Bulgarian drinks: rakia, wine, boza and where to taste them in Varna
Rakia, mastika, Mavrud wine, boza, ayran and mountain tea explained, with strengths, local habits and wine tastings in and near Varna.
Bulgaria’s signature drink is rakia, a fruit brandy of about 40% (Wikipedia) that locals sip slowly with a shopska salad before the main course, after a toast of “Nazdrave!”. Around Varna you should also try local white wine, the anise spirit mastika and the non-alcoholic classics boza and ayran. For a tasting, book the urban winery Wine Odessos in the city or take a short trip to a winery north or west of Varna.
What is the national drink of Bulgaria?
Rakia. It is distilled from grapes (grozdova), plums (slivova) or apricots (kaysieva), and many families still make their own in autumn. Shop bottles are normally around 40% ABV (Wikipedia); home-made rakia is often much stronger, so go easy when a host offers you “our own”. Bulgarians do not knock it back: it is a small glass for the salad course, not a shot.
The other strong local spirit is mastika, an anise drink similar to ouzo that turns milky with water or ice. Mix it with mint liqueur and you get an Oblak (“cloud”), a summer favourite on the coast.
Which Bulgarian wines should I try?
Bulgarians have made wine since Thracian times. Around Varna you are in the Black Sea region, which holds about 30% of the country’s vines (Wikipedia) and is known for crisp whites: Dimyat, Riesling, Muscat and Sauvignon Blanc. For reds, ask for Mavrud from Thrace or a Melnik wine from the far south-west. Many restaurants pour local wine by the glass, the cheapest way to compare.
What do Bulgarians drink without alcohol?
- Boza: thick, sweet and slightly sour, sold in bakeries next to banitsa.
- Ayran: yogurt thinned with water; perfect with grilled meat in summer.
- Mountain tea (mursalski chai): a herbal tea locals swear by in winter.
- Turkish-style coffee: still served in some traditional cafés next to espresso.
Where can I taste wine in and near Varna?
The list includes one urban winery, one new city-centre restaurant and wine bar and three wineries within a day trip. Always book ahead: small wineries are working farms, and tastings are prepared for you. The city’s official tourism site also lists Chateau Boshnakov (Ezerovo) and Zharava (Mlada Gvardia) if you want to explore further.
How to choose a tasting
- No car, little time: Wine Odessos, reachable by city bus.
- Half a day with the beach: Varna Winery, close to Golden Sands and Albena.
- Nature plus wine: combine Prisoe with the Stone Forest (Pobiti Kamani).
- A full day or a weekend: Salla Estate, with lunch, horses and rooms.
Drinking responsibly and taking bottles home
Never drive after a tasting: book a taxi, a tour or a sober driver. Eat while you drink and keep water on the table, as locals do. If you fly home with bottles, check your airline’s and your country’s allowances first. For more gift ideas see what Bulgaria is famous for, and for toasting manners read Bulgarian customs and etiquette.
Sources
The list 12
✨ Picked for the current time and weather in Varna
Rakia✨ Good right now
Distilled from grapes (grozdova), plums (slivova) or apricots (kaysieva); shop bottles are normally about 40% ABV, home-made ones stronger. Order a small glass with a shopska salad and sip it slowly before the main course.
Best for: First toast of the evening
Mastika & Oblak✨ Good right now
Mastika is an anise spirit of at least 47% ABV that turns milky with water and is served ice-cold. Mixed with mint liqueur it becomes an Oblak ("cloud"), a classic summer drink on the coast.
Best for: Hot summer evenings by the sea
Mavrud, Melnik & Dimyat wines✨ Good right now
Try Mavrud, a dark red grape from Thrace, Melnik reds from the south-west, and dry Dimyat, a white typical of the Black Sea region around Varna. Ordering by the glass is the easiest way to compare.
Best for: Dinner, gifts to take home
Zagorka & Kamenitza beer✨ Good right now
Zagorka (lager, 5% ABV) and Kamenitza (Light, 4.4% ABV) are the big Bulgarian brands you will see on every beach-bar menu. Ask about local craft taps in the centre too.
Best for: Beach afternoons, football nights
Boza✨ Good right now
Thick, sweet-sour and made from cooked grains, with usually 0.5–1% alcohol. Buy a bottle at a bakery and have it with warm banitsa for the classic Bulgarian breakfast.
Best for: Breakfast, curious tasters
Ayran✨ Good right now
Bulgarian yogurt thinned with water and lightly salted; non-alcoholic and very refreshing. It goes perfectly with kebapche or kyufte from a grill.
Best for: Hot days, families, non-drinkers
Mountain tea (mursalski chai)✨ Good right now
A mountain herb (Sideritis scardica) brewed as a mild, fragrant tea. Locals drink it in winter and buy dried bunches at markets; it makes a light souvenir.
Best for: Cold or rainy days
Wine Odessos✨ Good right now
A small city winery showing off the wines of the north-east, with a one-hour tour and tasting of three wines in Bulgarian, English or French. Open Mon–Fri 9:00–18:00 and Sat 9:00–14:00; send an email, message or call ahead. Buses 14, 20, 118, 148 and 209 stop nearby.
Best for: Tasting without a car
ul. Dimitar Donchev-Doktora 1↗ WebsiteMaestro meat & wine✨ Good right now
A newly opened restaurant and wine bar in a historic building in the centre, at the former Time for Wine address, with European cuisine and live music. An option for Bulgarian wine with dinner rather than a formal tasting.
Best for: Dinner with wine, couples
ul. Bratya Shkorpil 2↗ WebsiteVarna Winery✨ Good right now
A large winery 2 km from the coast with its own vineyards (Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Muscat, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc) that also makes rakia. It has a tasting room and shop; 90-minute tastings are listed at €7.67 or €10.23.
Best for: Half-day trip from the resorts
Salla Estate✨ Good right now
A boutique estate founded in 2010 with its own vineyards, a horse-riding base and a restaurant. Choose a vineyard walk with three wines and lunch, a basic cellar tasting or a full wine weekend. The estate says its Riesling 2023 was named best Bulgarian wine of 2025.
Best for: A full day out or a weekend
Blaskovo village↗ Website
Frequently asked questions
What is boza?
A thick, sweet-sour drink made from cooked grains such as millet or wheat. It has very little alcohol (usually under 1%) and Bulgarians drink it with banitsa at breakfast.
Can you do wine tasting in Varna?
Yes. Wine Odessos, an urban craft winery in Vladislavovo, runs a one-hour tour with three wines on request; send an email or call ahead.
Which winery near Varna can I visit on a day trip?
Varna Winery near General Kantardzhievo, 2 km from the coast, and Prisoe near the Stone Forest both offer tastings; Salla Estate in Blaskovo, about 60 km away, adds lunch and vineyard walks.
Which Bulgarian wine grapes should I try?
Mavrud, a dark red from Thrace; Melnik reds from the south-west; and dry Dimyat, a white typical of the Black Sea region.
