A private event on the Mr. Baba galleon in Varna gives your group a hall or a whole deck closed to other guests, a menu built for the occasion, dedicated service and a personal quote prepared after you get in touch. Capacity starts with the VIP Hall for 12 to 24 people and goes up to the Main Hall with around 120 seats, while the whole ship holds about 280 guests across three levels. The date, the number of guests and the occasion are the three things everything else depends on.
The difference between an ordinary booking and a private event is control. With a booking you get a table among other guests. With a private event the space, the pace of the evening and the menu belong to you. Below we go through the questions people ask us most often: which rooms can be closed off, how the menu is put together, what drives the price, how early to ask, and when it makes more sense for the kitchen to come to you instead.
What does a private event on the galleon include?
A space for your guests only
A private event at Mr. Baba includes a room or a deck where no other guests are seated for as long as your celebration lasts. The VIP Hall, which we call the captain's cabin, was built for exactly this: enclosed, quiet and served by its own staff. Larger groups can arrange a whole deck, and for a big occasion the entire ship. That way a birthday, an anniversary or a company dinner never blends into the noise of the next table.
Menu, service and the small details
Beyond the space itself, a private event includes a menu agreed in advance, a team that serves only your room, and a table laid out for your exact headcount. We confirm allergies and diets, high chairs if children are coming, and the moment for the cake if the occasion calls for one. All of this goes into the personal quote we prepare once you reach us by phone or through the booking form. Nothing is added during the evening without your agreement.
Which rooms at Mr. Baba can be booked for a private event?
All five rooms on the Mr. Baba galleon can host a private event, but each suits a different group size and season. The two indoor rooms work all year round. The three open levels run from May to October and depend on the weather. The capacities below are approximate, because they depend on the layout: one long table seats fewer people than separate tables.
| Room | Level and type | Guests | Season | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIP Hall | Level 1, indoor, private | 12 - 24 | All year | Anniversary, business dinner, family celebration |
| Main Hall | Level 1, indoor | ~120 | All year | Company party, christening, big birthday |
| Sea Terrace | Level 1, open | ~60 | May - October | Summer dinner facing the water |
| Upper Deck | Level 2, open | ~80 | May - October | Large group at sunset |
| Captain's Bridge | Level 3, open | ~24 | May - October | Small occasion with a panorama |
You will find the character of each level described in more detail in our piece on the five rooms of Mr. Baba.
How is the menu for a private event put together?
From the regular menu to a group menu
The menu for a private event at Mr. Baba is built together with you, and it starts from our regular menu rather than from a separate banquet kitchen. Most often we open with cold mezze to share, such as the dip platter at 8.89 € or lightly salted bonito, move on to fish soup or a salad, and finish with a main course. For groups it works well to offer two or three mains that each guest picks in advance, instead of free ordering from the whole menu.
Fish for a crowd
Fish for a private event is planned earlier than anything else. Our turbot is priced per 100 grams, currently 8.99 €, and for a large group the kitchen needs to know the number of portions in order to buy enough at the morning market. So when you get in touch, tell us whether you want whole fish, fillets or a seafood risotto. Vegetarian and vegan dishes can be part of the menu too, as long as you ask for them in good time.
How much does a private event at Mr. Baba cost?
The price of a private event at Mr. Baba is set in a personal quote and depends on the menu, the number of guests, the room and the length of the evening. We do not publish a fixed per-person package, because a dinner for 15 in the VIP Hall and a company party for 100 in the Main Hall are built in completely different ways. The prices in our menu give you a sense of scale: fish soup costs 6.19 €, seafood risotto 13.59 € and the dip platter 8.89 €.
What to ask before you confirm
Before confirming a private event it is worth clarifying four things: what exactly the menu includes, how drinks are charged, until what time the room is yours, and what happens if the headcount changes or you have to cancel. Any deposit and cancellation terms are written into the quote itself. A standard table booking with us needs no deposit and can be cancelled free of charge up to 4 hours in advance, but a private event is agreed separately, because the kitchen buys produce specifically for it.
When should I book a private event, and how does it work?
A private event at Mr. Baba is best requested at least 2 weeks in advance, and for a big occasion on a Saturday or in summer, 1 to 2 months ahead. Friday and Saturday evenings fill first, and the open decks only have a six month season. In autumn and winter demand moves to the Main Hall and the VIP Hall, especially around company celebrations at the end of the year.
The steps from first message to the evening itself
A private event request goes through four steps. First you write or call us with the date, the number of guests and the occasion. Then you receive a proposal for the room and the menu with a clear price. For larger events we invite you to a tasting, so you can try the dishes before confirming. On the day, the team sets up the room ahead of time and you arrive as a guest. There is free parking with around 30 spaces right next to the restaurant, which helps with a bigger group, although it fills up quickly on summer evenings.
A private event on the galleon, or off-site catering?
A private event on the galleon is the better choice when you want the sea, the deck and the kitchen all within a few steps, without thinking about tableware, staff or cleaning up. Off-site catering makes sense when you have more guests than a room can hold, when the venue is already chosen, such as an office, a house or a hotel, or when the celebration is outside Varna. Both services use the same kitchen and the same produce. How the other option works is explained on our Catering page.
The practical rule is simple. With up to 120 guests and a wish for the atmosphere of a ship, choose a room on the galleon. With more guests, your own venue, or a wedding with an outdoor programme, look at catering. If you are unsure, tell us the headcount and the date, and we will put both options in one quote.
From our kitchen
The galleon has stood on the beach by the Sea Terminal since 2005, and over those years birthdays, anniversaries, christenings and company dinners have all passed through on board, indoors and under the open sky. From the kitchen side, the most important thing we have learned is that a private event is decided on the day before it. That is when we know how many portions of fish to take from the morning market, which guests do not eat seafood, and whether the children will want pasta instead of calamari.
The Black Sea has its say too. At the end of September and through October, bonito is at its best and often finds its way onto private dinner menus, either lightly salted as a mezze or as a fillet with rosemary. Once the open decks close at the end of October, celebrations move down to the first level, and the Main Hall gets warmer and louder. So when you ask us about a date in November, we first tell you which indoor room is free, and only then do we talk about the menu.
Frequently asked questions
How many people does the VIP Hall hold?
The VIP Hall holds between 12 and 24 people. It is enclosed and private, with its own service, and is booked on request. It suits anniversaries, business dinners and family celebrations that call for some privacy.
Can we book the whole restaurant?
Yes, the whole galleon can be arranged for a big occasion. The ship has around 280 seats in five rooms on three levels. Get in touch with the date, the occasion and the number of guests, and we will prepare a personal quote.
Can we hold a private event outdoors in November?
No. The Sea Terrace, the Upper Deck and the Captain's Bridge are open from May to October. From November to April, private events take place in the Main Hall with around 120 seats or in the VIP Hall for 12 to 24 people.
How early should I book a private event?
At least 2 weeks ahead for smaller occasions. For a large event on a Saturday, in summer, or around the end of year holidays, we recommend 1 to 2 months in advance.
Your celebration, our deck
A private event at Mr. Baba means a room or a deck for your guests only, a menu agreed in advance, and a team that takes care of the details while you celebrate. Choose the room by headcount and season, book in good time and tell us about any diets beforehand. Send us the date and the occasion, and we will come back with a proposal for the room and the menu.