So, I am ”a” food lover. I admit. And Bacania Coco is, without any doubt, my favorite grocery shop. Each and every product inside has been carefully chosen to meet the demands of an experienced consumer, in search for healthy, high-quality alternatives. The shop offers a wide variety of products, most of which belong to small independent producers.

There is also a kitchen inside, in which amazing cakes, cookies, pies and quiches are made every day, early in the morning, according to original recipes.

Irrespective of the initial purpose of your visit, you will certainly end up going home with a bottle of wine, cider or a couple of beers, as well, to go with that meal of yours. They have an impressive selection of any of those mentioned above. And if you are planning a party and are eager to impress, you can place an order, a couple of days in advance, for any of the original products by Bacania Coco.

I will always remember every visit to Bacania Coco, not only because of all those choices I’ve made on the spur of the moment, which I absolutely loved, but also because through each and every detail that gives it shape and consistency, this place conveys passion, dedication and strong beliefs. And so do its owners, who will probably never forget that Wednesday in August, when they could finally say out loud, with so much joy and excitement: ”Welcome to Bacania Coco! Is there anything we can do for you?”.

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Bacania Coco | Shopping, Snacks | Tuna & feta quiche Leu 9
Dionisie Lupu, 76 | Center | +40213109434
Mon – Fri 09:00 – 21:00, Sat 10:00 – 20:00

I do not usually have enough time for home cooking. Yet, I am not a big fan of take-away food. But frufru has easily become one of my favorite spots for a quick snack and even a complete meal.

Apart from being one of the friendliest and most joyful eating spots in the city, it is always a healthy option for breakfast, lunch and dinner: fresh ingredients only, simple and tasty recipes, 100% organic sweets and snacks, a young and colorful brand identity, good service. Recommended for vegetarians, vegans and even raw.

My favorite options in the menu are the mushroom low bread, the 4 pesto pasta (4 formaggi and pesto) and the tomato soup with basil.

The nice and enthusiastic people behind this successful brand encourage the consumers to be ”fru fru” themselves. Because being ”fru fru” is all about good food and fun eating.

If I’ve managed to capture your interest and you’ve already decided you want to be ”fru fru” too for at least one day, there are various places where you can experience the frufru positive vibe: 2 venues, numerous fresh corners in office buildings and one home delivery service.

My frufru is, of course, close to home, in the University Square. You can find your own frufru by checking the website.

Enjoy your healthy meal!

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Frufru | Snacks, Restaurants (Slow food) | 4 pesto penne Leu 16
Batiște 1-3 | Center | +40212221111
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 21:00, Sat 12:00 – 20:00, Sun 10:00 – 19:00

Personal quote of the day:

If you don’t want to ruin my day, please don’t mess with my food!

You wake up, you go to work, have a cup of coffee, grab a sandwich for breakfast and then your day goes on as usual, with variations involving small/big, good/bad surprises.

And then, before you know it, it’s lunch time already. Deep inside, you’ve waited for this from the moment you made the great effort of getting up early to make it to work on time. And somehow, all of a sudden, you’re confronted with a dilemma. And now what?

If the description fits you as well, then why not try Omnivore’s Dilemma? One’s daily consultant in culinary dilemmas, a small food bar with a big soul, good answers and friendly prices.

This place has recently made my day in such a way that there was no more place for dilemmas the next couple of days in a row. It all started early in the morning with pictures on Facebook. I am going to name only two of the subjects here: Mrs. Lasagna with Spinach and Soft Cheese & Mrs. Semolina and Dried Apricot Tart.

Every day, dear vegetarian/vegan or meat lover, your dilemma is answered to by this lovely food bar and the people behind it with one soup, three main courses, three different sandwiches, two salads and three desserts.

So this is to simple and attractive menus for happy days with excellent culinary experiences!

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Omnivore’s Dilemma | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (International) | Tomato & Basil Soup Leu 10
Calea Victoriei, 214 | Center | +40212125666
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 19:00

I have a confession to make: yes, summer is great, summer is fun, but winter is and will always be my favorite season for various reasons. And one of those reasons is the fact that I discover most of these special urban places in winter, because this is when I feel the need to reinvent myself most. A multi-sensory experience is part of the process and winter delights, such as flavored chocolate, cookies, tea and hot chocolate are my special tools.

This is why I chose to recommend another shop under a brand originated in Britain: Whittard of Chelsea, a unique opportunity to indulge your senses with a wide selection of traditional British tea, winter tea, hot chocolate, lovely teapots and mugs and delicious biscuits.

My favourite Whittard of Chelsea shop in Bucharest is the one located in Cocor Store, because it is close to my place, but mostly because of its lovely and welcoming window facing I.C. Bratianu Boulevard.

This week’s pick: Lemon Meringue White Hot Chocolate, light, citrusy and seductively sweet.

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Whittard Chelsea Shop | Coffee & tea, Shopping | Tea Leu 25
I.C. Bratianu 29-33 | Center | +40733044453
09:00 – 21:00 daily

Every once in a while, we all feel the need for a different weekend experience. In my case, this usually involves a more exquisite approach. Champagne definitely has to be part of it, as well as a little black dress and high heels.

M’ora Champagne Bar Boutique is a trendy and glamorous place, where you will certainly feel in the limelight if you put the right attitude on.

I can guarantee you will be impressed by the delightful champagne cocktails in the menu. Make sure you try them all if you get the chance!

This is the right place to celebrate success, to have a good drink and a good laugh, together with close friends and business partners, as well as the perfect warm-up for a classy long night out.

M’ora often hosts special events with refined food and music, so I recommend you make a reservation in advance. Check out the webpage for a virtual tour and the Facebook account for good teasers and regular updates.

Cin-cin!

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M’ora | Bars | Champagne cocktail Leu 40
Paris 22 | Center | +40732500900
Sun – Wed 10:00 – 00:00, Thu – Sat 10:00 – last client

A friend told me one day over the phone, with great excitement (which seemed a bit out of the ordinary in that context) that a new bookstore was opened in Piata Romana. ”What kind of bookstore?” I asked, trying to understand my friend’s temporary inability to build a cohesive description of the place. The answer was: ”You’ll see, it’s so nice and different.”

So I went there that very day to understand what the excitement was all about and I eventually blamed my friend for not being able to convey any of those special things that make Bastilia what it is: a Librarium.

What is a Librarium? It is a universe of books, combined with drawings, inspirational messages, the perfect light, the nicest ” Librarium journey” assistants, history and a great view over Piata Romana and Magheru Boulevard.

The Librarium is hosted by one of the most beautiful old houses in Bucharest city center, with a 98-year history and it has a ground floor dedicated to fiction, a first floor dedicated to specialty books and a second floor (cloud no. 9) where you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and skim a book or a magazine of your choice.

Enjoy your journey! My friend and I sure did.

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Bastilia Librarium | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Shopping | Tea Leu 5
Piata Romana, 5 | Center | +40213154314
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 22:00, Sun 12:00 – 20:00

I have been asked several times if I happen to know a place that sells macarons in Bucharest. Time has come for me to recommend not just a place that does that, but actually ”the” place.

Macarons are an extremely popular and exquisite dessert all over the world; they enchant your senses and cater for all tastes. Madame Lucie knows that perfectly well, so she has created, in her very special laboratory, this lovely place that always welcomes its customers with a selection of the finest desserts, from macarons to cupcakes, carrot cakes, cheesecakes, fruit tarts and the rest is up to you to discover.

Everything that comes out of Madame Lucie’s laboratory is made with great care, fresh ingredients only, no additives, according to an original recipe. You can serve your pick there, on the spot, or make your own selection to take home or to offer as a gift.

Since I am sure your imagination has already gone wild, I have one more thing to say to determine you to visit the Boutique asap. This is the perfect time to discover Madame Lucie because of the new macarons flavors, my favorite of which are: chocolate-violet, lime-basil and caramel-salty butter.

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Madame Lucie | Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks | Box of Macarons Leu 50
Tudor Stefan 26 | Center | +40753044830
Mon – Sat 10:00 – 20:00, Sun 12:00 – 18:00

Papiota is one of those places designed by creative minds, with a great concept behind, a low budget, small but surprising elements and lots of enthusiasm.

The concept behind Papiota is the clothing industry for women in Romania in the communist era and all the design items inside come to support it creatively: the tables, the chairs, the colorful spools, the sewing machines, the magazine cuts, the overall design of the bar etc.

Papiota is a great place for cocktails and long drinks, as well as for clubbing on weekends, since they organize events with Romanian and international DJs on a regular basis.

So if you are in the Old City of Bucharest again and you feel you have had enough of the usual pubs, go to Papiota for a slice of history, innovation, good vibes and interesting company. It’s vintage with a twist!

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Papiota (The Spool) | Bars, Coffee & tea, Music | Aperol Fizz Leu 12
Lipscani 43 | Center | +40213154043
Mon – Wed 17:00 – 01:00, Thu – Sat 17:00 – 04:00, Sun 17:00 – 01:00

Every night of the week, this cool venue offers a great entertainment experience for all its friends.

Control has a chill-out space, where you can have a beer, a long drink or a cocktail anytime and a separate concert hall for live music, DJs and dancing.This is the perfect meeting spot for people who share the same interests, as far as arts, fashion and music is concerned.

I usually go to Control on concert nights, since it has been hosting very good international and Romanian bands concerts for years now.

It can get really crowded on weekends, but as long as you are in the fun and great loud music mode I guess nothing else matters.

Check out the official website for regular event updates and get acquainted with the Romanian alternative music scene by attending the regular concerts. 

So if this sounds like your type of place, please feel free to regain (or lose) control next weekend in the alternative Control club!

UPDATE: Control Club sometimes organizes days out. Control Day Out 2 will take place on the 1st of June at Arenele Romane: WILD BEASTS, WOODKID, THE SHOES, O.CHILDREN.

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Control | Bars, Music | Long drink Leu 10
Academiei 19 | Center | +40733927861
Mon – Tue 14:00 – 03:00, Wed – Thu 14:00 – 05:00, Fri 14:00 – 06:00, Sat – Sun 17:00 – 06:00

This is definitely the kind of spot you would only find out about from a local, through Facebook or word of mouth. This is also the kind of place you could make the most of only if you’re passionate about lowbrow painting, illustration, street art, resin toys, limited edition prints and/or comics etc.

I first visited VATRA last December, when this cozy urban cocoon was hosting a Christmas fair. So I decided to write an article about it in order to encourage you to pay Aitch, Kitra and Saddo a visit and buy a different kind of present for your friends and family.

But then I changed my mind and decided to postpone it for one simple reason: I did not want to introduce this art universe and initiative as the host of a gift fair. I wanted to introduce it as what it really is: a workspace for its ”parents” and an exhibition space, also hosting workshops, drawing jams, movie projections and other social events.

If there is nothing in particular you’re interested in out of the artists’ areas of expertise mentioned above, I recommend the goodies room at VATRA: urban toys, prints on paper and canvas, screen prints, hand drawn t-shirts, drawings, paintings, etc. Some of them can even be purchased.

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VATRA Collective | Art & culture
Mavrogheni, 10 | Center | +40752659745
Mon – Fri 14:00 – 19:00