Bulgaria has a small but established strip club scene, most of it in Sofia, with a venue in Plovdiv. Before you plan a night out, read the official travel advice. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office currently warns that some tourists have been overcharged in so-called “gentlemen’s clubs” in Sofia and in some resorts, including Bansko, Borovets and Sunny Beach. The FCDO says the overcharging can reach hundreds of pounds, and that victims can be threatened with violence if they refuse to pay.
This advice is about some venues, not all of them, and many visitors have an ordinary night out. But the problem is serious enough to appear in official guidance. The US State Department rates Bulgaria at Level 1, “Exercise normal precautions”, and notes that most crimes involving US citizens are financial, including ATM skimming and credit card fraud, and that most crime happens in Sofia or in busy areas on the Black Sea coast.
How to avoid problems
- Ask for recommendations. The FCDO suggests getting recommendations for bars and clubs from your hotel or from other holidaymakers, not from people who approach you on the street.
- Keep your card in sight. When you pay by card, make sure the transaction is completed in front of you, and be wary if you are asked to re-enter your PIN.
- Never share your PIN. The US State Department advises never giving your PIN to anyone, and warns about people who offer help at ATMs.
- Watch your drinks. US guidance advises never leaving drinks unattended, watching your drink being prepared when you can, and refusing drinks from strangers.
- Get there and back safely. The FCDO reports robberies and threatening behaviour by taxi drivers in Sunny Beach, and recommends licensed taxis or a taxi booked through your accommodation.
- Know the emergency number. Dial 112 for police or ambulance and ask for an English-speaking operator.
Sofia
Most of the clubs in our directory are in the capital, several of them in the central area around Vitosha Boulevard and Knyaz Dondukov Boulevard.
- Kama Sutra — 19 Knyaz Dondukov Blvd, Sofia 1000
- Fetish Club — 4 Vitosha Blvd, Sofia
- Velvet Night Bar — bul. Pencho Slaveykov 12a, Sofia
- Erotic Bar — Sofia (no street address listed; check before you go)
Plovdiv
- Babylon Night Club — ul. Lyuben Karavelov 2, Plovdiv
We do not currently list any clubs in Sunny Beach, Bansko or Borovets. If you are in a resort, the FCDO overcharging warning applies there too.
What to check before you go
- Read the latest official advice. Travel advice changes. Check the FCDO and US State Department Bulgaria pages shortly before your trip.
- Confirm the club is open and where it is. Some listings are years old. Check the venue’s current website or social media for the address and opening hours.
- Ask about prices before you order. Ask for a price list for drinks, dances and any table or private-room charges before ordering anything. If a venue won’t tell you prices up front, leave — it is the simplest protection against the overcharging the FCDO describes.