The number that carries it all 681 is not made up. It is not accidental.
681 is the year Bulgaria was born as a state — the year Khan Asparuh signed a treaty with Byzantium, and the country was recognized on the world map for the very first time.
When we were choosing the name, the answer was obvious. Not because we wanted something patriotic in form, but because we wanted something true in substance. 681 says everything we are — without explaining a thing.
We are a Bulgarian restaurant. We do not apologize for it. We are proud of it.
How it started The story began in London.
Four years in one of the world's most demanding cities for restaurants, with no financial backing and no culinary degree behind us — but with persistence and the conviction that Bulgaria deserves a better representation abroad.
Rakia wasn't just a shot at the end of the night. It was the beginning of the conversation. The wine — over 60 varieties solely from Bulgaria. The kitchen — honest, delicious, with zero compromise on the origin of the products.
681 in Sofia At home, on 21 Rumen Voyvoda St
The doors opened in 2023. And from day one, it was clear — Sofia was ready for this.
681 in Sofia is international cuisine with a Bulgarian accent. Food prepared with respect for both the ingredients and the people. A rakia bar with one of the richest selections in the city. And a space where art is present not just as decor, but as an equal participant in the atmosphere.
Family Business Behind 681 stands no corporation. Stands a family — with everything that means.
A dedication that isn't measured by working hours. Decisions made from the heart, not just by reason. When something isn't right, we notice it before you do. When something is good, we are genuinely happy. This cannot be simulated — and we believe our guests feel it.
Teodor Bakalov Born in Sofia. Obsessed with cooking.
Nobody taught me how to cook in school. I learned on my own — out of curiosity, through trial and error, and by watching people for whom food is a calling. Culinary arts became a passion long before it became a business. And that is exactly why the business works — because behind it stands passion, not just a plan.
I participated in Season 5 of Hell's Kitchen Bulgaria — and regardless of how my journey there ended, the show proved something important to me: that I can work under pressure and that I never compromise on quality.
When you are with us — you will find me. Behind the bar, in the kitchen, or at the table next to yours with a glass of good rakia.
Our Philosophy A good venue shouldn't have to choose.
-
Between warmth and quality. Between affordability and style. Between tradition and modernity. At 681, we do both — because one without the other is incomplete.
-
That the kitchen should tell a story, not just fill orders. And that the place where you feel welcome is the one you keep coming back to.
-
We believe that rakia is a culture, not a habit. That Bulgarian wine deserves to be discovered by the world.
Welcome to our place
Come to eat, to stay, to talk. With us. With each other. Perhaps with the artist whose painting hangs right next to your table.