Best Romanian Restaurants in Bucharest 2026 – 7 Places to Try

Are you looking for Romanian restaurants in Bucharest where you can enjoy sarmale, tripe soup, or papanași in a place with a rich history?

Below are 7 locations—ranging from the inn built in 1808 to Ion Mincu’s villa on Șosea—featuring dishes to try and the information you need to get there.

In short: you’ll find several of them in and around the Old Town, while the others will take you on a stroll to Cișmigiu, the Bragadiru Palace, Aviatorilor, or Herăstrău.

If you only have one evening, check out our recommendation at the end.

Table of Contents

• Why Choose Romanian Restaurants in Bucharest in 2026
• How to Choose the Right Restaurant
• Which Romanian restaurant in Bucharest will you choose in 2026?

Why choose Romanian Restaurants in Bucharest in 2026

Bucharest’s cuisine is a blend of various influences: aristocratic, Balkan, Eastern, and peasant.

You can see this in the menu, in the architecture, and in the way meals are served.

• You can enjoy dishes that are hard to find in other capitals: tripe soup, stuffed cabbage rolls with polenta, and sheep pastrami;
• you can combine your meal with a stroll among historic buildings;
• almost all the restaurants on the list accept reservations by phone, which is helpful on weekends and during peak season.

Caru’ cu Bere – a historic brewery in the Old Town

Caru cu Bere is one of the most famous Romanian restaurants in Bucharest, a historic landmark on Stavropoleos Street, just a few steps from Hanu’ lui Manuc. The dining room has an atmosphere steeped in history, and the restaurant is famous for its mici, made according to a recipe that has been passed down for decades, and for its house beer.

Dishes to try:

• the famous grilledsausages;
• pork knuckle with sauerkraut, polenta, and horseradish;
• stuffed cabbage rolls with polenta and sour cream;
• tripe soup or bean soup with smoked meat;
• cheese dumplings with sweet cheese, sour cream, and jam.

Address: 5 Stavropoleos Street, Old Town. Hours: Daily, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m. Reservations: 0726 282 373 or online via the restaurant’s website. The area is pedestrian-only, so walk there or look for a public parking lot nearby.

👉 Go to the location!

Manuc’s Inn – Dinner at a 200-Year-Old Inn

The inn was built in 1806–1808 by the Armenian merchant Emanuel Mârzaian, known as Manuc Bei. The negotiations that led to the 1812 Treaty of Bucharest took place here. Today Manuc’s Inn is a historic monument, and meals are served in the inner courtyard.

From the menu, note the following:

• caramelized lamb shank, a dish created by chef Iustin Manea, designed for two people;
• Iftene’s Eggplant, grilled eggplant served at the table with feta cheese and tomatoes;
• Lescea-style duck, with duck legs browned on top of braised cabbage;
• cabbage rolls with polenta and hot peppers;
• lamb pastrami cooked in a cauldron or over hot coals.

The menu is updated periodically, so some dishes may be unavailable or subject to change.

Address: 62–64 Strada Franceză. Hours: Monday–Thursday and Sunday 10:00 a.m.–12:00 a.m., Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m.–2:00 a.m. Reservations: +40 730 188 653. The restaurant recommends making a reservation in advance, especially for dinner.

👉 Go to the location!

👉See also – Cafes in Bucharest where you can enjoy a good cup of coffee!

La Mama – Home-style Food, at Five Locations

La Mama offers a simple Romanian menu featuring soups, stews, and grilled dishes, with five restaurants throughout the city. The first location opened on Barbu Văcărescu Street, in the Ștefan cel Mare area. It’s the practical choice if you want a no-frills Romanian meal, close to just about anywhere in the city.

Dishes to try:

• tripe soup or veal soup;
• cabbage rolls with polenta;
• bulz, served with polenta, burduf cheese, telemea, and an egg;
• chicken stew “Cotnari-style”;
• papanași with sour cream and cherry jam.

Addresses: 3 Barbu Văcărescu; 3 Monetăriei (Romanian Peasant Club, near Victoriei Square); 11–13 Regina Elisabeta Blvd. (University area); 51 Delea Veche; 210–213 Splaiul Independenței (Orhideea Gallery).

👉 Go to the location!

Lacrimi și Sfinți – Traditional Cuisine, Reimagined

At the beginning of the 20th century, the house at 16 Șepcari Street housed the Zambaccian family’s fabric store. It was renovated and restored in 2012, and today it serves Romanian cuisine with a contemporary twist. In the restaurant’s introduction, poet Mircea Dinescu is credited as the man behind the recipes.

It’s worth looking for the following items on the menu:

• the shepherd’s platter, featuring cheeses from Transylvania to the Danube;
• pike roe spread on homemade bread;
• zacusca and Balkan salad, made with roasted eggplant and peppers;
• stuffed cabbage rolls, cracklings, and momițe, which guests also praise in their reviews.

Address: 16 Șepcari Street, Old Town. Hours: Daily from 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. (Fridays and Saturdays until 1:00 a.m.). The kitchen closes earlier. Reservations: +40 725 558 286.

👉 Go to the location!

Casa Doina – Dining in the Garden on Kiseleff Street

The building was designed by architect Ion Mincu and originally operated as the “Bufetul de la Șosea.” Since 2003, it has been known as Casa Doina. If you’re looking for an outdoor dining experience in the Neo-Romanian style, this is the place to go.

Dishes recommended by the restaurant and guests:

• stuffed cabbage rolls with sauerkraut and smoked pork ribs, served with polenta and sour cream;
• tripe soup;
• charcoal-grilled mititei;
• shepherd’s platter, with sheep pastrami braised in red wine;
• papanași with sour cherries.

Address: 4 Kiseleff Highway, Sector 1 (entrance on Ion Mincu Street). Hours: daily, 11:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m. Reservations: +40 31 630 9956.

👉 Go to the location!

Mahala – Romanian cuisine reimagined, at the Bragadiru Palace

Mahala is located in the Bragadiru Palace on Calea Rahovei, in an eclectic setting that blends nostalgia with contemporary art. The menu is the creation of chef Petre Sorin Cucu and draws on traditional Romanian flavors, which he presents in a modern way. The menu also features fish and pasta dishes, making it a great choice for a meal where not everyone wants the same thing.

Dishes to try (the à la carte menu changes daily and features the daily special):

• mashed beans with onions and a salad of charcoal-grilled eggplant, to start;
• tripe soup;
• beef rolls wrapped in grape leaves;
• veal cheek with creamy polenta and Transylvanian truffle sauce;
• roast duck leg with a pastry garnish;
• coliva for dessert.

The main meat dishes on the website’s menu ranged from approximately 95 to 105 lei [check current prices].

Address: Bragadiru Palace, 147–153 Calea Rahovei. Reservations: 0729 003 002.

👉 Go to the location!

Zexe Zahana – Aristocratic Recipes in an Interwar Villa

Zexe Zahana is located in an aristocratic villa with interwar charm on Aviatorilor Boulevard. The menu is based on old, aristocratic recipes brought back to life, and the interior is simply decorated, featuring plenty of white wood and refurbished furniture. If you’re looking for an evening with a great atmosphere, note that the restaurant features live music on certain days of the week [check the website for specific days].

Dishes to try:

• zacusca, in several varieties, including the “boyerască” version with porcini mushrooms;
• tuslama and bone marrow;
• pork cheeks as a side dish;
• goat soup or Bucovinian borscht with mushrooms;
• roast lamb;
• stuffed cabbage rolls made with goose breast.

If you’d like to try something traditional, the bar also offers Romanian drinks, ranging from blueberry wine to țuică and palinka.

Address: 40 Aviatorilor Boulevard, Sector 1.

👉 Go to the location!

How to choose the right restaurant

• First visit to Bucharest: Hanu’ lui Manuc or Caru’ cu Bere, for the atmosphere and history. Our recommendation: Hanu’ lui Manuc, for the inn’s history and the menu featuring lamb and mutton dishes.
• For families and those on a tighter budget: La Mama, with five locations and a simple menu.
• For a more relaxed evening featuring a fresh take on traditional cuisine: Lacrimi și Sfinți or Mahala.
• For the garden and a long walk: Casa Doina, near Herăstrău Park.
• For aristocratic recipes and a special occasion: Zexe Zahana.

Be sure to make reservations, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings, and walk to the restaurants in the Old Town.

Menus and hours are subject to change, so please call ahead to confirm.

Which Romanian restaurant in Bucharest will you choose in 2026?

You now have seven options for a Romanian meal in Bucharest: from the beer hall on Stavropoleos Street to the garden on Kiselef Street or the banquet hall at the Bragadiru Palace.

Tell us in the comments which one was your favorite or where you had the best sarmale.