Eating in Bucharest: Food Tours, Obor Market and Romanian Wine Tastings Compared
4 min read
For a full meal’s worth of Romanian food, book the Bucharest Food Tour: Market Tastings and Hidden Corners; for a short walk with snacks you pay for as you go, take the Local Food and History Tour. The first costs €85 per person for 5 hours (4.8 stars from 429 reviews); the second €30 for 3 hours (4.9 stars from 51 reviews).
The market tour: Obor and the Armenian Quarter
The tour starts near the National Theatre, goes through the Armenian Quarter, rides a tram and stops at Obor Market, which the listing calls the largest traditional market in the capital; the tour finishes at Piața Unirii. The tastings named on the page: a welcome shot of țuică (plum brandy) and a peasant platter with local cheeses, vegetables, dips, cured meats and bread, regional cheeses and produce at the market, two mici (grilled sausages served with bread and mustard), a Wallachian doughnut and two beers or soft drinks. The page says all tastings are included and that together they make up a full meal. Groups are capped at 12; children under 6 are not allowed. The operator can cater for vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets and most allergies if you tell them at least 24 hours ahead.
The central walk: food paid for as you go
The second tour starts at Strada Biserica Amzei 12 and ends in the Old Town. It mixes stops at bakeries and cafés with Revolution Square and Calea Victoriei. The page states that food is not included, that you buy what you like, and recommends budgeting about 75–100 RON (€15–20) per person for it, payable by cash or card. Several stops on the itinerary are marked with an extra fee. Children under 12 are listed as not suitable, as are vegans and people with gluten intolerance, and the page warns that vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free choices may be limited. Expect 3 to 3.5 hours, according to the page.
Wine tastings
Two Romanian wine tastings are on offer. Both pour five wines (two whites, one rosé, two reds), both exclude under-18s and pregnant women, and both are wheelchair accessible according to their pages.
| Tasting | From, per person | Stars | Reviews | Length | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romanian Wine Tasting at Corks | €28.07 | 4.6 | 153 | 1.5 hours | Strada Băcani 1 |
| Private Wine Tasting | €46.60 | 5.0 | 49 | 2 hours | Abel’s Wine Bar, Strada Nicolae Tonitza 10 |
The Corks listing promises snacks to go with the wines and expert explanations of each one, and mentions Busuioacă de Bohotin, a rosé variety. The private tasting is in the Old Town and comes with water and a mixed plate of cheese and cold cuts (cheese only for vegetarians); the page describes it as a private group.
Which one
First visit, hungry, and time for an afternoon: the market tour. Short on time and happy to pick your own snacks: the central walk. Wine, not food: Corks if you want 1.5 hours, Abel’s for two. See all food and wine tours; after a food walk, the Old Town walking guide covers the streets you passed.
