Two brunch spots, one price list

Bucharest is the one city where we run two brunch spots on a single price list, so the same plate costs the same on either side of town. Both open daily 09:00–18:00, both walk-ins only, both baking chunky cookies in-house through the day. Amzei sits on Strada General Christian Tell 1-3, the side street that opens onto Piața Romană in Sector 1. Floreasca is at Calea Floreasca 91-111 in the north of the city, on the stretch that runs past the park towards the lake. Which one is yours comes down to where your morning starts: the centre, or the green side of town.

Brunch near Piața Romană, Strada General Christian Tell 1-3

What it is: the older of our two Bucharest brunch spots, on a quiet side street off Piața Romană at Strada General Christian Tell 1-3, 010381 Bucharest, a short walk from the Romanian Athenaeum and the top of Calea Victoriei.

Why guests pick it: in their Google reviews, guests name the Eggs benedict on Cheddar-Scones more than any other plate, and the size of the portions more than any other thing. A queue outside is not unusual when it is busy. This is the table to aim for when your day runs through the centre.

Our tip: Eggs benedict on Cheddar-Scones (51 lei) with a flat white (19 lei). At weekends, arrive near the 09:00 opening or after about 14:00, once the early-afternoon rush has cleared.

Hours: Open daily 09:00–18:00 · walk-ins only.

More about the Amzei brunch spot · Amzei menu

Brunch in Floreasca, Calea Floreasca 91-111

What it is: our second Bucharest brunch spot, at Calea Floreasca 91-111, 014455 Bucharest, a few minutes from Floreasca Park and Lake Floreasca and an easy stop from the Barbu Văcărescu offices.

Why guests pick it: the terrace and the room to spread out. It is the newer and larger of the two, so it is the easier one to walk into, and dogs are as welcome here as at Amzei.

Our tip: Grilled-Cheese Waffle-Sandwich (53 lei) with a Honey Basil Lemonade (27 lei), taken outside on the terrace.

Hours: Open daily 09:00–18:00 · walk-ins only.

More about the Floreasca brunch spot · Floreasca menu

What to order

Start with hearty brunch: creative plates made fresh on-site from locally-sourced ingredients, in generous portions. There is plenty here whatever you eat, from the Carrot-Cake Vegan Pancakes to the Shakshuka Burrata, and in our vegan dishes we cut right back on the seed oils.

Then the cookies. We bake our chunky handmade cookies in-house every day with real butter and good chocolate: Classic Choco Chip, Nutella & Maldon Salt, Lotus & Dulce de Leche, Pistachio Cream & Crumbs. Thick and crisp on the outside, gooey in the middle. Pair one with a Barcelona-roasted coffee or a mimosa, or head to Cheesecake by Cookie Beacon on Strada Benjamin Franklin, a cheesecake shop of its own with its own opening hours.

Top picks in Bucharest

  • Eggs Benedict on Cheddar-Scones: poached eggs and hollandaise on fresh cheddar scones, avocado mash with feta, pomegranate · 51 lei
  • Chicken & Waffles Stack: breaded chicken on a waffle, beetroot hummus, jalapeños, bacon syrup, fries · 53 lei
  • Creme Brûlée French Toast with Salted Caramel: orange french toast, orange-infused cream, salted caramel · 51 lei
  • Chunky cookies: baked in-house daily; regulars include Classic Choco Chip, Nutella & Maldon Salt and Lotus & Dulce de Leche · 25 to 26 lei depending on the flavour
  • Signature lattes 23 lei · mimosas 29 lei · espresso 11 lei

Breakfast in Bucharest, from 9am

We open at 09:00 every day, so breakfast runs from first thing through the middle of the afternoon. Go light and savoury with the Avocado Cheddar Scones (42 lei), keep it quick with the Breakfast Crunch Pretzelbun Sandwich (41 lei), or go sweet with the Carrot-Cake Vegan Pancakes (51 lei). We pour Barcelona-roasted coffee alongside: espresso 11 lei, flat white 19 lei. If coffee is not your morning, the Honey Basil Lemonade is 27 lei.

For the full rundown, and how we stack up against other spots, read our best breakfast in Bucharest guide and our best brunch in Bucharest guide. Both have Romanian twins: mic dejun în București and cel mai bun brunch din București.

How we ended up in Bucharest

Cookie Beacon started in Budapest in 2021, family-run, built around hearty brunch and cookies baked in front of you. Bucharest came later, and it is the one city where we run two brunch spots on a single price list, so locals get the same plate at the same price whichever side of town they are on. If it is your first morning here, our first day in Bucharest guide picks up the walk from Amzei.

Step out from Amzei and you are between Piața Romană, the Romanian Athenaeum, the length of Calea Victoriei and the quiet of Grădina Icoanei, with the University of Bucharest a little further down. From Floreasca the walk goes the other way: Floreasca Park, Lake Floreasca, Verdi Park and Promenada Mall, with the Barbu Văcărescu offices up the road.

Addresses and hours

Amzei: Strada General Christian Tell 1-3, 010381 Bucharest · Open daily 09:00–18:00 · +40 752 138 881

Floreasca: Calea Floreasca 91-111, 014455 Bucharest · Open daily 09:00–18:00 · +40 752 138 881

Cheesecake by Cookie Beacon: Strada Benjamin Franklin 9, 030167 Bucharest · Mon–Fri 11:00–20:00 · Sat–Sun 11:00–21:00, or until the cheesecakes sell out. It is a cheesecake shop rather than a brunch spot, and Amzei is the closer of the two brunch tables to it.

Walk-ins only at both brunch spots, no reservations. Just turn up. Dogs are welcome too, so bring the whole family. #webelieveinhandmade