Foodie or not, enjoying great local food is part of the experience of traveling, especially when traveling abroad. Romania has so many delicious and amazing foods, desserts and drinks. Better yet, Romania is a relatively inexpensive country, so if you are interested in a fine dining experience but normally cannot afford it, you can probably get the experience here in Romania! However, even the street food is delicious, and you can go to a bakery and get good bread for just 50 cents (USD). There are so many delicious and unique options for food, so you have every reason to enjoy while you are traveling here in Romania!
If you are completely unfamiliar with Romanian food, it is heavily borrowed from its neighbors: Turkey, Hungary, Germany, and Slavic cultures. Romanians also very much enjoy bread and lightly sweet treats!
If you are traveling to Bucharest for the first time, there will no doubt be tons of restaurants to choose from, some with better advertising and signs then others. If you don’t want to get sucked into any tourist traps but still want to try authentic and delicious Romanian cuisine, then read below for our top recommendations!
Simbio
We are starting the list off with a couple cafés. 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!
The Artist
We probably have you intrigued with just the name of this place, right? This is a good way to transition from cafés to restaurants, as the Artist has plenty of light fares on their menu while still having the variety of a full-service restaurant. And this is one of the finer restaurants in Bucharest, honestly the service and presentation are practically Michelin-start quality! The wine selection is great, and we would recommend trying the cucumber sorbet too!
Voila Bistro
Yes, the name is French and many of the menu items do have a French flair to them, but we love this restaurant because of their focus on sourcing locally. The menu is simple, but it is always fresh because it changes daily. The dishes always feature delicious local produce. This is a great find for delicious and healthy food!
The Tasting Room by Ethic Wine
Definitely the best wine bar in Bucharest. The dishes are delicious and well-presented, and the wait staff is super friendly. There is a good variety of fusion dishes here, and all kinds of wines to try! Be sure to make a reservation before you head over, because this place seems to always be full. And if you are really into wine, there is a great wine store around the corner, so you can buy a wine to bring home as a gift!
Mahala
Few tourists venture out to this restaurant, but it is definitely a local favorite! It is about a 20 minute walk from Old Town Bucharest and is located in a more residential area – which is perhaps why tourists often don’t bother to make the trek out here. It is a classy but cozy little restaurant with an impressive menu, featuring mostly Romanian cuisine. The waitstaff here is also super friendly and if you have any questions they are always happy to answer every single one in detail! This restaurant is sure to set a high bar for you and will not disappoint!
Bistro Guxt
If you are looking for a restaurant with great food that is not too expensive or stuffy, this is a place for you. It has a laid-back atmosphere while still serving amazing and well-prepared Romanian dishes. They also have a good drink menu, and this is another place off the beaten path, so you won’t be surrounded by other tourists when you visit.
Paine si Vin
This is another wine bar, but it has more of a modern feel. They have a great selection of local wines and they play relaxing music while you dine. As far as their food goes, they focus on lighter dishes and homemade breads. You are sure to find a good pizza here, and their flat breads are delicious!
Nor Sky Casual Restaurant
Sometimes when you are dining out, you want more than just amazing food – you want an experience. Nor Sky definitely offers you that! You dine on the 36th floor of a skyscraper and you can get an amazing view of the city – we recommend going for dinner because that is when you can see the whole city light up! This is a fine-dining excursion with unique and inventive dishes. If you want a unique and delicious experience, we would highly recommend you check this place out!
Zexe
Alright, we may have saved the best for last! If you want delicious, classic Romanian food at a classy restaurant, we would recommend stopping in here! It looks old fashioned on the inside, and if you are walking in from the center of town, you will pass by plenty of beautiful mansions before walking into this restaurant. There is live piano music but most importantly, this is some of the best Romanian food in town! When you dine, try the homemade "mici" or the Patricieni sausages!