Set in a boutique hotel in a quiet residential area, this elegant fine dining restaurant is the place to go for exquisite dishes, eg. sea bass with fennel and quinoa salad; grilled saddle of lamb with aubergine-garlic puree, chickpeas, chorizo and herb sauce. A summer terrace and kids' play area rounds off the amenities.

Chic upmarket restaurant serving refined Thai and Mediterranean-inspired dishes under the experienced direction of chef Ladislav Hužik, formerly of Le Monde. The interior is modern and airy, and upstairs the Sky Bar has unbeatably good views of the old town.

Housed in the 16th century Powder Tower, after which it is named, with a quiet courtyard outside, this is one of the best places in the old town to try traditional Slovak cuisine. Dishes include bryndzové halušky (gnocchi with Slovak sheep cheese and bacon), veal with porcini mushrooms, or grilled trout with herbs and almonds, and there are also several vegetarian and pasta dishes. Prices are actually very reasonable and there’s even a cheaper weekday lunch menu.

This popular restaurant, part of the Hotel Perugia, serves up good Slovak and Hungarian dishes in a rustic setting in the heart of the old town.

This nice little restaurant, which is hidden away in a quiet street tucked below the castle, serves excellent traditional Slovak dishes in an atmospheric, brick-vaulted interior. House specialities include pork chops with a walnut crust, mustard-honey sauce and roasted potatoes; rabbit leg in red wine sauce with forest mushrooms and potato herb dumplings; and of course Bryndzové halušky (gnocchi with Slovak sheep cheese and bacon). The summer terrace has views to the Danube.

Traditional, unpretentious pub-restaurant just around the corner from the main square, serving filling Slovak dishes in a slightly rambling, rustic interior. The pub's been going since 1740, and offers a good range of beers.

Vast pizzas – including, literally, the largest size in town (50cm) – as well as salads, pasta dishes, risottos, and plenty of gluten-free options. There are several branches in Bratislava, of which the one on Tobrucká is closest to the old town. Delivery available.

This amazing 14-room pub just outside the Old Town may resemble a Slovak theme park but everything is real. Here you'll find the best value drinks and food and a much more authentic local atmosphere than anywhere in the Old Town. There's occasional live accordion music too.

Open from Monday to Friday only, this simple unpretentious cafe serves a fixed menu that changes weekly and comprises of soup, main and dessert. It's best to get there early, as they can run out and there are often queues.