What to eat Romania? culinary specialties and gastronomy

Restaurants often start serving breakfast in the morning and stay open until late in the evening (often 11pm or midnight, or even later for some establishments that also serve as bars). Service is continuous, so you can eat at any time!

The good news is that you'll be able to indulge yourself when it comes to food, with restaurants offering low prices. In the cheapest establishments and rural guesthouses, you can get away with a full meal for less than €10. Count on €10 to €20 for a good table. Beyond €20, you're in the lap of luxury.
If you're feeling a bit peckish, you'll find covrigi, plăcinte and pateuri (savoury puff pastries) on offer for next to nothing. Also keep an eye out for popular canteens and self-catering establishments, where you'll often find very good food at even lower prices.

In restaurants, it's customary to leave a tip equivalent to 10% of the bill.
Bread is often charged extra, and there's no such thing as a carafe of water: if you ask for it, we'll bring you a bottle of mineral water.

In rural areas, guesthouses generally offer half or even full board: an excellent option for discovering local cuisine. Dishes are usually prepared from ultra-local farm produce, and everything is homemade, from butter and bread to sausages and drinks.

No more smoky restaurants: since 2016, it's been illegal to light a cigarette in enclosed public places, including bars, restaurants and clubs. Legislation is respected.

In the more touristy areas, such as Sighișoara or Bran, it's hard to find a good restaurant. Don't hesitate to move away from busy places to eat.
In Bucharest's Lipscani district, touts have appeared in recent years: steer clear of these establishments.

Like restaurants, bars have very wide opening hours: many open in the morning and serve all day, every day. There's no set closing time, so it's often determined by the last customers to leave! Coffee shops, on the other hand, tend to close in the early evening.

Expect to pay around €3 for a pint of classic beer. For a local craft beer, you're looking at around €4. An espresso costs between €1.50 and €2 (up to €4 for specialty coffees), a soda or juice around €3, tea or a large homemade lemonade around €4.

As in restaurants, it's customary to leave a tip for service, equivalent to 10% of the bill.

The sale of alcohol to minors is prohibited.

Romania has long been permissive on the subject, but since 2016, legislation has tightened and bans smoking in enclosed public places. It is very widely respected, with only a few underground venues putting up resistance.