New Year Escape 2018 – Day Three

Lacinka Bratislava

Bratislava trip – day three

So after sleeping in late on day two, we planned to wake up early and see stuff but it was lazy bones again as we staggered out for “brunch” at 12:30!  Kava.Bar was nearby and had been recommended to us, so we wandered there for some sustenance.

Bratislava new year kava Bar Brunch

We woke up after our coffee and fresh orange juice accompanied by a ham, cheese and pesto (nice surprise!) toastie, and a yoghurt with good amount of honey and chocolate granola.  It was €5.20 for each breakfast meal (you can also have a croissant and homemade jam with orange juice and coffee for €5.20 but they’d ran out by the time we got there!) so €10.40 in total and very tasty it was.

Modernist architecture was the theme for today, so off we wandered with our map.

Freedom Square Bratislava

The first tourist stop was Námestie Slobody AKA Freedom Square.  This is proper Communist era architecture. The fountain, called the Fountain of Union or Druzba (friendship), was the largest fountain in all of Bratislava, built in 1980 but it no longer flows today.  Seemingly the flower represents the Linden flower.

Freedom Square Bratislava

It’s an impressive space surrounded by some choice modernist architecture as well – contrasting with this, on the other side of the square is the palace that is the official residence of Slovakia’s prime minister (but we weren’t really interested in that!).

Freedom Square Bratislava

A number of the buildings in the vicinity belong to the STU – the Slovak Technology University and there are four seated lecture theatres extending from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering above, and the building below is covered in reliefs of workers plying their trade.

Freedom Square Bratislava

Along the way we found a good stop for some refreshments, La Putika cafe which specialises in Belgian beer and is at the junction where you change from tram to the old town and bus to the airport.

La putika Bratislava

Suitably refreshed, our next point of interest was the Building of Slovak Broadcasting or Radio and Television Slovakia , which is not too far from Freedom Square, designed to look like an upside down pyramid (or umbrella!).

Slovakia radio building Bratislava

Slovakia radio building Bratislava

Next up Istropolis, Teatro Wüstenrot or its full name: ‘House of Union Istropolis’ or ‘House of Revolutionary Union Movement’. A huge congress hall/culturally Centre.

Istropolis Bratislava Seemingly, Fidel Castro donated the Cuban marble that covers the external walls of Istropolis but despite being one of the largest seated auditoriums in Bratislava it is due to be demolished.

Across from Istropolis is Trnavské mýto, a large market hall built in the 1980’s.  With a stunning retro font as well.

Market hall Bratislava

We decided to keep going and find Kukurica AKA the “corn” building, shaped a bit like corn-on-the-cob where its nickname comes from it was a military boarding house.  Today it is behind barbed wire, but you can still get close enough to appreciate its unique architecture.

Kukucinova Bratislava

By this point we were hungry but wanted to keep the retro vibe. So we headed back to base via Palacinka Lacinka, which is known for being one of the cheapest places in all of Bratislava!

Lacinka Bratislava

Each pancake is around 30c and you get 2 on a tray, which can be two different fillings. This is an amazing wee place with a constant stream of visitors looking for sweet or savoury filled pancakes. Tasty and extremely cheap so we were happy.👍

Lacinka Bratislava

We had a few pancakes but not enough to fill us up, so next, it was time for a meal with beer brewed on the premises at FABRIKA the beer pub.

Fabrik beer pub Bratislava

Mr Foodie had a filling smoked cheeseburger, cooked pink, topped with a fried egg and a very garlicky mayo and seasoned fries, which was very tasty for €11.90!

Fabrika smoked cheeseburger, Bratislava

While I had the fried cheese – 3 massive slices of a coated mozzarella-style cheese with French fries and tartare sauce, which was more like garlic mayo with gherkins but still very tasty and filling for the €8.90 price!

Fabrika fried cheese, Bratislava

🍻na zdravie!

Day four next

Emma

Emma

Hello!

I am Emma and with my husband Mark write Foodie Explorers, which is a food and travel website.

I am a member of the Guild of Food Writers and British Guild of Travel Writers.

We have a wide range of judging experience covering products, hotels and have judged, for example, for Great Taste Awards and Scottish Baker of the Year.

Along the way Mark gained WSET Level 2 in Wine and I have WSET Level 2 in Spirits as well as picking up an award with The Scotsman Food and Drink Awards.    

Usually I can be found sleeping beside a cat.

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1 Comment

  1. NozomiBirmingham
    NozomiBirmingham

    Thanks for Sharing this.

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