Image Credit: Copyright © Forte Tapas Bar and Bistro
Image Courtesy of Representative for Filming Location Listing

If there’s one thing we have a variety of in Las Vegas, it is culture. Las Vegas has become the home for many different people from all over the world, bringing with them a part of their culture to share with everyone. This makes our city a wonderful place to be exposed to many different things in a relatively small city.

Forte Tapas is a European Tapas Bar and Bistro located in an unassuming plaza in the middle of Las Vegas next to a UPS Store and UMC Quick Care. However, this is no ordinary restaurant.

The moment you step inside, it’s like stepping into another world. The casual, cozy eatery serves authentic Eastern European comfort food built around a core of family Bulgarian dishes but extends to a wide variety of Eastern European and Spanish tapas inspired dishes.

The chef/owner at Forte Tapas, Nina Manchev, is a native of Sofia, Bulgaria. She came to Las Vegas with her family when she was 3 years old and opened the restaurant in 2010 when she was just 23 and attending UNLV.

Although the menu is focused on traditional Bulgarian food, the restaurant also offers a variety of food from other cultures, such as Serbian, Russian and many other types of dishes.

The atmosphere and decor are multicultural as well, including an artsy mix of old European currency and Russian propaganda posters and paintings by Manchev herself. The floors are concrete and splashed with paint in a Jackson Pollock style.

The broader European appeal is intentional to bring together people of different cultures and backgrounds rather than making it a primarily Bulgarian restaurant.

The restaurant also has an outdoor patio seating area and live entertainment on some nights, so it’s not uncommon for this place to be standing room only. Forte Tapas Bar is a hit with locals and tourists alike with many compliments to the authenticity of food as well as its cozy but lively atmosphere.

“Best Eastern European Restaurant We’ve Been to in US”
We love to travel. I am from Kiyv, Ukraine and it reminded me of my favorite places in my city. My husband thought the same.
elmoredennis, Trip Advisor Review

The small tapas restaurant even caught the attention of the Food Network TV Show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with host Guy Fieri. Forte Tapas Bar was featured on the show not just once, but twice.

In the “All Vegas, All The Time” episode, Guy Fieri drops by to see how the sausage is made (literally) as Nina takes him through the preparation of a few Bulgarian sausage recipes and a traditional Bulgarian dish of Eastern European comfort food.

Image Credit: “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: All Vegas, All The Time”

You can watch this episode on the Food Network website: https://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/forte-bulgarian-sausage-0188300

Fun Fact: Host Guy Fieri and owner Nina Manchev both graduated from UNLV.

“Vegas Greats” was the title of the second Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives episode in which Guy Fieri gets a delicious history lesson and learns to make a traditional Thracian Clay Pot from Nina.

You can also watch this episode on the Food Network’s website: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/thracian-clay-pot-recipe-2125999

Forte Tapas Bar and Bistro keeps people coming back time and time again. If you’re looking for an authentic Eastern European atmosphere and dining experience to use as a filming location for your next production, be sure to check out Forte Tapas Bar and Bistro!

You can view the full Forte Tapas and Bistro filming location details here and don’t forget to register your project!

To find more film-friendly locations, be sure to visit our Nevada Filming Locations Database!

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