Is it a bookstore? Is it a French-style boulangerie where you can buy a baguette? Or is it a coffee shop? La petite bouffe Cotroceni has all these features. That’s why it is one of my favorites spots in Bucharest when I am in the mood to go out by myself and to enjoy a coffee, a buttery croissant and some good literature.

It has three areas that don’t even look alike: a small terrace where you can sit next to an enormous round window; the interior, very light and joyful, with lots of oriental decorations and teapots (available for sale); and, as you go down the stairs, you discover a new room, filled with books, darker, cozier and very similar to a library.

La petite bouffe used to host different events in the evening, such as philosophy talks, meetings with writers or book clubs.

This place is part of the Humanitas bookstore chain. Humanitas is also an independent Romanian publishing house which celebrates this year its 30 years of existence. So, as you can see, these people really know how to make people love books!