Saborna 23

Saborna 23 is one of Plovdiv's more atmospheric dining rooms, set right on the line between the Old Town and Kapana, at Konstantin Stoilov Street 20 (sometimes listed as no. 27) — a short stroll from both the antique theatre and the creative quarter. The restaurant comes from the same team behind the much-loved Pavaj, and the DNA shows: a short, author-driven menu, careful plating, and a real sense of hosting rather than just serving. The kitchen works in a modern Balkan-and-Mediterranean direction, playing with Bulgarian, Serbian, Greek, Turkish and Albanian influences and reinterpreting them — signature dishes include a roasted-eggplant tartare with sheep cheese and "shrimp popcorn" with chili sriracha sauce, a cauliflower steak, lamb shashlik, a fish doner, and — for dessert — a baklava cheesecake that's become one of the most talked-about sweets in the city. The space is spread over three floors of the former Puldin ceremonial house, combined with pleasant summer terraces, and the interior balances modern restraint with the romance of the Old Town streets just outside. A wine list with real care, cocktails, and younger staff who know what they're recommending round things out. A natural pick for a long dinner with a date or friends, when you want something more considered than a casual Kapana bistro but without the stiffness of full fine dining.