Boondock Puffins

You know when people ask you about your favourite place you’ve ever visited? Do you think it’s the place itself or the experiences you have their that have the biggest impact on your reflective feelings on a place? Either way, we would have been content in Bratislava as it gave us both – both family who we were visiting and providing us with a lovely little city.

Our time here started with a trip to Bratislava Flagship, a restaurant built in an old theatre. One of the first things that struck us here, perhaps brought to the fore thanks to the stark contrast with our very expensive home town at the moment, was the affordability of Bratislava. Here, a pint cost us €2, and we enjoyed a selection of typically Slovakian dishes for a fraction of what it would cost us in the Alps.

The following morning, we went for a short walk to find coffee – we had a lovely time at Ost Block which felt like it would have been quite at home in New York just as much this capital city. Post breakfast, we went for a long walk along the river and to see the castle that dominates the city skyline. From this landmark, you can enjoy mesmerising views across the city – south to the Petrzalska, east over the spread of the city, and west where the land stretches away into Austria.

We tested out punch cake, a typical Slovakian cake made from different layers of cake and soaked in rum. After a wander around the city, we went to a shop that specialises in all things honey (the moisturiser we have found to be invaluable since returning home to the dry air of Tignes). The honey mead here was exceptional. For supper we went to a newly opened barbecue place (Smokin’ Bob Barbecue) which we could not recommend more. If you are in Bratislava, you will not regret a trip to this local eatery.

On the weekend, we headed out for a long run, exploring as much of the city as possible. We’ve found that this is generally a good litmus test for a new place, and in Bratislava we felt particularly safe and welcomed, with some unexpected nice green spaces breaking up the maze of streets.

In the afternoon, we treated ourselves to a massage at Chockdee. For lunch, we couldn’t help but return to the same barbecue restaurant, before heading to hang out with family and disrupt their afternoon, finishing with take away pizza for our last evening with them.

Having packed up all our bags, we went for a short run in the pouring rain to enjoy the flat pavements of the city (a welcome relief from mountain running). Leaving the city gave us one more chance to experience the crazy driving of Slovaks in their capital before we headed back across Europe to home.