Food I Loved in Sibiu

In the heart of Transylvania lies the town of Sibiu – the place where I was born and spent the first 18 years of my life. It’s a fairly mid-sized town for Eastern European standards, but to me and everyone visiting it (especially for the Christmas market or its many festivals) it’s like a piece from a fairytale. Eventually I´ll do a guide to Sibiu, but for now I´ll leave you with a collection of my favourite restaurants and bars in this magical city where houses have eyes.

BREAKFAST/BRUNCH

Perhaps the best recent discovery in the last year when it comes to restaurants in Sibiu is Oua si Unt. Founded by Bucharest born couple Alexandra and Octavian, Oua si Unt is the spot where you’ll probably eat the best poached eggs with hash browns of your life. Alexandra will cook these in the back kitchen, while Octavian will master you a mimosa to go with the eggs. For dessert, I’d recommend the cornflour cake. There’s a lot that I love about this place beyond the people and the impeccable food – the cozy interior, the fact that its location is almost tucked away instead of the madness of the downtown, and selfishly so the fact that they’re not as well know to be swamped all the time. Which takes me to my second recommendation for brunch – a bit of the opposite of Oua si Unt. Lumos is extremely popular as it was the first place that served proper brunch food in Sibiu. Their food is quite good, they have a nice terrace overlooking my old school, and you’re guaranteed to step into someone familiar while you’re eating your Turkish eggs. That being said, it’s a safe bet, and a great place to have some good food.

LUNCH / DINNER

Come lunch time, I suggest you make your way to the “upper city” and pop by Jules Bistro. Tucked away in the courtyard of one of the many pretty houses of the Mitropoliei street, Jules Bistro is amongst my favourites also because of its hidden location that makes it a calm spot to sit in the sun and enjoy a tasty salad – my personal favourite being the tomato and cheese one. Another great alternative, albeit busier as it’s in the heart of the small square is Kulinarium. Sit at one of their checkered tables overlooking the tower and the liars´ bridge, and get yourself a nice dish of pasta or a chicken breast with sour cream and a glass of wine. This is also a great spot to have dinner and will serve you equally well for a romantic night out, or for a big dinner with friends. My favourite dinner spot though, is Max. An institution in Sibiu, being on the scene for as long as I remember, Max serves some of the best food I’ve had eating out in Sibiu. From pasta, to meat, they do everything with excellence in mind, so be sure to check them out! And a final alternative for dinner, this time more intimate, is the Weinkeller, hidden away on the stairs towards the lower city. With a great wine selection, and a limited food menu, this place is particularly nice on a starry night as it has a lovely little courtyard with lights hanging above and a wooden church tower that you can only see from there looming above it.

DRINKS / DESSERT

To continue with the topic of wine, I recommend going down the aforementioned stairs and make your way to Wine Not? for a wine tasting that will cost you an average of 12€ and leave you wanting for much more. They have several tastings to choose from, or you can just order a glass or bottle, and sit either inside or outside, watching life unfold in the square next to it, where old men will chat about their days before finding their way home. If you’re in the mood for something slightly more complex, like a nice gin cocktail, you can reach Flow in about two minutes (told you it was a small town!) where you can enjoy not just said cocktail, but also some fantastic music. And if you´re still feeling peckish and want to raise your blood sugar a bit, you can make your way to Creme de la Creme, where you can find the best ice cream in the city as well as some world class choux and other pastries.

And with this, I hope to have provided some inspiration for where you can eat next time you’re in Sibiu! If you have any additional questions about the city I call home, just let me know in the comments, and know that I am just a DM away on @choiceofmagic