Have you tried everything in Košice?

Slurp the tangy fermented cabbage soup with smoked sausage — locals call it proof of Slovak winter superiority.

Order šúľance s makom as a full meal, not dessert — Slovak culinary logic at its finest.

Try chlieb so sadlom — dark bread with pork lard, raw onion and paprika — as a €1-2 pub snack.

Get a rotating three-course lunch for €4-6, no English menu, no pretension.

Walk under the old trees flanking the old town — locals say it's unbeatable when autumn turns them gold.

Sink into a stone-cellar basement pub for cold lager and honest prices, no frills attached.

Sit at a small table and try Slovak or Tokaj wines for €3-8 a glass with staff who actually know them.

Visit Hlavná on a weekday evening in December to dodge crowds while sipping mulled wine among wooden stalls.

Chat with a local about Kassa-to-Košice history — they'll discuss it with nuance, not nationalism.

Push past the formal first impression — earn trust here and you'll have a friend who insists on paying for everything.

Say "Dobrý deň" (DOB-ree dyen) to every shopkeeper and stranger you meet — always formal, never skip it.

Bring up the classic line — "What do Bratislava people think about Košice? They don't" — locals will grin.