Bratislava was the last place I thought to see an UFO, but I did.
Following the tour of the small capital, I headed with my group across the The Nový Most Bridge over the Danube River to see what the curious looking structure across was.
Constructed between 1967 and 1972 across the Danube river, the New Bridge – formerly known as the SNP Bridge, after the Slovak National Uprising – is perhaps the city’s most distinctive structure. Its designers, J. Lacko and A. Tesar, decided to suspend the steel deck of the bridge from a single pylon. At the top of the pylon, at a height of 80 metres, is a restaurant connected to the bridge itself via an inclined high-speed lift housed within one of the pylon’s columns. That restaurant was the infamous UFO.
Taste. Once upstairs, I was unexpectedly awestruck to walk in a 360 degree futuristic circular platform housing the spectacular upscale Taste restaurant. Offering guests splendid views of the Danube River, the Bratislava Castle and the old city, we decided to sit down to enjoy the views and taste the menu.
I then realized that the UFO is not just a great spot for a lunch between friends and for business meetings, but also an excellent dinner date destination; the UFO equals not only sweeping views and flawless dishes, but a modern decor that perfectly complements the innovative flying-saucer shaped venue.
The UFO Taste Restaurant serves Mediterrasian fare – a fusion of Mediterranean and Asian cuisines. We settled for soup and although pricey, it was incredibly delicious: both the shrimp bisque and green soup with a touch of caviar.
Watch. The best part of the UFO experience, however, is the Observation Deck above the restaurant. Apart from the encompassing city views, you can look through the massive binoculars for a closer view of certain attractions, as well as read the guide on the walls of the deck.
The entry fee for the UFO sightseeing deck is €6.64 (for children and retirees over the age of 65 it is €3.32) but is waived for guests with a reservation at the Taste Restaurant. The UFO sightseeing deck dubbed Watch is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Groove. UFO Groove, a stylish nightclub, is only open on selected nights, mainly for invitation only parties.
Bratislava what? I thought to myself just a few hours ago. But after witnessing the Slovak’s capital fantastic transformation, I am in awe.
