Modra Hviezda is a slovak restaurant in Castle Hill, Bratislava.
Modra Hviezda on Beblaveho 14 climbs the slope toward the castle in a medieval brick cellar, family-run since 2009 with Slovak duck on the menu.
Signature dishes: Slovak duck with lokse, Game stews
Must order: Slovak duck with lokse and red cabbage; ask for one of the brick-vaulted cellar seats when you reserve the table.
Tip: The walk up Beblaveho is steep; consider a taxi for older guests.
Address: Beblaveho 14, 811 01 Bratislava
Roland on Hlavne namestie 5 in the main square serves a modern take on traditional Slovak, with halusky and Slovak duck on the daytime menu.
Signature: Bryndzove halusky, Slovak duck
Order: Bryndzove halusky with bacon; the breakfast service runs 09:00-11:00 on weekdays.
Tip: The square terrace is the seat in summer; the upstairs dining room is calmer.
Koliba Kamzik on Zelena 5 dresses an Old Town cellar as a Tatra mountain chalet, honest halusky and Slovak meats in the heart of the tourist core.
Signature: Bryndzove halusky, Kamzik's Plate
Order: The Pirohy-halusky platter is the way in; the Kamzik's Plate covers the basics.
Tip: The mountain-chalet styling pulls tour groups; ask for an inner room for quiet.
Dolnozemska on Panska 7 sits in a 14th-century building and cooks Slovak recipes from the dolnozemski communities of Romania, Serbia and Hungary.
Signature: Bryndzove halusky, Dolnozemski sausage, Goulash
Order: Bryndzove halusky and the dolnozemski sausage; the lunch denne menu drops the bill.
Tip: Belgian beer pours alongside Slovak; the back rooms are cooler in summer.
Verne on Hviezdoslavovo 18 has been the artists' and students' day-to-night cafe for more than 20 years, with Slovak and international plates and Czech beer.
Signature: Slovak lunch plate, Late-night pub fare
Order: The denne menu lunch for the price; the late-night plates carry past midnight.
Tip: The kitchen runs until 23:00 weeknights and past midnight Friday and Saturday; one of the few late kitchens in the Old Town.
Bratislavsky Mestiansky Pivovar at Drevena 575/8 brews house lagers in the cellar and serves halusky and Slovak-Czech pub fare upstairs since 2009.
Signature: House lager, Bryndzove halusky, Pork knuckle
Order: House unfiltered lager with halusky; the pork knuckle is the heavy second.
Tip: The sibling Dunajska 21 location has a bigger terrace; pick by season.
The Dunajska 21 branch of Bratislavsky Mestiansky Pivovar carries the city's largest beer-garden terrace and the same house-brewed lagers as flagship.
Signature: House lager, Slovak pub plates
Order: House unfiltered lager and the wood-fire pork plate; the garden is the seat May to September.
Tip: The garden seats are first-come; arrive before 18:30 on warm Fridays.
