Article & Journal Resources

Sofia Echo - Bulgaria

You’re not alone. Christmas gift shopping vexes most people. That’s why we’re here – to help, and to do the research for you. All you have to do, then, is put your leva to good use.

For food gifts and party assistance, Dar ot bogovete (Gift from the Gods) is heaven. In addition to gourmet deli sandwiches and catering, you can also buy... cheeses; French pates; Italian olive oils, Balsamic vinegars and pasta sauces; fresh and dry Italian pastas; French and Italian wines; specialty deli meats and other goodies, and food accessories (17 Cherni Vruh Blvd, tel: 866 20 04; 102 Bulgaria Blvd, Business Centre Bellissimo, tel: 854 86 86).

Also of interest, particularly for fans of la dolce vita, is I Sensi (12 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd, tel: 980 85 04), open 9am to 9pm every day, with possibly shorter hours on Sundays. It’s like walking into a high-class market in Italy.

For wines, liquors, cigars, accessories and expert staff, try Cheers, which has three locations in Sofia (59 Vassil Levski Blvd, tel: 987 12 72; 14 Tsar Osvoboditel, tel: 986 18 56; 116 GS Rakovski, tel: 981 27 29).

There are also La Cave, which specialises in French wine imports, (59 Dimitar Hadjikotsev, tel: 866 05 06, www.lacave-bg.com); and Delli (6 Golo Burdo, tel: 868 39 72). And there is a new wine shop off of Dondoukov Boulevard, called Vinopolis (8 Bacho Kiro Str, open every day 10am to 9pm; tel: 987 77 96).

Because life in Bulgaria is like a box of chocolates, such make a desirable gift to give. The Jeff de Bruges shop in Mall of Sofia probably has the best chocolates in the country, though the Jodier chocolatiers (www.chocolatehouse-bg.com; in Sofia: Lozenets, 27 Nikola Vaptsarov Blvd, tel: 962 20 82; 15 Khan Kroum near Malkite Pette Kyusheta; SkyCity Shopping Centre; in Bourgas: 36 Vuzrazhdane Str /Kiril i Metodii Square/, tel: 089/ 892 52 95; in Rousse: 21 Raiko Daskalov Str, tel: 088/ 971 47 39) come a close second.

For chocolates and some French-inspired pastries, stores in the 100 Grama Sladki family hit the spot (100gr-sladki.com; in Sofia: 34 Maragidik Str, tel: 846 72 12; 18a Angel Kunchev Str, tel: 088/ 622 62 66; 459 Atanas Moskov Blvd /Business Park Sofia/; 30 Vassil Levski Blvd, tel: 987 66 77; 2 Malyovitsa Str, tel: 986 52 42; Radisson Hotel, 4 Narodno Subranie Sq, tel: 980 18 17). There is also a Leonidas shop at 107 Rakovski Str, open Monday to Friday 10.30am to 7.30pm.

For remarks like “Where did you ever find that? It’s spiffy!”, check out some of the unique, arty stores on Tsar Shishman Street (the one behind the Radisson Hotel) and around Doctors’ Garden (streets/shops here to particularly note: Gri Gri on Assen Zlatarov Street, two random shops on Shipka Street, a few more on San Stefano and on the lower part of Krakra). Note that the stores tend to open later, about 11am, and don’t always keep consistent hours.

Malls do keep consistent hours: City Center Sofia (10am to 10pm every day), Mall of Sofia (December 17 to 23, 10am to 11pm; December 24, 10am to 6pm), SkyCity Shopping Centre (10am to 10pm every day).

But, of course, Traditzia remains one of the best locations for quality, hand-made traditional Bulgarian crafts, and your leva go to a good cause (36 Vassil Levski Blvd, tel: 981 77 65, www.traditzia.bg).

Irina Sardareva makes absolutely fabulous, one-of-a-kind knitwear – ponchos, sweaters, gloves… and designer hats (Sofia, 44 Vladaiska Str, tel: 852 66 20).

Original street art-inspired graphic designs find homes on alternative lifestyle clothing at Antistar (at Angel Kunchev and Parchevich streets, www.antistar.biz). Most of what is there is from Bulgarian artists. The skate/snow-inspired shop Park (46 Gurko, tel: 980 09 99) would give any male under 30 a rush. Right across from it is the somewhat eccentric-style French women’s clothing store Cop.Copine (tel: 980 24 61). Awesome. For vinyl, DJ equipment and music, Electrika at 16 Pirotska Str has a fabulous selection. There’s also 38, another vinyl/LP store (38 Ivan Vazov Str). A body piercing shop called Dark Moon (33 Han Asparuh, tel: 980 26 82) offers something alternative as well.

Outlet shopping seems the latest buzz, and the side streets around Vitosha Boulevard are full of shops selling designer labels at reduced prices. Most of them are obviously last year’s items or older, which, in the States, you can pick up for a fraction of what people are trying to sell them at here... Still, if the articles are genuine, one has a certain guarantee of quality. We particularly like MeRci designer outlet (35 Solounska Str). They have a (albeit limited) selection of ladies’, men’s and children’s wear as well as accessories and home decor from the US.

Further down Solounska, towards Slaveikov Square is a small square, Raiko Daskalov Square, that hides a couple of shops worth visiting especially if looking for presents. SSG – Sea of Silver & Gold, as the name suggests, is a jewellery shop that features the work of several Bulgarian designers and has a reputation for quality diamonds.

Just next door is Carousel, which is basically a shop for collectors of figurines: Harry Potter, the Simpsons, Disney characters and more. Definitely worth a browse if looking for something for older children.

A bit of eclecticism, traditional woollen blankets, imitation designer labels and home-made rakiya can be found at Zhenski Pazar (Ladies’ Market), located in the centre of Sofia on Boulevard Stefan Stambolov (between Ekzarh Yosif Street and Slivnitsa Boulevard, off of Maria Louisa Boulevard). It tends to kick off at about 10am, and turn in for the night around sundown, or 5pm; the stall holders set their own hours. Around this area are a number of Arabic shops, selling Arabic food products (spices, sweets, pita bread, canned things, dried beans, real couscous) and, for a very nice gift, houka pipes, aka nargiles, and tobacco.

To actually make those New Year’s resolution happen, consider subscriptions to places like Maleevi Tennis Club, which offers much more than just racket and ball (Nikola Vaptsarov Boulevard, tel: 962 22 88, www.maleevaclub.com).

And, gift certificates to a spa centre or membership to a cultural institute’s library would be appreciated by anybody. Sometimes, it’s nice to relax.