Alex Olteanu (1983)

In front of the National University of Defence ‘Carol I’ there is the Heroes Monument. Well, what I want to talk about has nothing to do with the University or the monument, but with the place itself.

The stairs below the Heroes Monument is a good spot among skaters to practice and improve their skills. Besides this, it is a place very well known by everyone for relaxing and enjoying a beer bought from the supermarket. Every summer night the place is full of youngsters who hang around. In winter though, the view is still the same over the city but you won’t see that many people around.

I totally recommend the spot for the good vibe which is created by the ones spending their evenings (some even their nights), and no matter the season, the spot offers a good sight over the city towards the centre.

Infinitea is a wonderful Tea House which has a wonderful garden. Once you reach this place you might feel like dreaming. Infinitea offers a wide range of teas with appetizing names. I must say that it is pretty complicated to make up your mind about what to order.

I highly recommend the cookies they have. Carefully chosen, these amplify the tea flavor. 

Infinitea is usually a quiet place which is located in one of the most expensive neighborhoods of Bucharest. No matter the season, Cotroceni neighborhood is a nice place for a walk; it is quiet and peaceful, it has many old houses which offer a nice view for the ones passionate about architecture.

Coming back to Infinitea, I truly recommend it for its cozy atmosphere, tea specialties and location; and not to forget, this year they have just opened another level to the terrace, which is placed on a hill).

I must say again that ‘Infinitea’ is a quiet and peaceful place, so pay the due respect. 

If you are intro Geocaching, climb the stairs next to the Infinitea entrance and you’ll find a nicely done geocache.

Enjoy…

I am truly in love with sweets and I will often recommend pastry shops and candy shops in Bucharest. The one I am writing about now is by far at the top of any list.

Abbas Fadel has opened a Lebanese pastry 10 years ago, in the centre of Bucharest. At Fadel’s, it is easy to find over 30 types of sweets which will sweeten anybody’s heart. It is an easy way to make yourself remembered if you need to pay a visit and you don’t want to go empty handed. Buy a few sweets from Fadel and I promise you that everybody will remember you.

Abbas Fadel is the owner of the pastry and still very much involved in the business. You can meet him on a daily basis right there in the shop. He believes that the other pastry shops which went bankrupt, did so because they had no soul. He is a wonderful salesman and I promise you that he will also give you something for free… this is another reason for me to go there as often as possible.

On average you’ll be spending around 5 Eur.

Even if ‘Ali Baba’ isn’t a Romanian restaurant, I really must tell you about it. It is a great place for any meal of the day.

‘Ali Baba’ is an oriental restaurant of which I am very fond. I have great confidence in this restaurant as most of its clientèle is Lebanese. This is a great quality assurance for most of us.

At Ali Baba, one can find most of the common dishes like ‘Baba Ghanoush’, ‘Tabuleh Salad’, ‘Humous’ and so on.

An important aspect which I must mention is that the prices at ‘Ali Baba’s’ are great, I mean, pretty affordable. For only 10.00 Euro, you can have a real meal including a drink.

I highly recommend ‘Lahmagiun’ which is only 2.00 Euro and of course you will have a free tea with it.

Besides the fact that Primus is very well located, it also offers unforgettable atmosphere. It is a place where many foreigners hangout and this gives it an international feeling.

Not long ago, two friends of mine were having a glass of wine when a middle aged man came to their table. Without questions he sat down telling to the waitress that everything is on him. It seemed that he was well known at Primus. At first, they started making fun of the nosy man; Imagine two young girls being approached by a an over 60 year old man. They were pretty surprised to found out later that the nosy man was Brian Cook, second unit director for ‘The Shining‘ & much more…

Many movies are being made in Romania for the cost advantages it offers. Hence, many people from the movie industry can be met in Bucharest.

Coming back to Primus, they are very proud of the beer they have and they do have a decent selection.

Primus is located next to Terminus and these two go hand in hand as the second one is also a very well known club. Both are owned by the same company. At Primus, very often you’ll find ‘Muratura’ (Pickle) who is a jack russel terrier. He is owned by the bar and extremely friendly. I’m sure you’ll love him.