Where to Stay and Eat in Bucharest, Romania

Bucharest isn’t your average European city. The many years it spent under Communism shaped the look of the city and its cuisine. This isn’t a city packed with Michelin-starred restaurants, fusion food or foraged tasting menus – it’s a place of hearty fare and traditional food that’s plentiful in portion size and taste.

Read on as we explore some of the best places to eat and stay in Bucharest.

A Taste of Tradition

Hotel Cismigiu, has a long history, both celebrated and troubled. It opened in 1912 as the luxurious and opulent Palace Hotel. Over the years it housed a brewery, cinema and dorms for theater students. It closed after sustaining damage from World War II bombs. A full restoration in 2012 put some of the old Art Nouveau pep back in its step. It’s close to the picturesque Cismigiu Park and the Old Town, boasting stylish but comfortable rooms. The on-site restaurant also serves up French classics, with a particular focus on fish dishes.

A short stroll away, the Old Town is full of traditional Romanian eateries. Caru’ cu Bere is popular with both visitors and locals alike and has been providing the perfect atmosphere for more than 140 years. The interior decor is charming, dating to the Belle Époque period. Most nights, your experience will include musicians playing classic folk songs. Eating in Bucharest doesn’t come any more authentic than this.

The vast menu of local classics is sure to satisfy your hungry appetite. Highlights include a lentil cream soup appetizer, oven-baked chicken leg and an apple and cinnamon strudel for dessert. There are also plenty of vegetarian choices, too. 

Spies and Spoons

There’s more hotel history to discover at the striking Athénée Palace Hilton. Opened in 1914, it too has been subject to the tumult of Romania’s past. Earthquakes and war took their toll, with more damage during the 1989 revolution. Today you can see it restored to its former Art Deco glory. As you step inside from Revolution Square, you’re greeted by a marble lobby that gives a true sense of grandeur.

Service is impeccable, the rooms are large and old-fashioned. The English Bar was once the scene of World War II’s spy wars. The location, meanwhile, is unbeatable – you’re right in the heart of things here.

Again, there’s no shortage of restaurants close by, but The Artist is a genuinely different proposition in a city that cleaves close to tradition. The chefs here cook with refinement while drawing on local influences. Enjoy red cabbage-cured salmon, with white cabbage salad, lemon and dill. 

Gluten-Free Restaurants in Bucharest

The city’s growing number of visitors means restaurants and cafes in Bucharest now serve those with special dietary needs. Vegetarians, vegans and those with food intolerances will now find eating out a little easier in the capital of Romania. La Mama, for instance, indicates which of its dishes contains allergens. There are plenty of gluten-free options too.

Rawyal also focuses on raw and vegan food and Belli Siciliani specializes in Italian food, with gluten-free pizza, pasta and dessert options.

An Escape in the City

Boutique hotels are new in Bucharest, but any new arrival is up against the elegant Hotel Epoque. When considering where to stay in Bucharest, this should be near the top of your list. The location itself is perfect, close to Cismigiu Park and much of the Old Town. It’s also hidden away so that it feels like you’re in a retreat. 

Rooms are high-end, as is the hotel’s interior, with gorgeous balconies. If you want relaxation, there’s a pool and sauna, with various spa treatments available.

Keeping with the Gallic styling of the hotel, there’s a superb on-site French restaurant, too, L’Atelier. The menu consists of French classics and traditional Romanian dishes with a modern twist. Enjoy Creekstone beef, confit duck with Romanian kimchi and sturgeon with horseradish and burnt veggies.

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