The food & drink scene in Bucharest absolutely blew me away. I wasn’t expecting to pin quite so many good looking cafes, bars and restaurants on Google Maps as I did when I was working out where I wanted to spend my refreshment breaks and for there to be far more that I wanted to visit than the number of ‘slots’ I could possibly fit in! With only thirty hours to make the most of, I was rather disappointed to wake up for my second day (or morning anyway) to find my stomach feeling not very happy and pretty bloated. Unfortunately, I’d been unwell earlier during this trip probably with sunstroke or dehydration from a day in the sun in Montenegro and whilst the first day (/ afternoon) I was feeling right as rain again, I perhaps overdid it in terms of how much I wanted to taste my way through and the following day was more coffee based rather than sustenance. Anyway, it just means that I obviously need to return to make the most of all those other pins 😉
Bucharest reminded me somewhat of cities like Glasgow or Bristol which have some stunning architecture but rubbing shoulders with gritty surrounds and there’s something in the cultural scene that seems to go along with cities that have this vibe. In Bucharest you can get your taste of classic Romanian dishes, experience exquisite pastries, incredible craft coffee and innovative cocktails. Here are my favourite takes from my Bucharest visit, curated from plenty of time reading and searching Google reviews & menus to try as many of the best places I could in my short time in the city!
1. Stadio Atrium
Stadio Atrium had not been on my original list. On planning my food stops, I had intended to go to either Caru’ cu Bere or AveForchetta for dinner on the wednesday evening but both did not happen. First of all, having had a slightly dodgy tummy, I thought that the heavy Romanian fare at Caru’ cu Bere might be a bit much and I was craving something lighter and fresher instead. Secondly, AveForchetta was fully booked. Yup. On a wednesday evening, it was full! I also thought that perhaps for just one night in Bucharest, I should find somewhere that would have more of a nod to Romanian flavours and cuisine.
So I was back to the Google Maps board and found Stadio Atrium which looked fresh, light & beautiful. It has a rating of 4.9 with nearly 9k reviews which is very impressive and is a prettyyyyy good indicator this is somewhere absolutely worth a visit. The venue itself is pretty cool with a couple of different areas. I sat in the open atrium section where the striking red screens stand out against the greenery that creates an oasis atmosphere in the heart of the city.
There were so many delicious dishes on the menu it was hard to choose what to go for and I enjoyed that there were Romanian options as well as some that were classic meals but with Romanian twists. On this occasion, since I was craving something a little lighter I chose the Buddha Bowl which was packed with colourful, flavour packed ingredients and satisfied that itch for a veggie based health kick! And for dessert, the biggest stack of Stadio’s spin on PapanaÈ™i fried donuts with plenty of sour cream and blueberry jam. What a treat with the sourness of the sour cream cutting through the sweetness of the jam and the donuts 🤤 The pile was generous so I offered a taste to the ladies sitting next to me and we ended up having a lovely conversation for fifteen minutes or so, this is always so lovely when you’re travelling solo 😊
2. Sloane Coffee
Next up we have Sloane Speciality Coffee. The cafe is gorgeous, the coffee is gorgeous, the presentation is gorgeous and the coffee also tastes impeccable. These guys know what they’re about and have a roastery elsewhere in the city! I sat here with a book for half an hour, savouring my creamy flat white. The steamed milk smooth and a welcome contrast to the strong, rounded espresso. Generally, when a coffee shop gives you a glass of water with your coffee, they’re into their coffee game and so you should know that sugar / sweetener is not available here if that’s important for your coffee!
3. Bread & Butter
Bread & Butter is a popular spot all the way through the day from breakfast through to lunch and then finishing up with dinner and drinks and a closing time of 11pm (midnight on Friday & Saturday). Every time I walked past, no matter the time of day, there were plenty of people around. This was my only food spot on the second day as, whilst I felt pretty bloated, I knew I did need to eat something and a big glass of freshly squeezed orange juice with a yoghurt and granola bowl seemed like a healthy and nutritious way to enjoy something light. Bread & Butter is a great people watching spot or to sit with a book and I thoroughly enjoyed my breakfast granola bowl. There are so many other brunch options so it’s a good central spot.
4. Linea: Closer to the Moon
As I was exiting the lift up to the rooftop Linea: Closer to the Moon, I had a message literally recommending this exact place from a friend who had been to Bucharest a few months earlier, so clearly it was a great choice! There are two options for seating at Linea. Either you can head right up to the outdoor roof terrace or you can sit inside in the conservatory esque restaurant area. Since it was around 4pm and I had come for a drink only, I went upstairs to enjoy the. view on the rooftop terrace. It is pretty spectacular with city panoramic vistas, particularly to enjoy a view of the CEC dome and the History Museum, both with fabulous architecture. For such an incredible location and views, the prices are reasonable. If I had more time, I would have loved to come for dinner here as well because the menu sounded delicious, but with just thirty hours I wanted to try elsewhere as well! So Linea for dinner is another one for my next foodie visit 😉
5. Picnic Sandwich Atelier
Picnic Sandwich Atelier is inside an unassuming building in central Bucharest which I must admit I walked straight past initially! This sandwich shop has a bright and airy interior with minimalist decor. It’s the perfect lunch spot to grab a sandwich which will fuel the rest of your afternoon exploring the city. Reading their menu will make your mouth watering and it was extremely hard to work out which combination of ingredients would be the most explosive. In the end, I chose one of their burger ciabattas which mixed a rectangular burger patty with pickled leek & onion, a variety of cheeses, rocket & a herby mayo. So good. With a refreshing ice tea to go alongside this was a great way to start my foodie journey through Bucharest.
6. Temple of Brewzeus & Paina Goala
Temple of Brewzeus (a speciality coffee shop) and Paina Goala (a bakery & patisserie) share a space in a warehouse type setting on Strada Ion Brezoianu. Of course, I chose a flat white and then it was the pistachio cruffin that caught my eye from Paina Goala. This combination of coffee & pastries under one roof is perfect for a morning or afternoon pick me up and both of these places are experts of their craft so you’re in for a treat.
7. Negroni Aperitivo Bar
Negroni Aperitivo Bar is hands down very cool. Even the entrance way to this hip bar spot feels pretty cool and you’ll a bit like a rockstar walking through the orange red lit up tunnel to find the bar. On my visit, everyone was sitting outside but there was an interior bar as well which looked cosy and plush, perfect for when the weather drops. The ambiance was buzzy but low key. The menu is packed with cocktails and of course an inviting number of aperitivo cocktails. Visit when the Aperitivo Train is on the line (from 18:19-20:19 everyday) and all twelve of their aperitivo cocktails are 28 lei each. Yes you read that correctly, 28 lei which is around £4.60 per cocktail. Excellent value!
9. Meron
Meron is another craft coffee shop. You can see I was really getting the liquid gold in during this all to brief visit to Bucharest! Mainly because there is such a great speciality coffee scene in the city and so there are an incredible number of coffee stops and roasteries with high reviews. Meron was another one which my friend who had been to the city earlier in the year recommended to me. I was intending to go for brunch and order the Banana French Toast with my coffee but sadly, (as I’ve mentioned a few times already, sorry!) I was feeling very bloated and thought that a stack of fluffy pancakes with lots of delicious toppings would probably not help. Instead, I came just for coffee and I’m so glad I did because this truly is another spot in the city that knows what it’s doing with its coffee beans.
10. Next Visit: Caru’ cu bere, Manuc’s Inn, AveForchetta & La Mita Biciclista
Finally, I’m ending with some places that you should add to your list because they’re already on my list for next time! I’ve already mentioned Caru’ cu bere & AveForchetta but Manuc’s Inn and La Mita Biciclista are another two to include. AveForchetta is perfect for when you’re caving Italian food and with reviews of 4.9 with 14k plus is exceptional. Just make sure to book in advance to avoid disappointment. Car’ cu bere & Manuc’s Inn are both famous for their traditional Romanian cuisine. Manuc’s Inn is a historic place in the Old Town of Bucharest and was built in the early 1800s. It’s been part of the fabric of Bucharest’s story for over two hundred years and would be an incredible place to enjoy Romanian caravanserai (roadside inn) culture in the heart of the city.
Car’ cu bere is known for being an experience and not just a restaurant as you are treated to live performances of music and dance throughout the evening as you enjoy the oldly worldly charm and atmosphere of the place. Finally, La Mita Biciclista is located inside a gorgeous building with an Art-Nouveau facade. It serves cocktails, lunch, dinner & breakfast but I had my eye on it for the stunning pastries and Viennoiserie which can be enjoyed in the gorgeous courtyard or the airy interiors. La Mita Biciclista is known for its Christmas displays.
If you’re looking for more foodie reccos across Europe & Bucharest content then do check out some of my other posts:
Cat x