A Guide to Lively and Affordable Nightlife in Bucharest, Romania

If you’re up for late-night fun, Bucharest gives great nightlife bang for your euros. Throwing off the shackles of its Communist past with gusto, the city is today renowned for its beer gardens and panoramic sky bars, and there’s a jumping Bucharest clubbing and live-music scene as well. With a hip blend of youthful energy and Eastern European charm, nightlife in Bucharest, Romania, fizzes with energy seven days a week. Entry to clubs and drink prices are generally cheaper than other after-dark magnets like Prague or Warsaw, and compared to Berlin, Paris and Amsterdam, eating out and using public transport is better priced too.

You’ll likely do your partying in two districts of the city. Bucharest’s cobbled Old Town of Lipscani morphed into party-central in the late noughties, offering everything you could want for a carefree, fun-filled evening out. It’s easily navigable on foot from central Bucharest hotels like the stylish Novotel Bucharest City Centre, and the scene will keep you going until the wee hours. For swish summer nights dancing at lakeside nightspots, discover the sophisticated ambience of exclusive clubs in Herăstrău Park, a northern suburb convenient for stays at the refined Pullman Bucharest World Trade Center. Here are our eight favourite venues for making the most of the nightlife in Bucharest, Romania.

Bucharest’s cocktail lounges blend artistry with a touch of indulgence. Here are two of the city’s most coveted spots to sip, savour and start your evening in style.

Set in industrial-chic, cement-clad surrounds, the remit of this achingly cool Lipscani, Bucharest bar is to create drinks using local ingredients. Devised in-house by inspired mixologists, the cocktails set new highs for ingenuity: try a Pollen Bellini (local bee pollen liqueur, Romanian-sourced peaches, sparkling wine and thyme) or go for the Sunflower Seed Cocktail (sunflower seed-infused gin, apple and lemon juice, maraschino and meringue). Romanian wines and craft beers are also served, along with snacks like homemade bread and spicy nuts to soak up the alcohol.

• Strada Ion Brezoianu 23-25
• Open Wed-Sat 6pm-midnight
• Metro line 2 to Universitate

A time-honoured bastion of Bucharest nightlife set in a former exhibition hall in Herăstrău Park, Interbelic is at its best early(ish) in the evening, when it’s full of cheery punters throwing back happy-hour cocktails at the glitzy, neon-lit bar. Top sellers include the classic Aperol Spritz with prosecco or the Kamikaze (vodka, orange liqueur and lemon juice), and unusually there’s a decent list of mocktails too. You can hang around to join in the dancing to retro pop after 11pm, but we suggest you move on to one of the city’s stunning rooftop bars.

• Calea Victoriei 17
• Open Thur 8pm-2am; Fri-Sat 7pm-5am
• Metro line 2 to Universitate

Elevated high above the city, Bucharest’s rooftop bars offer an atmosphere that shifts effortlessly from chic dining to vibrant nightlife – perfect for cocktails, music and unforgettable evenings.

With spectacular panoramas over Lipscani to the austere Palace of the Parliament, Linea is a polished and iconic sky bar with an easygoing vibe. Sit in the open air on the rooftop decking, or perch inside amid the twinkling, lunar-themed décor. Toast the evening with signature Sangria cocktails made from Romanian sparkling wine, or dine on seasonal pasta dishes from the tasty Mediterranean-inspired menu. As the evening progresses, resident DJs play anything from upbeat funk to electro-pop, and you might catch jazz, rock or country gigs too.

• Strada Lipscani 17
• Open Mon-Thur 5pm-midnight; Fri 5pm until late; Sat noon until late; Sun noon-midnight
• Metro line 2 to Universitate

With its mantra “Eat, drink, dance”, Lipscani’s Nomad is a one-stop destination for nightlife in Bucharest, Romania. All bare brick walls swathed in greenery and hung with a myriad of glass lanterns, the ornate bar holds centre stage, doing a roaring trade in tangy margaritas and Romanian wines. As befits the venue’s name, you can expect a menu of tasty global dishes including platters of mussels, souvlaki kebabs and schnitzels. The glass roof retracts in warm weather, so you can boogie under the stars, and there’s a leafy rooftop courtyard as well.

• Strada Smârdan 30, 2nd floor
• Open Mon-Thur, Sun 4pm-2am; Fri-Sat 4pm-4am
• Metro lines 1, 2 & 5 to Piața Unirii 1

For a taste of tradition with a side of spectacle, Bucharest’s classic beer halls serve up hearty Romanian fare with music and dance. Check out these spots for an evening that celebrates the city’s cultural soul.

Showcasing all things Romanian, Caru’ cu Bere is a Bucharest institution set in a Neo-Gothic brewery that first opened its doors in 1879. It’s a Lipscani bucket-list attraction in its own right for the exquisite interior awash with ornately carved wood panelling, stained-glass windows and patterned tile floors. Grab a pint of beer brewed to a historic recipe, or order robust dishes like pork knuckle and carp with polenta for an authentic taste of traditional regional cuisine. You can also join in the lively folk dance performances, or sit back and enjoy classical tunes from the string quartet.

• Strada Stavropoleos 5
• Open daily 10am-midnight
• Metro lines 1, 2 & 5 to Piața Unirii 1

Experience live entertainment on a monumental scale at Berăria H, a great barn of a place overlooking the lake in Herăstrău Park. The roster of events is a mixed bag of folk songs from the likes of actor/singer Ovidiu Niculescu and traditional gypsy music from Taraf de Caliu or Clejani; in summer the action moves outside to the waterside terrace. Locally brewed artisan beers and all-Romanian wines feature on the drinks list, and you’ll certainly never starve – regional specialties range from hearty slow-cooked duck to suckling pig with sides of white cabbage salad.

• King Michael I Park, Şoseaua Pavel D. Kiseleff 32
• Open Sun-Wed noon-1am; Thur-Sat noon-3am
• Metro line 2 to Aviatorilor

Night owls, look no further. These iconic venues define the city’s after-dark spirit, with extravagant evenings of shows, music and energy that stretch until dawn.

A relatively new addition to nightlife in the high-end, northern area of Bucharest, Face has something of the Parisian cabaret about it. Wildly glamorous and equally wildly popular, this mega-club is famous for its extravagant, colourful late-night floorshows starring sequinned showgirls, burlesque dancers and trapeze artists. You’ll need to dress up to get past the gatekeepers on the door, but once inside, everything screams luxury and decadence – from the metallic bar to the sleek banquette seating, the swish (and pricey) service to the Champagne parades. 

• 3-5 Piata Presei Libere
• Open Fri-Sat 10pm-5am

As down-to-earth (and slightly edgy) as Face is exotic, Lipscani’s Control Club has almost mythical status on the Bucharest live-music scene. With nearly two decades of supporting emerging local talent as well as introducing bands from across the world, this subterranean venue has several sound stages, where you can hear anything from politically minded punk bands to international DJs. If you’re after a breather, head for the gorgeous terrace bar festooned with greenery, where you can get half-price drinks on weekday evenings.

• Strada Constantin Mille 4
• Open daily noon-5am
• Metro line 2 to Universitate

1. The nightlife in Bucharest, Romania is dressy, so leave the shorts and flip-flops back at your hotel.
2. If you’re unsure of where to start your evening, take a guided bar crawl through Lipscani.
3. Bucharest nightlife kicks off late – bars are full by 10pm, but many clubs don’t get going until after midnight at the weekend.
4. Watch out for venues that up the price on drinks and food for overseas visitors.
5. Beware of over-zealous doorstep promoters; make an informed choice before entering any club or bar.
6. Always drink responsibly, designate a driver for the night or return to your Bucharest hotel by public transport.

If we’ve inspired you with our Bucharest nightlife recommendations for your trip to Romania, you might also like to read about late-night action in Amsterdam or Düsseldorf. Wherever you decide to go, remember to book your accommodation early!