Caru' cu Bere
One of Bucharest's oldest and most famous restaurants. Very touristy, and still worth a stop: a spectacular historic building, traditional food, folk dancing in the evening, and beer brewed on site.
Book a table, or go early. Walking in at 20:00 on a Saturday will not work.
Lacrimi și Sfinți
Our favourite Romanian restaurant in the city. Old recipes, cooked properly, in a room that does not shout about it.
Mahala
Modern, reinterpreted Romanian food — the version of the cuisine that has been paying attention to the rest of the world.
Shift Pub
A stylish place with a good atmosphere and fusion dishes that actually work. Reliable when the group cannot agree.
Obor Market — the mici stalls
*Mici* are grilled minced-meat rolls, and the ones at Obor are the benchmark. Cash, a queue, mustard, bread. Go at lunchtime.
Control Club
The best-known spot for alternative music and live concerts. Tuesday nights after 22:00 are the busiest — all drinks are half price.
Expirat Club
A long-running favourite for indie, rock and electronic music. Big room, good sound.
Nomad Skybar
A rooftop bar in the Old Town with the city view people come for. Best an hour before sunset.
Q Club
The biggest LGBTQIA+ club in Romania. Open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
The pub crawl
If your evening needs a plan and some company, Bucharest 2 Night runs the crawl most of our guests end up on. Ask at reception — we can tell you which night is worth it.
Three things to know about eating out here
Romanian portions are large
A main course in a traditional restaurant is usually enough for two people who have already had a starter. Order less than you think you want; you can always add.
Tipping is around 10%
Not obligatory, always appreciated, and usually left in cash even when you pay by card.
You can cook here
Four shared kitchens, stoves and ovens, open 24 hours. There is a supermarket a few minutes' walk away, and a night of cooking together in the kitchen is how half the friendships in this hostel start.
Ask the desk before you book a table.
Half of these places need a reservation on a weekend, and we can usually tell you which half within about ten seconds.