Bars with live music existed in our country as early as 1920s. People called them cabarets (in theFrench manner), and organized social evenings there.
In the beginning, of course, they were quite unlike the Parisian „Moulin Rouge” and „Lido”, but they offered artistic performances, dancers and first-class musicians would play there. Over the years their popularity kept increasing, and these cabarets became more and more luxurious and sophisticated. Among the most popular in Sofia were „Imperial“, „Femina“, „NovaAmerica“ (with the “Novi Amazonki” (New Amazonians) that the audience was crazy about),„Gambrinus”, „Parisiana”, bar „Maxim“ (which was housed underneath the present-day theatre „Bulgarian Army”), „Etoile“, „Tsigansko Cabaret“ (where the renowned Кeva would sing) and others. We can also mention the legendary bar „Luna“ (1922), – which was frequented by the king – Tsar Boris III.
In Bulgaria cabarets existed as early as 1907. The first among them were in Varna and Burgas, founded byan ingenious German named Egon Karnegi. Later on, he also opened some of the first cabarets in Sofia – „Jasmine”, „Loreley”, „Loretta Brixie”, as well as„Capernaum”, called the gem of Lege Street. Later, a similar cabaret, named „Yasica Beni” appeared in Plovdiv.
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The oldest cabaret in Sofia (and most probably, in Bulgaria) dates back to 1879 and its name was„Prenten”. It was located in Kaloyan Street.
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However, in my search for the prototype of piano bars, I must also mention the so-called „café–chantants”, which existed in our country in the first years after our liberation. Their name stems from the French verb „chanter”, meaning „to sing“ and is literally translated as „the singing cafés“. Their beginning was in 1820, in Paris, under the name of „Café Chantant”, and later-on they appeared in Italy, Austria–Hungary and Russia. In Bulgaria the first „singing cafés” existed officially after1880 and were opened in Sofia. When in 1889 our renowned journalist and memoir writer Georgi Kanazirski – Verin arrived in the capital, they were already widespread throughout the city. In the same year,in Bulgaria a document about their categorization was issued. It has been decided that these are all cafés, where women or maidens would play music and sing for the entertainment of guests.
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In these night-time establishments, with the accompaniment of a piano, some singers would sing unpretentious, playful, conventional songs and then would make money-collecting rounds. The money represented five or ten stotinkas. When beckoned, they would sit beside the clients for drinks and conversation, which earned them additional percentage. These singersgot the nickname „shantonerki”. Their descriptions included alluring and seductive women, most of them being shamelessly young, provocatively clad and evenbared, wearing wigs, many bracelets and necklaces. EvenIvan Vazov immortalized them in his story „His Madam“, where the main character turned out to be „singer“ in a bar. Besides Bulgarian, there were singersfrom Austria, Romania, Greece and Serbia. After the revolution, many singers from the chantants in Russiaalso arrived in our country looking for asylum and ways to make a living.
Among the most frequented ones in Sofia were:„San Stefano” and „Odessa” (at Trapezitsa square), „Orpheum Neapol” (today’s Imperial Hotel), „2ndFebruary” (the former Hrdlicka Beer House), as well ascafé „Nice” and „Novio Neapol” (in Serdika Street), which were run by the famous at that time grandma Tsora and her daughter Hermina. Hermina was also a singer herself and according to Verin, she would sing for some time in a pub in Plovdiv, which proves that there were similar places there, too.
Plovdiv provided the stage for the songs of the young and talented Hungarian singer Anna Simon (who started her career in the chantants of Belgrade), and whose murder in 1897 shattered Bulgaria and caused broad international reverberation. The singer’s murder case cast a long shadow on the rule of the Prince (Knyaz)Ferdinand and remained among the most scandalous crimes in our history.
Varna was also among the first towns, where just after Sofia, appeared these „café-chantants”. One of the most popular establishments was the „Bella Vista“, laterrenamed to „Orpheum variété“. The first singers there were called „shansonetki“. The chantants in our sea capital though, caused a public anxiety, and therefore, the city mayor – Panayot Karzhiev had to issue an order for their closure on 19.12.1902. Four years later only one remained – the Lambergoviyat, which burned to the ground in the night of 10 June 1906.
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The truth however, was that these places already existed in our country for quite some time, as early as in the times of the Crimean War, and even before that. It was namely in the period from 1853 to 1856, along with the dislocation of the French and British troops in Northern Bulgaria, some of the first chantants appeared in the country. They were set up in the towns on the Danube bank – Ruse, Svishtov and Vidin, and also in Shumen. The chantant in Shumen dated back to 1851. It was opened by the Hungarian musician Mihai Safran (Sáfrány Mihály), who was appointed a Kapellmeister ofthe Turkish military orchestra in the town. In the same year Safran founded the first Bulgarian orchestra.
These chantants were quite abundant with „singers” and dancers, who would entertain the officers of the allied armies. The chantants were very popular, though still illegal. It was not until 1876 when Mithad Pasha took the rule as Grand Vizier, when he started to legalize them. Shantonerki (singers) at that time were Romanian, Hungarian, Serbian, Jewish and even French women, but not Bulgarian ones. The appearance of the first Bulgarian singer is believed to date from the Russo-Turkish War of Liberation (1877 – 1878).
At the end of XIX and the beginning of XX century, chantants in our country became real centers ofthe night life. These places not only did not cease to exist but quite naturally, were raised to another level, and namely, into cabarets, as I mentioned at the very beginning.
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This way or another, after 9 September 1944, allestablishments of this kind were pronounced „immoral”and thus, shut down.
To be replaced by another kind, in some time …
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In the 50s and 60s, for instance, Sofia night bar „Astoria“ became legendary. Many of our titans of the popular music including Lili Ivanova sang in it. The beginning of the Zlatniyat Orfey (Golden Orpheus) Festival, in the first years of its existence (from 1965 to1968), was broadcast from the legendary „Bar Variété“ in Sunny Beach (Slanchev briyag). The very first edition ofthe festival was held on 1 August, under the slogan „Songs for the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast“. I should also mention the glorious variété in Gabrovo from the end of the 80s, which had a seating capacity not less than 200. With its most state-of-the-art technique for its time and quality programmes, it attracted visitors from around the country. Stars like Kameliya Todorova, Nona Yotova and Stefan Mavrodiev were guest artists there.
In fact, I can point out that a major part of our established actors, directors, choreographers and musicians, began their careers exactly in such varietytheaters.
But even this – let’s call it “variété wave” – also gradually disappeared after the changes in Bulgaria. This was a period, during which a new generation of live-music bars and clubs were opened. Such is for examplethe club „California” (also known as „the LittleCalifornia“), which opened in 1991 in Ivan Vazov Street,in Varna. Its owner was Rosen Sarov and quite a fewunforgettable musical evenings happened there. Two years later, another such club opened – its name was „Priliv“ (Tide) – in Shipka Street.
Early 90s were the time when our piano bar stage and culture were born.
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An example of this was provided by the popular musician Valdi Totev, who in 1990 was invited to play in the metropolitan „Café de Paris“, situated in DondukovBlvd., to the right of the youth theatre that burned down. Its owner (according to Valdi) was an Arabian man. The pub was underground (on the cellar level), outside it was marked by a neon light inscription, and inside – by an acoustic piano. The musician remembers the year accurately, because in 1989 he was on a tour in Norway, and on returning he even played without changing his clothes from the trip and played the same repertoire (Elton John, Billy Joel, The Beatles… and songs of„Shturtsite“). According to him, „Café de Paris“ is the first piano bar in Sofia and most probably, in Bulgaria, as well.
A piano bar existed in the memories of the wife of the now late Burgas musician Plamen Stavrev – Peni Stavreva (then Stefanova). It was exactly in „the firstPiano bar in Burgas“, in 1990, when she fell in love with the voice of her future husband. According to her, these evenings in the piano bar took place in one of the halls of the mezzanine of Bulgaria Interhotel (which was later converted into a gaming hall).
In 1994 Valdi Totev, who was then just starting to build his individual career, played in Diamant bar, situated near Vasil Levski Stadium, in the capital city. He was quite detailed when he told me about that bar. It used to be a gambling hall, with tables for card games and roulette. He was hired by Sukmandzhievi Family, who turned it into a piano bar. There was a grand piano, which Valdi would play on and dinners were served. Valdi was a guest artist there for two weeks beforeChristmas. Diamant was among the most popular establishments at that time.
In the same 1994, Valdi recorded and sang the song „Friday midnight“, which won the grand prize ofthe Zlatniyat Orfei festival. The song was based on the verses of Aleksandar Petrov and told the story of such a piano bar. Apart from gaining wide popularity, the songprovided a clear sign of the existence of piano bar culturein the country.
When speaking of the idea of a piano bar in its classical form and original intent, i.e. bar with an acoustic piano or grand piano, which offers softer musicand an atmosphere suggestive of laid-back conversations, romantic evenings and gatherings with friends – then yes, we did have such places in the country. Piano barsbecame part of the night life in the country and of the transition to a new social and cultural environment, after the fall of socialism.
Such places existed in other towns in the country.
Even Hacho Boyadzhiev was so impressed to have visited the place that he decided that he would use it as setting for his New Year’s programme for the Bulgarian National Television.
At the same time, Varna businessman GeorgiGeorgiev, known also as Joro Klasika, decided to open up a nightbar, which already had a large grand piano. He invited Asen and Nelko to play there and thus, in the autumn of 1995 emerged the first piano bar in Varna – it was called „Classic“, and it was situated on the Red Square (Stolipin Street No. 13).
And if we are speaking about the piano bar, as we know it today – a night bar with strong music and strong emphasis on dancing and midnight entertainments – we can say that „Classic“ was the first modern piano bar in Bulgaria.
That bar existed for about five years. An interesting fact of its story is that the popular performerMiro (from duet „Karisma“) made his first earnings as a singer there. Later (in 2005) Georgiev opened another„Classic“ club beneath the Ministry of culture in Sofia.
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In the summer of 1998 was opened the first piano bar in Veliko Tarnovo – the one in the Yantra Hotel. This was an idea of the hotel director – Nadya Drakova and Krasimir Kirilov (a local well-known sportsman), who was appointed as bar manager. The two of them decided that they would convert into a piano bar the renowned snack bar of the old Mityo Manola, which was the gathering place of Veliko Tarnovo’s bohemian community for feasts. The Piano bar worked for around two years, until the privatization of the hotel (at the beginning of 2000).
In December 1998, the bar of Mussala Hotel in Varna was also reconstructed into a piano bar. Its owners(partners) were Ivan Tomov, Evgeni Shterev and Spiridon Mihaylov.
In 2000, in Shipka Street No.18 (also in Varna), Asen and Nelko began playing music in the new piano bar, managed by themselves, named „Royal Classic“.
In 2001 in Varna, the late Eva Mihova (wife of Misho – Birata) and Evgeni Shterev (from Mussala bar)opened Sinatra piano bar, situated in the Sports Hall. For some time „Sinatra“ was housed in 27 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd. (Youth’s home), and currently, it is on the top floor of Cherno More hotel (in the place of Stars piano bar). „Sinatra“ grew into a chain of Piano bars – in Sofia(2004), Plovdiv (2016), Burgas (2021) and Albena(2025). The chain operated seasonally in Zlatni pyasatsi (Golden Sands) and Sunny Beach (Slanchev briyag).
It was in Sinatra bar in Sofia, where PresidentParvanov invited President Putin for his visit to Bulgaria for signing the South Stream Agreement.
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On 03.07.2003, on the initiative of the musicianand businessman Simeon Dzhurov, „Limelight” – the cult metropolitan piano bar opened doors in Iztok neighbourhood – (i.e. the present-day Iztok piano bar).And maybe because this was the first modern metropolitan piano bar, or because later-on he opened up a number of successful piano bars, Simeon Dzhurovbecame known as the father of Piano bars in our country.
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The singer Vasil Petrov was quite often invited to sing at these places and it was not by chance that he also became a symbol of our Piano bars. Furthermore, in 2003, together with his fellow musician – Nikolay Bozukov (and their loyal partner Hristo Sarafov), they opened several seasonal Piano bars. First in Pamporovo –at Sharlopov Murgavets Hotel (open from 01.12.2003, only until the end of May), and then in July, in Sunny Beach (Slanchev briyag), on the beach – a seasonal barin Helena Resort Hotel (open in the summers of 2004, 2005 and 2006), and then, in the capital. The one in Sofiaopened doors on 28.10.2004 and was called „The Voice“. What’s interesting is that the bar was in the place of the old „Etoile“ (of 1936), which I mentioned earlier. In 2010 it changed its name to „My Way“.
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In 2004, Simeon Dzhurov began managing the firstpiano bar in Plovdiv – „Limelight”. The main players there were Fori and Andro. This bar existed until 2010, when Dzhurov opened a new piano bar named „Face 2 Face”, situated opposite Novotel Plovdiv. At the same time the piano player of „Limelight” – Hristofor Todorov(Fori) became the owner of the bar and renamed it to the„Crazy Piano”. On 05.03.2015 Fori opened piano bar„Gatsby”, which is still operating today and is in fact, the longest working piano bar in Plovdiv.
After a month, in the place of „Limelight”, anotherpiano bar opened up with the name „Quattro”, now owned by trio „Soulmate”. This piano bar is also still functioning.
Over the years in Plovdiv for a short period of time there were more Piano bars – „Exel” (the second piano bar in Plovdiv), „Chaplin” (the former „Face 2 Face”), „Flame”, „White Nights”, „Monarch”, „Virgin”, „Allure”, „Buda’s” and „Egerhof”.
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In 2005, by idea of the singer Mirela Velichkovaand the businessman Emil Dimitrov, the cult and the longest existing piano bar in Veliko Tarnovo was born – „Maximus“ (where I had the pleasure of playing quite a lot music). For its 15-year history, it turned into a benchmark and an example to follow, into an institution for our region. Later the singer opened another two piano bars. These are „Italy“ and „J’adore“. In the old capitalover the years functioned also the following Piano bars„Red & Black“ (in Bolyarski Hotel), „Panorama” (in Panorama Hotel), „Piano Live Club Play“, „Arte”, „Deep“ and „Selecto“.
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The trend for musicians and performers to managePiano bars is quite a natural one and becomes stronger with the years. Such type of bars were also run by some of our celebrities such as the former “Coo-Coo” actorand participant in various show programmes – AvgustPopov (Astoria Piano Bar in Bansko) and Miro(Broadway Piano Bar in Sofia).
PIANO BARS DID REALLY GAIN WIDE POPULARITY IN OUR COUNTRY.
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In 2005, Bulgarian National Television began airing a TV broadcast, called „Piano bar “Noshtni ptici“(Night birds), with author and presenter Iskra Angelova. It enjoyed tremendous success and turned into a trademark and one of the most watched programmes on television. That evening talk show was aired nationallyfor 14 whole years.
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Today, Piano bars are everywhere. Among the most popular ones are the Sinatra chain, the metropolitan ones – „Silicone”, „Camino”, „Chicago” and „Magnito”,and in the country, quite fashionable are still Piano bars„Gatsby” and „Quattro” (Plovdiv), „Canto” (Ruse), „Sense” (Gabrovo), „Bravo” (Pernik), „Selecto” (Veliko Tarnovo), „The Floor” and „Canto” (Kazalak), „The House” (Stara Zagora), „Soho” (Yambol), „No MercyClassic Bar” (Targovishte), „Light” (Haskovo), „Neptune” and „Primorets” (Burgas), „Jackie” (Varna), „Paradise” (Pazardzhik), „Zodiac” (Vidin), „Rich” (Velingrad), „Melody” and „Bohemi” (Dobrich), „Noti” (Sveti Vlas) and „Theatro Piano Live” (Sozopol).
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Piano bars have existed, and continue to exist in Svishtov („Corset”), Silistra („Artistic” and „Royal”), Vratsa („Caramel”), Petrich („Dreams”), Lovech(„Versailles”), Pleven („Umbrella”), Sevlievo („NikS”), Gorna Oryahovitsa („Bar Club Piano”), Smolyan(„Venus”), Kardzhali („Central”), Gabrovo („Face 2 Face”), Kozloduy („La Roccia”), Stara Zagora („Black & White” and „Susinito”), Ruse („Avangards” and „Admiral”), Etropole („Everest”), Kyustendil („Lazur”), Sofia („Corner”, „Poison”, „Arbat”, „New York”, „After 10”, „Braga”, „Cheers”, „Rodina”), Sliven („Bacardi”, „2 Night” and „Terre Miroglio Wine Bar”), Sandanski(„Sveti Nikola”, „Cosy” and „Faces”), Nesebar („The Gallery”), Bansko („Sing Sing” and „Canto“), Montana(„Retro”), Shumen („Retro”), Elhovo („Night Angels”), Blagoevgrad („Balkanton” and „Piano Music Hall”),Velingrad („Louis”), Razgrad („No Mercy”), Dimitrovgrad („Planeta Payner”), Botevgrad(„Panorama”), Varna („Stars“), Burgas („Ten Fingers”since 2006 ) and many others.
Today, Piano bars are in almost every more luxurious hotel. In Bozhentsi, Starosel, Starozagorski mineralni bani, Dryanovo and even in the village ofChiflik (Troyan region).
THE STORY WAS CREATED (COLLECTED) BY THE PIANOBAR.BG TEAM AND PUBLISHED IN BOOK.
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