Lozenets is the closest thing Sofia has to a classic residential quarter of the European kind: mature trees, a mix of pre-war houses and newer boutique buildings, and a café on most corners. Its southern edge climbs toward the Lozenets hill, where the streets quieten and the views open toward Vitosha. Iztok, one boulevard away, was laid out with wider streets and generous green strips, and it shows. Borisova Gradina — the city’s great park — is effectively its garden. Families who want bicycles, morning runs and space between buildings tend to land here; the diplomatic quarter keeps the area calm and well-kept. Practically: Lozenets offers more architectural character per street and a livelier evening; Iztok offers light, air and the park. Both are a short drive or metro ride from the centre. Walk both on a weekday evening before deciding — the difference is felt within ten minutes.