One More Bar in Sofia, Bulgaria

One More Bar is a long-running bar and restaurant at 12 Tsar Ivan Shishman Street in central Sofia, occupying an older house with a garden rather than a purpose-built nightlife space. It works well for travellers who want a place that changes character through the day: coffee and food earlier on, then cocktails, wine and a livelier bar atmosphere at night. Current 2026 listings still show the venue operating at the Shishman Street address. The main limitation is that its identity spans café, restaurant and late-night bar, so the experience depends heavily on when you arrive.

Sofia’s official tourism site describes the building as a historic house adapted for hospitality, with original rooms and furniture combined with more contemporary bar elements. The garden is an important part of the layout and is especially useful in warmer weather, although the official tourism listing notes that outdoor use ends earlier than the interior. That contrast between domestic architecture and busy central-street nightlife is one reason the venue has endured: it does not feel like a generic single-room cocktail bar.

The location is excellent for visitors already exploring central Sofia. Tsar Ivan Shishman Street is a lively corridor close to the National Assembly, the Alexander Nevsky area, Sofia University and several museums and churches. Visit Sofia gives the coordinates as 42.692451, 23.330702 and lists nearby bus and trolleybus connections. In practice, most travellers staying in the centre can reach the bar on foot, while St. Kliment Ohridski and Sofia University transport connections are also within the wider area.

The current offer is broader than drinks alone. Tripadvisor’s actively maintained listing classifies One More Bar as serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch, late-night food and drinks, with a full bar, wine and beer. The official tourism page also describes morning hot drinks, croissants and later food service. Menus and individual dishes can change, so it is better to treat those categories as evidence of an all-day format rather than assume a particular item will be available. The bar remains most distinctive after dark, when cocktails and music become more central.

Cocktails are a major part of the venue’s reputation, and the current Tripadvisor listing specifically presents the bar around curated cocktails. Historical and current secondary descriptions also emphasize wine, mixed drinks and a transition from quieter daytime use to a livelier evening atmosphere. Visitor reviews are subjective, so they should not be converted into claims about guaranteed service quality. What is better supported is the format: tables in several rooms, a garden, bar service and a schedule that extends well after midnight.

Current published hours are broadly consistent. Tripadvisor lists Monday through Saturday from 09:00 to 02:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 02:00. Other Sofia directories show roughly 08:30 to 02:30. The difference is small enough that the safest practical advice is to use the current Tripadvisor schedule for planning and avoid arriving right at opening or closing without checking directly. Holiday hours and private events can change normal service.

A daytime visit might last 45 minutes to an hour for coffee or a light meal, while an evening drink can easily extend to two hours or more. There is no fixed sightseeing duration because this is a hospitality venue, not an attraction with a set route. The best time depends on intent. Arrive earlier for the garden and a calmer meal; arrive later if you want the bar atmosphere and music. On warm evenings, outdoor seating can be popular, so a reservation may be useful for groups.

Cost also depends on how the venue is used. A coffee stop, lunch and a late-night cocktail session are different budgets, and current sources do not provide a stable price list that should be frozen into a travel article. The useful planning point is that One More Bar is not simply a walk-up drinks counter: table service, food, cocktails and longer stays can raise the total spend. Visitors who are price-sensitive should look at the current menu or ask before ordering premium cocktails or wine.

Accessibility information is incomplete. Tripadvisor lists seating and table service but does not provide enough detail to verify step-free entry, accessible toilets or movement between the different rooms and garden. The older-house setting may introduce thresholds or level changes, but that should not be assumed without direct confirmation. Travellers with mobility requirements should contact the venue in advance, especially if they want garden seating or need a specific entrance arrangement.

One More Bar remains useful because it fits naturally into a day in central Sofia without demanding a special trip. It can be a daytime pause on Shishman Street, a pre-dinner cocktail stop or a late-night continuation after sightseeing and dinner. The house-and-garden setting gives it more character than a standard city-centre bar, but its broad schedule means timing matters. Choose the hour that matches the experience you want, and check current reservations and holiday hours before making it the fixed point of an evening.