I enjoy eating out and especially have lots of memories of eating out in my travels, This was no exception to my several trips to Bucharest, Romania, I have written the post before but need to update text and links as times move on and the memories remain, Therefore, let me tell you some of my favorite restaurants of Bucharest !!! I am always looking forward to be back, eventually with still many of the friends who brought me to these restaurants as well.
The soul of Bucharest! The beer wagon or Caru cu bere ! the restaurant with old world decoration near the National Bank building of Romania. The restaurant building is neo gothic located at Stavropoleos street across from Calea Victoriel street the famous city center of Bucharest. Caru’ cu Bere is a bar and restaurant in the Lipscani district, opened in 1879 and moved to the current location, a gothic revival building in 1899. It is noted for its distinctive art nouveau interior decoration. The sumptuous interior will dazzle you, as much by the many details of the decor as by the colors that emanate from it. Finally the food, a wide pannel of what can offer the culinary culture of Romania, really a good place to eat dishes of quality.
The atmosphere in Caru cu Bere is really impressive, sometimes a bit noisy, but you get used to it very quickly. Attentive and busy servers swarm everywhere in an organization that must be exemplary in the face of the impressive number of customers. In the background, traditional music well dosed not to be embarrassing without being forgotten. The building consists of several places, the first is the terrace, under the ceapa (onions) and usturoi (garlic), it is still very obsolete in winter. Then, you enter the main room by passing an old drum door to arrive in the most magnificent restaurant that I could see! In the background, a period bar, with the beer brewed by the restaurant itself, balconies lining the bar, but it is necessary, before taking the view, to climb a magnificent wooden spiral staircase. Downstairs, the basement is landscaped but keeps the image of a cellar, and a magnificent collection of Borcan (jars).
The official Caru Cu Bere resto:https://www.carucubere.ro/en/
The 18 Lounge , at 3-5th Presei Libere Square, City Gate South Tower, 18th floor, Bucharest. The 18 Lounge on top 18th floor of the Millenium building. It has a 15 meters long bar, and tables all around with wonderful views of the city and the lake Herastrau. No menu direct from carte. I remember having a wonderful leek soup,(and I am not into soups), and then pork spare ribs in a Romanian sauce (heavens!!) with Calsberg beer. Great business and romantic place packed with locals and visitors alike. The views alone are worth coming here!
Definitely a place worth trying out, at least for the view, so make sure to make a reservation with a seat next to the window. Modern and stylish in decoration, 18 Lounge comes with seating for 180 guests inside and 60 on the rooftop terrace. So a larger part indoors, but with floor-to-ceiling windows the views are panoramic just about anywhere. The rooftop restaurant has a 15 meter long bar and order crafted signature cocktails made with local and fresh products. With a sophisticated yet friendly vibe, 18 Lounge is a great rooftop bar in Bucharest for a date or a nice night out with friends and family. Sometimes there is live music, and otherwise you can expect nice tunes out of the speakers. For dinner, reservations are highly recommended, and note that the 18 Lounge dress code is casual.
The official 18Lounge resto :https://18lounge.ro/
La Placinte Moldavian cuisine restaurant with a wooden tray of pork kebaks, potatoes, salad, and compote or drain fruit drink of red fruits sweet and nice down with Ursus local beer was excellent. Very nicely decorated Inside and nice friendly service. I went to the Bd. Ion Mihalache, NR.96-98
La Placinte is a chain of restaurants from the neighboring Republic of Moldova that has become quickly popular in Romania .. As soon as you enter this restaurant, situated in an upscale Bucharest neighborhood, you will notice the cozy atmosphere and helpful waiters, always with a smile on their face. If you like Romanian folk music and home-made food, you might become one of their regular clients. Apart from traditional Moldavian dishes, served in clay pots, their menu also features many delicious pies, filled with pumpkin, potato or cheese. The place can get quite crowded at lunch time and and in the evening so it’s better to make a reservation.
The official La Placinte resto :https://laplacinte.ro/en/pages/restaurante/2
My Vatra Neamului restaurant was at DN1, str. Calea București, nr. 29, com. Balotești, jud. The Restaurant is by Balostesti, past Otopeni the airport city, along the DN1 road. This is very much use as well for weddings and anniversaries by the locals, as it is very traditional Romanian in food and decoration. We had dinner in the poets’s room as you have portraits of Romanian poets/writers going way back. Vatra Neamului, is a mix cuisine between ancient moldavian/romanian food, the food wich was served by our ancestors before us, and a trip to the time of Stefan the Great, Michael the Brave, and the unrivaled writer Mihai Eminescu.
When they don’t have big events, the Vatra Neamului use only the floor halls. In the evening, from time to time, they also have music from various bands that come to play there. The menu at Vatra Neamului is Bessarabian, obviously! Similar to the Romanian cuisine, in general, and very hard with the Moldavian one, still evident. The food is good and less of the Slavic and Balkan chefs, fat and heavy. The Pies, in particular, are highly appreciated, and I think they are one of the attractions of the Vatra Neamului. Especially since they’re being made in front of you, some housewives do a little job in a corner where they’ve arranged the plating, with the flour bags next door, the suciters and everything else. The service is good, personal and the prices are normal. The hearth of the Gentile Vatra Neamului is, therefore, one of the restaurants already known in Bucharest, among those with Moldavian nationals. It’s going there especially when you have more time on hand and you’re not on the run. Wonderful find, enjoy it when you can.
The official Vatra Neamului resto :https://www.vatraneamului.ro/
I had plenty of lunches at the Cafe inside the World Trade Gallery shopping complex, friendly staff who speaks English, on a cafeteria style foods that are very good and not expensive with Best chef cafe on Bdul Topografiei or boulevard Topografiei. Then pay a visit to a wonderful place sure to come back to it, the taverna Sarbului the terrace ambiance and friendly service in addition to superb local cuisine and good friends made it special, I could have stay here longer!
Theofficial Taverna Sarbului in Bucharest:https://bucuresti.tavernasarbului.ro/
They locals took me out, and went to the La Iancu restaurant just outside Bucharest in Otopeni where the airport is located, but a nice town. The service was very nice, and the food with the big veal steak fries and beers Tuborg was nice indeed.
The official La Iancu restaurant : https://laiancu.ro/
I was taken on a personal car tour of the main sights in town late at night ,which was glorious. However, I did walk the pedestrian city center and ate at the historical wonderful Hanul lui Manuc , Romanian specialty of lamb steak and polenta with the local Ursus beer. Sadly could not find pictures…. This is the address Str. Franceza nr. 62-64, Bucuresti, Sector 3, The official Hanul Lui Manuc resto : https://www.hanulluimanuc.ro/en/
Next door, to the Ramada Parc Plaza Hotel (see post) you have the Casa Doina Restaurant , since 2003 The restaurant is one of
Bucharest’s historical edifices which impresses by its one-of-a-kind architecture signed by maestro Ion Mincu, graduated from the National School of Fine Arts in Paris. The restaurant is an authentic Romanian construction from the 19C, fully renovated and restored, where fine cuisine, a spectacular ambiance and high quality services come together to create the perfect invitation even for the most fastidious of clients. And we were, coming from all angles but always nicely friendly served, great memories here.
bit on the architecture just as good as the food/service, The main living room being at the level of a raised ground floor, preceded by a porch, access to this building is facilitated by an external ramp with steps, the latter being protected from the weather thanks to a marginal extension of the roof. With regard to the main facade, the dominant perspective is vertical, starting from the basement, marked by a veranda with glass walls, the skeleton of which takes the form of the Romanian arches, right in the center. If we look up, we discover the fabulous veranda, supported by several carved wooden columns, crowned by a rectangular, pointed dome, made of ceramic tiles. Gorgeous too ! The official Casa Doina restaurant: https://www.casadoina.ro/
There you go folks, another culinary trip of wonderful memorable Bucharest! Always looking forward to be back, eventually. Again, hope you enjoy this post on some of my favorite restaurants of Bucharest !!! as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 