Slovakia Food and Drink
Slovak cooking is hearty and strongly influenced by the country's agricultural and mountain traditions, with potatoes, cabbage, pork, dumplings and dairy products appearing frequently. Sheep's cheese is particularly important, most famously in bryndzové halušky, widely regarded as Slovakia's national dish. Soups are also popular, ranging from sauerkraut and bean soups to rich meat broths.
Central European influences are evident in dishes shared with or adapted from neighbouring Hungary, Czechia, Austria and Poland. Bratislava and other larger cities offer an increasingly varied international dining scene, while traditional restaurants and mountain establishments remain good places to try regional Slovak cooking.
Vegetarians will find a reasonable choice in larger towns and cities, but traditional Slovak cooking is often meat-heavy. Cheese dishes, potato pancakes, dumplings and some soups may be suitable, although travellers should check whether meat, bacon or animal stock has been used.
Specialities
Bryndzové halušky: Small potato dumplings mixed with bryndza sheep's cheese and traditionally topped with bacon.
Kapustnica: Sauerkraut soup, commonly prepared with sausage or smoked meat and particularly associated with Christmas.
Lokše: Thin potato flatbreads served with savoury or sweet fillings or accompaniments.
Živánska: Meat, potatoes, onions and other ingredients traditionally cooked together, often wrapped in foil.
Vyprážaný syr: Breaded and fried cheese, usually served with potatoes or chips and tartare sauce.
Šúľance: Potato-based dumplings, often served sweet with poppy seeds, sugar or ground nuts.
Skalický trdelník: A hollow cylindrical pastry coated with sugar and nuts, traditionally associated with the western town of Skalica.
Slivovica: A strong fruit spirit made from plums.
Borovička: A traditional juniper-flavoured spirit.
Slovak wine: Produced principally in the south and west, including the Small Carpathian wine region near Bratislava and the Slovak part of the Tokaj region in the southeast.
Beer: Widely consumed, with established Slovak breweries complemented by a growing craft-beer scene.
Kofola: A distinctive cola-style soft drink developed in former Czechoslovakia and still widely available.
Tipping
Service charges are not usually included in restaurant bills. A tip of around 10% is customary for good service, although rounding up the bill is sufficient in cafés and more casual establishments. When paying by card, tell the server the total amount you wish to pay before the transaction is processed.
Drinking age
18 years old.