Eat in Cișmigiu / Cotroceni, Bucharest

Vatra ★ 4.3

Vatra on Brezoianu cooks traditional Romanian on bakestones and in tin kettles, in a 1920s Transylvanian interior next to Cișmigiu Park in Bucharest.

Signature: Sarmale, Tochitură, Romanian cheese plate

Order: Sarmale with mămăligă; the cheese plate of Brașov sheep and Sibiu cow.

Tip: The veranda opens May through October; lunch fixed menu is 45 RON.

Energiea ★ 4.4

Energiea lives in a former print shop on Brezoianu just outside Old Town, a contemporary Bucharest pub-bistro with strong small plates and a courtyard.

Signature: Pulled pork sandwich, House cocktails, Brunch plates

Order: Pulled-pork sandwich; the signature gin and rosemary cocktail.

Tip: The cocktail program is the strongest in the area; brunch runs Sat-Sun 11:00-16:00.

Garden of Eden ★ 4.0

Garden of Eden is a first-floor courtyard in the Universul building on Brezoianu, a Mediterranean kitchen and cocktail garden in central Bucharest.

Signature: Garden-grilled mains, Tapas plates, Cocktail menu

Order: Grilled octopus; the tapas trio; a Recaș rosé.

Tip: The courtyard is heated in winter; an enclosed nightlife-grade space.

Beans & Dots ★ 4.5

Beans & Dots is a Bucharest concept store and specialty cafe on Brezoianu just off Old Town, pouring exclusive coffee from The Barn Berlin roastery.

Signature drink: The Barn Berlin filter coffee

Tip: Mezzanine floor inside the Universul building C2; quiet for laptops.

Beans & Dots ★ 4.4

Beans & Dots brings The Barn Berlin's roasted beans into Bucharest, the closest the city has to a shortlisted international specialty-coffee retail cafe.

Tip: The Barn whole bean is sold by the bag; the concept-store shelf rotates monthly.

Sources from: Germany (The Barn Berlin), Companion Tea origins

How they serve: Espresso, Filter, V60, Whole bean retail

Energiea ★ 4.4

Energiea lives in a former print shop on Brezoianu, a contemporary Bucharest pub-bistro with one of the city's best cocktail programs and a courtyard.

Signature drink: Gin and rosemary signature

Food: Small plates and brunch

Tip: The cocktail menu rotates seasonally; brunch runs Sat-Sun Standing room when busy.

Garden of Eden ★ 4.0

Garden of Eden's courtyard in the Universul building on Brezoianu is one of the quietest nightlife rooms in Bucharest, a leafy enclosed garden bar.

Signature drink: Citrus and rosemary spritz

Food: Tapas plates

Tip: Heated through winter; turnover is slow, so plan to stay Standing room when busy.

Garden of Eden Courtyard ★ 4.1

Garden of Eden on Brezoianu in Bucharest is a leafy first-floor garden bar hidden three flights up inside the Universul building, heated through winter.

Why locals love it: A leafy first-floor garden bar hidden inside the Universul building on Brezoianu, three flights up via a courtyard locals walk past daily.

Tip: Heated through winter; access via the door marked 'Universul' next to Beans and Dots.

Energiea Print-Shop Courtyard ★ 4.3

Energiea on Brezoianu in Bucharest hides a courtyard behind the print-shop facade, the quietest cocktail spot in the centre through an arched entrance.

Why locals love it: Energiea's hidden courtyard behind the Brezoianu print-shop facade is the quietest cocktail spot in the centre, set back from the street through an arched entrance.

Tip: Ask for a courtyard table when booking; weekday afternoons are calmest.

Energiea Brunch ★ 4.3

Energiea's Saturday and Sunday brunch service is the city-centre weekend brunch room of record, in the former-print-shop courtyard just outside Old Town.

Order: Eggs benedict; pulled-pork sandwich.

Tip: Brunch only Saturday and Sunday; weekday menu is small plates and dinner.

Energiea Late ★ 4.2

Energiea's print-shop courtyard near Bucharest Old Town keeps a small late-night kitchen running until 02:00 Fri-Sat, the strongest cocktail bar food.

Try: Pub-grub small plates and cocktails

Tip: Bar stays open later than the kitchen; small plates last call ~01:30.