Discover the taste of Romanian food in Bucharest

In the following, you will find a list of Romanian restaurants, with menus creatively interpreted by skilled chefs.

Must taste: Caru cu Bere / Stavropoleos Street 3-5 / Old Town

Caru cu Bere is one of the most iconic restaurants in Bucharest. It was established in 1879 and is known for its craft beer, traditional Romanian dishes, and bohemian atmosphere. The restaurant has a spacious interior with a central bar and wooden tables, a cellar where you can dine, and a terrace with one of the most beautiful views of the city.

New in town: Casa Românească Ateneu / George Enescu Street 23 / Old Town

Recently appearing on the local scene with interesting design elements, the restaurant offers traditional Romanian cuisine adapted to the tastes and preferences of urban consumers. The restaurant’s menu includes a variety of soups, traditional Romanian specialties like bulz, goulash, or meat garnishes.

Must experience: Zexe Zahana / Aviatorilor Boulevard 40 / Herastrau area

There are several Zexe restaurants in the city, all serving traditional nobleman’s dishes in an old-fashioned style, preserving the classic and aristocratic charm of past times. Zahana was a place where certain dishes made from roasted meat, especially sheep, were prepared and served.

Chef doing magic: Soro Lume / Fluierului Street 33 / Iancului area

The restaurant stands out for its collection of seasonal dishes carefully gathered from all corners of Romania and presented on its menu under the guidance of Chef Mihai Toader. Here, customers can savor the finest and most delicious ingredients that the country has to offer each season, providing them with an authentic and memorable culinary experience.

Where the new Romanian cuisine started: NOUA / Popa Nan 7 / Pache Protopopescu area

Chef Alex Petricean, with extensive international experience, is the mastermind behind this concept, promoting local cuisine with a Nordic twist. Through the NOUA Romanian Kitchen restaurant, he emphasizes tradition, terroir, and local products, shaping a distinct culinary philosophy and being among the first advocates of the “new Romanian cuisine” concept.

NOUA Bar / Ion Mihalache Boulevard 16 / Victoriei Square area

In a space that combines tradition with modernity, Romanian cuisine is reinterpreted in delicious and accessible ways. Chef Alex Petricean created this concept to democratize Romanian cuisine, bringing it from fine dining to a casual dining environment.

New concept in town: Vié – Gastronomic Wine Bar / Nerva Traian Street 27-33 / Traian area

Vié presents itself as a gastro wine bar & shop, based on the concept of craft wines, creative food using local and seasonal ingredients, a limited number of seats, and a casual-elegant atmosphere.

Where exquisite happens: Kane / Diana Street 9 / University area

Kane is one of the emblematic fine dining places in the local scene, with a focus on local ingredients. Chef Cătălin Bejenariu, with experience in top restaurants in England, leads the research, testing, and creation team. The menu changes every three months, showcasing his creativity.

More experimental fine dining: Kaiamo / Ermil Pangratti 30A / Aviatorilor area

KAIAMO represents an experimental fine dining concept where contrast and nostalgia come together to create a unique culinary experience. This restaurant emphasizes seasonality and terroir, with the menu changing every three months to reflect nature and the passage of time. Chef Radu Ionescu, with international experience, returned to Romania to bring an authentic culinary identity based on traditional recipes and Romanian influences.

Sky view of the city: Fork Ana Tower / Poligrafiei Boulevard 1c / Piata Presei Libere area

The gourmet restaurant Fork Ana Tower is the result of over 15 years of in-depth research and culinary experiences in the world of high-quality gastronomy. With a unique concept, it combines authentic Romanian cuisine with a contemporary design inspired by Balvanyos Resort and Gastrolab, the other locations in the group.

Traditional with a Twist: Mahala Restaurant / Rahovei Avenue 147-153 / Constitution Square area

Chef Petru Sorin Cucu has created a unique restaurant where gastronomy becomes an art form, a blend of contemporary elements and details from Romanian folklore. The attractive design creates a relaxed yet intimate atmosphere, and the reinterpretation of traditional Romanian flavors makes this place a culinary destination.

New in town: Dumicat / George Vraca Street 4 / Cișmigiu area

If you’ve already been to Paninaro and Soro.Lume, you’ll like Dumicat, where sandwiches, borscht, platters, and cocktails find their place, made with local ingredients and other goodies from Romanian producers.

Oldies and goldies: Băcănia Veche / Dacia Boulevard 25 / Piața Romană area

Chef Marius Tudosiei prepares at Bacania Veche a story about authentic, unaltered tastes, with influences from the countryside and genuine aromas that evoke childhood nostalgia. Ingredients come from reliable sources, often local, carefully checked, and recipes are based on the memory of taste.

Great sparkling wines list: Bucătăria.localfood / Ion Slatineanu Street 30 / Piața Romană area

A local comfort food bistro, where ingredients inspired by old Romanian cuisine bring a nostalgic touch to modern dishes. From the parizer pané burger to the grilled cheese with ghiudem and Hot Pleșcoi, the menu offers a variety of options. Plus, you’ll find a rich selection of local sparkling wines.