Every week The Slovak Spectator brings you a selection of three short stories from across Slovakia from which pessimism and negativity are absent.
A Slovak shop in Gloucester, UK, is an unexpected foodie hotspot
On a quiet square in Gloucester, England, there’s a shop that feels like it’s been teleported straight from Slovakia. Klaudia and Ľuboš Štefanov opened it hoping to bring a taste of home to local Slovaks. Instead, it’s become a magnet for everyone else. British regulars swear by kefir, people from the Balkans come hunting for klobása, and curious locals drift in just to see what “Slovak salami” actually tastes like. Even visitors from far-off places walk out with Horalky tucked under their arm.
Inside, it’s mostly Ľuboš keeping the whole universe running: unloading pallets, chatting with customers, and ordering anything people request, whether it’s classic teas or ten kilos of flour “that tastes like real flour.” After nearly a decade, Stefanov Food has become a charming little outpost of Central Europe in the middle of England, a place where strangers become regulars and no one leaves without discovering something they didn’t know they needed.
Off-duty officer turns into a real-life action hero
When flames started to consume a family home in Ilava, western Slovakia, most bystanders froze. But not Martin Záhora, the local police chief, who was off duty but happened to be nearby. With black smoke pouring from an upstairs window, and whispers on the street suggesting that someone might still be trapped inside, Martin didn’t wait for backup. He sprinted straight into the choking darkness, where he found a disoriented woman covered in soot and guided her out to safety. No hesitation, no grand speeches.
Moments later, a police patrol arrived, treating the woman and clearing the way for paramedics. Meanwhile, Martin stayed in the danger zone, grabbing fire extinguishers and battling the flames until firefighters showed up. Together with a helpful neighbour named Jaroslav, he also shut off the gas and electricity, preventing an already bad situation from turning disastrous. According to the police, the fire was ultimately put out thanks to the quick thinking of those who acted in the very first seconds – the ones who stepped forward instead of stepping back.
Two Slovaks and one unexpected guest on a very normal afternoon
Herman didn’t expect much when he opened his “rejection challenge” app in Bratislava. The New Zealander’s self-imposed task sounded like a guaranteed failure: find a couple willing to let a complete stranger tag along on their date. Most people gave him quick, polite no’s – the kind we forget instantly. Then he met Fero and Nina, who didn’t laugh, didn’t hesitate, didn’t ask what was wrong with him. They just pulled out a chair and made space.
They talked, they had coffee, and before Herman even realised it, they had picked up the bill. Nothing dramatic, nothing staged. Just two people deciding to make someone’s day a bit easier. For Herman, it became one of his most positive encounters so far, pushing his streak of successful challenges to thirteen days. For everyone watching, it was a quiet reminder that kindness doesn’t need grand gestures to stand out.
Some feel-good stories published by The Slovak Spectator for you to enjoy:Meme of the week
Caption: Unknown man goes to Budapest to eat, because food is too expensive in Slovakia.
Foreign news.
A new meme is doing the rounds in Slovakia after nationalist politician Andrej Danko proudly posted a video from the Budapest Christmas markets, cheerfully announcing that he had met “many Slovaks from Senica and Bardejov” and was enjoying a langoš. As always, the internet was deeply moved by this groundbreaking geopolitical insight. Nothing says statesmanship quite like crossing the border, discovering Slovaks abroad, and reporting back as if this were a diplomatic revelation.
Satirical site Zomri quickly turned his post into a joke that works, because it taps into real frustration about rising prices while poking fun at Danko’s habit of posting unintentionally funny updates. The whole thing feels like classic Slovak satire: a self-promoting politician, a harmless brag, and one greasy langoš turned into a national punchline.
You can send me your tips on good news stories about Slovakia or funny memes at: elizaveta.blahodarova@spectator.sk. Thank you.