Romania
Poeme is one of Bucharest's best restaurants, actually located in the Carol Parc Hotel.
International cuisine, excellent service, but moreover an excellent 'de luxe' atmosphere.
www.carolparchotel.ro
+40-21-3363377
Brîndusa is a fair way out of the centre, although not that far from the Civic Centre and 'House of the People', but it is worth seeking out if you are looking for a wholly authentic Bucharest culinary and drinking experience with no pretentious tourist frills or added kitsch. This is the real Bucharest, in the raw. A little further up the street, tucked away between Str. Vasile Topliceanu and Str. Motoc, you will find La Pietris, a rough and ready though highly picturesque beer garden and summertime hangout. Don't mind Rex the bar dog - he's very friendly.
Str. Elev Popovici Nicolae, on the corner with Str. Novaci, just off Str. Mihail Sebastian, the main road linking Calea Rahovei and Str. 13 Septembrie
a lovely park to stroll in, just beware of all the other people with the same idea and the rollerbladers. Stop off along the way for a beer and some mici at one of the lakeside bars.
north of the centre, various entrances including Piata Charles de Gaulle, Arcul de Triumf, Str. Scoala Herastrau
the only Thai restaurant in Bucharest with UK and Thai chefs, with a similarly expat pricetag to match. The food is truly delicious though, shame there's no Thai beer though ...
Str. Petre Cretu, near Arcul de Triumf
A small restaurant/bar hidden away in a lovely old villa, Shoni serves up amazing Transilvanian fare at wooden benches. Great atmosphere, good music, lacking in the "fitosi" variety of young Romanians. It closes for a couple of months during the summer when it moves to the seaside.
str. Sfintii Voievozi, just off Calea Grivitei
walk around the recently pedestrianised historic centre of Bucharest before it is renovated and stumble on little gems of shops, bars, old-school tailors, fur shops etc.
between Universitate and Piata Unirii
This the place to come and feed yourself up on good old Romanian cooking. The tochitura - a traditional stew - is a treat. There's four of them altogether in the city - God knows how Mama copes with all that cooking.
if you want good Lebanese/Turkish somewhere down-to-earth and without pretentious customers this will do the trick, and cheap too. Eat from formica tables, surrounded by the owners' friends and family, watching Al Jazeera.
just off Bd. Ion Mihalache (1. Mai), on a left-hand side street before Piata Domenii
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