Words Steph WadeImages Lucy Deverall
With a rich history, versatile architecture, and restaurants, bars, and cafes spilling onto every corner, Sofia’s cultural potential is rising quickly, making it a hotspot for city breaks among discerning and trendy travelers.Once the capital of the Roman Empire, today’s Sofia is a modern, energetic, and youthful city, with renegades creating new scenes in art, design, food, fashion, music, and theater.
Enter the masterminds behind the contemporary boutique Junó Hotel Sofia, Rumi and Georgi Chopev, who always dreamed of creating a soulful spot where locals and guests alike can come together. The hotel is located in the heart of the city, and is pushing into new design and gastronomic territories with its striking interior architecture, farm-to-table restaurant, and chic but down-to-earth atmosphere.
Having just won the ‘Building of the Year’ award, Junó Hotel is the talk of the town. Together with Bulgarian designers and architects, Rumi and Georgi created a space using nature’s finest—wood, stone, brass, and natural fabrics. The result? Timeless interiors embracing local aesthetics that steer clear of trends. At the hotel restaurant Cookó Kitchen:Drinks, bonding over a shared passion for epic food and Bulgarian wines is a must. “Our love for great wines isn’t just a personal thing, it’s a joy we want to share with everyone, friends and guests alike,” gushes Rumi Chopev.
We met the stylish downtown natives on a sunny and cold weekend in Sofia, to chat about why the buzzing city is on many people’s must-visit list.
Rumi Chopev
Rumi: Sofia is a small city, and we knew each other vaguely for years. With time we realized how much we are alike, and how we complement each other. In Bulgaria, there is an expression: “The pot rolled over and found its spot”. We are the embodiment of this saying, and from day one, we’ve been practically inseparable.
Rumi: The big idea was to make a place where guests feel at home. Let me spill the tea on our unique reception, or should I say the absence of a regular one, with a cozy sofa where you can unwind with a good book and a cup of tea from our fancy tea collection, or laze in the quiet, zen courtyard. Practical solutions, meticulous details, and soft colors define our inviting space, beckoning guests for breakfast, dinner, coffee, or a post-work cocktail.
Georgi: The wide-leaf Melnik vine is an old local grown in the town of Melnik, the smallest town in Bulgaria. It’s a botanical species only found in South-West Bulgaria around Sandanski, Melnik, Petrich, and the villages of Khrsovo, Marikostinovo, and Kapatovo, where our in-room wine originates. It has a specific character and aroma; strawberries and white cherries, and sometimes hints of tobacco, dry mint, and black pepper.
Rumi: For restaurants: Cosmos, Pure, Hamachi, and The House with the Clock. An obligatory stop after dinner would be Sense Rooftop bar, the view and atmosphere are worth it and there’s young people from all over the world. For dancing, go to Slon—a cool bar located in the beautiful building of the Military Club. For something more underground, try bar Petel (meaning rooster). It’s literally under the ground and you need to find the hidden key to get in.
Rumi: There’s four temples from different religions less than 300 meters apart. The Sofia Synagogue is the largest in southeastern Europe and one of the largest in Europe; the Banya Bashi Mosque dates back to the 16th century; then there’s St. Joseph Catholic Cathedral, which is the largest Roman Catholic church in Sofia. Lastly, St. Nedelya Church goes back to the 10th century, and has a tragic place in Bulgarian history due to a devastating terrorist attack in 1925.
Georgi: The Klek shops, or squat shops, are a big hit—they first appeared in the 90s to sell goods such as alcohol, cigarettes, snacks, and soft drinks. Many wise owners of basements converted them into small shops, whose ground-floor windows face the street at knee height. They’re popular in the city center, honestly a little ugly, and have a sprinkle of humor to them.
Rumi: Roman Wall Farmers Market. You’ll always find us there hunting for treasures: seasonal fruits and greens, forest mushrooms, Bulgarian yogurt, hand-made cheese, all things that pass through the hands of the small producer with a lot of love and attention.
Rumi Chopev
Rumi: There are many parks and green spaces in Sofia. The four seasons are so different and beautiful. Vitosha Mountain is a magical place, a step away from the dynamics of the city; it’s our little escape. When the weather permits, we take a long walk to clear our heads and fill our lungs with fresh air.
Georgi: La Capannina. It’s a small, sophisticated restaurant with impeccable Italian cuisine and service. We have been going for more than 20 years. It is located on the yellow cobblestones square, opposite the National Assembly building and offers a view of the Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
Rumi: In general, we prefer new things with new energy, rather than those with someone’s history. If we talk about a treasure hunt, Georgi is all about the wines, but they don’t stay long! I used to work in the fashion industry so I unsurprisingly have an affinity for handbags.
Rumi: The things that Georgi creates I would call somewhat extravagant; both Sense Hotel and Junó go beyond the general vision of the city. Maybe the winery and party space in the Junó parking lot, two floors underground. I don’t consider myself extravagant, unless you count that I try to fight my fears with extreme sports! Recently I jumped 4000m and took a guided hike on the edge of a precipice.
Rumi: Positive, detailed, dedicated.
Georgi: Young at heart, visionary, futurist. Oops, that was five words!
Rumi Chopev
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