The 50 best foods to try in Bucharest

Visited for lunch on a weekday with no reservation. It was fairly crowded, but they quickly seated me in the front dining area. I went with the Gentleman's Dish with a side of mashed potatoes & lemonade. Maneesha was my server. He was wonderful & made sure i was well taken care of. Impeccable service! Food was delicious & served within 10 minutes. The roasted duck legs were tender & lightly seasoned. The braised cabbage was surprisingly flavourful with dill as a topping. I recommend sitting inside to get the most of the experience & take in the historic charm & elegant interiors. Reserve in advance to get balcony or mezzanine seating. It was a treat dining here. Definitely worth a visit while in Old Town Budapest.

Zexe Zahana, perched gracefully on the linden tree-lined Aviatorilor Boulevard, is a gem that radiates old-world charm and unapologetic Romanian tradition. Housed in a beautifully restored villa, its opulent setup is evident from the moment you step inside. Pristine tablecloths and gleaming cutlery are laid out with a sense of ceremony, setting the stage for an experience that feels both luxurious and warmly familiar. The garden is an oasis, the bathrooms are spotless—clearly, no detail is left unattended. The inside of the restaurant, sprawling across two elegant floors, is reminiscent of Bucharest’s old nickname, “Little Paris,” a title it wore proudly before the communist regime decimated much of its grand architecture to make way for utilitarian buildings for the working class. At Zexe, that lost elegance is still alive—high ceilings, ornate moldings, and vintage chandeliers transport you back to a time when the city rivaled the Parisian charm. We arrived without a reservation, yet the hostess, efficient and genuinely welcoming, found us the best seat in the house: the balcony. Despite being only three people, she didn’t hesitate to set us up at a table for eight, which I deeply appreciated. It was the perfect vantage point to soak in the ambiance—spacious, airy, and surrounded by greenery. I’d reserve that spot again in a heartbeat. Our server, Cristina, deserves a special mention. Professional, attentive, and genuinely invested in our experience, she moved with a confidence that assured us we were in good hands. If you’re lucky enough to have her, trust that she’ll take care of you with grace and charm. The meal began with palincă—homemade and potent, with a clean, smooth finish that could rival the finest grappas. I’m not usually one to rave about house wines, but Zexe’s selection was stellar. A pale rosé whose name I regretfully forgot, and a white Aligoté that danced on the palate—both were exquisite and an absolute steal at around $44 per liter. Do yourself a favor and order the house wines; they have more than a handful to choose from, each one a testament to Romanian winemaking. Zexe’s menu is unflinchingly traditional, and that’s its greatest strength. No fusion confusion here—just bold Romanian flavors elevated by a female chef who understands that refinement doesn’t mean diluting heritage. We started with “ciorbă de potroace,” a sour soup brimming with the richness of farm-raised chicken—not the kind you find on supermarket shelves, but small, free-ranging birds happily scratching at the dirt in search of tasty morsels. You can taste the difference—a depth of flavor that only comes from true farm living, not assembly-line poultry. It’s hearty, soulful, and exactly what you’d hope for in a traditional Romanian soup. And then, the sarmale. Oh, the sarmale. Quite simply, the best I’ve ever had—an earthy blend of wild boar and other meats, wrapped tightly in cabbage leaves and simmered to perfection. We were three at the table, sharing everything, but this was the one dish we ordered twice. If you’ve never tried sarmale, this is where you should start. The goose-stuffed grape leaves were another hit—tender, flavorful, and perfectly spiced. At Cristina’s suggestion, we wrapped up with a lemony ice cream cake that was nothing short of divine—a light, zesty palate cleanser that left us refreshed and thoroughly satisfied. Zexe Zahana is a jewel in Bucharest’s culinary landscape. If you want to immerse yourself in Romanian tradition—elevated, refined, and proudly unyielding—this is where you go. Anywhere you sit is a win, but if you’re eyeing the balcony, you might want to check with me first—some things are too good to share.

Fantastic place! It’s huge, but the atmosphere throughout is great and there’s a really nice historic and traditional vibe. As soon as we arrived the staff were exceptional, being welcoming and friendly and taking the time to explain the different options on the extensive menu. Our table was large and spacious and all the cutlery, glasses etc clean. The sharing platter to start was great and plenty for two people. Presentation was great and each item was very tasty too. For the main, we opted for their signature lamb sharing dish and didn’t regret it. It was wheeled to the table on a trolley and prepared with drama! It was huge, plenty for two people and truly delicious with the meat falling apart perfectly. There’s also a great range of drinks including a large choice of reasonably priced wines. Drinks are brought quickly and getting refills is easy from the attentive staff. Overall it was a great meal and experience - I’ll be returning every time I’m in the city centre in the future.

Seriously enjoyed this place. Great coffees, helpful and knowledgeable team. I had a flat white prepared using Indonesian beans (part of their 88+ menu). It was fantastic. As a follow up, I came back a day later and had Ethiopia (from 88+ menu) and Costa Rica (standard). Both enjoyable.

This is without a doubt one of the best restaurants I’ve ever experienced. From the moment you step in, the ambiance and design instantly draw you in—every detail feels thoughtfully chosen to create a welcoming atmosphere. I especially loved the open kitchen, where you can watch the chefs at work—it truly feels like witnessing art in motion. We chose the 20-course tasting menu (yes, a lot—but worth every bite!). Each dish was creative, beautifully presented, and full of unique flavors that made the experience unforgettable. A highlight was having the head chef—who is also the owner—personally serve a few of the courses. It gave us the chance to connect with him, hear his story, and understand the passion behind this remarkable place. Overall, it was an exceptional experience. If you’re a true food lover or a fan of fine dining, I can’t recommend it enough.

Very cool place in a lovely neighborhood. The garden is beautiful, and so is the food, I especially recommend the burgers. Would definitely return!

Although it's a bakery chain I can only recommend them. I wanted to try the covrig and they have so many different types beside the traditionals. They have straight ones which they call simply "Luca", and they are delicious! I have chosen a traditional with ham and cheese and a "Picante" with red cabbage and sausage - this was the best but both of them tasted fresh, warm, little crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. Great flavours, good quality and great prices, between 2.5-5.5 RON.

Great restaurant near old town. As a starter we took in pork sausages. They were delicious. For the main event I took pork with garlic sauce while my partner choose the trout. Everything was so delicious. Be sure to be hungry when coming because the portions are huge. The staff were also so friendly. Thank you🩷

This is a very traditional Romanian cousine restaurant. Basically you can enjoy a great selection of Romanian dishes and a very select wine list. Very affordable for a nice breakfast, lunch or dinner. Just make sure you understand that delicious does NOT mean low calorie :) Excellent service is a big plus for this restaurant.

(Translated by Google) I recommend with all my heart! The best and freshest grilled dishes and 10,000 grade staff! 🙏🙏🙏 (Original) Recomand cu tot dragul! Cele mai Bune și proaspete preparate la grătar și personal de nota 10.000! 🙏🙏🙏

Our experience was absolutely fantastic!! The food was great and we had plenty of choices! Great cocktails also and big variety of wines. The service was exceptional! We made a mistake in our order and even though that it was our fault they did not charge it. I highly recommend it

Lacrimi și Sfinți is an unforgettable restaurant that perfectly blends tradition with creativity. The menu reinvents authentic Romanian recipes with a modern twist, using high-quality, locally sourced ingredients. Every dish we tried was full of flavor and beautifully presented. The atmosphere is warm and rustic, with a cozy charm that makes you feel right at home. The staff were welcoming, attentive, and happy to explain the stories behind the dishes, which added so much to the experience. If you want to taste Romanian cuisine at its finest : both authentic and innovative this is the place to go. Truly one of the highlights of our trip to Bucharest!

My wife and I fell in love with the food here. My wife even thought the salmon tartar was better than any she'd had at Michelin stared restaurants. We also tried the beef and duck, both of which were so perfectly cooked that it melted in the mouth. Our host, Mikael, was great, very attentive, and friendly. The ambience was very intimate and relaxed, it felt almost like being invited into someone's home. We would highly recommend everyone try the food here while they can, before the Michelin guide discovers it.

The pizza and lasagna were absolutely delicious, and the friendly, English-speaking staff made the experience even better. Georgiana was an excellent waiter, and her recommendations were spot on. The prices were reasonable, but be aware—they don’t accept American Express. Arrive early or make a reservation, as they fill up quickly. Highly recommended!

Great wine recommendation, amazing cruising, funky atmosphere, good service. The Sarmi, veal chicks and zucchini flowers are a total MUST - some of the best of tried around the world. One of the best authentic places around town.

Proper cocktails and smoothies, privacy granted by spacious seating with greenery surrounding some of the table, decorated with care with wall to wall works of art and pieces of history from a previous era, unfortunately home to some angry mosquitos, but all together a lovable, quaint and tastefully decorated joint.

A luxurious location, with a very good vibe, the dishes are tasty and are carefully selected to cover all tastes, the prices are relatively high. The service is impeccable. In principle, it would be advisable to make a reservation in advance, although the place is not centrally located, it is always full. Recommended for those who appreciate a lush design and some dishes that are not wowwww but more than decent, all at a price towards the upper limit.

Well maintained and organized, has nothing to do with the old setup of this location. Plenty of parking slots, easy to reach, clean, many options for shopping for food, bars & pubs, Coffee shops and restaurants. In proximity of Calea Victoriei represents another advantage for tourists as well.

(Translated by Google) The best apple pies I've tasted. Holiday pastries and pascha, well loaded (not just bread like in most places). Quality ingredients, as if they were made at home. I recommend with confidence! (Original) Cele mai bune pateuri cu mere pe care le-am gustat. Cozonaci si pasca de sarbatori, incarcate bine (nu doar paine ca in majoritatea locurilor). Ingrediente de calitate, parca sunt facute la mama acasa. Recomand cu incredere !

(Translated by Google) Indeed, traditional doughnuts! I send you with the thought of childhood. All of them are extraordinary, and the quality-price ratio is a very good one. I recommend! (Original) Intr-adevar, gogosi traditionale! Te trimit cu gandul la copilarie. Toate sunt extraordinare, iar raportul calitate-pret este unul foarte bun. Recomand!

(Translated by Google) Tasty food at an ok price. (Original) Mancare gustoasa la pret ok.

Nice place for a relaxing lunch. Very spacious both inside and outside, with plenty of seating. Waiters are quick, and menus are also written in English (though the waiters don’t speak it much). The food was good, and the atmosphere was pleasant and welcoming. It was quite full during our visit, so on weekends it might be a good idea to reserve a table in advance to avoid waiting.

A nice place with amazing food. We had pizza, grilled octopus and lasagna, all very good. For dessert, I highly recommend the Tiramisu, they prepare it in front of you :) The staff is kind, helpful and polite. Even with the place fully booked, the waiter was always available, and the drinks arrived quickly. The place has a small garden, with a lot of shade, very pleasant in the summer (I recommend making a reservation outside).

Had a delicious dinner here tonight. Our server, Steluta was great. We enjoyed the egg plant salad, fried zucchini, and eggplant zaccusca, but the best was the Mici, WOW these sausages are grilled to perfection and full of flavor. My favorite were the spicy & non-spicy ones with lamb, but all were terrific.

I only have good things to say. I had here a very delicious burger that came with fries and cucumber salad. The meat was juicy and flavorful, the fries were good and the salad helped to balance some of the fat. We also had the potatoes platter with cheese and mostly because we were curious about the sauces. The food was too much for 3 people (or at least 3 small girls like us) but very tasty. The drinks were very good. We all stick to nonalcoholic but I saw the cocktails carried to other tables and were looking great! The greatest lemonade they have was the one with roses - they call it Trandafirata. The others were good too, the coconut one was a bit too sweet for me. The staff is very friendly and paid attention to us every time. They had a wonderful attitude and we felt very welcome. I will come again!

Food was good. Service was great and the decor, vibe and atmosphere were good. The toilet was clean with all the necessary. I spent at least 2 hours there because of rain and I felt welcomed and comfortable. Keep it up ^^

I expected Rumanian cuisine to be all about large portions of meat. This restaurant convinced me otherwise, fine refined dining with local products. On top of that it was paired with great Romanian wine. The atmosphere is pleasant and the staff made it a great night for us. Our waiter ‘that guy from Kané’ was not only knowledgeable about the food, but told us about the history of the country and the restaurant. If you’re in Bucharest and are craving for really good food, do reserve a table here. You wont regret it!!

Good food with huge portions! The serving was decent, we had no issues. One small issue: this pub has only one small bathroom for all clients, which is insufficient.

A gem of a find, visited whilst is Bucharest from the UK, definitely worth the visit. Extremely clean, fresh tasting curry and a good variety. I found a few in Bucharest but this is the closest menu wise to what we are used to from the UK. Priced very reasonably and the staff are friendly and attentive.

During my stay in Bucharest, I ended up going to M60 not once, not twice but three times. That should already say a lot. This place is fantastic. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere strikes you it’s warm, modern, effortlessly cool without trying too hard. The staff? Genuinely some of the most welcoming and kind people. Their hospitality felt personal, like you’re a regular even on your first visit. And then there’s the food every dish I tried was just delicious, beautifully presented, and clearly made with care. Whether it was brunch classics or more creative twists, everything hit the mark. Honestly, I recommend M60 100%. Whether you’re a coffee lover, a brunch hunter, or just someone who enjoys great vibes and even better service this is a place you shouldn’t miss in Bucharest.

For both Italian expat and locals lounging for authentic Italian food, this is the place. Wine selection by the glass is a bit limited, but of quality. Overall, great place, with food on oar or better than in Italy. Great service as well. Parking can be tricky.

The place has a great, cozy vibe with an atmosphere that feels just like a classic pub. The food is absolutely delicious, with generous portions that are sure to satisfy. The large meat dish with beans in the photo is the Royal Pork Knuckle, and it’s definitely worth trying—tender, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The appetizer shown has a distinct Balkan flair, bringing authentic regional flavors to the table. Overall, it’s a fantastic spot for hearty meals and a relaxed pub atmosphere!

A gem of a restaurant / banquet place in Bucharest! Exquisite food and service but what makes it unique is the ambiance. A décor from the beginning of the last century, an emotional welcome by the charming owner Kera Calita, a band of outstanding musiciens who will entertain you all night long with older and newer melodies, a singer that woo you with unforgotten songs. All came down to a memorable birthday celebration with family and friends.

I've heard some reports this place can be a bit snobbish, but our experience was only positive. The food was excellent, the service very good and the views over the lake at sunset ( helped by a comet ) were really nice. Definitely get a table overlooking the lake if you can.

This alternative/hip place and DJ (DRAO) saved our Saturday night (2 Aug 2025), literally. Away from old town's circus noise and pointless overcrowded/overlapping music, we ended drinking beers under this laptop-free, dub/electronica master DJ. He elevated our need to relax and rejuvenate after a tiring trip from Athens to a musical journey with tunes that perfectly matched the vibrant-coloured, quirky internal decor of this place. 5/5. 10/10. 100/100. Will definitely revisit, should we come to Bucharest.

Felt like surrounded by friends, the personnel was spoiling us! Seeing that I am pregnant, they baked the eggs just perfect for me, and they also made an ideal suggestion since I was craving sushi :) I got a deep fried portion of tempura shrimp sushi that were absolutely delicious! 100% recommend, cant't wait to visit again!

Gram Bistro it’s a spacious cafe bistro with inside and outside area. The staff is friendly and fast. The food was delicious! The pumpkin soup was so good that we had a second. The beetroot hummus was very tasty too, but my favorite was the rabbit with the mushed carrot. Recommend it!

Great Lebanese food in a manicured district of Bucharest. Sheltered Terrace seats available for smokers. Came as the lamp chops are really famous - didn’t disappoint with the succulence. I personally loved the soup - ciorba de vacuta as well as their pita bread. Kebabs were great, rice was too soggy for my taste but overall great experience, great service

Great selection of local wine , staff super helpful. Ox cheek was buttery tender, tartare delish. Good portions

Came here with 0 expectations. The food was amazing and so were the drinks. Had one of the best cold brew tonics in Bucharest. The garden is just amazing and so is the service. They bring you water with lemon and cucumber when you sit down. Very few places in Bucharest offer water on the house.

One of the best places for breakfast in Bucharest. A beautiful interwar house, with a welcoming courtyard and an exceptional sense of calm. The dishes are excellent and well-balanced, and the coffee is top-notch. The prices are surprisingly low for what you get! 2 breakfast, 2 capucino 140 LEI. A lovely spot with great food.