Football isn’t just about goals and emotions – it’s also about good food, good beer, and atmosphere. If you’re a fan who happened to end up in Košice during the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, we’ve got a selection of the top 5 places where you’ll find what you’re looking for. Places where beer flows by the gallon, meat melts in your mouth, and portions are so big that even a Premier League midfielder would have a hard time cleaning their plate.
Slovak cuisine may be a nutritional disaster, but it tastes like a goal scored in extra time. In the EAST, they don’t eat portions, they eat challenges – from bryndzové halušky (gnocchi with sheep cheese) floating in bacon fat to Segedín (goulash), which would stop even a fast-moving counterattack. Kapustnica, a cabbage soup with more layers than an Italian soccer team’s tactics, and homemade sausages, which you’ll need to take a break from in the match, are a must. Modern gastronomy plays in the top league here – artisan burgers, sous-vide meat, tank beers, and desserts with unforgettable flavours: you won’t expect it, but you’ll be delighted. And beware – if you’re offered a homemade spirit “to aid digestion”, don’t hesitate. It’s not a foul, it’s a tradition.
Trust us, your stomach won’t stay empty in Košice. For inspiration, we’ve put together a selection of the top 5 venues where you can score a goal against your hunger.
#1 Pivovar Hostinec (Brewery Pub) – The oldest city brewery with delicious gastro faul (pub food)
Where: Hlavná 65, Košice
What you will find here: Craft beer from our own brewery, authentic cuisine, and a derby-like atmosphere
Beer isn’t brewed here, it’s created. And the food? So delicious that even a midfielder with nerves of steel will cry into his beef cheeks. The Hostinec Brewery is a place that combines history, taste, and football energy. It is located in the oldest pub in Košice, and they brew beer right under one roof. They offer a tasting stand with their own beers, which you can compare like the tactics of various teams. In addition, there are dishes such as beef cheeks in dark beer, grilled ribs, and *bryndzové pirohy* (pies stuffed with sheep cheese), which will satisfy even the most demanding gourmets.
➡️ Hint for fans: Try this: BEER PLATTER FOR 3 GUESTS, SLOVAK CLASSIC PLATTER FOR 2 GUESTS or BEEF CHEEKS IN OUR BEER.
# 2 Camelot – Ribs, beer, and a medieval atmosphere
Where: Kováčska 19, Košice
What you will find here: Huge portions of meat, grilled specialties, and lively atmosphere like at the stadium
It looks like a medieval castle, tastes like a Slovak dream. Welcome to the Middle Ages, where they don’t play tiki-taka, but a real game with their bodies. Here, ribs aren’t counted by the gram, but by quarters of a pig. At Camelot, you’ll get such large portions of meat that even a Bundesliga defender would break a sweat. 1 kg of ribs, grilled pork knuckle,
roasted sausages, all with a beer in your hand and friends around the table. The perfect place for a team celebration or a proper “pre-game warm-up.”
➡️ Hint for fans: Try this: BEER SPECIALTIES PLATTER, DEMIKÁT (sheep-cheese soup) AS IT SHOULD BE or Platter Basic.
#3 Grange – a modern farmhouse goal with a premium taste
Where: Mäsiarska 8, Košice
What you will find here: Burgers like direct kicks – fast, powerful, precise, unforgettable
This is definitely a premium taste experience – authentic farm-fresh meat that knows no offside. Burgers and fries that deserve a standing ovation. At Grange, you know you’re playing in the top league – everything is fresh, homemade, and has a taste that deserves its own fan club. And when you add a good draft beer, you know you’ve won. The atmosphere is relaxed, ideal for a quick tactical lunch between two matches.
➡️ Hint for fans: GRANGE BURGER, JALAPEŇO BURGER or the legendary AIOLI BURGER.
#4 Dobré časy – More than 20 beer taps and the perfect “third half”
Where: Čajkovského 4, Košice
What you will find here: Craft beers from all over Slovakia, international specialties, and generous portions
No one comes here for just one anything. Here, it’s “everything you’ve got, please.” The bar looks like the 2011 Barcelona lineup—strong in every position. Add wings, burgers, or pulled pork, and you’ve got a lineup that will win every match. Beer bar with a wide selection on tap – often over 30 types of beer, plus great food and snacks to go with your beer. Large tables, TVs showing sports, and a lively atmosphere make Dobré Časy (Good Times) the ideal place to watch matches and yell at the referee (from the safety of your couch).
➡️ Hint for fans: Try the current offer straight from the grill and try a variety of beers from the menu.
#5 Cool Bowling – A bit of competition outside the stadium
Where: Štúrova 1, Košice
What you will find here: Bowling, bar, tasty food, and a sporty atmosphere
If you feel like throwing a few balls after the match, Cool Bowling is the place for you. Modern bowling lanes, large screens showing sports broadcasts, beer, burgers, and the chance to get over that missed penalty kick. The food is delicious, the service is fast, and the space is perfect for a group of guys who want to keep the game going.
➡️ Hint for fans: Smoked beef tongue with mustard and creamy horseradish, roasted pork ribs, or beef tartare made from beef sirloin
Conclusion: Košice is not just about football – it’s a place to enjoy life
The atmosphere of football in Košice is not limited to the stadium, but also extends to restaurants, cafés, pubs, and other establishments where fans from various countries gather. Whether you want to celebrate a win, drown your sorrows after a loss, or just experience a bit of East Slovak hospitality, these places will give you more than just a full stomach.
Bon appétit, lots of goals, and above all, fair play even at the table.
