Mr. Baba has five halls across three levels and around 280 seats in total, and choosing between them comes down to three questions: how many guests you are, whether you want an open or an enclosed space, and how much privacy you need. The answers narrow it to one hall, or at most two, whether you are planning a birthday, a company dinner or a table for two.
The galleon is built like a real ship, so the levels are not simply floors. Below it is warm, lively and enclosed, in the middle it is wide and open, and at the top it is quiet and panoramic. The same occasion feels different on each level, which is exactly why it is worth choosing deliberately instead of leaving it to whichever table is free on the night. Below we go hall by hall, with the real capacities and the occasions each one serves best.
The three questions before you choose
How many guests you expect
Numbers are the first filter and they rule out more than people expect. A group of twelve gathers naturally in the VIP hall but gets lost on the Upper Deck. If you fall between two capacities, take the smaller hall, because a full room always sounds better than a half-empty one.
Open or enclosed
In August that is almost a rhetorical question, but not quite. The open levels run from May to October and are the obvious choice for dinner after 19:00. For a lunchtime event in the heat, or for a date at the end of October, the enclosed halls are the safer bet, because they do not depend on the wind off the sea, which strengthens in the evening.
How much privacy you want
Some occasions gain from the noise around them and some lose by it. A family birthday blends nicely into the general hum, while a business conversation or a marriage proposal wants walls or distance. That is also the line separating the VIP hall and the Captain's Bridge from the other three.
The five halls at a glance
| Hall | Level | Type | Capacity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Hall | 01 | Enclosed | ~120 seats | Family and large dinners, all year |
| Sea Terrace | 01 | Open | ~60 seats | Long summer evenings by the water |
| VIP Hall | 01 | Enclosed, private | 12 - 24 people | Private events and business dinners |
| Upper Deck | 02 | Open | ~80 seats | Large groups and celebrations |
| Captain's Bridge | 03 | Open | ~24 seats | Romantic and special evenings |
The open halls run from May to October. So for dates at the end of the season we usually hold an enclosed fallback.
The enclosed halls: Main and VIP
Main Hall
This is the heart of the ship and the largest enclosed space, with around 120 seats. It is lively here, plates clatter and the evening has a natural noise that works in favour of large groups. There is a children's corner too, which makes it the most logical choice for family gatherings with children. It runs all year and is the only hall that does not depend on the weather outside.
The VIP Hall
The captain's cabin: enclosed, quiet and yours alone, for 12 to 24 people. Here you get your own service and your own pace, with no neighbouring table beside you. It is booked on request and is the most requested hall for business dinners, intimate birthdays and family occasions where the conversation is part of the evening. If you are planning something like that, see how we approach private events and catering too.
The open levels: terrace, deck and bridge
Sea Terrace
The open side of the ship, facing straight out to the water, with around 60 seats. The breeze, the candles and the sound of the waves are why most guests ask for it by name in summer. It is ideal for a long dinner while the sun goes down into the sea, and it is the first hall to fill in July and August. We have written about it in detail in the piece on the Sea Terrace in Varna.
Upper Deck
The main open deck on level 02 and the backbone of the summer, with around 80 seats and sky instead of a ceiling. This is where large groups gather, glasses are raised to the sunset and the evening runs slowly. If you are between forty and eighty people and the event falls in the warm months, this is the hall we offer first.
The Captain's Bridge
The highest point of the galleon, a small open deck with around 24 seats, suspended between sea and sky. The panorama runs from horizon to horizon, and evenings up here are kept for occasions you want to remember. Anniversaries, proposals, dinner for two after a long absence. There is more on it in the piece on the panoramic dinner on the bridge.
Which occasion for which hall
Birthday or anniversary
Up to 24 people and wanting privacy: the VIP Hall. Up to 24 people but wanting the view and a sense of occasion: the Captain's Bridge in summer. Over 40 people: the Upper Deck in season or the Main Hall outside it. For a children's birthday the Main Hall wins, thanks to the children's corner and to being enclosed.
Company dinner or business lunch
A small team and a working conversation go to the VIP Hall. An end-of-year celebration for the whole team goes to the Main Hall, because it falls in winter. Summer team building moves up to the Upper Deck. If the event is away from the restaurant, we also handle off-site catering in Varna and the region.
Romantic dinner
The Captain's Bridge, without competition, provided it is between May and October and booked in advance. Out of season the alternative is a corner table in the Main Hall, which is not the same but still makes a good evening. The wine for a night like that is worth choosing ahead, and our notes on rosé with seafood are a good starting point.
When to book
During the active season from June to September the weekends fill first, and the Sea Terrace and the Captain's Bridge disappear fastest, often a week or more ahead. For a weekday evening two or three days is usually enough. For groups over 20 and for taking a whole hall, come to us earlier, because then we plan the menu and the team as well.
The VIP Hall is booked on request rather than through the general table flow. Just send us the guest count, the date and the occasion. The restaurant is open every day from 12:00 to 24:00, and there is free parking by the galleon.
From our kitchen
The galleon sits on the beach by the Sea Terminal, at 27 Primorski Boulevard, and its levels are not a design whim but a decision taken because of the wind. The Varna breeze is pleasant in the afternoon, but after 21:00 it strengthens noticeably at height. That is why the Captain's Bridge is small and sheltered while the Upper Deck is wide and open. A guest booking the bridge for a September evening usually brings something for their shoulders, and that is no accident.
The second thing we have learned since dropping anchor here in 2005 is that the hall determines how people order. On the Sea Terrace and the Upper Deck people order platters to share and dinner stretches out. In the Main Hall the ordering is more classical, each to their own, because the tables are more compact. So we keep the menu identical for every hall but suggest different things depending on where you are sitting.
And one practical detail: the Black Sea dictates the kitchen more than the calendar does, whichever level you are sitting on. In August that usually means horse mackerel, bonito and goby, and turbot on the better days. If you have a specific wish for the occasion, tell us when booking and we will tell you honestly what will be fresh on that date.
Frequently asked questions
Can we book a whole hall just for us?
The VIP Hall is private by design and is taken entirely by your group. For the other halls, an exclusive booking is possible on request and depends on the date, the guest count and the season. Write to us with the details and we will tell you what is possible.
Which halls are open in winter?
The Main Hall and the VIP Hall run all year. The Sea Terrace, the Upper Deck and the Captain's Bridge are open-air and are used from May to October, depending on the weather.
Is there a hall suitable for children?
The Main Hall has a dedicated children's corner and is the most convenient for families with small children. It is enclosed, warm in every season and large enough that you need not worry about movement around the table.
How far ahead should a group of over 20 book?
In summer we recommend at least a week to ten days ahead, and earlier still for a weekend at the height of the season. For groups we plan the menu in advance too, which saves time on the night.
Choose the level, the sea stays the same
Five halls across three levels mean one simple thing: you do not have to bend the occasion to fit the place. There is a spot for the noisy family dinner, for the business conversation, for the big summer group and for two seats under the stars. You change only the level, and the view of the Black Sea comes with every one of them.
Have a look at the galleon's menu to decide what you will eat, and book a table through the reservation form or on the crew's phone. If the occasion is larger and you want a whole hall or an off-site event, write to us directly and we will suggest the format that fits best.