Fun and entertainment Romania

The place to go out in Sibiu, very nice and well placed. In summer, you can set up in the morning on the beautiful veranda terrace, with its lovely view over Piaţa Mică, to sip a coffee or refreshment in a quiet setting. Later in the night, a graffiti-covered staircase takes you down into a brick cellar, where a rocking, festive atmosphere reigns. The venue regularly hosts concerts of all kinds. Partygoers can also satisfy their hunger by ordering a pizza, burger or pasta.

A reasonably cheap bar, extremely popular and really nice.

An unusual place that will take you... to the moon! The concept is clear as soon as you step out of the elevator, with spherical lunar lights. You first pass through the restaurant, serving mainly kebabs and salads. Climb another floor and you're on the roof, home to one of the city's most popular rooftops. In summer, the bar is packed. In winter, big bubbles are installed to keep your cocktails warm. The view over the city is breathtaking.

This beer bar, located in an old villa near the Jewish Quarter, produces its own foam: a natural, unfiltered beer, available in white, blonde, red or brown. You can also take a tour of the microbrewery between draughts. You can also dine in: grilled meats, soups, pasta, traditional Romanian dishes and numerous Indian specialties are all on the menu. The decor is rustic and the welcome charming.

This place, which invites you to "cuddle the mug", is perfect for a gourmet break: try the delicious hot chocolate, savor the caffeinated creations, whether hot or iced, taste the warm croissants... The Scandinavian decor is relaxing and the service attentive. You can sit back and relax on the premises, or opt for a drink to go. What's more, prices are really reasonable. In addition to the sign on the main pedestrian street, you'll find another, less central, on Calea Dumbrăvii (at number 16).

This alternative club offers concerts and parties of all kinds. It has three rooms: a main stage with a varied program, a stage dedicated to techno and deep house and a retro stage, where music from the 1990s and 2000s takes center stage. The atmosphere is relaxed and warm, quite different from that of the luxury clubs in the area. It's also one of the cheapest nightclubs in the city center, which attracts many students. You can even sleep here: a youth hostel has been set up right above the club!

Just off the main square, it's the ideal place to relax and enjoy a coffee. It's roasted on the premises and sourced from various countries. You'll find all kinds of caffeinated specialties, as well as excellent teas, cold drinks and lemonades. You can also sit back and enjoy a beer or glass of wine. The decor is warm and trendy, all wood with touches of blue. There's also a lovely courtyard.

Here's a nice place to have a coffee, sip a refreshment or even grab a bite to eat. Located on the citadel's central square, this establishment run by a Christian association occupies the "House on the Rock" and boasts a very pleasant terrace on the cobblestones. As for drinks, in addition to coffee specialities, you'll find homemade lemonades, smoothies, etc. Delicious tarts and other delicacies of all kinds (waffles, ice creams, etc.) are served, as well as breakfasts and a few dishes at lunchtime: sandwiches, quiches, salads, etc.

Whether it's for breakfast, a daytime break or an early evening drink, this address is a sure bet. The place is charming: the colorful Persian decor plunges you into another continent, the welcome is warm and the drinks are delicious. The house offers a wide selection of teas, as well as fresh fruit juices, homemade lemonades and specialty coffees. If you're feeling peckish, you'll find a selection of home-made pastries and savoury tarts. A true oasis of tranquillity in the heart of the city.

A true local institution. Located in an underground cellar on Calea Victoriei, Green Hours is one of the oldest jazz clubs in the country. It offers a solid weekly jazz, blues or funk music program, and even organizes a jazz festival every spring. It also hosts the performances of the Monday Theatre (Teatrul luni), probably the oldest and best known of the independent theatres. When the weather is nice, the terrace in the inner courtyard is very pleasant. A place you can't miss.

A great place for a drink or a quick bite to eat. This café offers a very wide range of teas and coffees, as well as delicious fruit juices, good Romanian craft beers and more. If you're feeling peckish, you can opt for a sandwich, salad or bruschetta, filled with good, often local, produce. It's also the perfect place to have breakfast or sit down with your computer. And prices are low. Cultural events abound: exhibitions, concerts, screenings, readings, etc.

To enjoy a drink or to eat, this stylish cafe-restaurant is a good choice. The wooden garret is reminiscent of a mountain hut. Wi-Fi in free access to customers.

You'll find these stores all over the city, and even elsewhere in the country: this Romanian franchise has over 300 outlets, including more than a hundred in Bucharest. Coffee specialties, pastries, cold drinks, smoothies, milkshakes, on the spot or to take away. Prices are low, and a single order rarely costs more than €2. The shops are easy to spot, with their bright green facades. Inside, the design, with its Scandinavian accents, is meticulous. A good option for a quick, good, inexpensive coffee.

This café is located in a building that once housed Universul, one of Romania's first daily newspapers, founded in 1884. In this industrial setting with its large bay windows, you'll find a boutique featuring local designers, as well as a coworking space. But if you appreciate this hipster and artistic community spirit, don't forget the excellent coffee served here. Last but not least, beyond the pies and salads available for snacking, you can enjoy more elaborate menus created by different chefs for special events.

In the pretty Copou district, this pleasant café is located in the former home of Mihail Kogălniceanu, a great ^19th-century political figure. This 1807 building also houses a museum dedicated to him. The café exudes a vintage atmosphere, with its rustic furniture, sections of baroque tapestry, paintings and multiple antique lamps. It attracts a young, intellectual crowd. Ideal for a drink while enjoying the exhibitions currently on show. There's also a small terrace at the front.

It's one of the meeting places of timișoar's trendy youth. AetherNativ is hidden away inside a building on Mărășești Street, which concentrates several cool bars, not far from piața Unirii. Small rooms open onto a pleasant indoor terrace, a cool refuge in summer. The walls are adorned with graffiti. Craft beers, Romanian wines, coffee specialties, lemonades and other beverages are served. Art events are held regularly. In short, a cool place.

A large, trendy bar in the university district. It attracts chic young people in a lounge setting, with a pleasant terrace in fine weather. At night, the atmosphere turns to that of a discotheque, with themed evenings organized every week. Excellent cocktails are served. You can also eat here: daily lunch menus are available, as well as breakfasts and a multitude of dishes such as sushi, pasta, burgers, grilled fish, meats, pizzas, sandwiches... Enough to satisfy party-goers at any time.

The ideal place for lovers of good foam. It's tucked away in a passageway off pedestrian street Alexandru Lăpușneanu. The Beer Zone bar is a small space with a festive atmosphere, serving Iași's best beers. The setting is charming and warm, with its wood-panelled interiors and slate board announcing the beers of the moment. The choice is more than vast, to be operated among more than 200 carefully selected Romanian and foreign craft beers. There's also a terrace overlooking the park.

On the main boulevard running from Piața Unirii towards the Palace of Culture, don't miss this charming little coffee shop, with just a tiny counter and a few steps in front for seating. Opened by two coffee aficionados, this place has a very New York hipster feel and makes excellent lattes, flat whites, espressos, Turkish coffees... You'll also find good teas. What's more, prices are very reasonable. The managers also organize cupping sessions, including coffee tastings.

This trendy bar has taken up residence in a house in a residential area. Tucked away in the greenery, you have to go down a flight of stairs to find it. The first thing you see is a terrace sheltered by vines. The interior resembles a vast loft, entirely open on two levels, colorful and furnished with salvaged furniture. Excellent cocktails, specialty coffees, all kinds of teas, fresh fruit juices, homemade lemonades... The venue, which hosts numerous cultural events, also has a coworking space upstairs.

Beers and records! In the Maria district, close to the center and in the semi-basement of a large green building, this friendly little bar specializing in local craft beers is also a vinyl store. You can take a seat among the records, choose one to put on the turntable (before making a possible purchase) and enjoy one of the fine Romanian mousses on the menu. Unless you prefer tea, coffee, milkshake or a cold drink. In fine weather, a few tables are set up on the sidewalk.

Located in the same building as AetherNativ, this bar occupies the first-floor apartment, giving the impression of arriving at someone's home. It's the place to come for a drink, a party or to enjoy the regular artistic events and concerts. Cuib d'arte literally means "art nest". As you enter, a cotton cloud hanging from the ceiling sets the tone. Another special feature: the back room has a ping-pong table! Good choice of beers, both Romanian and foreign, at reasonable prices.

Built in 1875 by Viennese architects, this beautiful building was ravaged by fire in 1920. The wings remain intact, while the facade, overlooking Piața Victoriei, has been rebuilt in neo-Byzantine style. It is home to four cultural institutions: the Mihai Eminescu National Theatre, the German and Magyar National Theatres and the Opera House. The latter is one of the best in the country. You'll be able to enjoy some excellent performances for a modest sum. The Philharmonic (boulevard Loga, 2) also gives excellent classical concerts.

This club, among the oldest in the city, specializes in retro music. He regularly organizes jazz, blues or pop rock concerts, as well as numerous theme evenings, focusing on the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Over the years, he has seen a number of legendary Romanian and international artists from these decades, such as Boney M, Haddaway, Dr Alban or UB40. The decoration also plays the retro card, with its multiple faceted balls hanging from the ceiling, its tapestries and its frames a bit psychedelic.

Close to the Dan Stadium Păltinișanu, this chic, electronic music-oriented nightclub is priced higher than other clubs in the city. The hotel also has an outdoor swimming pool surrounded by a pleasant terrace, in a beautiful green setting. Pool parties are held there on a regular basis. There are several other clubs in this area, such as Epic Vara, a summer outdoor club right next door, or Heaven and Under the lvy, two neighbouring discos that also have outdoor swimming pools.

Once you've passed through the gates of this beautiful residence and crossed a small courtyard, you'll be surprised to arrive in a veritable oasis of greenery. Indeed, Sera Eden's main asset is its outdoor terrace, which is the largest and certainly the most pleasant in Bucharest. In the middle of the garden of this long-abandoned mansion stands a magnificent large glass hall housing the bar and numerous tables. The menu offers a selection of cocktails as well as well-crafted dishes. Be warned: the place gets very crowded in fine weather!

This not-to-be-missed club took up residence in 2002 in a former industrial complex on the edge of Carol Park. The red-brick building houses a large hall where DJs and alternative bands perform, but when the weather's fine, it's outside that the party's in full swing, around the bar, under the speakers or more quietly on one of the rooftop terraces. The clientele here is quite diverse and the atmosphere relaxed. If you're feeling hungry, the club also has a kitchen serving pizzas, burgers and delicious sandwiches.

At the entrance to Circului Park, this large circular building built in the 1960s resembles a concrete big top. Acrobats, dancers and actors provide the entertainment. However, you won't see any animal acts here: they ended after a fire ravaged the premises and killed eleven animals in 2017. Only the horses remain. Cirque Métropolitain's repertoire includes original creations, as well as adaptations of children's classics. The space also hosts shows by other companies.

Romania's main operatic stage, created in 1921, the National Opera of Bucharest occupies a building built in 1953. Its luxurious hall has 1,200 seats. The programme is varied: Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Verdi, Puccini... but also contemporary pieces or for young audiences. Tickets can be purchased on site or online. The rates are very attractive and the quality is there: an excellent opportunity to indulge or to learn about the pleasures of opera.

Established in the pretty neighborhood around Parc Icoanei, this fine păpuși (doll) and marionete (puppet) theater is an institution: its creation dates back to 1945. In 2008, it became an animation theater, with a studio for teenage and adult audiences. But its shows are mainly aimed at children aged 2 and over: the repertoire includes many adaptations of the great classics of Romanian or universal literature(The Little Prince, Snow White...), as well as contemporary plays.

Prices may be a little high, but this is undoubtedly one of the best addresses for real clubbers, those for whom sound and rhythm take precedence over appearance and superficiality. The Kristal Club focuses on electronic music and regularly hosts world-renowned DJs. Located in the heart of the city, it has taken over one of the former cinemas on boulevard Regina Elisabeta. With its wall moldings and gigantic chandelier, the place has a decadent feel. It's the perfect setting to party the night away!

Named after a Franco-Romanian actress, the cinema at the Institut français de Bucarest has become a fixture on the capital's cultural scene thanks to its rich programming. Far from the blockbusters of the multiplexes, this cinema screens art house films, French of course, but also European and international, not forgetting young audiences. Romanian films are given pride of place, with French subtitles. The 200-seat cinema is comfortable, warm and well-equipped. It regularly hosts meetings.

This building, located behind the National Museum of Art, doesn't go unnoticed, with its large blue dome and brutalist architecture. It was built in 1960 by architect Tiberiu Ricci. The vast 4,000-seat hall, which once hosted the five major annual Communist congresses, is now used for other mass events: concerts, congresses, theatrical performances... In September, it is one of the main venues for the Enescu classical music festival. The 2,000 m² hall is also used for exhibitions.

An astonishing place: this bar occupies the former villa of an early ^20th-century merchant family, nationalized under Communism and subsequently abandoned. Purposely left in its original state, the beautiful residence exudes the same decadent atmosphere that makes Bucharest so charming: inside, the old stoves and mismatched period furniture give the impression of squatting in an abandoned house, frozen in the past. At the front, the garden also cultivates a certain nonchalance, with its abundant vegetation and scattered pallet terraces.

This is one of those tea bars nestled in a mansion in the Icoanei district, more precisely in an outbuilding at the end of a beautiful garden. The shaded terrace, surrounded by greenery, is a haven of coolness in summer, and the excellent lemonade will refresh you, unless you prefer a milkshake, fresh fruit juice, iced tea or beer. You'll also find a wide selection of teas and infusions. A colorful place, where you can also nibble on snacks such as bruschettas, salads and grilled meats.

This concept store in the heart of Lipscani is a streetwear boutique, bar and snack bar in one. Here, you can enjoy a good breakfast with freshly squeezed orange juice and hot pastries, a good coffee, a cocktail or a Romanian craft beer, all set to a background of electro music. The decor is urban, with a mix of metal and plants. The staff are young, smiling and very pleasant. The place regularly hosts DJ sets. Pleasant terrace on the cobblestones.

This French-sounding bistro is an oasis of calm and greenery in the heart of the city, halfway between Gare du Nord station and Piața Romană. Enjoy a coffee, lemonade or socata (natural elderflower soda), seated in the large garden or slumped in a hammock in summer. In the evening, go for cocktails - they're excellent! J'ai Bistrot is also a restaurant serving burgers, pastas, grilled meats and other dishes based on the finest produce. It's also a great place to stop for breakfast. In fact, the place is often packed.

Housed in a former printing works, this trendy bar, decorated in an industrial and vintage style, is also a place for cultural experimentation: events, workshops, debates and exhibitions in all kinds of fields are regularly organized, as well as concerts. The drinks on offer include beers, gins, wines and smoothies, as well as infusions and homemade lemonades. If you're feeling peckish, you can satisfy your hunger with a soup, salad, main course or burger. The lunchtime menu is particularly attractive.

This was Bucharest's first Irish pub, opened in 1994. Its slightly off-center location and drab decor may discourage some, but the pub remains a favorite with expatriates, particularly for soccer and rugby nights, but also for the delicious chicken or sausage pies washed down with authentic Guinness, which can also be drunk by the pint, as can its amber compatriot, Kilkenny, all at very reasonable prices. Live Irish music sessions and quiz nights are organized regularly.

Located near Carol Park, in a former sock factory, this pop-rock nightclub hosts numerous concerts and special evenings. Born in the early 2000s on the beaches of Vama Veche on the Black Sea, the club later moved to Bucharest, bringing with it a little of the spirit of the party-loving seaside resort. Hip-hop, R&B, rock and pop hits from the 1990s and 2000s are all played here. You can start the evening right next door, at cousin club Fabrica, which also doubles as a pub and canteen.

A nugget nestled in the meandering Icoanei district, just a stone's throw from Piața Romană. This ultra-design bistro occupies a beautiful ^19th-century villa. Inside, light tones dominate and the walls are covered in places with natural moss. Outside, the paved courtyard hosts a superb terrace immersed in greenery. Young, trendy crowds flock here for a drink or a meal. You can eat fajitas, pasta, creamy soups or meat and fish dishes in sauce. Service can be long.

Despite its size, this brasserie is tucked away in the heart of the Lipscani district. Brick walls, bistro chairs, copper objects and exposed pipes: the decor has a very colorful steampunk feel. The pleasant terrace is very popular. On the drinks menu, you'll find beer of course, with the great Romanian classics in their unfiltered, unpasteurized versions, including fresh Timișoreana straight from the factory. The menu also features a wide selection of drinks of all kinds and meat dishes.

An apothecary-style tea room, with wooden shelves up to the ceiling, featuring a wide selection of teas, coffees, infusions and rooibos. These are also sold in bulk. Old-fashioned sweets such as candied fruit and caramels are displayed on the counter. The decor, too, is old-school: sewing machines as tables, old sepia photos on the wall, vintage placemats and crockery... What's more, the prices are reasonable and the music soothing. A gentle bubble amidst the hustle and bustle.

You'll find this chain at various locations in the capital, including Calea Victoriei. The French touch is there as soon as you step through the door: it smells of warm croissants, the pastries are pure butter, the decor is vintage and the radio plays old hits that will sound familiar to your ears. It's a pleasant place to sip a coffee, hot chocolate or fresh fruit juice, while enjoying a viennoiserie. You can also grab a bite to eat at any time of day: salads, sandwiches, quiches or even shepherd's pie are all on the menu.

In a small street near Lipscani, away from the crowds, this café has an industrial look, which doesn't prevent it from being warm: exposed brick and concrete walls, large bay windows, wooden slats on the floor and colorful touches. A small terrace stretches out on the sidewalk in front. It serves speciality coffees, burnt on site, as well as Romanian craft beers and milk drinks, plus a number of dishes (bagels, burgers, salads, etc.) and sweet treats (croissants, tarts, muffins, etc.). A good place for a rejuvenating break.

Not far from the historic center, but away from the hustle and bustle of Lipscani, this friendly wine bar offers a wide choice of carefully selected local and international vintages (over 100 references). Romanian wine tastings are organized regularly, and you can accompany your glasses with succulent cheese and charcuterie platters. The staff are extremely friendly and professional, knowing what they're selling and giving good advice. You can also buy bottles on the spot.

Above all, it's the setting that makes it all worthwhile: the beautiful, wood-panelled hall of the Gambrinus brasserie takes you back to the heyday of Bucharest in the early ^20th century. Launched in 1901 by the famous playwright Caragiale, it was one of the meeting places of the intellectual elite. Destroyed, the brewery reopened in the 1940s, on the first floor of the Hotel Cișmigiu, where it still stands. Refurbished in 2013, it has regained its splendor. The beer, made to a traditional recipe, is good, but not produced on site.

Right in the heart of Lipscani, the bar district, this bar stands out from its neighbors for its relaxed, warm and rocking atmosphere. The bar's name could be translated as: "A few gentlemen and their sons". The clientele is mainly made up of young Romanians. The wooden interiors are decorated with portraits of revolutionaries. Punk-rock concerts are held regularly. You'll find a wide choice of beers. There's also a pleasant terrace for sunny days.

A cool bar that defines itself as a "cocktail factory". The menu features almost fifty different kinds, all with evocative names: Stalingrad, Russian mojito, Ceaușescu, Gorki, Russian Roulette and Sex on the Tundra. The decor is in the same vein: portraits of Lenin, propaganda posters, period objects... In short, pop culture à la sauce communiste, presented with humor and irony. At the rear of the building is a pleasant terrace. The place is popular with young people and can get crowded at weekends.

Established in 2009, this is the city's very first wine library. Housed in a three-hundred-year-old building, its cellars contain over 300 types of wine: Italian, Hungarian, Austrian, French... and, of course, a wide selection of Romanian wines, especially from Banat. The house favors small producers and even produces its own vintage. Ideal for a wine-tasting session, especially since you'll find both expertise and instruction here. The cellar and adjoining rooms, housed in brick vaults, are well worth a visit.