Must-see restaurants in Romania

  • Artist

    Bucharest

    Located in a restored, eclectic 1880s villa on posh Calea Victoriei, this is the top fine-dining locale in Bucharest thanks to chef Paul Oppenkamp and his…

  • Caru' cu Bere

    Bucharest

    Despite a decidedly touristy-leaning atmosphere, with peasant-girl hostesses and sporadic traditional song-and-dance numbers, Bucharest’s oldest beerhouse…

  • Roata

    Cluj-Napoca

    Transylvanian cuisine just like Granny made it, in an untouristed part of Cluj. Settle in beneath the vine-covered trellis outdoors and agonise between…

  • Crama Veche

    Transylvania

    Feast like a medieval noble in this stone-floored restaurant, where walls are slung with guild regalia and lights twinkle beneath low-slung beams. Bring a…

  • Lacrimi și Sfinți

    Bucharest

    A true destination restaurant in the historic centre, Lacrimi și Sfinți takes modern trends such as farm-to-table freshness and organic sourcing and…

  • Domnesc

    Wallachia

    This handsome restaurant, with a large terrace, marries the best of clean, modern presentation and traditional food, featuring menu items from the…

  • Noir

    Moldavia & the Bucovina Monasteries

    Intelligent and well-thought-out menu combinations, such as grilled pork tenderloin served with baked apple or glazed pork ribs paired with diced potato…

  • Irish Pub

    Constanţa

    Several years after it opened to an enthusiastic reception, this is still the place to see and be seen, and one of the best meals in town. There are a…

  • Hanul Domnesc

    Wallachia

    This traditional Romanian restaurant is the ideal pick in Târgu Jiu. There's a hidden garden in the back (walk from the front door through a narrow…

  • Bistro de l'Arte

    Braşov

    Tucked down a charming side street, this bohemian joint can be spotted by the bike racks shaped like penny-farthings. There's an almost Parisian feel in…

  • La Tuciuri

    Wallachia

    La Tuciuri is a real find: a traditional Romanian folk restaurant, complete with peasant costumes and music some evenings, that also serves very good food…

  • Pub 13

    Transylvania

    If you want to face down a suit of armour while gnawing on steak, or swirl a fork through cheesy polenta beneath coats of arms slung across brick-lined…

  • Graf

    Romania

    Graf is arguably Oradea's nicest restaurant and a perfect splurge option. The menu features wood-grilled steaks, fish and pork; the caramelised duck leg…

  • Queen's Corner

    Wallachia

    Grab an upper-level terrace table overlooking the pedestrian street and enjoy excellent Romanian and international dishes, including well-executed grilled…

  • Epoca

    Wallachia

    This luxury steakhouse is a must for lovers of high-quality imported beef. The menu is almost exclusively grilled steaks and chops, with the speciality…

  • Butoilul de Aur

    Romania

    The impossibly ornate 'Golden Barrel', with its stained-glass cupola and painted stucco work, dates to 1892. Though there are more complex dishes on the…

  • Chevalet

    The Danube Delta & Black Sea Coast

    Head chef Nelu Păucă trained around the world before opening this romantic beachfront restaurant on the far northern end of Mamaia. Specialities include…

  • Trattoria Il Calcio

    Wallachia

    This is the local branch of a Romanian chain of Italian restaurants, but don’t let that deter you. The food and service are excellent. It’s in the new…

  • Taverna Dionysos

    Wallachia

    One of the most popular restaurants in Ploieşti, Dionysos offers very good, authentic Greek food, including excellent grills and fresh fish, in a lively…

  • Crama Sibiul Vechi

    Sibiu

    Hidden in an old wine cellar, this is the most evocative restaurant in Sibiu. Explore Romanian fare such as cheese croquettes, minced meatballs and…

  • French Revolution

    Bucharest

    Unquestionably the best éclairs you’ll find in Bucharest and, dare we say, a pilgrimage site for locals and French expats alike. This stylish artisanal…

  • Keller Steak House

    Braşov

    Bloody steaks and smooth red wine, served decadently in Keller's cavernous interior… there's more than a hint of a vampire's lair about this upmarket…

  • Bujole

    Cluj-Napoca

    The excellent French-inspired Romanian cooking, with a few welcome atypical starters such as hummus, make this a must-visit. The convenient Piața Unirii…

  • Central Park

    Sighişoara

    Even if you're not staying at the hotel, plan a meal here. Sighişoara is short on good restaurants and this is one of the best. The food is a mix of…

  • Sergiana

    Braşov

    Steaming soups in hollowed-out loaves of bread, paprika-laced meat stews, and the most generous ratio of cheese and sour cream we've ever seen in a…

  • Kulinarium

    Sibiu

    Fresh, well-presented Italy- and France-leaning cuisine using seasonal ingredients graces plates at Kulinarium. The restaurant has an intimate, casual…

  • Gargantua In The Park

    Bucharest

    The peaceful setting, at the tip of Icoanei Park, is the perfect perch from which to enjoy well done Italian and international dishes, including the…

  • Pilvax

    Braşov

    Centrally located Pilvax offers an upscale fusion of Transylvanian and Hungarian food – think stuffed peppers or braised spare ribs with polenta – in a…

  • Times

    Moldavia & the Bucovina Monasteries

    The setting couldn't be prettier: a restored 19th-century mansion in a green area a block north of the main artery B-dul Decebal. The menu runs the gamut…

  • Taverna Sârbului

    Wallachia

    Located 5km west of Drobeta-Turnu Severin along the main highway in the direction of Orşova, this Serbian-themed restaurant boasts beautiful views of the…

  • Simbio

    Bucharest

    One of the best places for breakfast (served all day) and brunch in Bucharest is housed in a superb Italianate-style villa in Armenească neighbourhood…

  • Ceainăria Infinitea

    Bucharest

    The quintessential teahouse exuding Bucharest bohemia in Cotroceni, a tree-lined neighbourhood with an impressive array of 19th-century and early-20th…

  • Garden Pub

    Wallachia

    This deservedly popular restaurant and pub draws everyone from visiting business people to students on their lunch break for excellent soups, salads and…

  • Trofic

    Bucharest

    Perfectly located next to Cișmigiu Gardens in what has become Bucharest’s 'creative quarter', Trofic is one of the best breakfast and brunch spots in town…

  • Rosecas

    Romania

    This upbeat, now rather posh place serves excellent home-cooked Romanian and Hungarian fare, such as chicken paprika and duck, as well as delicious salads…

  • Picasso Restaurant

    Romania

    Overseen by a Roman and subtitled the 'Italian Food Academy', this hotel restaurant in a charming circular corner room with hard-wood floors and cheery…

  • Modelier

    Bucharest

    Artisanal burgers, some of the city's best French fries and homemade lemonade served in oversized carafes are a few of the main draws at this hipsterish,…

  • Max

    Sibiu

    Locals' favourite Italian food is served within a restored, wood-shuttered 14th-century house, on a quiet street north of the old town. The Italian owner…

  • Pizzico

    Constanţa

    Pizzico has greatly expanded its range in the past few years, moving beyond very good wood-fired pizza to excellent grilled meats, seafood and chops. The…

  • Shift Pub

    Bucharest

    Great choice for salads and burgers as well as numerous beef and pork dishes, often sporting novel Asian, Middle Eastern or Mexican taste touches. Try to…

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