Sibiu Romania eating drinking and entertainment

Places to eat cluster along Strada Balcescu and around Piata Mare and Piata Unirii, and the best are almost all in the main hotels. The restaurant in the Împaratul Romanilor hotel at the northern end of Strada Balcescu, with a glitzy courtyard and a sliding roof, is noted for the quality of its Romanian cuisine and much frequented by local black marketeers. There are some passable places further down this lively street, all serving standard Romanian fare: the Mara at no. 21, the Bufnita at no. 45, and the Trandafirul Rosu at no. 47. The Sibiul Vechi , at Str. Papiu Ilarian 3, off Strada Balcescu, serves good traditional food, often with good Romanian folk music too. To the north in the lower town, the Pizzeria Michelangelo , Str. Turnului 3, is slightly pricey but very good, especially for vegetarians; while the Select at Str. Târgul Pestelui 4 is a recommended no-frills local place. It's also well worth heading out to the Hanul Rustic (tel 069/426 291), part of the Museum of Traditional Folk Civilization but with a separate entrance at km5 on the Rasinari road.

 

You could also try the cafés on Piata Mare, such as the refurbished Perla or the Intim , a good coffee, cake and pizza café. The cafés on Piata Mica - Dolly at no. 14, and Dori's at no. 3 - are better value, with fine fresh baking, while west of the centre, the Cofetaria Universitatii , at the corner of Bulevardul Victoriei and Strada Banatului, has a good range of pastries and a lively student atmosphere. The richest, creamiest cakes in town are those are at the cofetarie of the Hotel Bulevard , while for breakfast , your best bet is the non-smoking Patiseria Aroma at Str. Balcescu 1.

There's a good selection of bars in the centre, including the cheap and very cheerful Crama National , on Piata Mica (daily till 1am); the Art Café , beneath the Philharmonic at Str. Filarmonicii 2 (daily till 2am); and the Hard Rock Planet , at Str. Magheru 45, with good music until around 5am. These are all cellar-bars which empty in summer, when it's more pleasant to drink outdoors: try the Turn , by the Councillors' Tower, which serves Guinness, or the Trei Stejari on Strada Bâlea, attached to a brewery. South along Calea Dumbravii, at 79A, is the Club Premier , which has four billiard tables in action till 2am. The Tineretului cinema , at Str. Odobescu 4, sometimes doubles as a disco. Classical concerts are held in the House of Culture on Str. Saguna and the adjacent Army House ( Cercul Militar ), as well as in the theatre; tickets can be bought at Str. Balcescu 17 or at the theatre, and details of what's showing are displayed on posters around town.

A Jazz Festival is held in the spring (between March and July), and the International Theatre Festival takes place between March and June. The pottery fair is more reliably held on the first Sunday of September. Ask at the county's Cultural Inspectorate, Str. Saguna 10 (tel 069/210 531), for up-to-date information on festival dates.