The best bars and cafés Romania

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.

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!

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.

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.

The temple of coffee! This little burnery opened in 2014 by a young Romanian who had returned from London serves specialty coffees, unearthed from all over the world and roasted on the premises. And they're succulent! The roasting is light and fine, adapted to the particularities of each coffee, so it's not bitter and can be drunk without sugar. They'll also be able to explain where the beans you're drinking come from, how they were grown... What's more, the coffee shop has a bright, pleasant setting, in a very contemporary Scandinavian style.

An excellent café, with a Mozart theme of course! It's a little far from the heart of town, but well worth the detour: in an old house, with a timeless vintage atmosphere, you're immediately transported to another era, while the waitresses are dressed in traditional Austrian costumes. On the menu, an incredible choice of teas, coffees (flavored, alcoholic...) and chocolates, as well as waffles, gigantic bowls of ice cream and huge homemade cakes. An ideal coffee-shop for small or large hungers.

As its name suggests, Zorki Photo Café is a bar where photography plays an important role. Numerous photographs adorn the walls of the establishment, providing a different view of the city. The café, located on the second floor, enjoys the youthful, lively atmosphere of bohemian Cluj, between theater and literature. The café's alternative rock music is well chosen, board games are available and numerous evening events are organized, including exhibition openings, concerts and quizzes. A non-smoking room is also available.

A trendy spot, Olivo Caffe welcomes you in a Parisian brasserie atmosphere, with its cosy armchairs and sofas, wooden furniture and waiters in white shirts and bow ties. A wide variety of coffees and teas are on offer, in a variety of combinations. Wines and snacks are also on the menu, with an emphasis on Italian cuisine: soups, pastas, salads, toast and excellent homemade cakes. Olivo has opened a second café in Piața Muzeului, which is also very pleasant, especially in fine weather.

Bohemian and relaxed, Café Bulgakov, named after the Russian writer, is located in a small medieval street in the old town. Opened in 2002, it is one of the addresses of Cluj's Hungarian community. The interiors reveal a vast series of vaulted rooms with red brick walls. Completed in 1843, the building was extended at the end of the ^19th century and in the 1960s. At once a restaurant (traditional Transylvanian cuisine), café, bar and even, since 2010, a club (hosting parties and concerts), Bulgakov is literally packed at weekends.

"Funny, funky, friendly" is the credo of the Shto College Bar. In this establishment, good humor is the order of the day. "I feel good" is displayed in large letters on the wall. The decor is a particular highlight, with brick walls, neon lights and graffiti. Located right in the center of town, you have to go through a small passageway to get there. The perfect place to relax and spend time with friends, with a wide choice of beers, as well as numerous cocktails and good wine. All at reasonable prices.

The cosy, traditional coffee-shop par excellence. Koffer is a quiet, cozy little café, with just a few tables and antique furniture, as if you were in the family living room. An air of bohemia reigns in this dandyish, literary den: the walls are filled with large bookcases full of books, which can be consulted on the spot or purchased. Everything is soothing and relaxing. Homemade pastries, smoothies and lemonades made from fresh fruit, as well as a wide variety of coffees and teas, are served to the accompaniment of soft music.

Right across from the National Bank, this café has a certain reputation in the capital. The decor is extraordinary, with sculpted vaults, umbrellas hanging from the ceiling and paintings on the walls. The terrace is very pleasant in summer. In winter, don't miss the incredible, gigantic hot chocolate, topped with ice cream, marshmallows and sweets of all kinds. The à la carte menu includes burgers, salads, club sandwiches and quesadillas, all made with fresh ingredients. The place is also renowned for its weekend brunches.

A nice bar where you can quickly get to know each other. It occupies a nice old yellow house in a small street near the main square. The interior cultivates an industrial style, with its pallet decoration and whitewashed brick walls. The basement hosts a nightclub part and a video game room. Theme evenings and concerts of all kinds (jazz, techno, retro...) are organized there every week, as well as film screenings. You can also have a snack, in case of hunger. Nice terrace at the back.

Not far from piața Trandafirilor, on a perpendicular street, you can have breakfast, brunch or lunch here. The menu offers a wide choice of snacks: toast, burgers, wraps, nachos, soups, salads, Chinese noodles and some pasta and chicken dishes. This warm bar, decorated with paintings, also offers a wide choice of drinks: delicious coffee specialities, lemonades, fresh fruit juices, smoothies, beers and wines from around the world, cocktails... A good place to relax, with a pleasant terrace at the back.