SLOVAK REPUBLIC FAQ

(Country's Telephone Code is now 421. The City Codes start with 0. However, when calling from overseas, don't dial this zero.)
• U.S. Embassy: Hviezdoslavovo 4 (5443-5932)
• Canadian Consulate: Kolarska 4
• British Embassy: Grosslingova 35 (5296-4420)
• Main Post Office: Namestie SNP 36
• 24-hour pharmacy: Spitalska 3
• American Chamber of Commerce: Mileticova 23, Suite 307, 821 08 Bratislava, Telephone/Fax: (421/2) 214-730.
• Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Gorkeho 9, 816 03 Bratislava, Ph: 5295-3846 or 5296-2681; Fax: 5441-0754

• BIS: Nedbalova at Primate's Palace (Ph: 5443-3466; fax: 5443-3109)
• Satur Tours & Travel: Mileticova 1, 824 72 Bratislava. Phone: 634-67; Fax: 21-26-64
  Satur has 54 offices throughout Slovakia, emphasizing tours within the country, especially in the regions of Bratislava, the spa of Piestany, and the High and Low Tatras.
• Satur Bratislava: Jesenskeho 5 (526-24)
• American Express c/o Tatratour: Frantiskanske nam. 3, Ph: 5443-5852 or 201-5282, fax: 21-27-22 or 21-36-24
• Tatra Air: (29-23-06)
• CSA Airline: (5443-1230)
• CSAD-Buses: (632-13)
• Hydrofoil to Vienna & Budapest:
• SPD (595-18)
• Blue Danube Travel (5296-2262)
• Car rentals:
• Avis: (5443-3201)
• Europcar/National: (22-02-85 or 34-08-41)
• Hertz: (22-67-70 or 34-81-55)
• Recar: (5443-3420)
• 24-hour Emergency Tow: (5296-3711)
• Streetcar & Bus Tickets: 10 Sk adults, 5 Sk children and senior citizens (must be purchased before boarding)
• Taxis: (~10 Sk/km) (ph. 5443-1331)

NOTE: It is impossible to list every restaurant and every hotel in every town. Rather, I've selected recommended establishments at different price ranges:

Some Hotels:

• Expensive:
  • Danube, Rybne nam. 1 (34-00-00)
  • Hotel Devin, Riecna 4 (5443-3640)
    "100 room, 5 story Dedvin on the banks of Danube was the first hotel build in the city after WW II."
• Moderate: Zochova Chata, 90001 Modra/Piesky (33/922-991) Note: 20 miles outside the city
• Inexpensive:
  • Krym, Safarikovo nam 7 (5292-5471)
  • Hotel Star
    "I stayed there and paid like 6 euros/night. (It's really a hostel.) It's near a shopping center that has Orange IMAX theater, in a really good area & with busses that go often to the centrum (which is only 15 min)."

  Some Dining:

  (For a rating service of different restaurants, check out this "Gurmania" site)
  • Expensive: Klastorna vinaren, Frantiskanska ul. (5443-0430)
  • Moderate:
    • Korzo, Hviezdoslavovo nam. 11 (5443-4974)
    • Modra Hviezda, Modra Hviezda, Beblaveho 14 (332-747)
      "It's half-way up the hill. The food is excellent and the atmosphere great but there is no outdoor view."
    • Carda Kormoran, Velky Drazdiak (828-252)
      "Large, modern restaurant, pleasantly situated on a lake shore in Petrzalka in the Luky neighborhood and difficult to get to without a car or taxi. More than adequate signs direct you there once you cross the Danube, and its location should not put you off. Once there you will find attended parking (20Sk) right at the restaurant. It seats over 200, and in the summer also has a wonderful, screened outdoor dining area overlooking the lake, and a Gypsy music band."
  • Inexpensive:
  • Stara Sladovna ("mamut"), Cintorinska 32 (511-01)
  • Bistro Mamutko: Main Railroad Station
  • Senator Bar-Restaurant, Zupne namestie 3 (5295-0268)
    "It's one of those subterranean clubs that have great french fries and the Garlic soup is to die for. And the prices are extremely reasonable."
  • Some lunch, snack and people-watching joints:
  • Judy's Gallery (Beblaveho 4)
  • Cafe Blankyt (Obchodna 48)
  • "the bridge Cafe" (Novy Most)

  "Another bargain is to go to a classical concert, the music and the surroundings are superb and the prices are very reasonable. There are many folklore evenings in some of the restaurants, but these tend to be busy and expensive and do not represent the real Slovakia. "

• Recommended Clubs:
• U-Club (Nabr. gen. L. Svobodu, underneath the castle)
• KGB Bar (Krcma Gurmanov Bratislavy) on Obchodna ul.
• Charlie's Pub (near hotel Kyjev)
• Zbrojnos
• Velki Frantiskani Bar (Frantiskanske nam .10; ph. 544-3073)

Some Sights:

• The Castle
• Kapitulska ulica
• Old Town Hall
• Cerveny Kamen

"Get a taxi (it should not cost more than 100 Slovak Crowns - about 2 US dollars - from the bus station where there are ATMs for local currency and a taxi stand) to SNP Square. From there, it's a short walk to the old city, where all the open air cafes and pubs are. If you are not sure, look for McDonalds and look across the street. The recently refurbished market building is just opposite. Have a look inside, it's a little bit like London's Covent Garden now, full of arty crafty shops, especially upstairs where there is an excellent internet cafe. Then go down the street that is on the right side of this market for two hundred yards, and you will be in the main square full of souvenir stands and open air cafes. You will also pass the Information office and can get a city map or better still, buy a little book called "Bratislava in Your Pocket" in one of the many newsagents."

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