Romania, Michelin Star and Michelin Guide Restaurants

We had the good fortune of spending a week in San Sebastián, Spain last year and had some of the best food we’ve ever experienced in a single week. We ate at three restaurants that were either Michelin Star or Michelin Guide Restaurants, and the food at each one was phenomenal!

Here are the differences in Michelin distinctions:

• Michelin Stars: These are awarded to restaurants based on strict criteria, including the quality of ingredients, mastery of cooking techniques, harmony of flavor combinations, the chef’s personality as reflected in the cuisine, and consistency between visits. Restaurants are awarded One, Two or Three stars.
• Michelin Guide: This is the comprehensive publication that lists all restaurants selected by Michelin inspectors. Within the Guide, various distinctions are awarded.
• Bib Gourmand: A specific distinction within the Michelin Guide that recognizes restaurants offering high-quality food at a reasonable price.
• Michelin Guide vs. Stars: While all restaurants with Michelin stars are included in the Michelin Guide, not all restaurants listed in the Michelin Guide have stars.

I started my quest to find Michelin Star and Michelin Guide restaurants in Romania and, much to my dismay, there aren’t any official Michelin starred restaurants! As of the latest official information, the Michelin Guide does not officially cover Romania with its star ratings, focusing instead on hotels with “Michelin Keys”.

However, this doesn’t mean Romania lacks exceptional dining. I found the next best thing: restaurants that have been highly rated and are truly deserving of a place in a guide or even a star, even if they haven’t achieved it yet.

I have not eaten at any of these restaurants, but now I have something new on my “To Do” list. Given my in-laws live in Prahova Valley, I’ll start here with:

Canta Cuisine in Bușteni, inside the Cantacuzino Castle. It’s said to have amazing views of the Bucegi Mountains if you dine on the terrace. The lamb chops look incredible, and they serve over 150 wines from both Romanian and international origins. They are proud of the fact that 90% of their wines are among the top 1% globally and many are rated with at least 90 Parker Points. https://cantacuisine.com/en/

Vinto Gastro Wine Bar, Timișoara. Boasting over 230 wine labels and an incredible 50 that you can taste by the glass, the menu looks awesome! They have a truffle burger, and I like to wash a good burger down with a nice glass of a big, bold dry red wine. I was in Timișoara recently for the first time, and my cousin, a chef at a resort there, cooked me a delicious meal. Now I have reason to go back and treat her to what I’m sure will be a great meal and wine. Can’t wait to get back to Timișoara and check this place out! https://vinto.ro/#tab-id-5

Jules Bistro, Sibiu. Another restaurant on this list with a French-inspired menu, Jules also features a terrace for romantic dining and a wine bar. Next time I’m in Sibiu, I’ll definitely check this place out; it’s right in the Old Town, which is one of my favorite places to visit in Romania. They also offer accommodations. https://www.juleshome.ro/restaurant

Boema, Cluj-Napoca. I’m a big fan of fusion—one’s own interpretation of a dish, usually featuring food of multiple origins or ethnic cuisines. This is precisely what’s telling me I can’t get to Cluj-Napoca fast enough for my first visit, with a reservation and table waiting for me upon arrival! The dishes are influenced by Romanian, Hungarian, Mediterranean, Mexican, and Arabic cuisines. Wagyu Tacos! They also offer a nice selection of pizzas, a ribeye burger, ribs, truffle mashed potatoes, and my favorite ciorbă—tripe, no less! My wife will love the cocktail menu; they even have a drink called “Emily In Paris,” though she’ll likely substitute vodka for gin, making it essentially a lychee martini. They have a nice selection of Romanian, French, Italian, and Moldovan wines. https://casaboema.com/

Tea House, Queen Marie’s Refuge, Bran-Brașov. There’s some delightful Royal Romanian history here. The citizens of Brașov offered the Bran Estate to Queen Marie, the second Queen of Romania. She transformed a small barn at the bottom of the castle into a tea house where she would enjoy her five o’clock tea. It has been re-opened as a fine dining restaurant and tea house for visitors to Bran Castle. I’ve been to Bran Castle a couple of times, and no one told me this place existed! This is what I love most: all products are organic (BIO), procured from local suppliers. The potato soup with smoked pork has already caught my attention, as has the Beef Goulash. When I’m back in Sinaia, I will definitely make a day trip to Bran to enjoy a nice meal here, lakeside on their terrace. https://bran-castle.com/restaurant-bran-castle/ (It wasn’t intuitive to find the menu, so here is the menu link https://bran-castle.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Bran-Castle_Menu-Online.pdf))

Casa Hirscher, Brașov. Located in the historical center of Brașov, it offers Haute Cuisine—the preparation and cooking of high-quality food following the style of traditional French cuisine. First of all, I haven’t seen enough of Brașov and will be looking to go again and thoroughly enjoy it as a tourist. Casa Hirscher has an extensive menu, even serving Alaskan King Crab, soft-shell crab, and lobster tails. While I haven’t dined there yet, I always appreciate restaurants that prioritize the freshest seafood, ideally with transparent sourcing information such as time stamps of when and where it was caught and when it was delivered to the restaurant. They have a wide assortment of Black Angus Burgers, Risotto, Venison, Homemade Pasta, Chicken, Pork, and Steak—they have everything here! https://casahirscher.ro/

Le Bistrot Français, Bucharest. This elegant restaurant was once the residence of Albert Galleron, who designed the Romanian Athenaeum. Its menu is now crafted by Chef Tom Meyer, an acclaimed French chef with two Michelin stars from his work elsewhere, in collaboration with Romanian chef Sorin Miftode. This is a very elegant restaurant with an impressive collection of art from the end of the 19th century to the early 20th century. This place is probably out of my budget, but the caviar selection is fun to dream about. They have escargot, which I love, Oysters, Foie Gras Ravioli—a very sophisticated, very French-inspired menu that you can order à la carte or as a set tasting menu. The wine menu boasts over 1,000 labels, overwhelmingly featuring French wines. I might just have to buy a new suit and make a reservation; it looks like quite the experience! https://www.lebistrotfrancais.ro/

The Artist, Molecular Cuisine, Bucharest. This restaurant, led by a Dutch-Romanian husband-and-wife team, was ranked 19th as “Best Fine Dining in Europe” by TripAdvisor and is located in Bucharest’s historic center. Prior to arriving in Romania in 2012, Dutch Chef Paul Oppenkamp honed his craft on “The World” private mega yacht. I highly recommend visiting their webpage to read the “About Us” section—it’s a truly compelling story. Their dishes resemble an art show, a visual feast to enjoy before you even take a bite. I tried several times, on multiple browsers, to load their menu page, but without success. However, their Facebook page showcases some visually incredible dishes. I’m eager to find out more and hope to one day soon experience the culinary artistry this chef is creating. https://theartist.ro/

Now, the cogs, gears, and sprockets in my tiny brain are transmitting motion, and I’m envisioning an incredible culinary road trip through Romania to experience each of these restaurants. Who wants to join?