Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

326 CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE

Shopping & Entertainment

Shops in Slovakia range from small local outlets and
stalls in bazaars and markets to department stores and
super markets belonging to large international chains.
The country is famed for its handcrafted goods such as
traditional clothing, tablecloths, lace, wooden or china
figurines, sculptures, ceramics and paintings. Slovakia
also has wide-ranging cul tural entertainment that should
satisfy most visitors. There are scores of thea tres, cine-
mas, clubs, concert halls, art galleries and museums.
Visitors can catch world-class artistes in larger cities,
or traditional folk festivals in provincial areas.

MARKETS

In many Slovak towns and
villages the traditional market
day is Saturday. This is the
best opportunity to buy fresh
local fruit, vegetables and
meat. The most famous weekly
produce market takes place
in Hlavné námestie and
Františkánské námestie (see
pp302–303), the twin central
market squares in Bratislava.
Slovak markets are also a
great place to taste local
delicacies, such as lokša
(potato pancakes) and langoš
(fried garlic cakes) and
sample local wines.

OPENING HOURS

Shops in Slovakia are
generally open from 9am to
6pm, although some food
stores open as early as 6am
and do not close until 8 or
9pm. Some shops are open
on Saturdays and Sundays,
usually till 1pm. Many close
for lunch, which lasts from
noon till 1pm, or longer.

NIGHTLIFE

Bratislava pulsates with life

around the clock. From April

until early October countless

outdoor bars and music

venues spring up around the

city. The focus of social life in

the evenings is the bars and

pubs in Korzo, on the

outskirts of the Old Town.

Visitors interested in partying

can venture into a fashionable

discotheque or visit one of

the capital’s music clubs

housed, for example, in post-

Communist nuclear shelters.

The flourishing nightlife is

encouraged by the relatively

low prices of drinks.

The best-known and most

popular clubs and discos in

Bratislava include: 17’s Bar

and Harley Davidson for rock,

Café Kút for reggae, Jazz Café

for jazz, Cirkus Barok, which

is situated on a boat, Flamenco

for Latino disco and Laverna

Klub for disco.

Nightlife is not limited to the

capital city – those who enjoy

spending their time in clubs

can also find something to

their liking in Košice, Trnava

and in the foothills of the

Tatras, although the entertain-

ment on offer is rather modest

com pared with that in

Bratislava. Inevitably, Bratislava

offers the most vibrant gay

and lesbian nightlife. Two

established gay clubs there

are D4 and Apollon Gay Club.

ART AND ANTIQUES

Slovakia is renowned for

its colourful ceramicware.

Majolica from Modra (western

Slovakia) is sold in most

towns, although the best

selec tion is available in

Benekit v.o.s., Corvus, Folk –

Folk and LÚČ Vydavatelské

Družstvo in Bratislava.

Starožitnosti (antique shops)

are found in most towns, and

there are many inter esting

items that can be picked up

for a good bargain. Hubová in

Bratislava also offers a wide

array of antiques.

HANDICRAFTS

Slovakia is rich in culture and
traditions, most of which have
been carefully preserved by
the con scientious people.
Typical crafts include
handmade dolls dressed in
traditional costume, embroi-
dered tablecloths, carved
wooden figurines, painted
Easter eggs, dolls made of
dried corn leaves or wire,
and secular or reli gious
paintings on glass, wood
or ceramic. Slovak artists
are also renowned for their
woodcarvings, mostly
depicting saints and nativity

figures. Hand-carved nativity

scenes are quite expensive

but make superb and unique

souvenirs that last for decades.

Traditional crafts and art pro-

ducts can be bought relatively

easily in larger towns and

tourist resorts at shops such

as U Žofky in Bratislava, or

Kora in Bojnice. UL’UV Stores

(Centre for Folk Art

Production) is a chain of

stores special izing in Slovak

handicrafts that has branches

in Bratislava, Banská Bystrica

and Trnava.

MUSIC AND THEATRE

The main establishments

associated with classical music,

opera and ballet have their

homes in the capital,

Bratislava. The Slovak

Philharmonic Orchestra is

housed in the Neo-Baroque

Reduta (see p308) building,

while the coun try’s best

opera and ballet thea tre is

the Slovak National Theatre.

Of the 24 national theatres

in Slovakia, a few, such as the

Hungarian Theatre and

Romany Theatre in Košice,

give performances in foreign

languages, however, there are

not many performances in

FOOD AND DRINK

Shops sell a variety of

traditional local food pro-

ducts, including a varied and

delicious range of cheeses

and a wide variety of wines,

beers and spirits.

Sheep cheeses to try include

brynza, smoked oštiepky and

steamed pařenice. Those who

enjoy good liquor might like

to bring home a few bottles

of local wine, liqueurs, the

famous plum brandy slivovice

or cognac. They are all

relatively inex pensive. The

bottled Slovak Zlatý bažant

beer is excellent.