Slovak
Slovenská Reštaurácia
Hviezdoslavovo Námestie 20
Tel: 5443-6442
www.hoteldukla.sk
An authentically Slovak dining experience minus the dodgy service, the Slovak Restaurant remains a favorite for entertaining out-of-town visitors with the award-winning wild boar and venison (not to mention the borovička and Slovak Tokaj).
St Hubert Restaurant
Hotel Dukla
Dulovo Námestie 1
Tel: 5596-8550
www.hoteldukla.sk
If you like game, both the menu and the interior will hit the spot. Feast on delicacies such as creamed goat cheese, pheasant with couscous, and medallions of wild boar in a honey-mustard glaze. The walls are decorated with hunting trophies including wolf and bear skins, dozens of herbivore skulls and one sad little fox. Rated the best hotel restaurant in Slovakia in 2005 by the Trend business magazine.
French
Francúzska Reštaurácia
Devín Hotel
Riečna 4
Tel: 5998-5852
Everything you would expect from formal dining in a top French restaurant, the winner of best restaurant in Slovakia in 2004. Loads of elbow room, elegance and calm.
Ludwig Restaurant
Ventúrska 7
Tel: 5464-8284
www.ludwig.sk
A casually elegant restaurant, Ludwig is a favourite of those looking
for quality without the flash. It is
set back from the street in a covered walkway, in one of Bratislava's oldest buildings. Non-smokers' rights are
rigorously defended, with the smoking section being located in a different part of the building. The gaspacho,
mussels, tiger prawns, venison and lamb are particularly recommended.
If Ludwig suffers from anything
it is a shortage of space to seat its guests.
Italian
Au Café
Viedenská cesta
Tel: 6252-0355
www.au-café.sk
Au Café is the reincarnation of a coffee shop that stood in the same place in 1827. Situated against the backdrop of the massive and beautiful Sad Janka Kráľa park on the south side of the Danube River, Au Café has a relaxed feel, and with its terrace, kids' playground and panoramic view of the Old Town, it can't be beat on a sunny day. Its Italian menu attracts many business and political regulars.
Paparazzi
Laurinská 1
Tel: 5464-7971
www.paparazzi.sk
Paparazzi is owned by the same people who operate the UFO and Peoples restaurants. This restaurant has retained a solid diplomatic and upper civil servant clientele, due as much to its ambience as to its food. The Italian menu is overseen by an Italian executive chef who makes regular trips to Slovakia.
Seafood
Caribics
Žižkova 1/A
Tel: (02) 5441-8334
www.caribics.sk
Bratislava has few seafood restaurants, but you'd be unlikely to find any better than Caribic's even if the city were awash in fruits de mer. Co-founded by a native of the Dominican Republic, Caribic's resembles a Caribbean seafood restaurant in both décor and its fresh fish menu. Sommeliers Otto Chrapčiak and Miroslav Ondruš have assembled a superb wine list - the only non-Caribbean aspect of this riverside culinary catch.
Tokyo Sushi Bar
Panská 27
Tel: 5443-4982
The Tokyo serves both Japanese and Thai cuisine, with sushi the mainstay of the menu. The staff is Slovak, but knowledgeable enough about the 12 varieties served. Still, the Thai dishes are superb, especially the Tom Yum soup and just about anything served in coconut milk.
