6 editor picks across Moldova.
6 moldovan restaurants worth the trip across Moldova, editor-ranked. All cuisines in Moldova.
BERD'S Arome Locale in Chișinău is the fine-dining room at Moldova's first design hotel on Cantemir, working Moldovan produce in a refined modern idiom.
OrderThe Moldovan tasting menu with the BERD'S Castel Mimi wine pairing.
TipBook the Organic Sunday Brunch for the local-producer board; the kitchen runs vegetarian, gluten-free and salt-free tasting menus on request.
La Taifas in Chișinău is the old village house with porch on Strada București, serving rustic Moldovan cooking and live folk music in a clay-pottery room.
OrderTocăniță cooked in the cauldron with mămăligă and a shot of house țuică.
TipBook a porch table on a warm evening; the kitchen leans on cauldron stews and the placinte are made to order with a 20-minute wait.
Salcioara in Chișinău is the higher-end Moldovan traditional room on Strada Pușkin, working village recipes with organic produce in a folk-decor room.
OrderSlow-roasted lamb with mămăligă, brânză and a Fetească Neagră pour.
TipThe tasting menu rotates by season; ask for the wild mushroom pickles and the slow-roasted lamb when those land on the board.
Sălcioara in downtown Chișinău is the traditional Moldovan dining room with carved-wood interiors, evening live music and a kitchen built on village recipes.
OrderSarmale wrapped in vine leaves with sour cream and mămăligă on the side.
TipReserve a corner table for the live music nights; order the house brandy alongside the zeamă starter.
La Plăcinte on Ștefan cel Mare 3 is the central Chișinău branch of the Moldovan chain that turned the street plăcintă into a sit-down restaurant.
OrderA mixed plate of plăcinte: cheese, cabbage and pumpkin slices, with smântână.
TipOrder the plăcinte by the slice from the counter for a quick lunch; the full menu carries zeamă, mămăligă and sarmale at chain-pricing.
La Plăcinte on Șoseaua Hâncești 58 is the Botanica-side branch of Moldova's plăcinte chain, with the largest dine-in room and a kids' play area attached.
OrderPlăcinte with cabbage and cheese, mămăligă with brânză and smântână on the side.
TipThis branch has the most reliable lunch turnover; the plăcinte tray refills hourly and the sit-down menu carries the full traditional list.
