Do you love coffee? We do too, and in fact so do most Romanians! If you are a coffee lover who is traveling to Bucharest, there are definitely plenty of options for you. Below we are going to give you a list of our favorite coffee shops in Bucharest. Also, keep in mind that some cafés in Bucharest become clubs after dark (what a great way to stay open all day, right?) so we will include a couple of those spots as well!
Origo
We are starting off with what might be the very best coffee shop in Bucharest (or at least one of our top favorites!). Origo has high-quality coffee, extremely talented baristas who roast the coffee. What’s even better about this café is that it is one of the ones that turns into a bar after hours, and the cocktails are just as good as the coffee!
Simbio
Simbio is cute and simple coffee shop that also has a nice food menu too. Come in for all-day breakfast or get a burger and fries if you want something more filling. This café is small and cozy and is a perfect place to stop in between meals when you want a quick break from walking around the city!
Energiea
This is another cute café with a totally different vibe than Simbio. If you are looking for a café that is healthy, urban and hip, this is the place for you! What is really cool about this place is that it is housed in an old printing house that used to print magazines, books, and even communist propaganda. The menu is simple, elegant and healthy and you can get fresh smoothies made with local fruit! This is definitely a refreshing place to take a quick break!
Carturesti Carusel
Maybe you bibliophiles have already heard of this one, but for the rest of you: this is one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world! No joke, just look it up on Google - some people travel to Bucharest just for this bookstore. It is in Old Town Bucharest, it is bright and white, filled with plenty of art and gorgeous multi-story columns. Though of course the highlight is the bookstore itself, it has a lovely café to help you relax and spend hours at a time here.
Carturesti Verona
This book store is just as beautiful as the previous bookstore, albeit, in a different way. This bookstore is located in the center of Bucharest and is currently in what used to be a house. Every room in the house is decorated slightly differently, and there is even a café in here. Aside from being decorated differently, each room as a certain genre of books and plenty of space to sit, and as you walk through this book shop you see plenty of people hanging out and reading something from the shop. It is much homier than the previous book shop, and also smaller. Both have their own charm, and both have a coffee shop, so you can feed both your caffeine and book addiction in one go!
M60
This café is actually on a street filled with other cute coffee shops, so you can just walk down and stroll through your options before having to choose. However, if you come across M60, we would highly recommend stopping in. M60 has a cool Scandinavian atmosphere and plenty of Chemex-style pour overs. Though this place does not convert into a night club after-hours, M60 does serve beer and is open until 1am in case you need a coffee to freshen up during a long night out.
Acuarela
Acuarela is a coffee shop that is cute in a weird and whimsical kind of way. It has got a bright mural with a baby on the front, so it is not hard to miss. The furniture is miss-matched in a way that somehow works, and in the summer they put out a wide array of colorful umbrellas for shade. The coffee is good, but so is their lemonade. Honestly, this café is worth a visit pretty much just for the atmosphere.
Meron
Meron is super modern and artsy. Its motto is “Home of Coffee”. Because it is super contemporary and has loud music, it doesn’t feel too homey, but the coffee is great and the atmosphere was still really cool. We definitely recommend stopping in (plus it is super Instagrammable!).
Artichoke Coffee Shop
Artichoke Coffee Shop is a hipster place, but not eat-veggies-with-your-coffee kind of hipster (we would recommend the chocolate chip cookies). The inside is airy and modern, with water served in liquor bottles, cute pillows to lean against, and an impressive spiral staircase. Sit out on the patio for a great view of the centuries-old Kretzulescu Church!
T-Zero Coffee Shop
T-Zero is a simple, modest café with a slightly hipster vibe. The walls are made of wood and there are table tops that rest on up-cycled bikes. Although the café is humble, their coffee is exceptional and made with Origo beans (see #1). So, if you are looking for a quick coffee that tastes amazing, be sure to stop in here!
The Coffee Factory
Ok, we know that a name like “The Coffee Factory” sounds kind of commercial and un-exciting, but we promise that this coffee shop made it to our list for a reason! The Coffee Factory is actually not too factory-like at all, as every cup is crafted with love and care. This is a modest café without being too hipster. It probably got its name because the shop roasts its own beans. A couple cool things about this place is that they have an outdoor garden and some really cool bathrooms (you’ll have to check it out for yourself!).