The Best Cafés in Bucharest to Visit

Dianei 4 in Bucharest city centre. Courtesy of Dianei 4
Dianei 4 in Bucharest city centre. Courtesy of Dianei 4
Georgeta Gheorghe

Bucharest has some amazing cafés. Start your tour of the city’s best, from the quirky and colourful, to those found within some of the city’s architectural jewels. Also, keep an eye out for those that after dark turn into live music and party venues. Here are the best 12 cafés you’ll find in Bucharest.

Origo

A top contender for the title of best coffee shop in town, at Origo you can always find a great cup of coffee made from the finest selections, using its own roaster by their very skilled baristas. After dark, the café turns into a bar, serving refined cocktails that always attract a good crowd.

M60

Located on a quiet street near the hip Amzei Square, M60 are famous for their delicious avocado toast, decadent carrot cake and minimalist design. Plus, they serve great coffee and cultivate that cool, relaxed vibe you crave while in a big, bustling city.

Frudisiac

A corner of cool, minimalist Sweden in the bustling Romanian capital, Frudisiac serves great healthy food, including some vegan options, alongside heavenly smoothies and delicious homemade pancakes. On sunny days, browse through their well-curated selection of magazines on the little storefront terrace.

Beans&Dots

Located in the newly-renovated Universul Palace, right in the city centre, Beans&Dots is the perfect spot to start your morning or to kick off a day of remote work. Try their coffee selection and delicious tarts while mingling with Bucharest’s creative crowd. Make sure you head out onto the terrace, regardless of the weather.

The Urbanist

A cool mix between a café and a denim and sneakers shop, The Urbanist is a must-stop when visiting Bucharest’s Old Centre. Its cozy, relaxed vibe gives way to an electric atmosphere as soon as the sun sets and DJs start performing. One of the city’s favourite pre-party venues, it also has a lovely street terrace.

J’ai Bistrot

J’ai Bistrot is that café that everyone knows and goes back to time and time again. While the food is great, people flock here for another reason: the laid-back vibe and live music evenings, be it by local bands or DJs. Located in one of Bucharest’s least touristy neighbourhoods, it is surrounded by old houses and villas that will catch an architecture lover’s eye.

Grand Café Van Gogh

One of the first cafés to open in Bucharest’s Old Centre after its recent reinvention as the city’s party district, Grand Café Van Gogh has amassed a loyal following. Hosted in a beautiful historic building, it adds a Dutch touch to one of the main arteries in the neighbourhood.

Energiea

Located in an old printing house, Energiea is known for delicious contemporary food, great smoothies and a perpetually cool vibe. Their spare ribs are truly memorable as is the potato platter that lifts the humble potato to new heights. Over the years, the vintage industrial decor and lively terrace have turned this café into one of Bucharest’s best.

Acuarela

Acuarela is friendly, laid-back, colourful and serves great burgers. When visiting in summer, you’ll be welcomed by the rainbow of umbrellas hanging in a cloud above the courtyard, while in winter you can warm up near the big terracotta heater.

Sheida Coffee&Stories

A new opening, social entrepreneurship project Sheida Coffee&Stories scores major points when it comes to the modern design inspired by Persia and the overall chilled vibe. Offering seriously good coffee, over 50 types of teas, and exotic desserts, it has everything it takes to catch the eye of the city’s design loving crowds who want to support a social cause.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Culture Trip Spring Sale

Save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips! Limited spots.

X
Edit article