Cinema

Studio Cinema is definitely my favorite Cinema in Bucharest.

If you are interested in experiencing the genuine cinema feeling, please follow my advice and go to one of the old cinemas in the city, like: Studio, Patria, Scala, Europa. 

Studio is an Art House Cinema, so your expectations should be accordingly.

Since the Shopping Malls and Food & Fun Courts, these cinemas have suffered a lot. A multiplex offers 10 movies to select from and you can find a bar where to buy popcorn and drinks, but, this is not all. Those cinemas are totally impersonal. The cinema has to embrace you somehow and to have its own personality. Well, this is why every Wednesday I go to ‘Studio Cinema’. Many film festivals take place here.

To add to the whole experience, I always buy something from a pastry shop which is right around the corner, and then I go to ‘Studio’. The cinema isn’t always full, especially during daytime and tickets are sold without a seat number. Well, you get in and sit wherever you feel like. At the entrance there is a machine from which I buy water. That’s why I always take care to have change with me. It is only 2 lei for a bottle.

An important aspect of Romanian Cinemas is that all movies are subtitled, and not dubbed. This way, everyone can enjoy a movie.

First two shows are cheaper, only € 2/ticket and the latter ones are € 2.50/ticket.

Welcome to a club with a German concept – “the culture house” – a place where all sort of cultural events (such as live music concerts, art exhibitions, film projections) take place.

Set up on two floors (Klubhalle downstairs and Festhalle upstairs), the place has become known especially for its clubbing nights. The alternative music that can be heard is somewhat good and appropriate for this kind of place, but I can often hear some complains.

I think it depends on the evening, but upstairs the atmosphere and the music are better even if they re-conceptualized the first floor (they had redecorated too). Upstairs you can find three separate rooms, each one with its own bar and layout: Fotohalle (with photo exhibitions), Musichalle (a room for concerts and clubbing) and Filmhalle (with film projections). As far as I’m concerned, I must admit I don’t like the way the club is decorated so much, but after all, it’s just a subjective opinion.

Kulturhaus remained very cheap – no entry fee on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays (except for music concerts) and low prices – it is the cheapest club in town – maybe this is why the place is crowded every Friday and Saturday night until 05:00. 

It’s a really hidden spot in Bucharest in the true sense of the word. If you don’t have a GPS or a friend who went there before, you’ll never make it. The Blu’zz is located in an old house, on a not very known and frequented street. A doorbell at the door, no name, no sign of things happening here, not even a sound. Nothing.

Yet, inside you’ll find a warm place, with not so many clients. It’s not a fancy place to drink a coffee, but it is a relaxing one. It’s just the kind of spot you’ll choose if you want to spend a quiet evening to chill down. You’ll find inside some wooden tables and a small bar with not so many options to choose from. But from time to time they have free and really delicious cookies. I ate them all.

As the name suggests, the music played here is mainly blues (they have one of the largest blues collections in Bucharest) but also old rock or jazz. Also, you can see (if you are interested) some (Romanian) movies on a big screen. Their sound could be better, I admit, but generally Romanian movies are famous for their not-so-great sound.

Yet, I don’t know if this happens every day (the cookies and the Romanian movie), but on Sundays for sure. What I noticed last week: even if it’s cold outside, some people just grab a bench and some chairs to sit outside when inside they cannot find a place.