Denmark’s soaring taxes are used so fantastically well that you’ll see very few people complaining; it’s a place that definitively proves that far-left politics and a socialist approach to life actually works – you’re shocked, I know.

But the sacrifice for such a high standard of living is high expense. And that means, to be a tourist in Copenhagen, it’s a struggle to live cheaply.

Restaurants are excellent across the board, but overly pricey a lot of the time. Fortunately, there are exceptions – as there always are.

The Best Budget Restaurants in Copenhagen

If you know where to look, you’ll find some excellent budget restaurants in Copenhagen and, thankfully, we’ve done the looking for you.

So, before you head to one of Europe’s most beautiful, happy, and exciting cities, make sure to jot down all of these wonderful and varied budget restaurants in Copenhagen to make your stay a little more affordable.

Note: Some of these are cheaper than others but all are considered cheap by Copenhagen standards.

Top tip if you’re looking for super affordable: go to the 7/11 convenience stores, they have great hot dogs, paninis, pastries, burgers, chicken on sticks etc.

Their coffee is excellent too! You can also visit the food halls, like Torvehallerne Market for some cheap eats.

The Ricemarket

A team of dedicated, experienced, and knowledgeable chefs from across Asia have teamed up in Copenhagen to bring you delicious, wholesome, authentic street-food from Thailand, China, and beyond.

Having lived and travelled across China and South East Asia we can vouch for how incredibly authentic all the meal options are here.

And considering the incredible quality, The Ricemarket is certainly one of the best budget restaurants in Copenhagen.

For a full evening meal at The Ricemarket, you’ll be paying average UK pub-grub prices, making it fantastic value-for-money as far as Copenhagen is concerned. Also, it’s some of the healthiest and most delicious food in all of Denmark.

Average cost – 150kr (£12)

Veggie Heroes

What you might consider ‘cheap’ food in Copenhagen is an average meal out in the UK or the US, so while Veggie Heroes isn’t ‘dirt cheap’, it is very much affordable, and incredible value for money given what you get.

Veggie Heroes is a vegan Indian curry buffet in the heart of Copenhagen. The buffet is all-you-can-eat and costs you around $15 each ($20 including drinks, though you do also get table water).

It’s cheaper on weekdays and they also have some main meals which are cheaper than the buffet option and perfect if you need a lighter meal.

All of the curry options are vegan-friendly, labelled as traditional lamb or chicken dishes but with vegetable substitutes like dried tomatoes, tofu etc. You can hardly tell the difference; and, besides, the food tastes better and is all the healthier for it.

You’ll find Veggie Heroes, one of the best value-for-money budget restaurants in Copenhagen, a short walk away from Tivoli theme park.

Average cost – 150kr (£12) (it’s cheaper Mon-Thurs 128kr)

Related: Arts and Culture Guide to Copenhagen

Sliders

One of Copenhagen’s unsung culinary heroes is Sliders. They serve, well, sliders: miniature burgers. You typically handle two or three before getting completely full. The options are mind-blowing, honestly, and the flavour is out-of-this-world.

When we visited, we both opted for the vegetarian Tripple Truffle Cheese slider which, yeah, came topped with trufflemayo, one of the greatest flavours found on Earth. It should be illegal.

There are also beef patties, duck and chicken, sliders made with local cheese and mushrooms, and then there’s the fries which, again, can be enjoyed with trufflemayo. Sliders is just too good.

There are actually two restaurants in Copenhagen, but the more popular of the two is found at the riverside in Nørrebro.

Oh, and we haven’t mentioned how affordable it all is. Especially considering the truffles. You for sure won’t break the bank at this budget Copenhagen restaurant. They’re incredibly filling, two would have been ok for me.

Average cost – 45kr (£5.50) per slider or 129kr (£15) for a meal deal (three sliders, chips, and sauce. As above). 

Scurry Hub

Scurry Hub quickly became our favourite place to eat once we found it. And it’s hiding very much in plain sight. Scurry Hub offers fantastic Thai food, both traditional and modern, at an absurdly low price.

You can get full for a whole day off £7 worth of quality food here. Rice-based Thai curries and satay dishes make for some of the most healthy and unique meals you’ll find in central Copenhagen.

When you visit the city, you’ll quickly learn that Copenhagen’s true hub is where Norreport Station sits, and you’ll find Scurry Hub about a hundred metres away.

You can’t get more central than this, which is what makes its affordability all the more surprising. Perhaps the most budget of budget restaurants in Copenhagen.

Average cost: 65kr (£7)

Related: Visit Torvehallerne Food Hall in the heart of Copenhagen

Sukiyaki

Here you may start to notice a trend, that many of the authentic Asian food restaurants are both the healthiest and most affordable options. Well, that trend continues with the fantastic Sukiyaki.

For any fellow Japanese language nerds, the term sukiyaki’s origins are unclear, and so the suki part is written with hiragana, but most food historians believe it’s derived from the term ‘sukimi’ or ‘thinly-sliced meat’.

And that is what you get in a hotpot if you order it at this wonderful restaurant. Beyond that, Sukiyaki also offers a huge range of Japanese food options, from chicken katsu to vegetable gyoza and even sushi and sashimi.

Sukiyaki is very much a melting pot of all the great Japanese dishes, cooking authentically served up in the heart of Copenhagen. While this is one of the pricier options on this list, for the quality of food and surroundings, it’s worth it.

Average cost: 150kr (£20)

Slurp Ramen Joint

If there’s one meal on earth that warms, heals, sustains, and brings joy to everyone who eats it, it’s a bowl of hot ramen. Whenever we at Books and Bao find ourselves in Tokyo, we race to the nearest ramen joint to get our fix.

Well, you can do the same in Copenhagen! Slurp Ramen Joint offers a range of different ramen bowls prepared with pork or mushrooms.

If you’re looking for a side, you can get the traditional Japanese izakaya food of choice: edamame beans, or some spicy Korean kimchi. We recommend the chicken karaage – the best way to eat chicken on Earth, no arguments, don’t @ me.

Ramen is always an affordable budget meal choice, full of flavour and warming to your very core. There may be no better budget restaurant in Copenhagen.

Average Cost: 130kr (£15)

Grød

While it might at first seem like a Flash villain (and that’s because it is), Grød is also, simply, porridge. And in true hipster fashion, Copenhagen has its own porridge bar! In Denmark, Grød is a vital staple breakfast meal.

And, like all things Danish, it’s not done by halves. If Denmark does something, it does it perfectly and better than anyone else.

That includes porridge so you’ll find lots of delicious toppings and a large menu. Unsurprisingly, this porridge bar is very much one of the best budget restaurants in Copenhagen.

Average cost: 55kr (£6)

Hot Pot Republic

Depending on who you ask, the origins of hotpot will be argued as being Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. Whatever your opinion, anyone who likes hot pot absolutely loves it.

And one of the best things about it is that it’s dairy-free and gluten-free. Hotpot, like tapas, is a sharing economy. It’s all about a group of friends, family, or both gathered around a big pot, cooking meats and fresh vegetables, and preparing them as they like.

It’s one of the most engaging, exciting, and memorable ways to enjoy a dinner together. And you can find the best Asian hotpot in Europe at this fantastic budget Copenhagen restaurant. Hot Pot Republic is wonderful, a bit pricey (still relatively cheap by Copenhagen standards) but one of the best food experience we had so we felt it was worth it.

Average cost: Varies depending on what you order and time of day but at least £20 per head.

Gasoline Grill

This burger place has become a bit of an institution in Copenhagen and is regarded as one of the best stops for an organic burger in the city.

They’re freshly cooked and they have vegetarian options and homemade dips. The fries are to die for and the setting is really cool. What more could you ask for?

Gasoline Grill doesn’t have much seating and what is there is outdoor so you’re best bet (if you dont’ want to hang around for a seat) is take your food away to one of the nearby parks. They’re also situated right next to Tranquebar, one of our favourite book and coffee shops.

Average cost: 75kr (£9)

With an emphasis on fresh ingredients and simple techniques, Greek food is undoubtedly incredibly popular the world over.

However, when we consider Greek dishes, quite often only a few staples jump to mind fresh salads with feta and olives, hearty dishes such as moussaka, dolmades, and the wide array of dips we’ve grown to love like taramasalata and tzatziki.

Perhaps you have dipped a toe into desserts such as baklava and bougatsa paired with a Greek coffee and want to recreate that experience at home or simply dig deeper into the healthy and fresh dishes that have become synonymous with Greek cooking.

Though digging into some of the less healthy but truly indulgent dishes like feta me meli is highly recommended.

Of course, you can’t delve into this learning more about this cuisine without considering the history of the region and the influences upon many of these dishes.

Many of these Greek cookbooks include Cypriot and Turkish inspired dishes and you will also discover cookbooks dedicated to the dishes of north and south Cyprus which has its own unique gastronimic culture.

We love using Sous Chef for buying our cooking ingredients. From staples to harder to find specialities. You can find everything you need here. We can also offer ten pounds off your first purchase with this link.

Our Favourite Turkish, Cypriot, and Greek Cookbooks

Master Eastern Mediterranean cuisine with these amazing greek cookbooks, including Cypriot and Turkish collections, showcasing this truly diverse culinary region.

1) Aegean: Recipes from the Mountains to the Sea by Marianna Leivaditaki

While the recipes in Aegean are utterly delicious in their own right, the thing that truly sets this collection apart from others is the clear love that the author has for their own recipes and culture.

Leivaditaki grew up on the island of Crete helping at a family-run taverna, with many of these recipes inspired by the dishes she learnt there from her grandparents.

The author is the head chef of a popular restaurant in London and has a reputation for providing simple and stunning dishes.

Bringing together the freshness and goodness of ingredients collected from the sea, mountain, and land, this book is sure to be popular with anyone who enjoys Mediterranean food.

As big tahini fans, we were inspired by the many recipes incorporating the sesame flavour in surprising and innovative ways.

2) Taverna by Georgina Hayden

Greek Cypriot food is a wonderful combination of a huge number of different flavours. From simple salads to beautiful ingredients like feta, you just can’t go wrong.

Throwing in a squeeze of lemon and some fresh oregano, and you’re sure to fall in love with cooking all over again.

Taverna takes the best of traditional Cypriot cooking and makes it accessible for anyone looking to dive into this special cuisine — this is helped strongly by the fact Hayden has lovingly interwoven stories and passion for each of the dishes allowing you to learn about Cypriot culture right along with the food.

There’s truly something for everyone in this book, from hearty family meals, inspired breakfast and lunches, to date-night favourites.

Read More: Best Asian Cookbooks for Delicious Homecooking

3) Under the Olive Tree: Recipes from My Greek Kitchen by Irini Tzortzoglou

This book is one you will love to pick up again and again; designed to allow the cook to feverishly flick through the pages even with a spoon in their hand.

The pages are overflowing with accessible, everyday food ideal for home cooks as well as tips that are handy for cooking any number of other cuisines too.

Under the Olive Tree seamlessly jumps from light and fresh salads to huge meals ideal for those times of the year when feasting is the only thing to do.

It’s truly ideal for people of any skill level with a handy rundown of what ingredients are typically used in Greek meals, common terms, and what you should stock in your cupboard.

Read More: The Best Korean Cookbooks

4) Ripe Figs: Recipes and Stories from the Eastern Mediterranean by Yasmin Khan

This stunning book combines both great recipes and truly powerful stories. Greece has long stood as an impressive meeting point between Europe and the middle east, and that is reflected in Ripe Figs.

Throughout the book, we hear stories of people creating truly wonderful food throughout Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey tracing recipes that have spread from the time of Ottoman rule to the influence of recent refugee communities.

What makes this book stand out is that the food you make in the recipes is almost an accompaniment to the words themselves, we’re treated to an in-depth look at what goes into each wonderful dish.

Read More: Middle Eastern Cookbooks for Aromatic Cooking

5) MAZI: Modern Greek Food by Christina Mouratoglou & Adrien Carré

Mazi is a Greek word, which means a gathering or company, usually of people. It’s that concept which gets so effortlessly explored in this book — the idea of great food bringing people together so that they can break bread and laugh uproariously while making great memories.

Mazi: Modern Greek Food specializes in presenting the reader with authentically Greek flavours, but with a delicious modern twist.

This twist is what makes the recipes stand out in your mind, and makes you keep coming back to them for family gatherings and, especially, celebrations.

6) Oklava: Recipes from a Turkish–Cypriot Kitchen by Selin Kiazim

Turkish-Cypriot food is a wonderful combination of countless influences, the big hitters including the Mediterranean, Southern Europe, and the Middle East. Oklava celebrates all of those incredible influences in a way that no other before.

The dishes are mouthwatering and you learn a little something along the way to boot.

These amazing recipes will take you on a journey from home-cooked Cypriot meals eaten in blissfully hot and slow summer to exciting twists on the classics cooked in incredible modern restaurants.

Read More: Master Japanese Cuisine With These Cookbooks

7) Greek Slow Cooker, The: Easy, Delicious Recipes From the Heart of the Mediterranean by Eleni Vonissakou

Greek food often involves a lot of slow, long cooking processes. While standing over a stove all day might be perfect for some people, it simply isn’t practical for others.

Greek Slow Cooker is all about how classically wonderful Greek recipes can be adapted to cooking in a slow-cooker, making it possible to easily enjoy Greek food in your home.

We particularly love the incredible tender lamb fricassee with lettuce and herbs — we make it much more than we probably should, but the flavour combination is just so good!

8) The Food of the Greek Islands: Cooking and Culture at the Crossroads of the Mediterranean by Aglaia Kremezi

This book perfectly showcases a simple fact about cooking: the best cooking is done by working people, on the streets, not in castles.

Food of the Greek Islands is packed full of incredible recipes that Kremezi collected from farmers and fishermen across the Greek islands.

A good selection of these recipes are vegetarian, making the book an instant hit with any veggie friends.

As with all Mediterranean food, the dishes are stupendously light, simple and bring seasonal fresh produce right to the centre of the dinner table.

Most of these recipes have never before been written down, and yet here we are able to cook some of the best food we’ve ever eaten.

9) The Complete Book of Greek Cooking by St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church

This fascinating and absolute classic of a book was made for a very interesting reason.

In years gone by, the Greek Orthodox church noticed that a large number of young married couples had no standard recipes that they could use to feed their growing families.

So, the Church went to all of its congregants and gathered the recipes in this book, which serves to standardize some of the best home cooking on the planet.

The food is all hearty and delicious, with home-style Greek cooking appealing to people around the world.

10) My Big Fat Greek Cookbook: Classic Mediterranean Soul Food Recipes by Christos Sourligas &  Evdokia Antginas 

Every now and then a book like this one comes along. It embraces soul healing which can be utterly divine for any number of people when they eat great food made by their own hands.

My Big Fat Greek Cookbook is packed with more than divine recipes, it’s also packed with incredible recipes, beautiful photographs, traditional meals, memories, and lovely tidbits of information that draw people back to Greek tables time and time again.

Read More: Best Cookbooks for Amazing African Dishes

11) The Ultimate Healthy Greek Cookbook: 75 Authentic Recipes for a Mediterranean Diet by Yiota Giannakopoulou

This is a cookbook that sees the wonderful combination of a health-conscious diet with a tasty one. For years the Mediterranean diet has been lauded as an incredibly healthy one, and this book exemplifies that.

In this Healthy Greek Cookbook, there are recipes for vibrant and beautiful salads as well as speciality types of bread which are sure to delight every foodie out there.

Here we’re shown just what makes Greek food good by sharing all of the ways in which different spices and syrups have come to Greece.

This book is ideal for anyone looking for an ‘education’ in wonderful Greek cooking.

Read More: Five Things to Know Before Your Crete Holiday

Cold countries with tough climates and rugged landscapes have a wonderful habit of developing hearty cuisines made from belly-filling carbohydrates and meats, as well as a love of forest-floor foraging. Latvia is no different. This Baltic country’s cuisine is full of good fish and mushrooms, with a penchant for pickling everything. These are the hearty Latvian foods and iconic drinks to enjoy by the fireside with friends.

In this guide to Latvian food, you’ll learn about the country’s most beloved and classic soups, breads, meaty meals, and some unique Latvian desserts. We’ll provide you with all you need to order a three-course meal at a restaurant in Riga, as well as the best Latvian alcohol to accompany your dinner. Let’s start with some traditional Latvian foods and meals, then we’ll move on to Latvian soups, desserts, and drinks.

Hearty Latvian Foods

With Latvia being a country that sits at the edge of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga, there are plenty of unique fish-focussed dishes in that wealth of unique Latvian foods. But, if fish isn’t your favourite, Latvians also love their breads and carbs; they pickle almost everything; and they enjoy foraging for the best fresh local Latvian mushrooms for their heartiest dishes.

1) Pelmeni Dumplings

This is one of several Latvian foods which shares its roots, and even its name, with a Russian counterpart. The name pelmeni derives from the ear-like shape of the dumplings themselves.

Pelmeni dumplings, like any dumplings you might find in Poland, China or Japan, comprise two parts: a dough casing and a meaty filling. That meat is usually beef or pork (or a mix of the two) and the finished dumplings are usually bite-sized or a little larger. A plate of pelmeni dumplings makes for a tasty and filling lunch.

2) Dark Rye Bread (Rumpjmaize)

Dark rye bread is a food that can be found all over Eastern Europe and Russia, including Latvia’s neighbouring countries: Estonia and Lithuania. It’s a very healthy, hearty, and filling bread with a uniquely bitter flavour. Rumpjmaize is a staple part of the Latvian diet and, like rice in Japan, is often seen served with every single meal. For an added drop of sweetness, apple juice is often used in the recipe for Latvian dark rye bread.

3) Karbonade

Often paired with the popular side dish known as grikl (buckwheat), karbonade is a uniquely Latvian dish which will look familiar to anyone who has ever enjoyed an Austrian wiener schnitzel (Viennese cutlet).

Latvian karbonade is a thinly-sliced pork cutlet, coated with flour and eggs. It’s one more uniquely Latvian food but one which, in Latvia, is a very commonly enjoyed main dish, often made in the family home but also enjoyed in iconic restaurants like Lidos.

4) Pelēkie Zirņi

Literally meaning ‘grey peas’, pelekie zirni isn’t only another uniquely Latvian food; it is also Latvia’s national dish. While they’re farmed and cooked in abundance in Latvia, pelekie zirni aren’t often seen outside of the Baltics and, so, are a truly unique Latvian food.

A popular traditional Latvian Christmas dish is to serve grey peas with bacon. But pelekie zirni can also be found as part of a range of different home cooked meals in Latvia. You’ll often find grey peas on the side of a dish with a meaty centerpiece.

5) Speck

We mentioned just above that pelekie zirni (grey peas) are traditionally served with bacon for a proper Latvian Christmas (this dish is known as pelekie zirni ar speck). That bacon is also a uniquely Latvian food known as speck. Put simply, speck is smoked bacon made from pork belly.

Compared to the bacon often seen and enjoyed in North America, speck is a particularly fatty form of bacon. That fat, especially at Christmastime, is especially useful for rural farmers and workers who would need extra energy and insulation.

latvian drinks riga blackRead More: 10nique Things to Do in Riga, Latvia

Satisfying Latvian Soups

As we’ve already mentioned, colder nations love warm, satisfying, filling soups, and all three of the Baltic countries — Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania — have a knack for putting together some of the heartiest soups known to man. Here are three unique Latvian soups for you to try when you visit Riga, or any other town in Latvia.

6) Aukstā zupa

This is an exciting, intriguing, and unique Latvian food (although, for clarity, this dish can also be found and enjoyed in Lithuania). Auksta zupa is a soup which, at first glance, may put people off. American tourists often liken its appearance to pepto bismol.

Stick with it, however, because auksta zupa is utterly delicious. It is a sweet cold soup made from beets and kefir (hence the vibrant pink colour). To add some richness to the dish, dill and spring onions are also found in auktsa zupa.

7) Frikadeļu zupa

A favourite dish for many Latvians, frikadelu zupa is a Latvian meatball soup. As with many, many Latvian dishes, frikadelu zupa is usually served with a side of rye bread and a generous mound of sour cream.

Though the meatballs themselves (usually made from beef) are the main ingredient, frikadelu zupa also consists of carrot and potato chunks, and seasoned with pepper and the aforementioned sour cream. It’s a simple dish; hearty and beloved in Latvia.

8) Skābeņu zupa

At first glance, skabenu zupa looks an awful lot like a hearty bowl of Japanese ramen (sans the noodles). And that isn’t actually far off. This is a Latvian soup made with beef stock, sliced pork, barley, onions, potatoes, and a hard boiled egg. The bubbly broth, with meat and eggs visible on the surface, certainly is reminiscent of ramen.

Indulgent Latvian Desserts

When we think of desserts, our mind’s eye often flits to countries like France and Italy, but Latvia offers a surprisingly deep and satisfying tradition of good local desserts for you to try. It’s surprising how many countries have local desserts that feel like suspiciously kept secrets (Romania is another fine example; their desserts are wonderful). Here are three delicious Latvian desserts for you to enjoy.

9) Maizes zupa

You’ve probably noticed by now that the Latvian word zupa means soup. And so, yes, technically maizes zupa is a soup. But it is a very sweet soup and, therefore, is traditionally served as a Latvian dessert. Budding linguists will also note the similarity between maizes and maize. This is a bread soup, made from Latvian rye bread which is fed through a sieve and mixed with dried fruits, sugar, and various spices before being served cold.

10) Rye Bread Pudding

By now, you can probably see the abundance of rye bread in Latvian cuisine for yourself. Not only is rye bread served as a side in many dishes, but it is also used as an ingredient in soup and pudding. For clarity, the name ‘rye bread pudding’ is also sometimes attributed to the above maizes zupa; the Latvian name for this dish is rupjmaizes kārtojums, and it most closely resembles an English trifle.

The rye bread used in the pudding is first turned into breadcrumbs, and layers of blackcurrant jam and whipped cream are then added to create the trifle shape. You’ll often find cinnamon and dark chocolate added for even more flavour.

11) Debesmanna

This is another strikingly pink Latvian food. This time, it’s fruit which makes it pink, rather than beets. Debesmanna is a Latvian dessert made from cream of wheat and berries (usually cranberries, hence the pink colour).

For an English name, debesmanna could be called a cranberry mousse, and is made — as we mentioned — with farina (cream of wheat), cranberries, sugar, and either milk or water. What you’re then served is a sweet, vibrant pink mousse.

Iconic Latvian Drinks

Latvia is a great country to visit for people who love a good drink, and there are a few local drinks that are a must-try when you visit Latvia. You may have already come across at least one of these Latvian drinks before; they’re arguably more famous than most of the Latvian food we’ve mentioned so far.

12) Riga Black Balsam (Melnais Balzāms)

Here’s one Latvian drink that needs no introduction. Riga Black Balsam is, possibly, Latvia’s most well-known export. In case you aren’t familiar, however, Riga Black is a liqueur which comes in several flavours, the most popular of which being blackcurrant and cherry.

Riga Black Balsam works well served over ice, or as a key ingredient in a variety of different cocktails. These include a Black & Stormy, a Cherry Soda, and a Hot Lullaby. Because Riga Black Balsam also comes in an espresso flavour, you can use that to make an Espresso Martini.

Don’t forget to say cheers! Priekā

13) Kvass

Rye bread rears its lovely head yet again. Kvass is an iconic Latvian drink that can also be found right across the Baltic and Slavic nations. Kvass typically has a very low alcohol content of less than 1% (as such, it is not classified as an alcoholic beverage in most Easten European countries).

Because it is made from fermented dark rye bread, Kvass has a naturally dark colour, and it is often mixed with berries for added sweetness. Despite being incredibly popular in Russia, kvass is also a commonplace and beloved Latvian drink as well.

This post was created in collaboration with Magnetic Latvia and Traverse Events as part of the #TasteOfLatvia campaign.

You can visit Magnetic Latvia for all the information you need about Latvian travel and culture.

Traditional Romanian food is a mountain of indulgence and a broad landscape of local delicacies inspired by centuries of history, empire, and immigration. There is so much to love and explore in both the sweets and savouries of Romanian food that it’s vital to know the best restaurants in Bucharest, and to have a firm grip on the most unmissable Romanian dishes.

Here, you’ll find not only the five best restaurants in Bucharest – as well as their history and cultural importance – but also the four best cafes in Bucharest to relax at and take in the atmosphere. Finally, at the bottom, you’ll get a detailed guide to the very best of traditional Romanian food from Wallachia and Transylvania, including the Romanian national dish.

Everything we learned here was taught and shown to us by the amazing people at Romanian Thrills. Check them out to book a private tour of Romania’s history and natural landscape.

5 Best Restaurants in Bucharest

Everyone who visits Bucharest owes it to themselves to indulge in the local cuisine. Traditional Romanian food is delicious – all of it; every single bit. And Bucharest has some historic, beautiful, dedicated restaurants that serve up the best Romanian dishes around. Here are five to check out when you visit Bucharest.

Manuc’s Inn (Restaurant Hanu’lui Manuc)

We mentioned Manuc’s Inn as a place of great historic and architectural significance in our guide to things to see in Bucharest, but it’s also one of the best restaurants in Bucharest. In fact, Manuc’s Inn might be the very best, not only for its architectural beauty, history, and atmosphere, but for its menu – which is the real reason anyone eats anywhere.

You can scroll down to our guide to the best Romanian dishes, but you’ll also find almost all of them on the menu at Manuc’s Inn. Restaurant Hanu’lui Manuc, being the place of cultural history that it is, and once upon a time being a vital staple of Bucharest’s economy and politics, is a Romanian restaurant very much concerned with serving up real traditional Romanian food.

At this Romanian restaurant you’ll find the national dish of Romania: sarmale, as well as every local’s favourite skinless sausages (mici) and a soup originally brought to Romania all the way from medieval Persia: ciorba. For dessert, you can treat yourself to what is Europe’s most indulgently sweet and filling pudding: papanasi.

In short, if you want an affordable meal in a beautiful central location, drenched in Romanian history, and if you’re looking to try real traditional Romanian food – and the very best of it, no less – head to Manuc’s Inn, one of the very best restaurants in Bucharest.

Caru’ cu Bere

With a name that literally translates to ‘The Beer Wagon’, this restaurant in Bucharest Old Town is a symbol and a staple of Bucharest in more ways than one. The first being its neo-gothic architecture, which adds spectacularly to the collage of gorgeous architecture that makes up the style and aesthetics of Bucharest Old Town.

One of the family founders of Caru’ cu Bere took a trip to Germany in the late 19^th century to learn about the process of beer brewing, and ever since Caru’ cu Bere has been a beloved pub and brewery for so many locals for over a hundred years. But Caru’ cu Bere offers more than just beer.

As a hub for traditional Romanian food, ‘The Beer Wagon’ is one of the best restaurants in Bucharest. Their menus offers a dizzying selection of homemade meals, from breads and salads to soups and grilled meats. The Romanian dishes we’ve already mentioned, and will continue to mention – like sarmale cabbage rolls and papanasi dessert – all feature on the menu.

With a huge history (which you can read more about on their website), grandiose architecture, a deep beer culture, and an extensive menu of Romanian dishes, Caru’ cu Bere is indisputably one of the best restaurants in Bucharest.

Read More: 10 Amazing Places to Visit in The Balkans

Scovergaria Micai

Perhaps it’s unfair to call this one of the best restaurants in Bucharest, since it’s not technically a restaurant but more of a street food stall/takeout place. Nonetheless, Scovergaria Micai is the best place in Bucharest to pick up some heavenly scovergi.

You can find out more about scovergi below but it’s vital that you know just how heavenly they are. In the UK, we have Cornish pasties; in New York, there are hotdog vendors; in Shanghai and Taipei, there are bao; in Osaka, you’ll find takoyaki. In Bucharest, the cheap, delicious, filling street food of choice is scovergi.

Scovergaria Micai can be found in Bucharest Old Town, and the end of Strada Lipscani and around the corner from the National Museum of Romanian History. It’s a simple hole-in-the-wall where you pick your scovergi of choice from a long menu, order from the lovely lady behind the counter, and walk away a very happy person.

Scovergi from this place are so cheap it feels dirty, and our scovergi of choice were filled with cheese, garlic, and dill. Find your own and then find yourself coming back every single day for lunch.

Read More: 9 Unmissable Things to Do in Bucharest

Saint George

While we often consider Saint George the patron saint of England (and that’s true) he actually has enormous significance across Europe and beyond, including Romania. Born in Cappadocia, Turkey, Saint George is the patron saint of a number of nations and regions across the world, and in Romania Saint George’s Day is a pretty big deal.

So, it should come as no surprise that a restaurant that has taken his name has nothing to do with English food. In fact, Saint George restaurant is one of the best restaurants in Bucharest, offering both Transylvanian fare and, for those looking for comfort food, some fantastic Italian dishes.

All the best Transylvanian food can be found here, as well as reliable staples like ciorba soups and sarmale. There are a lot of meat-based dishes here, which is worth keeping in mind. But, if you are a carnivore, then you have your pick of beef, fish, and pork-based meals; and they’re all excellent.

Obor Market

While a market might not be a restaurant, the goal of this guide is to give visitors to Bucharest the chance to really understand Romanian food and to enjoy the best Romanian dishes. You can do both at Obor farmer’s market.

This market, which is open every day of the year, has an outdoor eating area where you can enjoy the very best mici in Bucharest. Just below, you’ll find out the story of mici and exactly how it came to be. But, put simply, mici are grilled skinless sausages. And the ones you can get at Obor Market are divine; their recipe is perfection, and they give an enormous helping of mustard to enjoy your mici with.

Aside from mici, Obor Market also allows visitors the opportunity to explore all the local ingredients and shopping items that Romanians typically pick up. Romania is still a very traditional place, and shopping at farmer’s markets (as well as at the supermarkets0 is the norm for the majority of people in Bucharest.

Because of this, Obor Market is the truest representation of food shopping and traditional Romanian food in Bucharest. You won’t find the best restaurants in Bucharest here; what you’ll find instead is something more valuable: a window into authentic Romanian living and eating.

4 Best Cafes in Bucharest

Bucharest is a busy place, and knowing where to take refuge and be able to relax when you’ve had enough of exploring and you need to recharge is vital to fully enjoying this bustling capital. It’s also important for coffee addicts like us to know where to get the very best coffee in Bucharest. So, here are four excellent cafes in Bucharest to relax in and enjoy.

Origo Coffee Shop

Origo is the speciality coffee shop of Bucharest. While Brasov is overflowing with great cafes and has a real coffee culture, Bucharest at first seems a little lacking. That might be because all the city’s creative coffee energy went into Origo.

If you’re looking to get your hipster coffee fill, with a post-modern artsy décor, friendly English-speaking servers, artisanal coffees, and packets of their own speciality coffee on sale for you to take home with you, Origo has it all.

There are multiple blends of coffee to choose from at Origo, from multiple sources around the world. The coffee experts at Origo experiment with blends to provide truly unique-smelling-and-tasting coffee. One that we tried was brewed in rum barrels and actually had a sweet rum flavour; it was seriously delicious.

For proper quality coffee, and if you’re looking for a coffee shop in Bucharest that’s designed for coffee lovers by coffee lovers, Origo is absolutely it. For the quality of its coffee alone and the dedication they have to coffee, Origo is the best café in Bucharest.

Carturesti Carusel Café

Carturesti Carusel, an enormous bookshop in Bucharest Old Town, is a place we recommend you visit for its selection of books, its atmosphere, and its architecture alone. But the cherry on top (literally, because it’s at the top) is its bistro café.

When you enter Carturesti Carusel, your breath will be snatched away by the white columns and staircases, the three balconies of bookshelves that surround you on all sides, and the huge basement of genre fiction, records, video games, and more.

Head up past the balconies of bookcases, and you’ll arrive at a bistro café that overlooks the entire store and all the shoppers happily flicking through books new and old. The café is often quiet and peaceful; a perfect hideaway to sit for hours and read, work, or chat.

No matter how good the coffee might be in a place like Origo, its atmosphere can’t compete with that of a bookshop café in the heart of Bucharest. Nothing marries as well as a bookshop and a café, and Carutresti Carusel is exactly what bookish coffee lovers like us have been searching for.

Grand Café Van Gogh

This café is exactly what it sounds like: a Van Gogh themed café. Walls are lined with replicas of every one of Van Gogh’s most famous artworks, and ‘grand café’ is right – the place is enormous! I’ll comfortably confess to not being the most educated art-lover in the world, but I absolutely adore Van Gogh (I have a little rug of his Café Terrace at Night and I bloody love it). So finding a Van Gogh café in Bucharest was the most delightful surprise.

The coffee at Grand Café Van Gogh is a little on the pricey side, at least by Bucharest standards (still cheaper than Starbucks), but it’s the décor and atmosphere that you’re coming for. High ceilings, an elaborate bar and staircase, and the aforementioned walls of Van Gogh paintings.

They also offer a sizeable menu of food options as well, including sandwiches and burgers, all-day breakfasts, various desserts, and more. Of course, if you’re just there for the coffee and the décor, you’ll definitely be satisfied. Grand Café Van Gogh is a treat for the eyes and a truly exciting atmosphere to indulge in as you rest and take a break from exploring Bucharest Old Town.

Fox Book Shop & Coffee Lounge

Found at the side of a busy boulevard between Youth Park and Carol Park, Fox Book Shop & Coffee Lounge is a quiet haven for book lovers and coffee drinkers. It’s also not the only fox-themed bookshop and café in this corner of the world – Sofia in neighbouring Bulgaria has one, too, and each is as delightful as the other. There’s certainly some charming magic that brings foxes, coffee, and books together in perfect harmony.

At first, the location of Fox Book Shop & Coffee Lounge seems a little off, but actually it’s just what you need: a refuge from the busy streets and the brutalist architecture. A soft, quiet home for book lovers who want to browse, buy, read, and enjoy a soothing cup of coffee.

A Guide to Traditional Romanian Food

Now that you know where to eat in Bucharest, let’s look at exactly what you should eat. These are five Romanian dishes – including meals, desserts, and street foods – which represent the culinary range and beauty of Romania, including the national dish of Romania.

Mici

Mici (pronounced like ‘meech’ and often called mititei in Transylvania) are grilled skinless sausages which originated in Bucharest in the 19^th century. Though they’re from Bucharest they can be found across Walachia and Transylvania.

Although they’re not, comparatively, all that old, mici are a true traditional Romanian food, and one of the most beloved Romanian dishes in their hometown of Bucharest. They’re also a really great entry point for trying Romanian food, since they’re so similar to a staple of British and German cuisine: pork sausages.

The story of their origin goes back to a rushed chef, a busy restaurant, and a moment of desperate ingenuity. When a Bucharest chef ran out of skin for his sausages, he though to just put some pork meat on the grill and serve it up with some mustard, hoping that his customers would be happy enough with what they go. And happy they were! Since then, mici have remained a staple traditional Romanian food.

Just make sure, when you try mici, that you eat them with a large dollop of mustard. Otherwise, well, you’re doing the beloved mici a disservice.

Papanasi

One thing to know about Romanian dishes is that they’re made up of three primary food groups: pork, carbs, and fried things. Even their desserts are fried, as evidenced by the queen of Romanian desserts: papanasi (pronounced like if you had a beloved grandfather who loved to chew things, and you endearingly called him Papa Nash).

At their heart, literally, papanasi are big lumps of fried doughnut. Sweet, warm, a little crunchy, filled with soft cheese, and coated with a generous helping of sour cream and jam – often blueberry. They’re also topped with another, smaller fried dough ball which makes them look a bit like a bobble hat.

When first shown Papanasi by the guys at Romanian Thrills, I asked what the little ball on top was, assuming it was fruit-based or something else entirely. Vlad shrugged and said, “More dough. We like dough,” which, honestly, is the best answer we could have received. It goes without saying that Papanasi are the most indulgent dessert you’ll ever eat in all of Europe.

It’s a wonderful feeling when you’re desperate to try the local dish of a place but you also have that guilty feeling where you’d rather just have something familiar like a cheeseburger or some cake. Well, papanasi is a true traditional Romanian food that’s also as familiar and indulgent as you can get.

It’s a thrill of a dessert that we recommend you share, because when it comes to papanasi, our eyes are often bigger than our stomachs. That goes double for those of us who have just gorged ourselves on a plateful of that most succulent of Romanian dishes: mici.

Scovergi

We’ve already mentioned which Romanian restaurant serves up the best scovergi, and just how ludicrously cheap they are, but what exactly are scovergi? Well, most nations around the world have their meals, their desserts, and a third thing. This third thing is usually cheaper, smaller, good for breakfast or lunch, often served as street food. Scovergi are exactly that.

Scovergi are flat slabs of fried dough, rolled into a pastry, and filled to overflowing with things that designate it either sweet or savoury. If you’re eating one as a dessert, it’ll be filled with yogurt or jam. If it’s a snack or a lunch item, it’ll be full of cheese, garlic, dill, and sour cream. Put simply, scovergi are heavenly.

They’re almost illegally cheap and a very simple, common Romanian food. Though ‘simple’ might be the wrong word, given just how delectable they are. While they might not be considered one of the great items of traditional Romanian food, scovergi are nevertheless an absolute favourite of ours, and a must-try when you visit Bucharest.

Scovergi tip: You won’t find scovergi outside of Wallachia. When we visited Transylvania, we were heartbroken to find this out (although we did later find out that the Hungarian equivalent in Tranalvanyia is called langos so keep an eye out for those). They are very much a Bucharest food, so keep that in mind and be prepared to have to go without when you leave Bucharest.

Sarmale

Ever wonder what is Romania’s national dish? It’s sarmale: cabbage rolls usually filled with pork, garlic, and possibly some onions and other spices (and pronounced like sar-mah-lay). It’s actually inspired from the Ottoman empire, supposedly inspired by the Greek stuffed vine-leaves dolma but, either way, it’s totally unique and absolutely delicious.

If you’re from the UK, like we are, you might have grown up assuming that cabbage is a dull and lifeless food. But travel to places like China and Eastern Europe and you’ll soon discover the versatility and mouth-watering deliciousness of cabbage. Prime example: sarmale.

When we sat down in a restaurant in Brasov, I indulged in my twentieth plate of mici, while Jess followed her curiosity and ordered some sarmale. At first, it looked pretty unappetising. But the flavour, texture, and smell make for one of the most delightfully filling and gratifying of Romanian dishes.

It’s honestly no wonder that sarmale are Romania’s national dish. They are made up of simple things that allow with enough experimentation to make them delightfully fun to try. They’re relatively healthy but also kinda not. And they really hit the spot on a cold winter’s day, especially. Along with mici, sarmale are the best example of a traditional Romanian food, and they really are excellent.

Ciorba

If you know your Persian, Arab, or Turkish foods then you might recognise this word. More commonly spelled ‘shorba’ in the Middle East, ciorba is a soup that originated in Persia and made its way to Romania centuries ago.

Ciorba, very simply, is a sour soup comprised of various meats and vegetables – often pork in Romania because, well, it’s Romania. Since the winters here get bitingly cold, ciorba is a lifesaver of a dish. When you order it at a Romanian restaurant, you’ll find that it’s often served with a generous helping of the local bread, as are most soups in Europe.

There’s no great secret to ciorba, except that its existence speaks to the fascinating history of Romania, a European country with a fascinatingly diverse range of culinary influences from the East. And, of course, if you’ve had soup in other countries, you know that every nation’s soup is its own, and ciorba is very much one of the beloved Romanian dishes.

In the heart of Covent Garden, you’ll find a branch of Whittard that’s more than just a shop. Here, you can sit and enjoy an afternoon tea for two, surrounded by the buzzing and eclectic atmosphere that Covent Garden provides.

Whittard’s London Afternoon Tea

There are some fantastic themed afternoon teas in London, but this one hosted by Whittard is a modern refinement of the classic approach to afternoon tea.

That, of course, includes a tiered platter of small sandwiches, scones (complete with clotted cream and a variety of tea-infused jams for spreading) and sweet cakes to finish. Let’s not forget the tea itself and a complimentary glass of prosecco.

Our afternoon tea for two at Whittard was on Valentine’s Day, and so we were treated to their Valentine’s special, which included heart-shaped biscuits and red-and-pink cakes including their new red velvet specialty. But Valentine’s aside, you’ll still be treated to sandwiches, cakes and scones with your traditional afternoon tea.

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What sets Whittard apart is the very thing they specialise in: their incredible range of teas (over 100 options in fact). Speaking as a coffee addict who doesn’t understand the appeal of British tea/builders tea/black tea, it was an absolute delight to be able to choose from sweet flavoured teas like chocolate and coconut, as well as green teas and fruity teas. The selection is incredible, and the teas you can choose from are soothing and warming.

Whittard celebrate tea so splendidly, and do such a sweet and wholesome job of romanticising tea with all its powers of warmth and comfort.

The hero of liberal politics, William Gladstone, once said, “If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are too heated, it will cool you; if you are depressed, it will cheer you; if you are excited, it will calm you.” Whittard certainly understand this philosophy, and enjoying their range of teas during an afternoon tea for two is a blissful experience as a result.

Beyond the selection of teas, Whittard afternoon tea also serves up a selection of sandwiches to start with, and the scones are some of the freshest and most perfectly baked you could possibly imagine enjoying.

Before we go any further, how do you pronounce scone? This has bugged me for years but, as explained by a friend from the US who cares about the British Royal Family a lot more than I do, Queen Elizabeth pronounces scone like gone, not like cone, so I guess we should follow her lead!

Despite tea being the most critical part of afternoon tea, it’s the scones most of us get excited for. It’s not afternoon tea without scones, after all. The afternoon tea was originally invented by Anna, Duchess of Bedford, who always got hungry at around 4pm and so would enjoy tea and scones a few hours before dinner was served.

And the scones at Whittard afternoon tea in Covent Garden are phenomenal. The clotted cream is thick and fluffy; the scones themselves are warm and soft; and the jams are infused with Whittard’s own teas to make for some of the most delectable jam you’ll ever enjoy. Long story short: these are elite scones.

Read More: A 4-Day London Itinerary for Book Lovers.

So, your Whittard afternoon tea for two is going to entertain and satisfy you with a range of foods and drinks, from sandwiches stuffed with fresh salmon to a tall glass of prosecco; from jasmine and coconut tea to the best scones in London. But beyond that, it’s also the atmosphere that really makes this a delightful afternoon tea.

Covent Garden is one of the most charming and famous places in London for a reason. Despite spending so much time in London, we still find ourselves not only visiting Covent Garden often, but always finding new things and writing about Covent Garden on a regular basis, so easy is it to be inspired by the architectural beauty, the boutique shopping, the art history, and the entertainment of Covent Garden.

Having afternoon tea for two in Covent Garden is more than ideal: Whittard manage to make it the quintessential afternoon tea experience.

Covent Garden, after all, is home to literary pubs, a victorian toy shop, independent bookshops, and the London Royal Opera House. Having all of that encircling you as you enjoy the best afternoon tea in London offers enough joy for you to burst.

Whittard afternoon tea allows visitors to feel like they’re living in a Jane Austen novel. The quality of the food, the teas, and the prosecco, coupled with the historic and literary atmosphere that Covent Garden provides, makes for an unparalleled, charming, and utterly bookish experience unlike anything else available in London.

Also in Covent Garden

While you’re enjoying your afternoon tea for two in Covent Garden, make sure to take advantage of all the other delights that this area of central London has to offer. As we’ve said, there are few parts of London with as many charming cultural delights as Covent Garden.

Just outside Covent Garden, you’ll find the antiquarian bookseller Quinto Books, as well as the delightful independent comic book shop Orbital Comics. There’s also the original Stanford’s bookshop which is dedicated to travel books and international literature (our perfect bookshop). We’ve covered all of this and much more in our literary guide to Covent Garden.

If you’re staying in the area for a while after your afternoon tea for two, you might find yourself getting hungry as the sun goes down.

In which case, Covent Garden has some of the best restaurants in London, including Rules (the oldest restaurant in London), Dishoom (the peak of Indian dining in London), and some great Japanese restaurants (including Wa and Yaki Yaki). We’ve covered all of these and more in our guide to the best Covent Garden restaurants.

As the years have gone on, mixology has become more complex, more colourful and theatrical, more beautiful. It’s an art form; a magic show. And you can learn it at this London Potions Class at the Georgian House Hotel.

If you’ve always fancied a go at mixology yourself, or just want to spend an evening out in London doing something a little bit different from simply watching the mixologists and enjoying their finished products, then make sure you head to Georgian House Hotel for their Wizarding Cocktail making session, which you can take part in every Tuesday, just a short walk from Victoria Station.

Held in the charming Georgian House Hotel’s basement restaurant, known as ‘Pimlico Pantry’, you’ll be sat at a table and given various fun looking items that only make sense once you open the scroll of instructions on your table. The scroll, presented on vintage parchment, provides instructions that will transform a selection of provided ingredients into a delicious alcoholic witch’s brew!

To be clear, what you’re getting here is an afternoon at a cocktail bar – a chance to get nicely, coolly drunk – but also something way more engaging, interactive, and magical than your typical cocktail experience. Here, you’ll be taking on the role of an evil witch or wizard, mixing potions, and enjoying them once they’re brewed.

Something I loved about this experience is that you’re left alone (unless you want help) to figure out your potion at your own pace. You’ll be very excited to get your hands on the colourful test tubes, vials, and pots all labelled with wizarding world-inspired names like Thunderhead Dragon Blood, Werewolf Fur, and Whisper Weed.

Watching what happens when you combine the ingredients in the right order, with the correct measurements, is honestly thrilling and is so much more fun than just ordering a drink.

You’re also encouraged to use your senses to smell and watch what your potion gets up to, which will definitely inspire an interest in mixology. You’ll either feel like you’re being taken back to high school chemistry class or whisked off to a fantasy land where you’re the evil witch, the alchemist, or the grand wizard.

Play carefully as you mix your ingredients, and watch as they change colour. Smells the sweetness of some and the sharpness of others, and marvel at how all these colours and scents change as the potion nears completion – and perfection!

How’s the drink itself? Delicious, if you followed the scroll and made it just right. And it contains just the right amount of alcohol that you’ll feel a nice buzz afterwards.

The finished product is topped off with berries and smoking mystically away (thanks to the magic of dry ice); you’ll feel pretty enchanted as you enjoy your hard-earned witch’s brew.

More Wizarding Fun at Georgian House

If you’d like to carry on the wizarding fun experience at Georgian House, the hotel has a number of other magic-related activities. You can try out their three-course Wizarding Afternoon Tea experience, also held in the Pimlico Pantry, and you can even upgrade it to make it boozy with bottomless bubbles or a wizard’s cocktail.

One of the most magical things you can do is stay the night in their amazing Wizarding Chambers — medieval, fantasy themed hotel rooms where so much effort has been taken to make sure you have the most magical story-book experience possible.

These Wizarding Chambers are decorated in a convincing and charming fantasy style, complete with a wooden four poster bed, a rugged fireplace with a wooden mantelpiece, rounded mirrors, decorative antlers, and a writing desk piled high with battered old tomes of collected fairy tales and Harry Potter novels. You’ll never get a more mystical night’s sleep.

Plus, if you choose to stay in the Wizarding Chambers, you’ll get to choose from their secret witch and wizard exclusive Wizard’s Breakfast menu, along with their fabulous award-winning breakfast menu.

Find out more about how to spend a night in the Wizarding Chambers at this fantasy themed hotel right here!

If you want to carry on the fun beyond the hotel and into the city, you can join one of the unique tours which will take you around central London to see locations from the Harry Potter films or, as you’ll be five minutes’ walk from Victoria Station, you’ll be able to hop on the magic bus from the station all the way to the Warner Bros studios, located just outside of Watford in North London.

If you’d like to book one of the Georgian House Hotel’s wizarding experiences, or even a night in the fantasy themed Wizarding Chambers, you can do so on their website.

Christianity simply because it’s the most popular religion amongst the people in Lithuania — especially the older generations. Basketball is played, watched, and loved with fervour across the country. Beer — most alcohol, in fact — is drunk an awful lot by almost everyone all the time.

And bread is a staple part of the Lithuanian diet. So much so that Lithuania has its own unique way of preparing a local bread simply known as ‘black bread’. Because it comes out black. Lithuanians are a very clear and literal people.

But, beyond black bread (which we will cover in detail) there’s a massive range of exciting traditional Lithuanian food to try when you visit Vilnius. For example, Lithuania is an agricultural country; lots of mushrooms, milk, and honey. Much of the food is based around root vegetables which grow easily in the cold climate.

The food culture of Lithuania is rich and creative indeed, far more than most people expect it to be before they visit Lithuania. Let’s take a look at some of the most unique and delicious Lithuanian food.

Lithuanian Meals

Cepelinai (Potato Dumplings)

A staple Vilnius food. The original word for these dumplings was didzkukuliai, but the name slowly an unofficially changed to cepelinai during the course of the 20th century because of their physical resemblance to zeppelin airships (cepelinai is pronounced more like ‘zeppeliny’).

But what are they? Cepelinai are similar in texture to Chinese bao dumplings, with a soft outer shell made of potato instead of dough. Inside, again similar to bao, they are filled with ground meat — or sometimes cheese or mushrooms.

That makes them ideal for carnivores, vegetarians, and vegans alike! They’re an incredibly hearty food, meat-based and carb-heavy, and as such are typically eaten as a main meal with various sides.

Cepelinai were popular during Soviet times as there wasn’t much meat but plenty of potatoes around. Although they’re immensely time-consuming to make ad can go wrong very easily, it was a time for families to come and do something together and enjoy quality time without political issues.

They became a kind of national food when food kiosks rose in number and popularity as they could be made in large quantities and stored easily for a long period You can find cepelinai at any traditional Lithuanian restaurant.

Kibinai (Savoury Pastries)

Kibinai are going to be incredibly familiar in sight, taste, and texture to any British person or anyone who has visited the UK. That’s because they’re essentially identical to Cornish pasties.

They became a staple dish in Lithuania thanks to the Kariate people, an ethnically Turkic group of people who have lived in Lithuania for hundreds of years. These pasties are big, baked in a crusty, crunchy shell of pastry and filled with whatever meats and vegetables you like.

Typically you’ll find them full of chicken, beef, mushroom, potato, or onion. While not strictly a Vilnius food, they’re really popular in the old capital of Trakai, which is now a small castle town outside of Vilnius. In Trakai, you’ll find bikinai at almost every Lithuanian restaurant.

Lithuanian Soups

Saltibarsciai (Pink Soup)

Served seasonally, this beetroot and kefir soup is accompanied by hardboiled eggs and boiled potatoes. It’s a Vilnius food that Lithuanians are exceptionally passionate about. One of the more unique things about it is that it’s served cold, as a traditional means of cooling down on those rare hot Lithuanian summer days.

The beetroot causes it to turn a pink that often reminds American tourists of Pepto Bismol, to the laughter of locals in Vilnius. While at first the idea of a cold pink soup might seem a little off-putting, its full of delicate flavours and is incredibly soothing and wholesome.

If there’s one thing that sums up the personalities of Lithuanian people so perfectly, it’s the fact that every family has their own recipe and each person think theirs is the correct one. They won’t listen to, and will often be enraged and disgusted by, any other family’s tweak to the formula.

It’s hilarious to watch their impassioned arguing, which is (mostly) all in good fun. Here, by the way, is one of the many possible recipes for pink soup, in case you’d like to cook it yourself. But if you don’t, every traditional Lithuianian restaurant in Vilnius serves their own unique saltibarsciai recipe.

Forest Mushroom Soup

Mushroom picking is integral to the culture of Lithuania. In fact, when we were asked if we, UK citizens who also have a home nation covered in mushrooms, had ever been mushroom-picking, even the younger Lithuanians among us were truly shocked by our news that we’d never been mushroom-picking ourselves.

When the mushroom-picking season comes around in Lithuania, it’s best to avoid telling your neighbours about your chosen picking spots in order to avoid arguments and to make sure you have time to pick plenty so that you can dry them ready for the traditional Christmas eve dishes.

In fact, picking your own mushrooms is so important that, rather than serving store-bought mushroom, it’s better not to serve them at all. You picked them yourself or got them from a family member of nothing.

Read More: The best things to see, eat, and do in Riga, Latvia

Lithuanian Snacks

Dried Apple Cheese

We should be clear: this is not actually cheese at all. It’s a big lump of dried apple, the kind you find in those super-healthy snack bars that are a poor substitute for chocolate.

But these lumps of dried apple are really delicious, and cheap, too! There’s not much else to say about them, though. They’re just a big lump of dried apple, flattened into a pancake, served as a dessert or bought as a healthy snack from the local stores. While you may not find apple cheese at a Lithuanian restaurant, you will find it at most local stores in Vilnius.

Fresh Cucumbers with Honey

Beehives are also an integral part of Lithuanian culture, and the combination of fresh cucumber with fresh honey is a simple yet traditional Lithuanian food. Many people keep bees in Lithuania and if you share part of your hive with a friend for them to create their own then that person becomes one of your closest friends – akin to a brother or sister.

Black Bread

As we mentioned earlier, black bread is the absolute staple of traditional Lithuanian food. It makes up the very backbone of their society, like rice in Japan or hummus in the Middle East. It’s found in almost every Lithuanian restaurant and it is absolutely delicious. But what is black bread?

Black break is rye bread, traditionally made by farmers’ wives. And this is a very prestigious position held by farmers’ wives, in fact, which demonstrates the sheer strength and power of both their bodies and their position in society.

They beat the dough for hours and hours, and eventually the rye bread is fermented, which gives it an incredible longevity and its black colour. Speaking personally for a second, I will eat anything if it’s fermented or pickled. I hate cucumber but if you pickle it into a gherkin I’ll devour it.

Black bread is, likewise, easy to demolish. It’s soaked in goodness and absolutely delectable. If there is one traditional Lithuanian food you need to try, it’s black bread.

Make your own garlic bread the Lithuanian way

Having black bread is only half the meal. There’s even more to this traditional Lithuanian food. In true Lithuanian fashion, where everything is done by hand and requires a little muscle, black bread is usually turned into garlic bread by you, the diner, by taking a small piece of garlic and grinding it against the black bread until it coats it.

Like buttering bread, but with your own might rather than a butter knife. It might seem crude, but it’s a lot of fun and a better way to eat garlic bread than anything the French do. Not only is black bread found in any Lithuanian restaurant, so is the garlic to go with it. It’s the most fun you can have with Vilnius food.

Read More: How to Travel the Baltics: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania

Lithuanian Drinks

Three Nines (Trejos Devynerios)

What is now drank as a liquor was traditionally a medicine from the 16th and 17th centuries, prescribed by doctors for all sorts of ailments from colds and joint pains to more serious conditions.

Of course, it is just a liquor but one that’s bursting with nutrients (sort of) since it is infused with 26 different herbs to give it an incredibly complex flavour. But, yes, three nines add up to 27, not 26. The twenty-seventh flavour comes from the liquor’s storage kegs. Clever name, no?

Rhubarb Wine

Like black bread and pink soup, rhubarb wine is exactly what it says on the tin (or glass). It’s wine made from fermenting rhubarb instead of grapes. While this might sound strange and discomfiting at first, it’s honestly soothing and tastes like something from your childhood.

As a kid I would pretend to be sick so that I could drink just a single spoonful of Calpol, and rhubarb wine has that same warming, taste of childhood. It’s a sweet and lovely wine and one of the more delightfully unusual things about Lithuania. While not found at every Lithuanian restaurant, rhubarb wine is found at a lot of Vilnius bars.

Kvass

What do you use to wash down black bread, the most traditional Lithuanian food? Why, black bread beer, of course! Kvass is a Lithuanian beverage made from black bread, and it has a surprisingly low alcohol content of around 1%. It’s a staple drink across Lithuania and beyond.

In fact, its reach has extended so far across Siberia that you’ll find it served in bars in Northeastern China! Kvass, like its big brother black bread, is utterly divine, and a refreshing beverage indeed. You’ll find it poured at almost every Lithuanian restaurant.

Note: We experienced this informative food tour with Vilnius Urban Adventures taken by our wonderful guide Viljia, we’d highly recommend taking the tour if you visit the city as we visited places we simply wouldn’t have found otherwise.

We were hosted in Vilnius by Tinggly while staying in their blogger house, their slogan is ‘give experiences not stuff’ and after this wonderful experience, we wholeheartedly agree!

The Socialising Factor

On the Asian bank of Istanbul, the neighbourhoods of Kadikoy and Moda are full of buzzing energy and youth. The populous city is flanked by the Bosporus strait connecting the Marmara Sea to the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea is a stone’s throw away.

These waters have divided peoples throughout the hiccups of time but have also brought them together. The waterfront of Istanbul becomes an integral part of the scenery and daily life. From business trades to leisurely commutes, the waters are a terrain where business world and the quotidian coexist.

Life brims around the banks as fishing is a common routine and pastime for many. It brings together a small community of amateurs and professionals, curious onlookers and passive passers-by.

A catch is always a great spectacle to behold and lures a cheering audience encircling the flopping sea creature. Strolling along the Besiktas coastline towards the handsome and chic Bebek neighbourhood I could sit down for hours on end observing the fishermen’s long and tranquil wait or celebrating in the frenzy of a catch.

Across the Bosphorus, taking a walk through the Moda Sahil Park is another beautiful spot where I enjoyed the fishing scenery, and savouring the freshest of fish. It also calls for an inevitable stop at one of the numerous shady tea houses overlooking the sea strip to sip a dark çay (tea) in traditional glass cups.

From the frothy Bosphorus waves to the warm Pacific Ocean, here in Mexico one of my little pleasures was to amble through local fruit markets. Once I stumbled upon an open-air cantina. As I was eyeing the guacamole, and simmering mole sauces a woman grabbed a pink plastic stool, and tapping on the seat motioned to come sit down for a bite.

Pointing at various foods I ordered my share in the midst of a wild hubbub. My new eating partners made me taste their chicken tacos drenched with none-descript sauces and topped with chicharron chips (fried pork belly). A detail that intrigued me was the plastic film lacing our plates: a technique, I was told, used to avoid washing every single used plate. No comment.

The cheerful atmosphere, the vibrant colours and smells: everything was incredibly energizing. A quick look around: I could spot a maid, a group of giggling friends, men in business attire, elderly people, children in prams…Be it Istanbul’s fish markets or Mexico City’s local fruit mercados in gridlocked alleys, these nucleus of life and noise are true magnets for all trades and routines. People from all stripes and colours flock to markets to eat, gossip, deal and mingle.

Buzzing Nights

At nightime life seems to surge and people pour out into the streets. By the fish market in Kadikoy a delicious mezze dinner at Yanyali Fehmi Lokantasi restaurant is a must. Menus are ever-changing, but you are in for a treat – trust the chef.

Plumb aubergine stuffed with kebap meat, köfte meat balls, and for vegan options stews, broths, sarmas wrapped vine leaves with a filling of rice, onion and spices and the mouth-watering list trails on… After gorging myself with all these Turkish specialties I mechanically head to the docks.

Sunsets are the trigger for passers-by to sit by the docks, peel and nimble hundreds of sunflower seeds, snack on mussels sold on the go, gossip or partake in dances, listen to guitar players basked by the incessant ferries’ to-and-fros and droning engines.

Gazing at the glimmering waters is the cherry on the cake when in Istanbul – the sea has this inescapable pull and every meal seems start or finish with an iodine fix. For the sweet-tooth at night you get unfettered access to sweets, loukoums and honey combed, pistachio sprinkled baklavas. Be it in Istiklal Avenue or Kadikoy’s buzzing streets you can find your sugary pick late into the night. Mind you at midnight patisseries are jam-packed.

On the other side of the Atlantic, near Parque Mexico, one highlight of the night is ordering your tacos at Por Siempre Vegana Taqueria. The ultimate snack before a cool mezcal cocktail, festive salsa party or a stroll in the park. Hovering around the brightly lit food van, I joined a handful of people standing or sitting on the pavements munching their dripping tacos and sipping a cool beer or soda.

Sacred Bread

Bakeries abound in Istanbul’s districts. Coming from the French bread-loving culture, I felt very at home. You catch a whiff of baking dough and follow its lead until you stumble upon the floury hands of a baker cutting slices of pide.

I have to admit the best pide bread I tasted was in the historical village of Cavusin in Anatolia, Cappadocia. Lodged at the foothills of the grottoes and troglodyte church this wee café was a gem. Pide is one of many Turkish bread types like lahmacun that can be stuffed with vegetables and meats – my second favourite bread after the simit street bread.

I ventured inside the small café and saw my order coming straight out from the oven, steaming hot, peppered with minced meat and golden melted cheese.

From wheat-based baking I found myself in a corn-dominated culture championed by the Mexican staple: tortillas. They call for a whole ritual. A pastime of mine was to stop by a street taquerilla and ogle. Ogle at the droning machines spitting out tortillas in a row, and the baker piling them one by one at lightning speed as them tumbled from the belt.

A hypnotizing choreography. A few streets away from the zocalo (main square) in Puebla, a beautiful colonial town a two hours’ drive from Mexico, I sat in a stuffy Pepsi-sponsored street taquerilla where I held my first blue tacos like it was the Holy Grail.

Written by Marie Poupinel – Visit her website: https://www.mariepoupinel.com/work

Marie is a  French self-taught filmmaker and photographer with an international background in journalism and advertising. Constantly on the fly she likes to think of herself as being a person that is all eyes and legs. Travelling to scavenge stories that speak to her adventurous spirit.

Read more on how food connects us:

One of our favourite books for connecting food and cultures across borders is You and I Eat the Same: On the Countless Ways Food and Cooking Connect Us to One Another. An informative celebration from MAD Dispatches on the common history behind the food we eat and the similarities and values we share across borders.

Since then we’ve discovered a world of innovative budget restaurants and Michelin star restaurants plus a host of our favourite spaces right now, food halls.

Discover the Colourful Torvehallerne Food Hall

Our first stop was the infamous Reffen, an outside street food market comprised of over a hundred stalls with dishes from around the world. We had friends over and it was the perfect solution to varying tastes. The next time we had a friend visiting, I was determined to recreate the food hall magic but this time somewhere much closer to the centre, just a stone’s throw from Nørreport metro station is the Torvehallerne Food Hall.

A popular pastime is to pick up some delicious snacks from the Hall and take them over to nearby Dronning Louises Bridge to enjoy the views.

What is the Torvehallerne Food Hall?

It’s two huge glass buildings next to each other joined by a fruit and veg market and some outside food stalls. Inside one you’ll find everything from gourmet coffee and chocolate to the largest pastries you’ll have encountered in your life.

Homemade ice-cream, tea houses and fresh juice bars sit next to fantastic Mexican food. There are delis, spice shops, tea shops, all with a bustling market atmosphere, as many say it’s a ‘super market’ rather than a supermarket. The second building has more of a shopping aspect, although there are still places to dine inside, this is where you’ll find your butchers, cheese tasting, wine shops, and fishmonger.

There are some real hidden gems in here too, like the Asian good store where I found pretty much everything I was missing from China, Korean, and Japan and even found some Indonesian sweets I tried once and never found again.

I was so impressed with Torvehallerne Food Hall and the good vibes there, I decided to put together this walking guide for you so that you’ll have a rough idea of what to find inside so you don’t fill up at the first place you see like we did.

The Coffee Collective

There’s no competition here, The Coffee Collective is a bit of an institution here in Copenhagen and it really is some of the most delicious coffee in the city.

Great care is taken with every cup and they use great quality beans from their own roastery. I mentioned the aesthetic of the stall to the barista and she said that the owners are very particular when it comes to the style and layout of all of their stores and stalls and that really shines through, even with the production of the coffee.

This is the first stop on your left as you come into the food hall so you can’t miss it, on your right you’ll find a delicious bakery with incredible variations on cinnamon buns. So if you’re just coming in for a coffee and treat, you’re already sorted. For more pastries and coffee, you’ll find Granny’s House in the same room, a charming spot.

Copenhagen Gelato

The Summer get surprisingly hot in Copenhagen so the best way to cool down and enjoy those beautiful views is with ice-cream.

You’ll find two gelato place next two each other, both of which offer homemade organic ice-cream (including vegan-friendly options at Is a Bella) in a range of delicious flavours. Everything you need. These are about halfway through the first building.

Tante Te (Tea)

Also located at the start at the first building, paying a visit to Tante Te is a must even if it’s simply to try some samples.

Where to Eat at Torvhallerne Food Hall

This being a food hall, the main thing you’re here for is the food. And what a variety you’ll find here – oh, the things you’ll eat! It’s a real and true international spread of traditional street foods and home cooking from allover the world.

From Korean street food to local Danish breakfasts; from locally-sourced organic fruits and veggies to the best pizza in town. There’s something here for everyone, whether you’re a carnivore, a vegan, gluten-intolerant, or a lover of a specific palate or cuisine.

Grød (Danish Breakfast)

Grød simply means porridge in Danish, and that’s what you’ll find here.

While Danish breakfasts often consist of a lot of bread and pastries – which are almost always loved and welcome – they don’t offer as much variety as porridge does, and anyone who’s gluten-intolerant can often find themselves suffering a little in Copenhagen for that reason. But at Grød, anyone and everyone, regardless of their palate, can enjoy the dizzying variety of porridge on offer!

Vi Love Fisk & Sushi Lovers

The fish cakes at Vi <3 Fisk are to die for. If you like fish, even a little bit, you have to get some from here. As for Sushi Lovers, well, it’s sushi! Fresh, cool, indulgent, flavourful sushi made with care and dedication.

Bingo & Kopan (Chinese and Korean Street Food)

Bingo is a Chinese street food stall located at the back of Torvehallerne, in the outdoor courtyard. They specialise in Jian bing crepes, a popular savoury crepe in China.

If you’d rather Korean, there’s also Kopan. From the delightfully simply and sweet honey pancakes to the spicy tteokbokki (rice cakes cooked in a spicy sauce), this is the genuine taste of Korea right here in the heart of Copenhagen.

Denmark loves carbs like you wouldn’t believe. Being most famous for their pastries, this might not come as a surprise. Their other best carbs-based export is smørrebrød, an open sandwich with very fancy, beautiful, and elaborate toppings.

They have to be tried at least once when you visit Copenhagen, and where better than here? Or, if you’d prefer something more familiar but still totally delicious, go for pizza and tacos!

Where to Shop at Torvehallerne Food Hall

Beyond getting your lunch or dinner dix, you can also do a bit of food shopping at Torvehallerne Food Hall. There are fresh fruit and veg stalls as well as import shops from places far and wide!

Organic Fruit and Veg Market

Every bit as good as a full farmers market, and as you can see, it’s all fresh, colourful, and absolutely delectable!

Asa Spice

With a quote from Copenhagen’s local literary hero Hans Christian Andersen hung proudly over their store (To travel is to live), you can see that Asa take real pride in their spices. Spice, in fact, defined travel and exploration for so many Europeans for so many centuries. Asa feels like the culmination of all that. Pick up every kind of exotic spice here and take it home with you.

If you want to discover more of Copenhagen, find out here while it’s a book-lovers haven!