“Sofia is on the edge of becoming glamorous yet still remaining dangerous and rugged, which is what I like about it. It's like a mix of Athens, Istanbul and Berlin,” said Julian Dainov, a Bulgarian-born, Berlin-based fashion and lifestyle expert, highlighting the city's expanding creative crowd in recent years.
The city is truly a creative hub for independent artists, jewellery and fashion designers, with its streets lined with small ateliers, galleries and art spaces. While Vitosha Boulevard, the capital's main commercial strip, seems to attract the most tourists, for a more authentic experience of the city's shopping delights we recommend exploring some of its lesser known areas.
In the heart of downtown, Shishman Street is just 10 blocks long but is packed with creative businesses. Testa Gallery showcases jewelry and art by Bulgarian and international artists and designers, and next door is No8 Design Shop, a concept store with exquisite homewares and gifts from around Europe. I always frequent The Beautecary, an elegant marketplace for high-end, clean beauty brands.
If you're dying for Balenciaga or Celine, pop into ALL U RE, an iconic concept store stocking top-notch clothing and accessories, and if that's not enough, Brunello Cucinelli and Emporio Armani are just across the street.
But the area where I spent the most time wandering was Kvartar, Sofia’s art district. Located between Maria Luisa, Slivnica, Knyaz Aleksandar Dondukov and Rakošovki boulevards, it’s home to dozens of art studios, independent shops of all kinds, bars and coffee shops.
Originally from Sofia, jewellery designer Viktor Pavlov has degrees in drawing and metalsmithing and works out of a small atelier on Vesret Street. Inspired by the natural world, his jewellery has a delicate yet robust feel, and he infuses it with a contemporary aesthetic to give it a modern look.
Further up the road is Art.E, a cosy boutique selling handmade porcelain and ceramics. Just around the corner, Sito Studio specialises in printmaking and combines a shop with an educational space for workshops and classes, while book lovers won't want to miss Mahala Bookstore, which boasts a fantastic selection of hard-to-find English-language books and magazines.
