Must see restaurants in Chişinău

It's well worth the short taxi ride north of the centre to Chişinău's only Gagauzian restaurant. Gagauzian food has Turkic, Romanian and Russian…

The charismatic owner's love of coffee is on display everywhere, from Turkish coffee faithfully prepared according to an ancient style, to shelves of…

Chişinău's most eccentric eatery is a bit like a Game of Thrones set, awash in furs, totem poles and gnarled wood. Out back open-air dining options take…

If you've never experienced the charms of Uzbek and other Central Asian cuisines, definitely beeline it here for a primer. The menu runs the gamut from…

This superb place boasts charming old-world decor, unfailingly genial staff and – by night – a duet strumming traditional Moldovan instruments. A long…

In the heart of Chişinău's main drinking and dining area is this charming courtyard restaurant with cushioned cast-iron chairs, vines, a small waterfall…

A basement eatery with an understated traditional interior and excellent service, La Taifas is a fine spot to sample authentic Moldovan favourites like…

There's no better place to dine on a lazy summer's evening than in the candlelit courtyard of this elegant Italian eatery. Seafood is a highlight, with…

The food is both healthy and outstanding – what you might expect from a place with the motto 'bread, wine, life'. Warm up with a berry smoothie infused…

It may not look like much from the street, but inside this sleek place you'll find some of the best steaks in town served up by attentive staff from the…

Ascend the outdoor staircase to an ultra-contemporary loft space occupied by this ambitious new restaurant. It's industrial chic all the way, with a…

This popular student-oriented cafe serves inventive salads, delicious meat and fish dishes, and modern takes on Soviet staples like beef stroganoff. The…

We just love this bright and buoyant Central America–inspired cafe. Not only does it offer fantastic single-origin coffee and fine desserts (some infused…

Opa covers the Greek basics like moussaka and their signature souvlaki while mixing in more adventurous creations like shrimps in ouzo and rice. The…

This cosy cafe and pastry shop on the central walking strip is renowned for its desserts and coffee but also has a full menu of light meals and more…

Their premade smoothies and vegan rolls are perfect for on-the-go sightseers. They also have affordable salads and soups, raw pasta and great coffee. It's…

Catering to an impoverished university crowd, this stolovaya (cafeteria) is the best place in the centre for quick budget eats. Point and choose from…

Delice d'Ange is a popular central cafe offering a dazzling array of coffee drinks, shakes, pastries, salads and other light bites. There are indoor and…

Since 1825 this market in the very centre of the city has been the scene of lively price haggling for fresh meat and produce. Brave the crowds for its…

The most central of a cheap and well-run chain of pizza restaurants, Pizza Mania offers lots of choice, including salads, omelettes and grills as well as…