Buy a Restaurant or Cafe in Bulgaria and Start a Business

Buying premises for a restaurant in Bulgaria means concluding a profitable deal. Along the coast, along motorways, in mountain resorts and large cities, restaurants, cafes, cafeterias, bars and coffee shops are in operation. Most have regular customers. Among the owners of dining establishments are professional businessmen, pensioners and people who have moved to Bulgaria and decided to start their own business.

The restaurant business in Bulgaria is one of the most developed and profitable. Cafes and coffee shops are full from morning onwards. Many locals are happy to meet up with friends over a cup of coffee, share news and get in the mood for the working day. During the day and in the evening, restaurants fill up with many tourists and holidaymakers. Dining establishments are especially popular on holidays and during the warm season. 

In response to existing demand, the Bulgarian commercial property market offers a large number of properties suitable for opening restaurants, cafes and bars. They differ in location, area, style, and the availability of furniture and children's corners.   
In order not to make a mistake in your choice, it is recommended to analyse all market offers with a reliable realtor. This will allow you to learn the intricacies of paperwork and the nuances of opening a restaurant business.

What to pay attention to

Before buying premises for a restaurant and opening a business, you need to take an important step – give space to emotions and imagination.
Intuition, imagination and emotions will allow you to picture the restaurant of your dreams and choose the best property. Draw it in your dreams, feel the mood and get down to choosing:

For a coffee shop or a small cafeteria, a small space of 50 to 80 sq. m. on the ground floor of a residential building, office building or hotel is suitable. Such a business requires cosiness, an intimate atmosphere, and the possibility of privacy with friends.

For a cocktail bar, we suggest paying attention to premises of 100 sq. m. or more in modern residential buildings. Good sound insulation will make it possible to play music without disturbing the locals. The bar may be located on the ground floor or on the top floors.

Important requirements for restaurants are large-size premises, high foot traffic, the presence of utility rooms for food preparation, toilets, and parking. A children's playground would be a plus.

Many visitors like to spend time on an open terrace. Therefore, particular attention should be paid to the possibility of arranging an area suitable for placing tables outdoors. 

Where to open a restaurant

You can buy premises for a restaurant or cafe in any city in Bulgaria. But the likelihood of receiving a stable income all year round is higher if you open an establishment in Sofia, Varna or Burgas. These cities are densely populated and have many students, so the investment will pay off very quickly. Moreover, the cost of good premises is by no means sky-high. A cafe-bar in the city centre, near the seaside park in Varna, 150 sq. m., next to the University of Economics, the Maritime University and a gym, costs 169,900 euros. And a fully equipped 150-seat restaurant in Varna, 185 sq. m., is on offer for only 179,000 euros. Another excellent investment is a cafeteria near the Varna Medical University – for 140,500 euros.

A new Italian restaurant in the very centre of Burgas, 220 sq. m., – for 280,000 euros. There are also smaller premises. For example, a cocktail bar in a new building in the very centre of Burgas, 105 sq. m., can be bought for 90,000 euros. 

A restaurant in the central part of Varna, 90 sq. m.,  is up for sale for 38,000 euros.

Decent profits are earned by restaurant owners in Sunny Beach, Saint Constantine and Helena, in Nessebar, Sveti Vlas and Byala. When buying premises, it should be taken into account that work here is seasonal in nature. In winter, establishments close, while in summer they serve thousands of customers.

The opposite situation applies at ski resorts in Borovets, Bansko and Pamporovo. The main influx of visitors is observed in winter. During the summer lull, most cafes and restaurants close. 

If you are not planning to become the owner of a chain of restaurants, it is better to buy premises not far from your place of residence. This will allow you to control the business more effectively.

The next point requiring attention is the location of the establishment. To attract a large number of customers, a restaurant should be located in the centre, at points popular with both tourists and locals. In Varna and Burgas these are the sea parks and pedestrian streets. In Sunny Beach, Sveti Vlas and Elenite – in areas where hotels and other entertainment venues are concentrated, in the coastal zone.  

When buying premises for a restaurant, several other factors contribute to a successful business.
Among them:

• The view from the windows and terraces. Many visitors choose establishments with a sea, mountain or city view. Buying commercial property for a restaurant with a view of drab houses, the roadway or rubbish may be a waste of money.
• Style. You can renovate and turn any property into a beautiful establishment. But sometimes it is easier to buy a ready-made restaurant maintained in a single style. By the way, Bulgarians are quite conservative and very fond of their national cuisine.
• Condition. The premises should be clean, with quality renovation and new, attractive furniture. Broken tables, damaged chairs, cracks in the glass and cobwebs cause irritation to customers and their refusal to return. Prices for commercial property in such condition may be low, but the costs of restoration, refurbishment and winning customers back will be high.
• Connection to utilities. A mandatory requirement is the supply of water, electricity and gas, and the possibility of concluding a rubbish removal contract. Without these, operation is impossible.

The Bulgaria Avenue real estate agency invites you to consider various commercial property options. Premises for restaurants, bars and cafeterias are offered in Varna and Burgas. Options for every budget and taste are available.