​The capital has several newly opened restaurants worth visiting, Christmas markets, concerts and other events. You can even make your own set of glasses for Andrii in the workshop at the Glazier’s Yard.

This year, Romanians will take advantage of the so-called mini-holiday, designed around the National Day of Romania. Thus, those with a Romanian soul will be able to enjoy a double weekend, starting on November 30 and ending on December 4.

Of course, we’re expected to see the hellish traffic jams on DN1 and Valea Prahova on TV, but maybe not every Bucharest resident planned to spend half of their mini-holiday on December 1st going from bar to bar between Comarnic and Especial.

For those staying in the city, there is a very generous supply of things to do right here. First of all, let’s just say that there are many places that serve the famous string beans on December 1st. Last year I compiled a list in this sense, and it is unlikely that the restaurants there will not repeat the figure this year.

At the same time, we also solved the mystery of this rather atypical dish for the people of the predominantly Christian-Orthodox faith, who are currently in the midst of the Christmas fast. But from the last day of this fall, there are other things to do in the city.

Try a new restaurant in town

Mano Bocca, Bucharest. PHOTO: Mano Bocca/ Facebook

Several restaurants have opened in Bucharest in recent months, and it seems to be a trend for new entrepreneurs to bet on gourmet sandwiches. This is the business of those with World of Sandwiches or WOS (17 Piața Amzei Street)three people passionate about good food and travel who created this concept: to offer the Bucharest public the famous sandwiches in refined versions.

Those who have already crossed the threshold were delighted, so you can make it one of the days of your mini-vacation to try the Ibiza Bocata, Scottish Salmon Sandwich or Bulgarov.

Mano+Bocca Panini Bar (Banul Antonache 51) it caught on quickly, even though it’s only been open for two months. It bills itself as a simple panini bar, but in addition to delicious sandwiches, it also has a generous selection of wines, great appetizers, specialty coffees, and cocktails.

The place is a star in itself because it’s Instagrammed a lot – there are 150,000 ears of wheat attached to the ceiling – but it’s also advertised by a lot of stars, and it’s possible to bump into one if you happen to be there on any of these days.

It’s also a panini bar Frescoloco (Lipscani 3)which opened recently, not far from Cișmigiu and a stone’s throw from Origo Cafe.

Here you can find sandwiches made with focaccia and sciacci from Casa del Pan and Grano, and you don’t have to take them to go eat them on a bench in Cișmigiu, hoping to see the birds of prey that celebrate their birthday here. .

You can enjoy a delicious sandwich at one of the tables, as well as order a glass of prosecco or a cocktail.

Piua biscuit bar it’s also located on Piața Amzei (at number 13) and is a newly opened place that focuses on more than just cookies, contrary to appearances. It’s also the perfect new spot for a hearty breakfast, but it’s also the place to party after dark, when the Biscoteque concept kicks in.

That means cookies mixed with cocktails and live music from a variety of DJs. This is a really cool place that will undoubtedly quickly gather a community and loyal customers around it.

For those who like to wander the streets of Cotrocen, there is now a new dedicated cafe where they can stop to recharge their batteries and warm up a bit. It is about at Cotro Specialty Coffee (Ana Davila 2) and it deserves to be added to the list of cool places in this wonderful area.

The coffee here comes from Mabo, where it is roasted by Bohdan Georgescu, our National Champion and 2019 World Coffee Roasting Vice-Champion. In addition to coffee, you can also find prosecco and goodies from Bakeria Panduri, an artisanal bakery in the area that does a lot of good.

Christmas markets should be visited in advance, without too many people

West Side Christmas Market, file image. PHOTO: Mayor of Sector 6/ Facebook

Considering that many people will leave Bucharest during these five days, this is the perfect time to see what is happening with the Christmas market in Constitution Square and Drumul Taberei Park.

The first, Bucharest Christmas Market 2022, organized by the capital city hall, has more than 70 wooden houses where visitors can choose gifts typical of the winter holidays, toys, handicrafts, traditional souvenirs and food.

Children also have areas dedicated to activities and interactive games throughout the fair, while Santa’s House promises to create a fairytale atmosphere where they can be met by elves, talk to Santa and have their photo taken.

There is also a large Christmas tree, an ice rink more than 30 meters long and 20 meters wide, a carousel and a panoramic wheel almost 40 meters high.

In addition, there are also 16 food trucks providing the food portion, as well as an area dedicated to royal sports fans, where they can watch the World Cup broadcast from November 20 to December 18. in Qatar

The most anticipated Christmas market in Bucharest is undoubtedly the “West Side Christmas Market”, organized by UNTOLD in Drumul Taberei Park.

Its official opening took place on November 25. In addition to traditional Christmas events, the organizers will support the festive mood with other unique moments, for example, a special box where participants can leave their letter for Santa Claus, and on Christmas Eve, a draw will be held to determine the winner. made a wish

Romania’s largest decorative curtain of lights over 100 m long, suspended at a height of up to 50 m, will also be installed here – it will cover the suspension bridge in Drumul Taberei Park. For this, the organizers hired an international company that manages such facilities in Asia, Northern Europe and the USA. On Thursday, November 30 and Friday, December 1, the park will be open from 12:00 to 23:00. Access is free.

Bucharest, packed with events during the mini-holiday on December 1

PHOTO: Mădălina Pavăl/ Facebook

On November 30, Random Space holds a kind of New Year’s Eve in advance, because for them this date symbolizes the end of the year, a break until spring. So they have a party with Sana Emergentum and VRTW (Ufe and Bully).

Also on St. Andrew’s Day you can also go to the Glazier’s Yard to make your own set of glasses. This is a two-day workshop, from which everyone will leave with a set of six glasses, made by hand in different techniques.

On the first day, you will be told about design and utility and how to translate an idea into a visual language. On the second day, we move from theory to practice, and using the techniques learned, you will make your own set of glasses. It costs 400 lei, but who can say that he owns a set of glasses made by himself?

As for concerts in Bucharest, there are at least three on November 30 that deserve all the attention. For the nostalgic, there’s 3 Sud Est at the Hard Rock Cafe. The concert starts at 21:00, the ticket price is 129 lei.

Smiley also performs at Berăria H, from 9:30 p.m., and tickets cost between 79 and 179 lei.

In addition, the Control club has the wonderful Mădălina Pavăl:

“I am Mădălina Pavăl and I sing secular music. To me, it sounds both classical and traditional, a “yes and yes” style. I have old words, I put them in new lines to circulate among you. Together with ten friends, talented musicians, we vibrate live and acoustically, shoot and dance, run in the mountains or walk,” the artist describes her concert. Tickets cost 70 lei, access time – 20:00.

On December 1, you have byron 16 in Expirat (90 lei), that is, the band’s 16th anniversary.

But you already have a traditional Subcarpathian concert at the Roman Arena (109 – 179 lei).

If you’re in the mood for a party, then you can head to HARE for Dancing Tea on Românește with Adriana Grande and Eugen Radescu. It all starts early, with a menu of Romanian cuisine, and we dance and party late into the night, with mulled wine, mulled wine and tea with rum.

On December 2, you can have fun like in Berlin at the Wolff Platform with representatives of DJs MATTHIAS (Germany), ANGEL, PAUL POPA. Entrance is only 30 lei.

And on December 3 you have another party with Bogman and Romansoff at Platforma Wolff. On the same day, Canadian artist Tess Parks performs at Club Control.

• Read also: The big secret of beans, the food of Romanians on National Day: “In a Christian and predominantly religious country, the traditional food of this day would not contain meat, fish, eggs or dairy products”