Mic Dejun/Brunch în București

25 de localuri pentru Mic Dejun/Brunch in Bucuresti

Mic Dejun/Brunch în București

Este o misiune aproape imposibilă să faci un top obiectiv al localurilor. Suntem atât de diferiți încât nu ai cum să fii sigur că ce îți place ție va fi pe placul a încă 10 persoane. Cu toatea astea, suntem pasionați de topuri de toate felurile, să le facem sau să le citim. De câte ori nu ai dat click pe un articol doar pentru că avea cuvântul top în el? Eu recunosc că de nenumărate ori, în special când eram în căutare rapidă de idei.

Celor în căutare de idei pentru mic dejun/brunch cool și cafea bună în București vă propun:

(Articol în curs de actualizare)

1. Arome

Arome este printre puținele localuri vegetarian-vegan friendly din București. Merg la ei pentru toast-ul cu avocado și humus, Holy Grail, salata vegană de zucchini, supe, limonade, smoothie-uri și nu în ultimul rând DESERTURI! Gradina lor este o oază in mijlocul Bucureștiului.

Cafea: Bocca Coffee

Photos © Pomegranate Juice

2. Trofic

Mic Dejun/Brunch în București

Photo © Trofic

Trofic este cel mai apropiat local ca atmosferă de cele vest europene. Vestea bună este că vor deschide un spațiu mai mare în zona Timpuri Noi. Deschiderea oficială este stabilită pentru  ianuarie 2020, așa că abia aștept! Câteva favorite din meniu sunt toast-ul cu somon și ouă poșate, toast-ul cu avocado și toast-ul cu dovleac și brânză (introdus în meniul de toamnă-iarnă). Sincer, aș putea să aleg orice din meniul lor si nu aș pleca dezamagită. Deserturile sunt delicioase, nu rata french toast-ul. De asemenea, la Trofic găsești cele mai bune checuri (morcov/dovleac/portocală)!

 

Cafea: Provine de la Origo, dar este o varietate diferită.

Mic Dejun/Brunch în București

Photos © Pomegranate Juice

3. Frudisiac

Mic Dejun/Brunch în București

Photo © Frudisiac

Premiul pentru cea mai bună granola din oraș (din cele gustate) se acordă localului mai sus menționat. Clătitele americane sunt piesa de rezistență a meniului. Nu poți să mergi la Frudisiac fără să îți comanzi o porție. Preparatele zilei mă surprind plăcut de fiecare dată, dar dacă nu îmi face nimic cu ochiul, merg la sigur cu toast-ul cu avocado. Au și o selecție impresionantă de smoothie-uri. Deserturile de la Rue du Pain sunt excelente, dacă ajungeți la ei pentru cafea e musai să cereți și un croissant alături.

Pro Tip: Comanda o porție de clătite la două farfurii – vei avea parte de mai multă ricotta și mai multe fructe!

Cafea: Drop Coffee Stockholm

4. Manufaktura by Doncafe

Printre puținele locuri de la noi în care găsești ceva asemănător cu porridge-ul de la englezi. Este servit cu fructe proaspete (struguri, mere), nuci, semințe (dovleac și floarea soarelui) și goji. Omletele cu trufe sau parmezan (in funcție de sezon) sunt delicioase și vin in porții generoase. Aici poți savura una dintre cele mai bune cafele din Bucuresti. <3

Cafea: Varietăti de la Doncafe râșnite și prăjite pe loc.

Photos © Pomegranate Juice

5. Bread & Spices

Mic Dejun/Brunch în București

Photo © Bread & Spices

Bread & Spices a fost primul loc din țară în care am găsit toast cu unt de arahide și gem (peanut butter jelly time!). Meniul este bogat, cu opțiuni atât pentru gurmanzi clasici cât și pentru pretențioși. Pâinea și produsele de patiserie/cofetărie sunt făcute de ei și sunt cât se poate de gustoase. Limonada cu ghimbir servită caldă este un deliciu!

Tot nu ai găsit cel mai bun mic dejun/brunch în București?

 Mai am să-ți prezint câteva localuri de unde poți alege!

Mic Dejun/Brunch în București

6. Bite

Mic Dejun/Brunch în București

Photo © Bite

Ador platoul vegan cu humus, avocado cu zaa’tar și cartofi dulci copți, si salata de quinoa. Însă ce imi place cel mai mult la Bite este decorul cu accent tropical al localului. Grădina lor este frumoasa, dar nu sunt sigură că este pusă în valoare așa cum trebuie.

Mic Dejun/Brunch în București

Photo ©Pomegranate Juice

7. M60

Mic Dejun/Brunch în București

Photo © M60

La M60 nu am mai fost de ceva timp pentru că găsești destul de greu locuri de parcare in zona Amzei. 🙁 Preferatele, care se regăsesc și în meniul actual, sunt toast-ul cu avocado și chili și salata cu somon nordic, avocado și mango. Nici deserturile nu sunt de ocolit, am gustat acolo unul dintre cele mai bune carrot cake-uri.

8. Simbio

Mic Dejun/Brunch în București

Photo © Simbio

La Simbio găsești loc doar dacă te organizezi din timp și rezervi o masă. Odată ce ai ajuns acolo, e cel mai bun moment să comanzi un burger, normal sau vegetarian. Preferatul meu este naked burger-ul cu avocado, roșii uscate și brânză de capră. La Simbio am băut cea mai buna Margarita din oraș. Gradina lor este pretextul ideal pentru un “garden party”.

Photos © Pomegranate Juice

9. Rawdia

Mic Dejun/Brunch în București

Photo © Rawdia

Dupa cum ii spune numele, specificul localului este raw vegan. Surpriza este că au un meniu care se schimbă zilnic. Trebuie să încerci varianta lor de Snickers si ceaiul cald cu ghimbir! Daca nu poți ajunge la ei, te poți abona la meniul săptămânal și vei primi acasă/la birou preparatele selectate.

 

10. Rio Juice

Mic Dejun/Brunch în București

Photo © Rio Juice

Rio Juice este singurul loc (momentan) în care am găsit Acai Bowl, în București. Acai este un “super fruct” originar din America de Sud, bogat în antioxidanți, calciu, fibre și multe alte vitamine benefice organismului. Cei de la Rio Juice creează niște boluri frumos colorate, perfecte pentru postat pe Instagram.

Mic Dejun/Brunch în București

11. Papila

Mic Dejun/Brunch în București

Photo © Papila

‘Papila (gustativă)’ se remarcă prin selecția inedită de supe bune, atmosfera prietenoasă și faptul că servesc ouă TOATĂ ziua!

12. Avocadoo

Mic Dejun/Brunch în București

Photo © Avocadoo

Avocadoo e localizat in Băneasa Shopping City, dar sper să deschidă un alt spațiu undeva mai aproape de centrul orașului. Ca sugestie, un design ‘jungle green’ ar fi binevenit. Toate produsele conțin avocado într-o măsură mai mare sau mai mică (d’oh). Mă declar fan avocado, deci îmi e greu să aleg un preferat din meniu, dar un top 3 ar conține toast-ul cu avocado, humus roz și brânză feta, Buddha Bowl și supa de cocos și dovleac.

 

13. Fratellini Bistro

Fratellini Bistro este localul cel mai potrivit pentru un mic-dejun/brunch business. Are atmosferă și decor de bistro franțuzesc, cu un meniu elegant, bine pus la punct.

Photo ©Pomegranate Juice

14. Fior di Latte

Mic Dejun/Brunch în București

Photo © Fior di Latte

Când spun Fior di Latte mă gândesc la cel mai bun tiramisu din oraș! Este un local elegant, atent decorat, perfect pentru orice moment al zilei.

Photo ©Pomegranate Juice

15. Matcha Bar

Mic Dejun/Brunch în București

Photo © Matcha Bar

Primul matcha bar din Romania este cât se poate de instagramabil datorită culorii “millenial pink” și are un meniu vegetarian-vegan friendly. În afară de băutura care îi dă numele, îți poți comanda tot felul de latte-uri colorate și bio, pe baza de spirulină sau turmeric, smoothie-uri sau limonade.

Au supe și quiche-uri bune și o selecție de toast-uri și salate healthy. Dulciurile sunt împărțite în două categorii: pe bază de matcha sau fără matcha. Selecția este impresionantă asa că vă îndemn să aruncați o privire pe meniu înainte să ajungeți acolo. Dacă băuturile colorate nu sunt pe placul tău, poți oricând să alegi un ceai verde japonez sau un pahar de vin.

Mic Dejun/Brunch în București

16. Mikkeler

Mic Dejun/Brunch în București

Photo © Mikkeler

Cea mai bună parte a unui brunch la Mikkeler este că îl poți savura alături de o cafea de la BOB. La brunch poți merge doar în week-end, cand deschid la ora 12, altfel este deschis de la ora 17. La beri nu mă pricep, dar au un meniu impresionant și presupun că sunt bune. Aviz amatorilor!

Photo ©Pomegranate Juice @BOB Coffee Lab

17. ARC Bakery

Mic Dejun/Brunch în București

Photo © Arc Bakery

Terasa de la Arc Bakery cu vedere la parcul Herăstrău este ca scoasă din reviste. Ne plac produsele lor de patiserie/cofetărie, în special croissant-ul cu migdale și eclerul cu fistic. Aici am gustat cel mai bun Croque Monsieur din oraș.

18. Ad Hoc Bistro & Ză Lokal

La Ad Hoc găsești cele mai instagramabile deserturi (courtesy of Cărți, Dulciuri și Flori). Meniul e scris pe tablă, atmosfera e relaxata, ai putea să crezi că ești în vizită la niște prieteni. Ne plac burgerii, mic dejunul leneș, toast-ul cu avocado și rodie ș.a.m.d.

19. Maison des Chefs

Maison des Chefs by Mega Image este un restaurant concept 3 in 1: Casual Bistro, Wine Gallery si Fromagerie. Ne-au plăcut toast-ul cu dovleac, supele, pate-ul de casă cu carne de rață și dulceață și burgerii. În plus, au o selecție impresionantă de brânzeturi (fromagerie în incinta localului) și vinuri (peste 200 de sortimente de vinuri din diferite colțuri ale lumii: România, Franța, Italia, Chile, Africa de Sud sau Noua Zeelandă).

20. B4 Market

Mic Dejun/Brunch în București

Photo © B4 market

Imi place foarte mult design-ul localului, dar nu am revenit din cauza faptului că în ziua în care am fost la ei, prepararea micului dejun a durat mai mult decât ne-am fi dorit. Era imediat după deschidere, așa că merită o altă șansă. (Va urma…)

21. Frank Dining Dessert Bar – Inchis

UPDATE!

Frank s-a inchis intre timp si a devenit al doilea sediu Avocadoo.

Am ajuns prea târziu pentru ora brunch-ului la Frank, dar am promis să revenim pentru toast-ul cu avocado și ou poșat și MAI ALES pentru deserturi. Localul e destul de ascuns (parterul unei clădiri de birouri) și nu are o capacitate mare; a se verifica disponibilitatea meselor înainte.

22. CPWHF – Coffee Place With Honest Food – Inchis

Coffee Place with Honest Food are legătură cu Steam Coffee Shop, dar nu găsești același soi de cafea ca la ei. De încercat tot de la ei din meniu, de la toast-ul cu pulled pork sau cel cu avocado, la checul cu unt de arahide și gem sau granola.

23. Meron

Mic Dejun/Brunch în București

Photo © Meron

La Meron vei găsi o selecție variată de toast-uri și omlete însoțite de o cafea super bună. În plus, te vei simți ca un turist în propriul oraș, datorită vecinătății cu Hotelul Cișmigiu și Bulevardul Regina Elisabeta.

24. 5ENSI by BeanZ Cafe

5ENSI by BeanZ este locul ideal pentru un “summer brunch”. Are o terasă frumoasă și e poziționat central, într-o clădire modernă. Ne-au plăcut burgerii și deserturile, în special Kunafeh (vezi poza).

Cafea by BeanZ 🙂

Photo © Pomegranate Juice

25. TrickSHOT

Trickshot Promenada este foarte spatios si are un meniu variat, e aproape imposibil sa nu gasesti ceva sa iti placa (incearca burger-ul cu trufe si salata Ahi Poke Hawaian). Marele avantaj al localului il constituie accesul la terasa Promenada Mall (deschisa în permanentă). Iarna, decorul feeric este completat de un patinoar in aer liber.

 

Daca ai si tu localuri preferate, spune-mi intr-un comentariu!


vacanta in puglia

Vacanta in Puglia

Vacanta in Puglia

Pentru unii dintre noi cea mai romantica destinatie de vacanta va ramane Italia. Un pachet complet de vacanta inseamna: vreme buna, plaje spectaculoase, orase istorice, mancare delicioasa si cultura bogata. Italia (in mod special Puglia) le are pe toate.

M-am indragostit de aceasta regiune de prima data cand am citit despre ea. Nici nu stiu cu ce sa incep: casutele trulli din Alberobello, restaurantul Grotta Palazzese din Polignano a Mare, Masseriile pugliene reconditionate, bucataria cu a ei burrata si caccioriccota, sau orasele cetate (Ostuni, Otranto, Gallipoli)? Am ales sa nu stau in orasele mai populate precum Bari, Lecce, Taranto sau Brindisi si sa gust mai mult din atmosfera locala prin cazari in locuri linistite, departe de agitatie.

Ziua 1

Bucuresti – Bari

Am preferat sa inchiriem masina pe toata durata vacantei deoarece aveam un itinerariu destul de bogat si nu voiam sa depindem de alte mijloace de transport. Aspectul neplacut al inchiriatului masinii in lunile iulie-august in Italia este ca nu vei gasi multe locuri de parcare libere si daca ai norocul de a gasi, va fi destul de scump.

Asadar, am inchiriat masina din aeroport si am plecat catre Polignano a Mare, unde ne-am cazat pentru 3 nopti la Calaponte. Am ales acest hotel pentru designul minimalist si dicretia oferita de casutele cu mici gradini de maslini, construite concentric in jurul unei piscine.

In prima seara am luat cina la Grotta Palazzese, unde ne facusem rezervare cu cateva luni inainte. Nu stiu ce s-a schimbat in ultimii 4 ani, dar noi am avut parte de un meniu fix format din patru feluri de mancare. Pretul meniului nu reflecta in mod neaparat calitatea meniului, desi tot ce ne-a fost servit a fost foarte bun (cel mai bun risotto pe care l-am mancat vreodata), ci se bazeaza mai mult pe locatia restaurantului si pe faptul ca este destul de greu sa gasesti o masa disponibila, chiar daca faci rezervare cu mult timp inainte. Chelnerii au fost amabili, chiar am putut alege locul in care sa stam si am putut sa facem poze oriunde ne-am dorit. Locatia restaurantului este cu adevarat speciala insa pretul si continutul meniului merita sa fie ajustate.

Vacanta in Puglia

Ziua 2

Am incercat sa facem plaja in cea mai fototgrafiata zona din Polignano A Mare, Lama Monachile, insa nu am rezistat foarte mult. De altfel, nu am rezistat mult la nicio plaja in aceasta vacanta, deorece vacanta noastra a coincis cu cea mai aglomerata perioada a anului: sfarsitul lunii iulie, inceputul lunii august, data la care nu numai ca sunt multi turisti ci este si perioada in care majoritatea italienilor sunt in concediu. De aceea, aproape la fiecare cazare pe care am ales-o, m-am asigurat ca avem o piscina la care sa putem sta in caz ca nu avem loc la plaja.

Singurele locuri in care nu am avut piscina au fost Gallipoli si Matera. Dupa experienta scurta la plaja din Polignano, am plecat catre Monopoli unde ne-am plimbat pe stradute si am facut o scurta baie in mare la plaja din centrul istoric al orasului, Cala Porta Vecchia. Daca vrei sa scapi de caldura si aglomeratie, poti vizita Pesterile din complexul Grotte Castellane, situate la 15 km de orasul Monopoli.

Seara ne-am pierdut pe stradutele din centrul istoric al orasului Polignano A Mare si am privit apusul de pe marginea unei stanci. Apoi am cinat intr-unul din cele mai frumoase restaurante din Polignano, Antiche Mura. Polignano a Mare este considerat unul dintre cele mai romantice orase din Italia si locuitorii lui se mandresc cu asta. Aleile centrului sunt decorate cu plante si flori iar scarile si zidurile ascund versuri din poezii. Podul roman din centru face parte din Via Traiana, care lega orasele Beneveto si Brindisi pe vremea imparatului Traian.

Ziua 3

Ne-am mai plimbat o data prin Polignano si am admirat arhitectura centrului vechi pe timp de zi. In Alberobello, situat la 30 de km de Polignano, ne-am cazat intr-o casuta traditionala si am intrat in fascinanta lume a casutelor trulli. Perioada a coincis cu festivalul luminilor din Alberobello, asa ca dupa ce ne-am plimbat prin centrul orasului am asistat si la cateva proiectii de lumini.

Experienta de a dormi intr-un trullo a fost interesanta insa nu este de recomandat pe termen lung, deoarece niveulul umiditatii din interior este foarte ridicat. In realitate nu ai nevoie de mai mult de o zi pentru a vizita principalele atractii turistice din oras. Nu se stie sigur cum au aparut prima data aceste constructii, insa cea mai credibila varianta este cea conform careia au fost construite in aceasta forma (conice si fara mortar) pentru a scapa de taxe.

Vacanta in Puglia

Ziua 4

In urmatoarea zi ne-am mai plimbat o data prin centrul orasului pentru a ne asigura ca nu am ratat nicio casuta si am plecat catre urmatoarea cazare, situata in apropierea orasului Ostuni. In drum catre Masserie ne-am oprit in Locorotondo, una dintre cele mai frumoase localitati din aceasta zona si in Cisternino, unde am luat masa pe aleile inguste din centrul vechi. Cateva ore sunt suficiente pentru a te plimba pe stradute si a admira arhitectura. Alte orase frumoase din Valea Itriei sunt Ceglie Mesapica (una dintre cele mai vechi asezari) si Martina Franca (cel mai populat oras din zona, cu multe cladiri in stil baroc). Pentru pasionatii de ciclism, zona pune la dispozitie nenumarate trasee turistice. Noi ne-am intalnit cu foarte multi ciclisti pe parcursul intregii vacante. Acceseaza link-ul urmator, Itria Valley: 5 days cycling tour.

Masseria Corte Degli Asini a fost in top 3 locuri preferate de cazare in Puglia, alaturi de Le Capase si Sextantio Grotte della Civita. Numele provine de la fabrica de ulei de masline care exista inainte in aceasta zona. Uleiul era presat printr-un sistem pe baza de pietre de care trageau mai multi magarusi. Pe proprietate inca mai gasesti cativa magarusi si o livada de maslini pe ale carei alei te poti plimba cu bicicleta la lasatul serii, cum am facut-o noi. Maseriile sunt (foste) ferme fortificate asemanatoare constructiilor de tip “hacienda” din Spania sau America Latina. Alte maserii frumoase din zona sunt Masseria Torre Coccaro, Il Frantoio, Cervarolo sau Torre Maizza. Si sa nu uitam de celebra Borgo Egnazia. Unele dintre ele pun la dispozitia turistilor preparate locale create din ingrediente cultivate in interiorul proprietatii. Puglia este renumita pentru productia de ulei, legume si vinuri.

Piscina proprietatii are vedere la valea regiunii Fasano si Marea AdriaticaOrasul alb Ostuni si plaja sunt la 15 minute de mers cu masina. Am luat cina la Masserie (cea mai buna cina traditionala din toata vacanta!) si am plecat in Ostuni unde nu am luat in considerare faptul ca daca nu iti faci rezervare in aceasta perioada a anului, nu ai sanse sa gasesti loc la niciun restaurant/bar/terasa.

Ziua 5

In prima parte a celei de-a doua zi la Masserie am explorat coasta Marii Adriatice unde am vrut sa vizitam rezervatia naturala Torre Guaceto, dar nu am avut putut deoarece era inchis. Asa ca ne-am relaxat la Guna Beach Club si am facut plaja la Torre Pozzelle unde am admirat copiii care prindeau arici de mare cu mana. La Lido Morelli ne-am ascuns dupa dunele de nisip fin. Seara ne-am intors in Ostuni, dar pentru ca era vineri, am gasit foarte greu loc de parcare si am regretat ca nu am chemat un taxi (smart tip).

Vacanta in Puglia

Ziua 6

Vacanta in Puglia

Inainte de a ne indrepta catre Salento, ne-am plimbat prin Ostuni si am luat masa la unul dintre cele mai bune restaurante din regiune: Taverna della Gelosia. In drumul catre urmatoarea destinatie, am incercat sa ne oprim pentru plaja in mai multe locuri, dar nu am reusit sa stam deorece era foarte aglomerat. Toate sunt locuri spectaculoase situate in aceeasi raza si pe care le recomand in alte perioade ale anului (iunie-jumatatea lunii iulie, septembrie): piscina naturala Grotta della Poesia, plaja Torre dell’Orso, Torre Sant’Andrea si plaja Alimini Lakes. Obositi, dupa atata aglomeratie, ne-am cazat la Le Capase si am luat cina la restaurantul resort-ului. O alta recomandare pentru cazare in aceasta zona este Palazzo Guglielmo Albergo Diffuso.

Ziua 7

Dimineata am incercat sa mergem la plaja din Porto Badisco (despre care a scris Vergilius in Eneida), insa era la fel de aglomerat ca in celelate locuri de ieri, asa ca ne-am intors la piscina hotelului unde ne-am relaxat si am primit fructe si limonada din partea casei. La Le Capase am avut parte si de cel mai bun mic dejun si cea mai buna servire din toata vacanta! Dupa amiaza ne-am plimbat prin Santa Cesarea Terme, statiunea recunoscuta pentru apele termale si frumoasele sale vile, printre care si Palazzo Stichi. Am ales sa cinam in Otranto unde am vizitat si o parte din centrul istoric al frumosului oras-cetate.

Vacanta in Puglia

Ziua 8

In urmatoarea zi am inchirat o barca din Porto Miggiano si am vizitat grotele/plajele din apropiere (Grotta Azzura, Grotta Zinzulusa, Grotta Romanelli) si admirat asezarile de pe malul marii: Santa Cesarea Terme si Castro Marina.

Ziua s-a incheiat la plaja Porto Miggiano, cunoscuta si sub numele de Plaja celor 100 de scari, care este (in opinia mea) cea mai frumoasa plaja de pe coasta de Est a Pugliei. Seara am cinat tot in Otranto unde mi-a parut rau ca nu am ajuns si in timpul zilei pentru a vizita mai mult din oras si a observa mai bine arhitectura locului.

Ziua 9

Ziua 9 a fost o zi lunga pentru ca am fost pe drum toata ziua, dar ne-am oprit in multe locuri frumoase unde, ca de obicei, era foarte aglomerat.

Calla Dell’Aquaviva, cu frumosul fiord si izvoarele de apa rece

Marina Serra cu a ei piscina naturala

Golful Ciolo cu al sau pod

Santa Maria di Leuca, unde am reusit sa facem plaja si am luat masa. Santa Maria di Leuca este punctul cel mai sudic al tocului Italiei si de cum treci pe coasta de vest a regiunii, incep interminabilele plaje cu nisip fin. Principalele atractii turistice de aici sunt biserica Santa Maria (care ii da numele), farul, cavernele si pesterile accesibile doar cu barca.

Inainte de a ne caza in Gallipoli, am ales sa ne oprim in Marina di Pescoluse, cunoscuta si ca Maldivele din Salento (Puglia), pentru o scurta baie in mare. In Gallipoli am stat in centrul vechi al orasului, unde este interzis accesul masinilor, asa ca am parcat undeva in afara cetatii si am mers pe jos pana la cazare. Gallipoli inseamna orasul frumos si este baza perfecta pentru a explora cele mai frumoase plaje din Puglia.

Vacanta in Puglia

Ziua 10

O noua zi, o alta plaja! Am ales sa mergem la Porto Selvaggio, unde ne-am plimbat prin rezervatia naturala. Dupa amiaza ne-am mutat la Spiaggia Padula Bianca si am avut parte de cateva ore de relaxare si de cea mai frumoasa priveliste. Alaturi de Padula Bianca se afla o alta plaja la fel de frumoasa, Rivabella. De altfel, litoralul din apropierea orasului Gallipoli este renumit pentru multitudinea de plaje amenajate. Cele mai recunoscute (si aglomerate) plaje se afla in zona de sud a orasului: Spiaggia di Baia Verde, Spiaggia di Punta della Suina si Punto Pizzo. La finalul zilei ne-am mutat pe plaja din Gallipoli, Spiaggia della Purita, de unde am privit apusul. Am incheiat cu o cina in centrul istoric la Pescheria La Lampara.

Ziua 11

In ultima zi petrecuta in Galipolli, am privit rasaritul de pe acoperisul hotelului, unde era servit si micul dejun, dupa care am vizitat Castelul Gallipoli. Ne-am indreptat usor catre Porto Cesareo, Torre Lapillo si Punta Prosciutto si am facut scurte opriri, ultimele doua fiind considerate cele mai frumoase plaje cu nisip din Puglia.

Am ajuns in Matera odata cu lasarea serii si am fost nevoiti sa ne lasam masina in partea noua a orasului, deoarece accesul masinilor este interzis in centrul istoric. Ne-am cazat in grotele reconditionate Sextantio le Grotte della Civita si am simtit ca ne-am teleportat intr-o lume magica din trecut despre care trebuie sa cititi si voi mai multe. Am cinat intr-un restaurant amenajat intr-o grota, Baccanti.

Vacanta in Puglia

Ziua 12

O zi intreaga pentru explorat Matera pe jos. Am urcat si coborat de zeci de ori scari peste scari, dar senzatiile traite au fost de nedescris. Frumusetea locurilor au facut din Matera platou de filmare pentru multe filme istorice printre care Mary Magdalene (prilej cu care s-au cunoscut Rooney Mara si Joaquin Phoenix), Passion of the Christ sau Ben Hur. Am vizitat mai multe muzee care prezentau viata de odiniora din Matera, biserici si localuri cu design specific zonei. Seara am incheiat-o pe terasa hotelului cu un ceai si un cappuccino.

La Grotte della Civita am avut cele mai intense trairi. Camerele sunt amenajate cu lumini ambientale si lumanari care iti dau impresia ca nu exista electricitate. Usa camerelor este din lemn masiv si nu se inchide ermetic. Astfel ca atunci cand ploua ai impresia ca esti in aer liber. Mobilerul si decorul sunt simple, pe baza de piatra si lemn, incercand sa redea cat mai bine atmosfera de grota. Grotele erau locuite de oameni saraci care traiau impreuna cu animalele pe care le cresteau, ceea ce a dus la dezvoltarea bolilor. De aceea in 1952, locuitorii grotelor au fost evacuati si relocati in partea moderna a orasului si zona nu a mai fost folosita pana la sfarsitul anilor 1980.

Sala de mese a hotelului este amenajata in locul unde functiona o capela, iar intrarea in hotel se face pe un culoar care are vedere panoramica la Valea Murgiei din Matera si a pesterilor rupestre de pe cealalta parte a gravinei. Micul dejun la Sextantio este extrem de bogat si bazat pe multe produse de patiserie specifice zonei.

Ziua 13

Am admirat pentru ultima oara orasul de pe cealalta parte a gravinei, dupa care am plecat catre aeroportul din Bari cu destinatia Bucuresti.

Vacanta in Puglia


milos noul santorini mykonos

21 de Motive sa vizitezi Milos - Combinatia perfecta intre Santorini si Mykonos

milos noul santorini mykonos

milos noul santorini mykonos

EN: 21 Reasons to visit Milos

The perfect combination between Santorini and Mykonos

milos noul santorini mykonos

Recunosc ca titlul e mai mult pentru a va atrage atentia pentru ca sunt mult mai multe motive pentru care merita sa acordati o atentie cat de mica acestei insule.

Cum ajungi in Milos? Cu avionul pana la Atena, apoi high speed ferry din portul Piraeus: aprox. 3-4 ore, in functie de viteza feribotului, sau cu avionul (Olympicair, Aegean Airlines), durata unui zbor fiind de 40 de minute.

EN: I admit, the title is just a way to get your attention because there are a lot more reasons to direct your smallest attention to this island.

How to get to Milos? By plane to Athens and then by the High Speed Ferry from Piraeus Port: approximately 3-4 hours, depeding on the speed of the ferry, or by plane  (Olympicair, Aegean Airlines) with a flight time of around 40 minutes.

milos noul santorini mykonos

Am surprins atatea peisaje spectaculoase in aceasta calatorie incat imi este imposibil sa le cuprind pe toate intr-o singura postare. Pentru cateva dintre motivele mentionate mai jos vor urma si postari individuale. Aici vei regasi o parte din farmecul frumoasei insule Milos.

EN: I have captured so many spectacular landscapes during this trip that it is impossible for me to include them all in one post. For some of the reasons mentioned below, individual posts will follow. Here you will find part of the charm of the beautiful island of Milos.

milos noul santorini mykonos

Peisajul lunar de la Sarakiniko

EN: The Moonscape from Sarakiniko

Probabil al doilea cel mai faimos lucru din Milos dupa statuia lui Venus. Partea proasta este ca locul este aglomerat la orice ora a zilei, dar datorita faptului ca se intinde pe o suprafata mare, ai sanse sa prinzi o portiune doar a ta de unde sa poti admira frumusetea peisajului.

EN: Probably the second most famous spot to see in Milos after the statue of Venus de Milo. The downside is that the place is crowded at any time of day, but due to the fact that it stretches over a large area, you have the chance to find a  place just for yourself where you can sit and admire the beauty of the landscape.

milos noul santorini mykonos

Plaja langa o mina abandonata – Paliorema/Thiorichia (Old Sulphur Mines)

EN: The Beach near an Abandoned Mine –

Paliorema/Thiorichia (Old Sulphur Mines)

Daca vrei sa fii singur pe plaja, aici ai sanse pentru ca nu multi se incumeta sa ajunga la minele abandonate din cauza drumului neasfaltat.

EN: If you want to be alone on the beach here’s your chance because not many dare to reach the abandoned mines because of the dirt road.

milos noul santorini mykonos

Plaja Tsigrado

EN: Tsigrado Beach

Coboara pe o franghie pentru a ajunge la plaja Tsigrado.

EN: Slide down a rope to get down to Tsigrado Beach.

milos noul santorini mykonos

Sate pescaresti unice

EN: Unique Fishing Villages

 

Sate pescaresti transformate in cazari idilice: Klima, Mandrakia, Fyropotamos. Acestea sunt unice si se gasesc doar pe insulele Milos si Kimolos – sora mai mica a insulei Milos.

EN: Fishing villages transformed into idyllic accommodations: Klima, Mandrakia, Fyropotamos. These are unique and are found only on the islands of Milos and Kimolos – the younger sister of Milos Island.

milos noul santorini mykonos

Plaja langa o mina functionala: Voudia

EN: The Beach near an active Mine: Voudia

milos noul santorini mykonos

Bentonit, Perlit, Barit; Sunt doar cateva dintre resursele naturale ale insulei care inca se mai extrag din aceasta zona.

EN: Bentonite, Perlite, Barite; These are only a few of the island’s natural resources that are still extracted from this area.

Plaja Geotermala – Paleochori

EN: The Geothermal Beach – Paleochori

milos noul santorini mykonos

Datorita activitatii vulcanice, in aceasta zona a insulei exista izvoare calde submarine care incalzesc apa si portiuni din plaja. Unul dintre restaurantele de pe malul marii are amenajat un spatiu unde se prepara mancare vulcanica.

EN: Due to the volcanic activity in this area of the island there are underwater hot springs that heat the water and portions of the beach. One of the restaurants on the seaside has an area where volcanic food is prepared and served.

milos noul santorini mykonos

Plaja curcubeu – Firiplaka

EN: The Rainbow Beach – Firiplaka

milos noul santorini mykonos

Nu cred ca am vazut intr-un alt loc mai multe culori care sa se imbine perfect cu albastrul apei. Cu siguranta aceasta este plaja mea preferata din Milos.

EN: I don’t think I ever saw another place with so many colors that combine perfectly with the blue of the water. This is definitely my favorite beach in Milos.

Papafragas, Kapros & Alogomandra

milos noul santorini mykonos

Sau cum sa faci plaja intr-o pestera.

EN: Or how to sunbathe in a cave.

milos noul santorini mykonos

Plaka

milos noul santorini mykonos

Locul in care te poti bucura de celebrele apusuri cicladice si de o plimbare printre frumoasele alei marginite de cladiri albe.

EN: The place where you can enjoy the famous Cycladic sunsets and a walk among the beautiful alleys bordered by white buildings.

O! Hamos!

sau restaurantul unde era tot timpul coada

EN: or the restaurant with a neverending queue

milos noul santorini mykonos

O! Hamos este cel mai cunoscut restaurant din Milos, cu un meniu ce consta in preparate traditionale realizate din ingrediente locale. Proprietarii detin o ferma de unde se aprovizioneaza pe tot parcursul anului. Restaurantul este celebru si pe Grecia continentala, grecii venind in weekend special pentru a lua masa aici. Meniul este scris de mana si peretii sunt decorati cu mesajele prietenilor sau ale celor care au trecut pragul restaurantului.

EN: O! Hamos is the best known restaurant in Milos, with a menu consisting of traditional dishes made from local ingredients. The owners have a farm from which they supply the kitchen throughout the year. The restaurant is also famous on mainland Greece, the Greeks coming during the weekends especially to dine here. The menu is handwritten and the walls are decorated with messages of friends and those who have passed by the restaurant.

milos noul santorini mykonos

Trypiti

sau locul in care poti dormi intr-o moara de vant si lua cina cu vedere la apus.

EN: or the place where you can sleep in a Windmill and have dinner overlooking the sunset.

Medusa

Restaurantul unde gasesti cea mai buna caracatita din Ciclade.

EN: The restaurant where you will find the best octopus in the Cyclades.

milos noul santorini mykonos

Milos Cove

Sau singurul Resort de pe insula construit pe un zacamant de obsidian.

EN: Or the only Resort on the island built on an Obsidian deposit.

milos noul santorini mykonos

Apus de soare la Utopia Cafe

EN: Sunset at Utopia Cafe

milos noul santorini mykonos

Locul in care te poti delecta cu cele mai frumoase apusuri de pe insula alaturi de un pahar de prosecco/vin/etc. Localul nu accepta rezervari, asa ca trebuie sa iti ocupi locul cu cel putin o ora inainte de apus.

EN: The place where you can enjoy the most beautiful sunsets on the island with a glass of prosecco / wine / etc. The Cafe does not take reservations so you must come in at least one hour before sunset.

Adamas

Locul cu cele mai frumoase si apreciate restaurante situate pe malul marii. Este portul principal al insulei si punctul de plecare pentru cele mai importante obiective turistice.

EN: The place with the most beautiful and popular restaurants located on the seafront. It is the main port of the island and the starting point for the most important tourist attractions.

milos noul santorini mykonos

Psaravolada

Restaurantul cu cea mai frumoasa priveliste si cele mai gustoase preparate de pe insula. Imi aminteste de peisajele de pe coasta Italiei.

EN: The restaurant with the most beautiful view and the tastiest dishes on the island. It reminds me of the landscapes on the coast of Italy.

milos noul santorini mykonos

Mic Dejun/Brunch la Kivotos ton Gefseon

EN: Breakfast/Brunch at Kivotos ton Gefseon

 

Aici am mancat cel mai bun mic dejun din Milos si am savurat cea mai buna cafea intr-o gradina traditionala. A fost unul dintre cele mai relaxante momente ale calatoriei, prilej cu care am incercat si unul dintre faimoasele deserturi grecesti, Galaktoboureko (foietaj cu crema de vanilie).

EN: Here we had the best breakfast in Milos and enjoyed the best coffee in a traditional garden. It was one of the most relaxing moments of the trip so I had to try one of the most famous Greek desserts, Galaktoboureko (pastry with vanilla cream).

Apus de soare la Papikinou

EN: Sunset at Papikinou

 

Sau cum sa admiri dintr-un hamac portul din Adamas invaluit in culorile apusului.

EN: Or how to sit in a hammock and admire the port of Adamas shrouded in the perfect sunset colors.

milos noul santorini mykonos

Achivadolimni

 

Cea mai buna vedere la caldera in jurul careia s-a format insula Milos. Plaja cu cel mai fin nisip de pe insula si locul in care poti privi avioanele care aterizeaza pe insula.

EN: The best view of the Caldera around which the island of Milos was formed. The beach with the finest sand on the island and the place where you can watch planes land on the island.

Apus de soare la ruinele Castelulului Venetian

EN: Sunset over the ruins of the Venetian Castle

 

Adica locul cu cea mai buna vedere panoramica a insulei.

Pont: opreste-te la biserica Panagia Thalassitra pentru a admira privelistea.

EN: Or the place with the best panoramic view of the island.

Tip: Stop by Panagia Thalassitra Church to admire the view.

Daca esti pasionat de design-ul si arhitectura cicladica

si vrei sa scapi de aglomeratia de pe Santorini si Mykonos.

EN: If you are passionate about cycladic design and architecture

and also want to escape the crowds on Santorini and Mykonos.


raven's nest

Raven's Nest

Raven’s Nest

“Childhood never disappears from us; it becomes a continuous spring from which all of life’s turns come forth.”

George Călinescu

Once upon a time there was an emperor. This powerful emperor had defeated and submitted everyone around his kingdom, and forced each emperor to send one of their sons to serve him for 10 years. At the other end of the world there was an emperor who had not been defeated until he turned old. When his turn to send a son came he did not know what to do in order to please the powerful emperor as he did not have a son, but three daughters.

So begins the story of one of the most cherished characters in the Romanian Folklore, Ileana Cosanzeana. Ileana is the original concept of feminine beauty said to use her power to heal or revive. She is a mythical character with supernatural powers and with symbolic features. In some tales “Ileana Cosânzeana” was the fairy of flowers, a fairy that puts the perfume into every flower, but she has the power to take it back; even the wind loves Ileana, but he can never catch her. She is the female correspondent to Fat Frumos – Prince Charming, usually his ideal female. According to folklore, she is kidnapped by a dragon (the Romanian term is Zmeu) and locked in a tower or taken to the Other Land, but she is always saved by Fat Frumos.

You can find depictions of these characters inside one of the accommodations belonging to Raven’s Nest, The Transylvanian Village. The Guesthouse comprises renovated buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries, a garden house and a traditional outdoor dining space. The story behind the name of the location is a no brainer. When deciding upon the location the owners saw some ravens flying around the area, so they called the place the Raven’s Nest.

If you want to immerse yourself in nature and disconnect this is the perfect place. Dive into the private forest, where you will find hammocks and hideouts, and an open-air cinema.

There are two large decks built on the cliffs, from where you can enjoy the panorama of the Apuseni mountains: “Turnul de Apus” (The Eye of the Raven) and “Cuibul Tainic” (The Lovebirds’ Hideout).

You can choose to spend your evenings at the campfire or watch the sunset from one of the decks or from the hot tub, located near the sauna, “Căldarea Vrajitoarei” (The Witch’s Cauldron).

Guests can enjoy authentic recipes together with a selection of Romanian wines or locally brewed beer at the on-site restaurant, The Dragon’s Tavern or the outside space called “Umbrarul Voinicului” (The Arbor of the Brave). The outside space also features an old stone oven and an on-site natural water spring.

Meals are prepared with local, fresh ingredients. For breakfast they offer a full buffet, while for lunch and dinner the menus are pre fixed. Lunch and dinner consist in a three-course meal and they can also include vegetarian or vegan options if you request it in advance. There is also an impressive list of cocktails, lemonades and several other plant based drinks. We were welcomed with a delicious cold drink based on locally prepared raspberry syrup which proved to be the perfect remedy to a hot summer day.

If you love hiking and other connected activities, you have a lot of options to explore. Some of the closest attractions are Vanatarele Ponorului Waterfall, Zalmoxe’s Cave, Dragon’s Gate and Cave, or Sipotele Waterfall. By car you can easily reach Rimetea, Coltesti Fortress, Valisoarei Gorges, The Temple of the Knights Castle, Mount Baisoara or Turda Gorges.

The Raven’s Nest is a good starting point to access the endless beauty and history of the Apuseni Mountains. The road that accompanies the Aries river is a scenic drive in all seasons. Several years ago there was also an old train – Mocanita, running along the road and crisscrossing it. This was my favourite route as a little girl, as I used to come here almost every year.

I am actually very fond of this area as my father was born here. Some of my favourite places are Scarisoara Cave, Pisoaia Waterfall, Mount Gaina, Avram Iancu Memorial House, Rosia Montana, Geamana, and the list can go on. There is some sort of time stopping beauty in every corner.

Take into consideration that Raven’s Nest welcomes you from May to October so you might want to book ahead. There are some house rules that will be communicated to you once you make the booking. You can find more info on their website: http://ravensnest.eu/accommodation

Inside one of the rooms

Common area of one of the living spaces


I have taken one of my favourite dresses on a holiday. You may have spotted the dress throughout the gallery. If not, here is a glimpse of its trip.


city break sofia

City Break Sofia

City Break Sofia

City Break Sofia

Would you believe me if I told you that Sofia has one of the most interesting cuisines in the South East of Europe? I would say that it’s a magical combination of Slavic, Greek and Turkish recipes. Banitsa, shopska salad, tarator soup, mekitsi, and the list goes on! Let me take you on a 4 days journey in the capital of Bulgaria where you will not only have the possibility to try the local food, but you will also find out some amazing facts about Sofia’s rich history, as it’s one of the oldest cities in Europe.

Day 1

Presuming that you arrive in the morning, you will need to grab a coffee and eat something. I know exactly the place where you need to go: Fabrika Daga, the best place in town for breakfast and brunch. They have a lot of interesting things in the menu but I recommend the “traditional Bulgarian breakfast”, mekitsa. It is usually served together with Bulgarian white cheese and jam.

 

You can also check the Romanian version of mekitsa made by my grandma here.

If you want to learn something about Sofia’s history without making your own research, join the Free Sofia guided tour. The tour takes place 3 times/day during April-October and twice a day in the rest of the year. The duration of the tour is approx. two hours, so you have enough time to cover the main attractions and get some local insights from the guides. You can find out more here: Free Sofia Tour. The tour starts in front of the Palace of Justice and ends near two of most famous churches in Sofia: Sveta Sofia and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. If you still have energy, you can visit both of them or postpone the visit for after lunch.

The church of Saint Sophia (God’s Wisdom) is one of the oldest in Sofia (built in the 6th century). Nowadays, the red bricks construction is very close to its original form. During the Middle Ages the church of Saint Sophia was the first thing that people would notice from far away and they would say: “Look, there it is! Sofia!” And this is how the city got its name.

Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was built in honor of the Russian Emperor Alexander the 2nd, also known as the Tsar – Liberator, whose army liberated Bulgaria of the five-century long Ottoman Dominion in 1878. You can read more here. The Alexander Nevsky Square is also a popular fair and flea market hub during the weekend. We’ve witnessed a cool meeting of the car enthusiasts. So keep a close eye on the weekly events.

After the long walk you need to have something to eat (lunch or dinner, depending on the hour). You have two options: Lavanda or The Little Things. Both of the locations function in old houses. Also similar is the fact that they share the space with other locations. Lavanda shares it with One More Bar, which is considered one of the best cocktail bars in town, while The Little Things shares the garden with Mamma Mia restaurant.

Like many restaurants in Sofia, The Little Things has a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, that makes you feel like you are having lunch/dinner in your friend’s house. Each room has a different theme that comes along perfectly. The small garden is equally charming, especially when the wisteria that covers the house is in full blossom. The Little things is opposite St. Sedmochislenitsi church, a hidden gem is Sofia situated in a beautiful park. The church was created in 1902 on base of an abandoned Ottoman mosque. Before the mosque, at the same place existed a nunnery of the Rila Monastery and an Early Christian temple from the 4th-5th century. You can visit it if you still have time.

Lavanda also has thematic rooms, even one that transforms into a cinema so that you can watch a movie with your friends while enjoying a glass of Bulgarian wine. The menu changes according to the seasonal ingredients. I recommend the tarator soup for starter and the lime cheesecake for dessert. Book a table on the balcony if you want to enjoy a romantic atmosphere that will remind you of old Vienna or Paris.

Day 2

Now that we are familiar with mekitsa we just can’t get enough of it so we head to Mekitsa & Coffee to have breakfast and find out in how many ways one can serve the traditional dish (jams, chocolate and nuts, ice cream, caramel and fruits, honey and walnuts, ham and even peanut butter or avocado). For those of you who like to eat healthy food – there are mekitsas with wholemeal flour with no added eggs and milk. You can also order buhti, smaller versions of mekitsa. If you’re there early you can sit at the long table near the window and watch people passing by.

City Break Sofia

If you’re craving for more coffee, head to Chucky’s Coffee House for one of the best coffees in Sofia. Now we are ready to dive into history by visiting two of the most representative museums: National Archaeological Museum and the Regional History Museum.

The National Archaeological Museum is situated in the centre of Sofia in a building that was once the largest and oldest Ottoman mosque in the city, completed in 1494. The museum stores a large number of items, divided in four sections: Prehistory Hall, Treasury, Main Hall and Medieval Section; some of them are threatened by damage due to the design of the building, which is characterised by high moisture levels during the summer season so hurry up before it’s not too late.

Next to the Museum you will see the Presidency building, where you might witness the changing of the guard. Step into the courtyard between the Presidency building and the Sheraton Hotel to see the Saint George Rotunda, which is considered the oldest preserved building in Sofia. The Rotunda is a part of a large complex of ancient buildings from the late 3rd and early 4th century. You can read more about its amazing history here.

Now we are really hungry so we go to Shtastlivetsa Vitosha Boulevard for a Bulgarian lunch:

City Break Sofia

or to Pastorant, the best Italian restaurant in Sofia (according to me):

If your energy level is good, then we are heading to the second museum on our list, the Sofia History Museum. The Museum is located in The Central Mineral Baths building, a landmark for the city known for the mineral springs in the area. It was built in the early 20th century near the former Turkish bath (then destroyed) and was used as the city’s public baths until 1986. My favourite part of the exhibition was the Royal Carriage.

Head back to the hotel to relax and get ready for dinner. You will need to make a reservation as both restaurants are popular with tourists. Ashurbanipal or L’etranger? The restaurants are very different but the food is sooo delicious.

Ashurbanipal looks like it’s closed from the outside and when you enter you might ask yourself if you are in the right place. The owner is also the chef and the waiter. You won’t have any menus, he will let you know what dishes are available but rest assured that there will also be vegetarian and vegan options. The salad and bread are complimentary and everything we tasted was delicious!

City Break Sofia

L’etranger is the typical French restaurant, fancy and romantic. If you are not the adventurer type, then the safe option is L’etranger. I loved the cosy atmosphere and the design of the location. The desserts here are some of the best in town, heads up for the lavender cheesecake and brandy flambated strawberries. Yum!

City Break Sofia

Day 3

This will be a long day as we are going to discover Serdica, a Thracian settlement that developed into modern Sofia. Breakfast calling! Our destination today is Hlebar, located in one of the nicest neighbourhoods, Oborishte. Before we get there, let’s have a walk on Oborishte street, one of the most pleasant streets in central Sofia, flanked by the large neo-classical residences of various foreign missions.

Hlebar has the best banitsa in town (a traditional Bulgarian pastry derived from an Anatolian recipe). You can also choose something else from their daily menu as they also serve omelettes, soups or salads made from fresh local products. Their bread is delicious, as in many other places in Sofia. You can try to combine the banitsa with boza, a malt drink made from maize (corn) and wheat or millet. The fermented beverage is popular in many countries from the Balkan Peninsula and the Caucasian region.

City Break Sofia

Close to Hlebar is one of the nicest parks in Sofia, Doctor’s Garden. We can have a walk in the park before stopping at the beautiful flower-shop nearby.

Don’t forget about the best specialty coffee shop in town: Dabov. They provide roasted coffee to a number of coffee places in Sofia (the list is short as the trend is just starting to become popular in Bulgaria) and if you head to their shop you can also drink perfectly brewed coffee on the spot (no snacks though).

Next destination: Serdica. Short historical summary (thanks Wiki): Serdica was possessed by Philip of Macedon and his son Alexander the Great and later by the roman emperors Trajan and Diocletian. Constantine the Great called the city “my Rome” and was seriously thinking of moving the imperial capital to Serdica but Byzantium (Istanbul) subsequently won. During the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I the city was surrounded with great fortress walls whose remnants can still be seen today.

 

The starting point for Ancient Serdica is the Nezavisimost (Independence) Square, which is surrounded by the Largo, an architectural ensemble of three Socialist Classicism edifices in central Sofia: the former Party House in the centre, and two side edifices. The Largo also once featured a statue of Vladimir Lenin, which was later removed and replaced by the one of St. Sophia in 2000.

City Break Sofia

A few years ago, a glass lid on the floor emerged in the centre of the Independence square, so that the ruins of the ancient Thracian and Roman city of Serdica could be exposed in an impressive way.

The two underpasses, the one in front of the former Party House and the one with the medieval Church of St Petka, contain the traces of the fortified walls of ancient Serdica and an original roman street. The paved main streets were leading to the city forum, which was situated under the present square Sveta Nedelya. Luxurious villas with sewerage, water-mains and paved streets were located in the region of Serdica subway station.

While you’re there, you can also visit the Square of Tolerance called after the four churches within few minutes walk of each other: a mosque, a catholic cathedral, an orthodox church and a synagogue. The temples of the 4 major religions in this part of the world are all functioning in the same square.

For lunch we have two options: Made in Blue or Soul Kitchen. Made in Blue is one of the most “instagrammable” places in Sofia which makes it a very popular place. You will need to book a table in advance if you don’t want to miss it out. If you book a table in the garden, don’t forget to also check the house before you leave. The menu contains an interesting worldwide selection.

Soul Kitchen is a great place for vegetarians and vegans. Everything is prepared and served with great care for details. It also has one of the nicest gardens in Sofia!

City Break Sofia

If you’re still up for walking you should head to Arena Di Serdica Hotel to see the remains of the Amphitheatre of Serdica. The Amphitheatre of Serdica hosted fights between gladiators and beasts and was considered the biggest in the eastern part of the Roman Empire and Bulgaria. You can read more here.

For a fancy night out you can choose between Sense Rooftop Bar and Jasmine Gastro Bar. The terrace at Sense Rooftop Bar offers you a 180-degree view on Sofia and some of its most emblematic buildings. The restaurant is on top of one of the most expensive hotels in Sofia, Sense, and it certainly lives up to its reputation.

Jasmine’s summer garden is perfect for a quiet dinner and the interior is equally inviting. The fact that it’s located on Rakovski Street, one of the main party streets in Sofia, makes Jasmine look like an oasis in the middle of the desert/noisy street. Their cocktail selection is amazing.

The night is young so you can sip a cocktail at Sputnik Bar, situated next to one of the best Bulgarian restaurants Rakia Raketa Bar. Their cocktail menu contains their own recipes but they also do “classics”.

Day 4

We cannot be productive on an empty stomach so we are going to have breakfast at Daro, a cosy place in the centre of Sofia where the Chef is one of the winners of Masterchef Bulgaria. It is also a good place for a quick brunch.

On our way to the most famous pedestrian street in Sofia we stop at Drekka for a matcha latte/coffee.

Vitosha Boulevard is the perfect place to relax on a Sunday afternoon while walking, listening to live music, admiring the Vitosha mountain (click here for Vitosha Mountain guide), watching people and why not, shopping?

If you feel like eating something sweet, there is a really nice place nearby where you can find the best sweets in town. It’s called Vila Rosiche, a beautiful house with a green garden in the middle of the town. You can also enjoy a cup of tea next to your cake and if you feel like you ate too much, you can take a walk in the National Palace of Culture Park nearby.

For lunch we have two options: the best burger place in town, Skaptobara, or the farm to table restaurant, Bagri. If you choose Skaptobara don’t forget to order the cheesy potatoes. They are delicious! Both locations offer a wide selection of Bulgarian craft beers + wines.

At Bagri, like in many places in Sofia, the menu is seasonal and changes accordingly. They have a sustainable approach as they want to offer the best taste by using healthy cooking techniques and supporting local, organic producers.

Last walk of the day will be towards the Ivan Vazov National Theatre and the beautiful City Garden, where many locals like to hang out. Ivan Vazov was a great personality of Bulgaria, often called the Patriarch of the Bulgarian Literature. You cannot miss the imposing Sofia Balkan Hotel, situated next to the park.

If you want to find out more about his life and legacy you can visit the Ivan Vazov House Museum that can be found in the vicinity of the theatre.

Now we need to get ready for dinner, as we have a reservation at Made in Home or Aubergine (it’s up to you, again). Made in Home is the elder brother of Made in Blue so you will enjoy it as much, if not even more. This might be the perfect place to relax on a Sunday evening and forget about all the worries in the world.

Aubergine offers an impressive selection of interesting dishes paired with local craft beer. As you might think, the main ingredient in their kitchen is the eggplant. The relaxed atmosphere sets the mood for a perfect romantic dinner.

Honorable mentions: Cosmos, Zoya & Sun Moon (Healthy Food), Moma Bulgarian Food & Wine

Bulgarian Street Art

Walks and Parks: Sofia’s main attractions are located in the city centre so everywhere you want to go you can arrive by foot. While walking around you can stop in the many small parks and admire the surroundings.

 

I hope that you have enjoyed my selection.

 

Later!


traditional romanian flat donuts

Turtișoare - Traditional Romanian Flat Donuts & More

Traditional Romanian Flat Donuts

While I was discovering the city of Sofia and the Bulgarian cuisine, I was surprised to find out that one of my childhood favourite breakfast was considered a local treat. Its name is “mekitsa” and according to Wikipedia, it’s a “traditional Bulgarian dish made of kneaded dough made with yogurt that is deep fried. In Serbia they are called mekike. They are similar to Hungarian lángos and British Yorkshire pudding.”

All this time I thought that this was a Romanian breakfast, typical for the region where my grandma was born and raised. But the fact that the border with Bulgaria is only 50 km away makes me believe that the recipe might have been spread along the Danube by our ancestors. Maybe that is why it is similar in Bulgaria, Serbia and the Romanian Plain.

The small difference in the recipe is that my Grandmother does not use yoghurt, but milk, yeast and bread soda, and when she wants to make them extra fluffy she dips them in pork fat. I have a lot of beautiful childhood memories related to this morning treat so I could not leave things as they were after I read online that it’s a Bulgarian recipe. I said to myself that when I come back, I will ask my Grandma to cook them for us and I will share the event online. So I did, but as they were feasting she used the “light” recipe which includes yeast, flour, water and salt, and dipped them in sunflower oil. They were equally tasty as she uses flour and sunflower oil from their yearly production. My favourite thing when I was a little girl was to have one as soon as my Grandma got it out of the pan and eat it before everyone had the chance to taste them. In my opinion, that was the tastiest donut from the bunch! Later, we would all sit around the table and serve them with cheese. When they were cold, I loved adding plum marmalade on top.

We were a little bit late so I did not catch on camera the moment when the ingredients were added and the dough was created, but my Grandma promised to use the classic recipe the next time (eggs, milk and all) and we’ll have an end to end Romanian flat donut guide directly from her. We’ll see if there will be any difference in shape and colour comparing them to these ones.

Our family brunch could not be complete without dessert so we went into the garden and picked sweet and sour cherries, strawberries, raspberries, apricots,  and cherry plums. My Grandma does not have any idea of what a brunch is but I am sure that she was happy to have us there and share the goodies with us.

traditional romanian flat donuts


Good things are happening in Oradea - Restaurants and Cafes

RESTAURANTS & CAFES

Note: Check the attached link for further information regarding the mentioned sights and places to visit.

 

Go directly to Sightseeing: Link

The upper street coffeeshop: Ristretto

Well positioned on the main pedestrian street in the old town, Ristretto has one of the best coffees in town. As a bonus, the products that we ordered looked exactly like the pictures from the menu.


The river restaurant: Rivo

This restaurant deserves its place in the top 5, although it was not our favourite based on what we tasted and where we had the chance to go. I would love to visit it during the summer, as the outside terrace looked really nice, and I had one of the best Gin Cocktails I ever tried. It is perfect for a romantic dinner or a family reunion.


The winner restaurant: MEATic

MEATic was definitely our favourite restaurant. We went there twice, ordered something different (except the dessert, dreamy cheese dumplings!) and enjoyed it equally much. Our dream of finding reinvented Romanian recipes that could make us fall in love again with our local cuisine came true.


The friendly coffeeshop: The Spot

If you want to relax after admiring the beautiful buildings surrounding Unirii Square and maybe visiting the City Hall Tower, you should pay a visit to this coffee shop and its friendly personnel. Besides good coffee, The Spot also serves yummy raw-vegan desserts made by Sweet Magnolia. I also tried a delicious Masala Chai.


The wine bistro: Rewine

Although the establishment is recommended for serving wine, we went there for breakfast and coffee, and we were not disappointed. We would have wanted to come back for a glass of wine and some pinchos, but the time spent in Oradea was too short.


The brunch restaurant: Baraw

They say that you should save the best for last, and apparently we did so with our last breakfast in Oradea. One delicious granola for me and maybe one omelette croissant for you. They also serve a large variety of burgers, the perfect option for a nourishing brunch.


The cool coffeeshop: Snoozz

Situated next to the Traian Park, Snoozz has the same atmosphere as our favourite coffeeshops in Bucharest. You can also enjoy a yummy bagel next to your choice of coffee. We can not wait to go back when we return to Oradea!


The fancy restaurant: Spoon

Spoon reminded me of the fancy places surrounding Herastrau Lake in Bucharest. If you want to relax with your friends in the weekend, this is the place to go.


N.B.: Reliva restaurant seems like a nice option for a romantic dinner. We wanted to make a reservation for Sunday but it was going to be closed so we did not have the chance to taste the menu.

Restaurants worth trying, although not tested: Allegria, Via29, The Hub, Rosecas.

Coffee to go: Street Coffee Roasters

Future coffee place: The Dripper

Go directly to Sightseeing: Link


happening in Oradea

Good things are happening in Oradea

happening in Oradea

Good things are happening in Oradea. What makes them this way are the people. You don’t get the chance to meet positive, optimistic, enthusiastic people that often. At least not in Bucharest. I enjoyed my time in Oradea, but what I liked most was meeting its residents. I’ve felt like I was visiting an old friend to whom I had not spoken in a while, but who still treated me like we met last week. If you want to rebuild your trust in people, I recommend a city break in Oradea.

Good coffee and good food. When you have the both of them, what more could you ask for from a cool getaway? Well, a handful of interesting sights and some fancy art nouveau architecture. Oradea has them all.

Hop on and check them out:

Go directly to Restaurants and Cafes: Link

Go directly to Sightseeing: Link

 

Note: Check the attached link for further information regarding the mentioned sights and places to visit.

Recently it has become a lot easier to visit Oradea. The airport suffered some changes and there are quite a few direct flights to the city. I’ve bought my ticket from TAROM for only 40€ during the Black Friday offers, but there are flights also available from Blue Air and Ryanair.

happening in Oradea

happening in Oradea

Go directly to Restaurants and Cafes: Link

Go directly to Sightseeing: Link

 

Note: Check the attached link for further information regarding the mentioned sights and places to visit.

happening in Oradea