Timişoara
OK, it is a popular Italian eatery on leafy Piaţa Victoriei, but we come here for the attached gelateria, which serves the best Italian ices and ice…
Must-see restaurants in Romania
Târgu Mureş
Quell the munchies as you museum-hop around Târgu Mureş by grabbing one of Donuterie's rainbow-coloured, chocolate-covered or Oreo-sprinkled creations.
Danube Delta
This low-key terrace restaurant a couple of blocks away from the port draws a mostly local crowd for beers, well-done pork dishes and fresh fish.
Székely Land
The best place on the strip with thin-crust pizza and seafood. There's a decked terrace or you can eat in the cosy wood-walled restaurant inside.
Cluj-Napoca
Ribs slow-cooked in rum, paprika chicken with polenta and mouthwatering beef sirloin form a menu that's as filling as it is refined.
Timişoara
This popular basement pizzeria is a block northeast of Piaţa Unirii and comes highly recommended by locals.
Braşov
Settle into an umbrella-shaded wooden seat and ponder a wide menu of stuffed cabbage, soups, and filling desserts like papanași, globes of pastry with…
Transylvania
This solid, though stodgy, bistro serves a grab-bag of Italian, Romanian and Chinese dishes, for times when you want to start with Transylvanian soup in a…
Iaşi
For years Lavric was known as one of the most elegant Romanian restaurants in town. They've now switched to a full-on Italian menu. The quality is still…
Maramureş
This rustically accented early-to-bed-and-early-to-rise restaurant is hung with cowbells and lanterns and makes for an earthy alternative to the rest of…
Vama Veche
Restaurant Lyana is a popular, convenient spot to grab a quick bite, including a welcome breakfast of omelettes and coffee. Choose from sun-soaked seats…
Romania
Worth even just a look, this charming, very kid-friendly 'retro bistro' with a big cow statue on the main street is decked out in colourful period-piece…
Bucharest
On the western side of the lake, across from Snagov village, this upscale terrace restaurant is one of the nicer places to eat in the Snagov area. There's…
Iaşi
Buena Vista calls itself a Latin American restaurant, but there are enough Romanian staples, such as polenta, on the menu to attract a mainly local…
Maramureş
Named after the infamous (and fictional) pirate, this nautically themed restaurant – love the skull and crossbones – has an atmospheric interior hung with…
Bucharest
Student-friendly place with a relaxed vibe and huge terrace towards the back. The food, a mix of burgers and salads and various Asian influences, isn't…
Bucharest
One of the better choices along one of the busiest corners of the historic centre, Belviso offers decent pizza and pasta, as well as finely rendered meat…
Târgu Mureş
Dona does its range of cuisines surprisingly well, with a choice of pizza, grills, soups and rather good desserts. Best of all are the weekday multi…
Timişoara
The spot for cheap eats, kebabs and pizza joints is this student complex, south of the centre across the Bega Canal. This area is home to many university…
Romania
This restaurant's square-side terrace is an excellent choice for lunch, and it offers good-value daily specials of traditional Romanian meals. In the…
Moldavia & the Bucovina Monasteries
This long-time favourite is known for very good pizza, but the cooks here also turn out good grilled meats, soups and salads. After 9pm or so it devolves…
Wallachia
The relaxed, casual setting here is ideal for an evening meal. The menu is good-quality Italian with a pleasing range of home-made pasta dishes. These…
Székely Land
This upscale hotel-restaurant serves refined Romanian dishes such as trout stuffed with chanterelles, duck with potatoes and cabbage, pork trotters with…
Maramureş
The town market is a good spot to pick up picnic provisions, with a large selection of fruit and vegetables as well as big loaves of bread and excellent,…
Sinaia
Eat inside or out at this busy central watering hole, popular with families and après-skiers. Service is a little slow, but coffees are suitably frothy…
The Danube Delta & Black Sea Coast
This branch of a reliable local chain serves up huge portions of traditional Romanian specialities at affordable, family-friendly prices. You'll find it…
Maramureş
On an unnamed street behind the sports hall, this carnivores' favourite has a bubbly terrace and a traditional 'country' interior. Rustic is all about…
Maramureş
Boasting a prime people-watching terrace on the square, an adjoining pub and an encyclopedic menu of snacks, salads, pizza (15 to 32 lei) and some very…
Wallachia
The inviting garden terrace is a welcome spot for coffee or pizza before or after a visit to the nearby Princely Court. The salads are enormous; one is…
Romania
It isn't going to win any culinary awards, but this comfortable restaurant with terrace at the top of the main drag serves decent salads (15 to 23 lei),…
Transylvania
Bordering Lake Bâlea, this cabin and restaurant has seasonal cuisine from soups and cheese plates to mushroom stews. It's the perfect finish after a…
Székely Land
Breakfasts, all-you-can-eat lunch specials (22.50 lei), pancakes, do-it-yourself salad buffets, pancakes… This pleasant diner with an outdoor terrace has…
Bucharest
The best (and arguably the most authentic) Indian restaurant in the city. Excellent curries, spiced to order, along with the usual accoutrements of rice…
Wallachia
Don’t be put off by the name, this ‘sports’ pub has great food and a fun 2nd-floor terrace that overlooks Piaţa Victoriei. After dinner, it does double…
Danube Delta
This large and popular open-air terrace offers more than a dozen fish specialities, including sturgeon. It's located on the riverfront promenade, just…
Sinaia
Next door you can hire skis, while inside goulash bubbles, tables are weighed down by heavy schnitzels, and there's a smattering of veggie-friendly salads…
Timişoara
Timişoara has a colourful central market two blocks west of Piaţa Libertăţii where you can buy produce, meats, cheeses and bread for train provisions or…
Transylvania
This fuss-free pizzeria and diner covers all the doughy bases from Hawaiian to calzone, and serves fast-food fillers like doner kebabs and heavily cheese…
Transylvania
One of few options in Hărman, this bustling little spot serves good thin-crust pizza within steps of the fortified church, and there's a shady garden to…
Székely Land
Popular with lively eaters and drinkers, this traditional restaurant has bench seats and locally recommended food (pork schnitzels, chicken breast and…
