Where to eat

Coliving's communal kitchens make shared cooking a natural part of the stay. Establish equipment and storage when booking, then bring the first evening's supper, breakfast and walking provisions. Ask which organised meals are running during your visit; keep enough in the kitchen for an evening when staying home wins.

Semkovo Hut is another meal enquiry on a walking day: +359 898 594 538. Its restaurant, buffet and tourist kitchen are useful when operating, but call before relying on lunch. The hut's pond and picnic shelters also make a fine place for the food you carried yourself.

Simple Bulgarian cooking close to home. The kitchen opens according to demand, so ask before setting out, especially when the resort is quiet. This is the Semkovo villa, uphill from Coliving around 42.04772° N, 23.52374° E, distinct from the similarly named Belitsa complex. Ask about card payment when ordering.

Another local option for Bulgarian food, best considered for lunch. Ask Coliving for the day's opening and directions, and carry cash. An easy nearby meal is a pleasure; discovering a closed kitchen after a long walk is less so.

Around 20 minutes on foot from Coliving, Bor is a useful call for Bulgarian and regional cooking. +359 886 565 455 / +359 885 590 540. Check that the kitchen is serving before walking over.

Fresh trout gives this stop on the Belitsa road its appeal, about 30 minutes by car from Coliving. The menu leans towards meat, but tarator, bean soup, fries, parlenka bread and salads give vegetarians a workable meal. The place also goes by Rayski Kat Hristiyana.

Find it: 42.00609° N, 23.55677° E. Call: +359 876 755 664 / +359 893 872 909. Its social contact name is RaiskiKatHristiyana.

A useful Belitsa choice for a group with different appetites, including vegetarians. Allow a little time with the Bulgarian menu; point to dishes, keep dietary requests clear and have the Bulgarian words ready. English may be limited.

Find it: near the municipality and museum area, around 41.95124° N, 23.55855° E, roughly 30 minutes by car from Coliving.

This is Belitsa's Ivan & Petar, west of the centre near 41.94862° N, 23.55384° E, rather than the Semkovo villa. Ask locally whether its restaurant is serving before making it your lunch stop.

Come for a relaxed trout lunch by the water. This fish-farm restaurant sits about 2 km from Belitsa towards Semkovo, in the Bel Kladenets / Belishka River area. You can enquire about having a catch cooked. It makes a good pause on a shopping day or the journey back uphill.

Find it: 41.95955° N, 23.54154° E. Call: +359 878 555 611; agree the entrance and kitchen hours. It is separate from the restaurant by the bear sanctuary.

Also called Pri Park za Mechki, this is the natural lunch pairing for a bear-sanctuary or Fun Park outing. Bulgarian dishes, charcoal grills and trout from a small pond suit a hungry group after time outside.

Find it: Andrianov Chark, about 10 km above Belitsa on the bear-park approach, near 42.02931° N, 23.57640° E. Book: +359 988 845 055, particularly outside the busiest visitor months.

Martini is the flexible answer to a shopping trip that has become lunchtime. Bulgarian dishes share the menu with pizza, pasta, salads and burgers, giving mixed groups and vegetarians room to manoeuvre. Tell the staff before the bill if you want to pay by card.

Find it: 3 Aleksa Sachkov Street, Belitsa. Book: +359 888 076 200. Ask about kitchen hours for an early or late meal.

A casual food stop in Belitsa town. Ask at the tourist office or Coliving for the current kitchen and location.

A casual food stop in Belitsa town. Ask at the tourist office or Coliving for the current kitchen and location.

A casual food stop in Belitsa town. Ask at the tourist office or Coliving for the current kitchen and location.

A casual food stop in Belitsa town. Ask at the tourist office or Coliving for the current kitchen and location.

A large mehana, Bulgarian dishes and live music give Ropchov Han a sociable evening mood. Salads and hot and cold starters can lead into a longer meal after the pools. Ask about music or celebrations if you want a quiet table.

7 Dvadeset i Vtora Street, Banya; +359 882 214 118. Open daily 11:00–00:00; ask about last kitchen orders.

Lunch beside the mineral pools saves another drive. Izgreva has a hundred-seat restaurant and summer garden, making it easy to turn a swim into a full afternoon.

1 Parva Street, Banya; +359 889 544 345, telephone enquiries 09:00–19:00. Ask separately about meal times and pool admission.

Home-style food, soups, salads and grills make Kancheto an everyday town lunch rather than an elaborate occasion. Eat here before buying provisions and heading back up the mountain.

10 Mehomiya Street, Razlog; +359 885 038 389. Plan for lunch and telephone first, particularly on Sunday.

At Deshka Kroteva's house, village cooking and hospitality are the attraction. Ask what she would like to prepare, give your dietary needs and leave space for stories, crafts or songs if you have arranged a longer visit. It fits especially well with nearby Dobarsko.

46 Parva Street, Gorno Draglishte; +359 886 436 708. Book ahead, specifying a meal-only visit or cooking experience, group size, language and agreed price.

Regional Bulgarian cooking, a traditional interior and views towards Pirin make this a straightforward lunch around the old church. A sheltered village table is welcome after a chilly walk.

Hotel–Tavern Dobarsko, visible on entering the village; +359 887 401 553. Reserve lunch as a day visitor, especially for a group or celebration weekend.

The restaurant at this riding and adventure property serves modern and traditional Bulgarian food, using some garden vegetables and ingredients from local farms. Arrange a meal with your Bachevo outing and give it time.

Strane locality, about 2 km beyond Bachevo; +359 887 139 331. Agree the approach, meal time and any activity together.

Bulgarian cooking comes with a choice of an indoor room, glazed panoramic space or outdoor terrace. Helier is a useful road-trip meal when exploring towards Yakoruda; leave enough time for lunch rather than trying to fit it into a tight train connection.

About 2 km outside Yakoruda on the road towards Bansko, near 42.01413° N, 23.64416° E. +359 889 203 985. Ask about kitchen hours and private events.

A strong choice for an old-town meal. Kapama combines meats, sauerkraut and rice; chomlek comes as a veal-shank casserole with vegetables. Baked beans, vegetable dips and cheese dishes give the rest of the table options. Ask about ingredients and portions before ordering generously.

1 Alexander Buynov Street; +359 888 795 970. Open daily 11:00–23:30, year-round. Telephone reservations are best made before 20:00.

A traditional tavern, wine cellar and wine bar make Molerite a choice for a long Bulgarian dinner or arranged tasting. The folklore programme adds another possible shape to the evening. Book the experience you want: a table, tasting and musical night are different arrangements.

41 Glazne Street; +359 887 844 944. Agree the programme, food and tasting price in advance.

At Hotel Famil, OSCAR combines regional ingredients with classic and more contemporary dishes, Bulgarian wines and spirits. The summer garden is an extra reason to linger in warm weather. Ask about meat-free choices when reserving.

1 Panayot Hitov Street; +359 885 229 676. Open 14:00–22:00.

Smoked barbecue, burgers and a bar atmosphere offer a break from tavern cooking. Ask about the evening's music if you want to make a night of it, and enquire about vegetarian choices for a mixed group.

15 Vardar Street; +359 897 749 982. Confirm that day's hours when booking.