Day-by-day eating plans for Bucharest. weekend classics, family routes, vegan plans, on-a-budget editions.

Day-by-day plans

Bucharest weekend: Old Town and the Romanian classics ★ 4.7

First-time visitor, two days2 days

A two-day Bucharest weekend built around the Old Town restaurant district, the city's defining Romanian classics and one modern fine-dining dinner uptown.

  1. Day 1: Saturday: Old Town anchors and a rooftop sundowner

    Morning
    Origo Coffee Shop on Lipscani 9 for a filter coffee from the city's first specialty roaster; pick up a covrig at the kiosk on Magheru as you cross to Piața Universității.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Caru' cu bere on Stavropoleos 5: mici plate, ciorbă de burtă, papanași for dessert. Walk the Old Town across to Strada Șepcari for an afternoon glass at Lacrimi și Sfinți.
    Evening
    Sundown rooftop drinks at Linea Closer to the Moon on Lipscani 17, then dinner at Hanu' lui Manuc on Strada Franceză 62-64, in the 1808 caravanserai courtyard.

  2. Day 2: Sunday: market morning, lunch on Brezoianu, historic fine dining on Calea Victoriei

    Morning
    Piața Obor mici terrace for an early lunch-replacement breakfast: five mici, bread, mustard, a beer at the Ziduri Moși market terrace.
    Afternoon
    Walk down to Cișmigiu Park, lunch at Vatra on Brezoianu 19 (sarmale and mămăligă). Coffee afterward at Beans & Dots in the Universul building on Brezoianu.
    Evening
    Dinner at Casa Capșa on Calea Victoriei 36, the historic 1852 Bucharest dining address inside the restored Slătineanu house, for classic Romanian plates and a glass from the wine list.

Bucharest on a budget: two days under 100 RON a day ★ 4.3

Budget eater, two days2 days

Two days eating Bucharest well for under 100 RON per person per day, leaning on the Piața Obor mici terrace, covrigi kiosks and the Dristor kebap counter.

  1. Day 1: Day 1: Obor mici, covrigi crawl, Lipscani shawarma

    Morning
    Covrigi Luca on Calea Victoriei for a takeaway covrig (4 RON). Coffee at Origo on Lipscani 9 (12 RON espresso).
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Mici la Piața Obor terrace: five mici, bread, mustard, a beer for around 35 RON.
    Evening
    Dinner at Dristor Kebap Lipscani branch: a chicken shawarma plate and a Cola for under 30 RON.

  2. Day 2: Day 2: market breakfast, langoși, casual sit-down

    Morning
    Walk Piața Amzei produce market and grab a Boutique du Pain pastry on the way (15 RON).
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Langoși la Piața Obor: a fried Hungarian flatbread with garlic and sour cream (under 25 RON).
    Evening
    Dinner at La Mama Lipscani branch: sarmale and mămăligă plate for around 45 RON. Walk the Old Town after.

Bucharest coffee and bakery day: third-wave on foot ★ 4.3

Coffee and bakery enthusiast, one day1 day

A day across Bucharest's third-wave coffee corridor and the bakery and brunch spots that anchor central Bucharest mornings.

  1. Day 1: Day 1: Origo to Beans & Dots, Boutique du Pain pastry stop

    Morning
    Origo Coffee Shop on Lipscani 9 at 08:30 for a pour-over from the city's first specialty roaster. Cross to Boutique du Pain on Academiei 28-30 for a pain au chocolat.
    Afternoon
    M60 Amzei for a second cup and the lunchtime sandwich board. Wander the Piața Amzei produce market afterward.
    Evening
    Closer at Steam Coffee Shop Aviatorilor on Piața Charles de Gaulle 13 for an Origo-roasted espresso before walking back through Herăstrău Park.

Bucharest wine bar evening: Romanian winelist crawl ★ 4.4

Wine drinker, one evening1 day

An evening on Bucharest's Romanian wine map: a Cotnari and Recaș flight on Tonitza street, a Lacrimi și Sfinți Cetate-estate glass, and a late cocktail in the Covaci bank vault.

  1. Day 1: Evening: Abel's, Lacrimi și Sfinți, SIP Bucharest

    Morning
    Free afternoon in Cișmigiu Park or the Old Town.
    Afternoon
    Pre-dinner glass at Abel's Wine Bar on Tonitza 10 from 17:30: a Romanian flight from Cotnari, Murfatlar and Recaș with a small charcuterie board.
    Evening
    Dinner and a glass at Lacrimi și Sfinți on Șepcari 16, then a late cocktail at SIP Bucharest in the Covaci 12 bank-vault speakeasy past 22:30.

Bucharest modern Romanian: a three-day tasting plan ★ 4.6

Returning visitor, three days3 days

A three-day Bucharest plan for visitors who already know Old Town and want the modern Romanian fine dining wave, the third-wave coffee scene and the craft beer taprooms.

  1. Day 1: Day 1: Specialty coffee morning, Old Town reset, modern Calea Victoriei dinner

    Morning
    M60 on Mendeleev 2 near Piața Amzei for a V60 filter coffee; pastry from Boutique du Pain on Academiei 28-30.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Beca's Kitchen on Mihai Eminescu 80: chalkboard daily plates, the tomato soup, cheesecake. Afternoon walk down Calea Victoriei past the Athenaeum.
    Evening
    Dinner at The Artist on Calea Victoriei 147: Paul Oppenkamp's modern European tasting menu in a restored Calea Victoriei mansion.

  2. Day 2: Day 2: Modern Romanian and craft beer day

    Morning
    Steam Coffee Shop Aviatorilor on Piața Charles de Gaulle 13 for an Origo-roasted espresso; A R C Bakery on Bulevardul Mărăști 20A for a pain au raisin.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Mahala inside the Bragadiru Palace on Calea Rahovei 147-153: Petru Sorin Cucu's truffle ciorbă de burtă and the quail-olive dumplings.
    Evening
    Drinks at Hop Hooligans Taproom on Jean Louis Calderon 49, then dinner at Kané Restaurant on Strada Tunari 60 in Dorobanți.

  3. Day 3: Day 3: Brunch, wine bar afternoon, late-night cocktail end

    Morning
    Energiea brunch service in the print-shop courtyard on Brezoianu 4 (Sat-Sun only 11:00-16:00): eggs benedict and the pulled-pork sandwich.
    Afternoon
    Wine afternoon at Abel's Wine Bar on Tonitza 10: Romanian tasting flight from Cotnari, Murfatlar and Recaș. Walk through Lipscani.
    Evening
    Dinner at Lacrimi și Sfinți on Șepcari 16 (Mircea Dinescu's Cetate-estate wines and modern Romanian classics), then late cocktails at SIP Bucharest in the Covaci 12 bank-vault speakeasy.
← Back to Bucharest food guide