Bulgaria's Black Sea eateries face price hikes as tourists turn to supermarkets

Tourists along Bulgaria's Black Sea coast are opting to shop at supermarkets and prepare their own meals as restaurant prices surge. Consumer Zlata Dimitrova told Nova TV that a Greek salad now costs about 40 lev (≈21 €) and mussels with wine around 20 €, forcing a family of four to spend 300‑350 € per day on food. She blamed the state for lacking a plan to curb price speculation after the euro was introduced.

Emili Kolarov, chair of the national restaurant association, said the trend is not new but has intensified with higher living costs. He noted that restaurants cannot set prices centrally and that market forces and competition determine pricing. Kolarov added that many establishments now target fewer customers with higher mark‑ups to cover rising operational expenses.