EBG Rating: 8.7/10

Choice/Quality of Drinks:
❤️❤️❤️❤️
House beer origins are technically opaque, kept secret, but all signs suggest it is brewed by Ursus. It is light but a fairly competent beer. Thankfully they offer Pilsner Urquell on draft in superb, basically Czech level condition which justifies the 4 hearts alone. Competent back bar with typical restaurant fare.

Style/Décor:
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
For spectacle, it’s among all of Europe’s finest. Neo-gothic interior, cathedral-like, drawing your eye towards stained glass at the rear of the room, in front of it standing the bar, altar-like.

Cloistered ceilings, portals and balconies with frescoes of historic scenes. It is both fanciful and extremely elegant, taking in Art Nouveau influences of the era.

Atmosphere/Character:
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
A true ‘destination’ venue where the spectacle of dining and drinking in such an environment is atmospheric in itself. Throw in the excitement of the audience and occasional music performances, and you have lift-off.

Amenities/Events:
❤️❤️❤️❤️
Food, snacks, outdoor seating, live music

Value For Money:
❤️❤️❤️
Prices are quite expensive corresponding to quality. Quality is pretty good – not the best you can get in the city but certainly fair – but you pay for it.

Description:
19th century beer hall of very rare quality in Eastern Europe.

For spectacle, it’s among all of Europe’s finest. Neo-gothic interior, cathedral-like, drawing your eye towards stained glass at the rear of the room, in front of it standing the bar, altar-like.

Cloistered ceilings, portals and balconies with frescoes of historic scenes. It is both fanciful and extremely elegant, taking in Art Nouveau influences of the era.

While an eatery, you’ll find it fairly relaxed & communal. Once seated you can continue drinks after a meal too. House beer origins are technically opaque but all signs suggest it is brewed by Ursus. Thankfully they offer Pilsner Urquell on draft in superb, basically Czech level condition.

Originally opened as a brewery in 1879, nationalised in 1949, restored extensively in 1986 and returned to family ownership in 1999, subject to further renovation works. It is a survivor, to be sure.

Along with typical hearty Romanian dishes, you’ll find evening folk dances in the cellar and classical musicians performing throughout the week.

Service varies a little from the listless youths to more old school patrician hospitality from the experienced staff.

The only downside is the pricing perhaps doesn’t match the quality, though there isn’t huge disparity and you are somewhat paying for the environment here too.

Soaking up the surroundings and environment it seems baffling, almost impossible to believe this was purpose-built or that it has survived.

Sure, a venue of this sort is going to attract mass tourism, and with that there are some hazards. But only the most pig-headed modernist stylists, penny-pinching misers or narrow minded of contrarians could deny that this place is a gemstone, a cultural icon that almost makes Bucharest worth visiting for alone.

(Added March 2026)