13 casual dining worth the trip across Romania, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Romania guides.
Mici la Mahala ★ 4.4 · Bucharest
obor · Strada Ziduri Moși 4, Sector 2, București
The Obor mici terrace inside the Piața Obor complex is the legendary Bucharest grill counter, mici plus mustard plus bread plus a Timișoreana lager.
Tip: Cash works fastest; the lunch counter peaks 12:00-14:00 Walk-ins usually OK.
Locanta Jaristea ★ 4.2 · Bucharest
lipscani · Strada George Georgescu 50-52, 040132 București
Locanta Jaristea cooks Belle Epoque Romanian inside a 19th-century Bucharest townhouse south of Old Town, with live folk and costumed staff service.
Tip: Set menu nights book solidly; the regular evenings are a la carte.
Aubergine ★ 4.2 · Bucharest
lipscani · Strada Selari 9, 030072 București
Aubergine on Selari pulls Mediterranean and Egyptian plates into Old Town Bucharest: hummus three ways, ful medames, slow-cooked lamb shank, mezze trio.
Tip: Vegetarian-heavy menu; cash and card accepted.
Biutiful by the Lake ★ 4.2 · Bucharest
floreasca · Bulevardul Aerogării 27, 013591 București
Biutiful by the Lake sits on Herastrau next to the Aerogării bridge, the daytime lake terrace and Saturday brunch big hitter for north Bucharest residents.
Tip: Outdoor terrace open May to October; winter service moves inside.
NOR Sky Bar and Restaurant ★ 4.1 · Bucharest
floreasca · Strada Barbu Văcărescu 201, Sky Tower, București
NOR Sky Bar takes the 36th floor of the Sky Tower on Barbu Văcărescu, the highest restaurant in Bucharest with a 360-degree view of the city.
Tip: Bookings essential for sundown; smart-casual dress code Walk-ins usually OK.
Bistro de l'Arte ★ 4.1 · Bucharest
lipscani · Strada Stavropoleos 3, 030107 București
Bistro de l'Arte runs a French bistro a few doors from Caru' cu bere on Stavropoleos, in the small alleys between Lipscani and the Princely Court.
Tip: Lunch fixed menu around 45 RON; dinner walk-in is fine Walk-ins usually OK.
Hanu' Berarilor Interbelic Casa Soare ★ 4.0 · Bucharest
centru-civic · Strada Poenaru Bordea 2, 050554 București
The interwar-themed Hanu' Berarilor Interbelic Casa Soare runs the same Bucharest Poenaru Bordea inn as Casa Oprea Soare, darker beer-hall room.
Tip: Same site as Casa Oprea Soare; ask for the Interbelic side at the host.
Buongiorno Italian Primăverii ★ 4.0 · Bucharest
dorobanti · Bulevardul Primăverii 3, București, Romania
Buongiorno Italian Primăverii is the diplomatic-quarter branch of the Bucharest trattoria chain, with imported buffalo mozzarella and daily pasta.
Tip: Terrace closes at 23:00; bookings via the website.
Shift Eatery ★ 4.0 · Bucharest
dorobanti · Strada Mircea Vulcănescu 23, 010406 București
Shift Eatery is the Bucharest all-day brunch room near Piața Victoriei, the kind of modern casual menu that arrived with the third-wave coffee scene.
Tip: Walk-in only on weekdays; weekend bookings via phone Walk-ins usually OK.
La Pescăria Dorobanților ★ 4.0 · Bucharest
dorobanti · Strada Roma 6, 011773 București
La Pescăria Dorobanților is the Bucharest market-style fish counter and restaurant, displaying the day's catch on ice and grilling whole on order.
Tip: Pick a fish from the case at the counter; lemon and olive oil only on the plate.
La Mama (Lipscani) ★ 3.9 · Bucharest
lipscani · Strada Lipscani 36, 030033 București
La Mama on Lipscani is the Bucharest chain doing Romanian home cooking at scale: oversized sarmale, ciorbă bowls, big-portion papanași for dessert.
Tip: Multi-branch chain; walk-in works on most weekdays.
City Grill Primăverii ★ 3.9 · Bucharest
dorobanti · Bulevardul Primăverii 3, 011972 București
City Grill Primăverii is the Bucharest Romanian grill chain done well: mici, pork chops, sarmale, an all-purpose dining room for families and lunch.
Tip: Multi-location chain; this is the Primăverii branch.
Cartofisserie ★ 3.8 · Bucharest
sector-4 · Strada Liviu Rebreanu 4, 031787 București
Cartofisserie is the Bucharest potato-house chain: loaded baked potatoes, fried wedges, vegetarian and vegan options, the cheap reliable lunch.
Tip: Counter service; take-away is the default.