Visiting Romania and need a vegan Bucharest guide? You’ve come to the right place!
I made a lot of friends in Bucharest. Every single one of them apologized to me for Romania’s lack of vegan food. I think they were just being really nice (as usual) because there is plenty of vegan food to be had in Bucharest, if you know where to look.
Finding vegan food in Bucharest was a bit of a feat but well worth the patience and effort. I managed to sink my vegan teeth into delicious vegan falafel, burgers, veggies, and even had the luxury of attending a private dinner where the chef prepared a special vegan dinner for me. I also noshed on a local “accidentally vegan dish” and visited a fantastic market with exceptional produce!
Vegan Bucharest Guide
Visiting Bucharest was an amazing experience. Here are all the details on the vegan food I had!
Private Vegan Dinner with Interesting Times Bureau
If you want a local dining experience in Bucharest, the good people at Interesting Times Bureau can hook you up. They arrange private dinners prepared by talented chefs in unusual locations with friendly locals.
From the moment we walked into the funky Studio Razvan Ciobanu, a creative work space for one of Romania’s most famous fashion designers, we knew it was going to be a special evening.
Our host, Alina, instantly made us feel welcome and treated us like we were old friends. Chef Stefan Pop created an incredible three course meal for us that included traditional Romania dishes using local ingredients.
The starters were scattered about the table, placed in dishes of various sizes and shapes. The vegan options included tangy pickled mushrooms, fresh and juicy vine ripened orange tomatoes, and my favorite Romanian dish Salata de Vinete. This eggplant dip is exceptional.
The main course was a bell pepper stuffed with buckwheat, mushrooms, and smoked paprika and a side of fried polenta sticks. The dish was hearty and robustly flavorful. The pepper was tender and soft with a “meaty” filling and the polenta sticks reminded me of giant, dense, over sized french fries. It was incredible.
Seasonal Romanian red fruits were served for dessert. Considering Romania has some of the best produce I’ve ever had it was an excellent ending to the meal.
Lente Restaurant
Lente’s website states, “We welcome kids, bikes, pets and open minded people.” This isn’t surprising considering the super chill vibe.
Lente offers a nice tea and coffee selection and has some pretty tasty vegan dishes that are healthy and heavy on the veggies. I especially liked the the Altamura (above) and the Almere, a mix of roasted cauliflower, potatoes, peppers, green peas, and red onions tossed in a sharp mustard sauce.
Verona Cafe
Verona Cafe, located behind the impressive Carturesti Carusel book store, is a lovely outdoor restaurant that is the perfect place to rest your tired feet on a nice summer day.
They have a few vegan dishes on the menu, including a burger and a chocolate dessert.
Simbo, Bucharest
I LOVED Simbo. The restaurant is decorated with cheery, bright green banquettes, stark white chairs, and huge antique fire places. It has an open kitchen, a beautiful garden with a big communal table, and buzzing vibe.
Simbo has a couple of fantastic vegan options on the menu including a delicious quinoa burger (just let your server know you’re vegan because it usually comes with yogurt sauce and bread made with milk). They also have an amazing vegan sandwich made with grain bread piled high with avocado, sundried tomatoes, fresh leafy salad, and sweet tomato. Enjoy it with one of their fresh squeezed juices for a vitamin packed meal.
Super Falafel
Hello, I’m Randi, I am a Falafel Addict.
Bucharest is the wrong (or right?) place to be if you too are a falafel addict. You can get them all over the city and they are really cheap.
My favorite spot in Bucharest to satisfy my addiction was Super Falafel. The entire menu is vegetarian and they have a nice selection of toppings. The wraps are huge and the falafel are perfectly crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside.
Produce & Farmers Markets
We were lucky to be in Bucharest during the summer when fruit and veg are gorgeous and plentiful. The farmers markets in Bucharest are like a window into local life in the city. You get to see what glorious produce Romania has to offer and are also able to interact with locals and sample indigenous products like pickled vegetables and breads. The markets are a great place to go to feel like a local.
Romanian Bread
Bucharest has an abundance of small bread shops called Covrigaries that dot most main streets. The shops sell a traditional, soft Romanian pretzel bread called a Covrigi that happens to be vegan. They come circular shaped (with or without twists) or shaped like traditional pretzels and are topped with either sesame or poppy seeds.
In addition to the plain Covrigi, there is also a heavenly stuffed variety. The black olive Covrigi are perfect for an afternoon treat and the cherry stuffed ones are excellent in the morning for breakfast or for an afternoon dessert.
Like This Article? Pin It!
GiselleandCody
Friday 22nd of April 2016
Thanks so much for posting this Randi. We are heading to Bucharest later in the year and this write -up will definitely come in handy.
We are not ashamed to say that we are Falafel addicts as well :)
Luminita
Monday 21st of December 2015
Those are all great recommendations! I know my way in Bucharest all too well, but I must say there are some great vegan dishes that I have yet to try.
VeggieVisa
Tuesday 5th of January 2016
Luminita, thank you! I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. Do you live in Bucharest?
Jane
Tuesday 10th of November 2015
Your descriptions have made me hungry. I am going to have to get out of bed and find breakfast. it's a great article Randi
VeggieVisa
Tuesday 10th of November 2015
Oh no! So sorry to get you out of bed! Good luck finding breakfast. I hope one day you can enjoy it in Bucharest!