3 Best Restaurants in Bratislava, Slovakia

It may look unassuming from the street, but step inside and it becomes immediately apparent why this is considered one of Europe's most beautiful cafés. The walls and ceilings throughout the interior are plastered in majestic Renaissance-style frescoes, while seemingly every nook and cranny of the old building is filled with antiques, some dating back to the 16th century. It's such a gorgeous interior, there's an entrance fee (€10 per person), although this does include a coffee and a cake. Fortunately the dining experience measures up to the decor, with bone china tea service and elegant patisserie.

In recent years, Bratislava has been taken over by ice cream stores, and today it's hard to find an Old Town street without a high-quality gelato option. But if you have to choose only one scoop while you're in town, opt for Koun (pronounced "cone"). Run by Barbara Szalaiova, who studied the art of gelato making in Italy, this award-winning gelateria has an ever-changing rota of flavors, with only eight of their hundreds of recipes available on any given day.

With dishes based on traditional Austro-Hungarian recipes, this well-located café and restaurant makes a pleasant stop for lunch or dinner. Expect everything from traditional Austrian schnitzel and tafelspitz (boiled beef served with minced apples) to Hungarian beef goulash and somlói galuska (sponge trifle), as well as Slovakian specialties like halušky (small potato dumplings with sheep cheese, sautéed bacon, and sour cream). The interior is classy but cozy, and you can sit out on the tree-shaded terrace most of the year.