If you also can’t be bothered to wait until 11 in the evening to go out and have a great cocktail in a trendy bar, we’ve found just the right ones for you in Bucharest! While there are plenty of bars in the historic Lipscani quarter begging for your attention, fact is, that they will probably serve you a Mojito with lemon instead of lime, and a weak Cosmopolitan with no colour. True story. We made those mistakes, so you don’t have to repeat them.
The best thing is, that you don’t have to compromise, in order to have a delicious pre-dinner cocktail: These bars are some of most stylish, curious and cool we’ve been seen drinking in throughout Europe. And let’s face it: We’ve drunk a lot! So, let not our livers have endured to no avail and check them out:
Nomad Skybar
This is one of the more stylish venues in Bucharest. You can either sit inside around the central, horseshoe bar, at tables, or in lounge chairs in a long, dark-hued and elegantly lit room. You can also venture outside to enjoy a ray of sunshine, a look at the historic rooftops or even better; enjoy the time of day when twilight descends on the city and everything starts to twinkle. Nomad Skybar employ professional bartenders and my Singapore Sling was delicious.
They are open every day, except Monday, from 16:00 to 2:00 (and to 6:00 in weekends), and serve food as well.
Linea Closer to the Moon
Whether you’re keen on lunch, dinner or only cocktails, Linea is a wonderful spot above the urban bustle of Bucharest. It may be a bit hard to locate, as it doesn’t boast big signs, but as you (almost) walk past an open door and see a Linea neon sign inside, that’s where you should take the elevator.
You then enter a luxurious setting with an intimate ambiance. A long bar to the right and tables and sofas to the left, tucked in under green leaves. We thought it soo good, we also went here a couple of times, enjoying an evening of live Bossa Nova jazz and dinner – and a perfect Espresso Martini. If you’re looking for an outside place to enjoy your beverage, you only have to climb the stairs to get to an amazing outside area with bar, tables and igloo-like pods where you can be inside outside!
They are open every day from 12:00 to 2:00 and is one of these spots i Bucharest that you MUST try out.
Control Club
No matter the time of day or night, there’s always something going on at Control Club. And no: it’s not a local S/M club! During the daytime, local Bucharesters meet to have a brewski in the garden and in the evening, when some live music is playing in one of the adjoining rooms, people begin to flock around the main cocktail bar.
Control Club has a real Rock N Roll vibe, that is relaxed during day and gets more dynamic through the evening. I had a girly Mai Tai, that tasted like liquid candy. With booze, that is. The bartenders here know what they are doing! The garden is relaxed and rustic, the interior bar is wonderful dark and gloomy.
They are open every day from 10:00 (in the weekends from 12:00) to 6:00.
Gradina Eden
A secret garden. That’s what I thought after walking through a gate, across an empty courtyard, around a house, down some stairs and woops: Away from the bustle of main street Calea Victoriei, you can sit on lamb skin under green foliage, pet the local cat and sip a cocktail or three.
If weather doesn’t permit outside folly, you can sit inside the greenhouse-style bar and drink to better weather.
They are open from 16:00 to 2:00 and in the weekends already from 11:00. They frequently organize events and music and are a local favourite among Bucharesters.
The Urbanist
Our final hangout proposition is a hipster café meets bar meets shop. Call me old-fashioned, I’m not into that kind of business mashups, but I’ll forgive most things when the cocktails are decent. And they are.
It’s also open from 8.30 in the morning already.
The Urbanist is also a super, sunny spot to enjoy a beer, glass of wine or a cocktail and watch the world pass by. If the weather doesn’t permit outside lounging, then opt for the hanging chair inside! They also have DJs playing during the evenings in the weekends and organize regular events.
They are open every day from morning to late afternoon (and to 3:00 in weekends).
