop restaurant and the luxurious basement spa with its pool lit by pillar candles.
Sofia Residence
Boutique Hotel

If you love a bit of cosy character – and don’t mind a touch of chintz – the Sofia Residence, with its silky upholstery, oil paintings and fireplaces, will add lustre to your city experience. A bijou bistro serves steak tartare and salads with a well-curated range of Italian and Bulgarian wines, and there’s even a mini spa on-site, complete with a sauna and a treatment room where you can indulge in a traditional honey massage.
Antim Boutique Apartments
Hotel
There are no frills and no hidden extras at Antim Boutique Apartments; each one features Ikea-esque pine furniture, a self-catering kitchenette and a living area. The two-bedroom option is of top value for families or groups of friends. You’re just north of the city centre, but you may have to hop on the metro to find the best nightlife and sights. There’s a front desk, but as it’s not staffed at all times, these apartments will suit independent travellers best.
Meg-Lozenetz Hotel
Hotel

This low-key, affordable guesthouse is in south Sofia, near the outdoorsy Yuzhen Park, where the city’s jazz festival takes place. While it’s out of the tourist centre, the Meg-Lozenetz Hotel is only a 20-minute walk from it and has a simple, traditional feel – think upholstered headboards, gilded mirrors and red carpets. It’s old-fashioned in the best way possible, complete with a hearty breakfast, hands-on service and airport pickups available on request.
Art Hotel Simona
Hotel

Lime-green curtains, oversize seagull murals, wall-mounted bamboo sticks and incongruous Marilyn Monroe portraits – the decor may be eclectic at this art hotel, but it’s never boring. On the west side of town, a metro ride away from attractions and the nightlife-packed Studentski Grad, it has a pleasant little bistro specialising in grilled meats and seafood. Meanwhile, the triple and quadruple rooms cater to groups of budget travellers as well as couples.
Les Fleurs Boutique Hotel
Hotel, Boutique Hotel

The arresting glass facade of Les Fleurs Boutique Hotel, adorned by a chunky flower motif, means it’s always easy to find your way back. This floral theme continues in the interior, from luxurious embroidered headboards to an eye-catching mosaic-tiled staircase. Mood lighting and blush colours make rooms a romantic rather than trendy place to be, and its location on central Vitosha Boulevard, close to many restaurants and bars, is spot on.
Crystal Palace Boutique Hotel
Hotel, Boutique Hotel

The Crystal Palace Boutique Hotel lies in the heart of Sofia, near Sofia University, but you wouldn’t guess it when you arrive here. It sits adjacent to the lovely Doctors’ Garden, and the area is surprisingly quiet. The hotel’s old-world wooden style juxtaposes nicely with its contemporary design.
Maria Angelova has contributed additional reporting to this article.
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!


Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.


KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.