Key Takeaways
- Șepcari Street in Bucharest Old Town hosts some of the most appreciated restaurants in the capital, with different culinary profiles.
- Toro Old Town Restaurant, at Șepcari 12-14, offers Romanian and international cuisine and can be booked at +40 371 501597.
- The area is accessible on foot from most hotels in the Old Town and is suitable for both a romantic dinner and an outing with friends.
- Booking in advance is recommended, especially on Fridays and Saturdays, when venues fill up quickly.
In the pages below you will find everything you need to know about the venues on this street: from each restaurant’s profile and operating hours to booking tips. You will also discover accommodation options nearby, so your evening goes smoothly without unpleasant surprises.
Șepcari Street – the gastronomic heart of the Old Town
Șepcari Street is one of the arteries with the highest density of good restaurants in the entire Bucharest Old Town. Pedestrians walking along it in the evening find illuminated terraces and menus written on chalkboards. A constant coming and going of locals and tourists animates the sidewalks. It is not a wide and crowded street, but an intimate corridor that makes each venue feel closer and more personal.
The history of the neighborhood partially explains this concentration of restaurants. The Old Town was for centuries the commercial area of Bucharest, and buildings with high ground floors housed shops and inns. Today, the same spaces have been converted into restaurants with carefully designed decor. Vaulted ceilings and exposed brick elements recall the commercial past of the area. Solid wood completes the atmosphere.
The street itself starts near Unirii Square and naturally fits into a pedestrian circuit that includes Franceză Street and Covaci Street. Șelari Street is also part of this network. This means that a walk through the area gives you the opportunity to compare several venues before deciding where to enter.
From a culinary perspective, Șepcari covers several clear directions. There are restaurants with contemporary Romanian cuisine and venues that reinterpret traditional recipes. Addresses with international menus are available for those who prefer a different direction. Prices are generally moderate, making the street accessible for both an occasional dinner and a celebratory meal.
An important detail for visitors is that the area is strictly pedestrian in the evening. This completely changes the dynamic: there is no traffic noise, terraces extend onto the sidewalk without problems, and conversation can be held at a normal volume even outside. This aspect makes Șepcari Street a pleasant place not only for food but also for a long evening spent at a good table.
Restaurants on Șepcari Street in Bucharest Old Town: Toro Old Town
Toro Old Town is the hoteloldtown.ro restaurant and operates at Șepcari Street 12-14, in the heart of the Old Town. It is a venue with Romanian and international cuisine, open both for hotel guests and visitors who come exclusively for a meal. Reservations can be made by phone at +40 371 501597 or +40 731 100 090. Alternatively, you can send an email to reservations@hoteloldtown.ro.
The menu combines reinterpreted Romanian dishes with international options, making it suitable for mixed groups where not everyone prefers the same type of cuisine. The quality of ingredients is an evident element on the plate, and the presentation of dishes reflects the chefs’ attention to detail.
The restaurant’s interior space preserves the character of the old building: high ceilings and warm finishes. The lighting invites a relaxed meal. The outdoor terrace, available in the warm season, opens onto the pedestrian street and allows for a more airy dining experience.
The location at number 12-14 on Șepcari places it at the center of activity in the area, a few steps from other points of interest in the Old Town. If you choose to stay at the hotel and dine here, you save time and effort and can plan your evening around the restaurant without additional travel.
This simple comparison shows that the two neighbors on Șepcari have complementary, not identical profiles. The choice between them depends more on culinary preference and desired atmosphere than on prices or accessibility, both being common strengths.
Atmosphere and design of venues on Șepcari Street
Șepcari Street has a distinct character compared to other areas of the Old Town: venues here tend to be more carefully designed and quieter than addresses in the immediate vicinity of University Square or on the main boulevards. This does not mean they are austere, but that they have a more coherent and thoughtful visual identity.
The buildings on Șepcari have structures from the 19th century and early 20th century. The restorers who set up the restaurants here generally chose to preserve the original architectural elements: brick vaults and wood or stone floors. Facades with exposed plaster complete the picture. This creates a visual continuity between interior and exterior that makes entering a venue feel natural, not abrupt.
Lighting plays an important role in the evening experience on this street. The lanterns on the sidewalk and warm lights from restaurant interiors create a homogeneous atmosphere. There are no garish advertising panels or neon signs to break the visual rhythm, making a walk on Șepcari in the evening an experience in itself.
Summer terraces complement the venues’ offerings. In warm months, tables and chairs come out onto the pedestrian sidewalk, extending restaurant capacity and offering the option to eat outdoors without losing the intimate atmosphere specific to the place. The background noise comes from conversations and discreet music, not traffic or sirens.
A less visible but equally important aspect is the quality of service. Restaurants on Șepcari compete on a short street, which forces them to maintain a high standard. Visitors usually notice that waiters are more attentive and better informed about the menu than in venues in less competitive areas.
Practical tips for booking a restaurant on Șepcari Street
Booking in advance is the simplest way to avoid disappointment on Șepcari Street, especially if your visit falls on a weekend or during the peak tourist season. Venues in this area have limited capacity precisely because of the historic spaces they occupy, and demand frequently exceeds supply on Friday and Saturday evenings.
For Toro Old Town, reservations are made by phone or email, at the contact details displayed on hoteloldtown.ro If you are staying at the hotel, the reception staff can handle the reservation for you, which simplifies the evening’s logistics. This facility is a concrete advantage compared to the situation where you are staying in another part of the city.
There are a few practical rules that help ensure a better experience:
- Call at least 24 hours in advance for tables on Wednesday through Sunday.
- Mention from the start if there are special dietary preferences or if the meal is for a particular occasion.
- Confirm the reservation on the day itself if you made it more than two days in advance.
- Arrive at the scheduled time, as venues with small capacity cannot hold tables blocked for more than 15-20 minutes.
If you prefer to explore the area without a reservation, the best time is after 14:00 on weekdays, when the lunch flow subsides and tables become available. On Saturday and Sunday mornings, between 12:00 and 13:30, there are usually free spots before the late lunch wave sets in.
Another practical option is to use online booking platforms available for some restaurants in the Old Town. These allow selecting the time and number of people without a phone call, useful especially for visitors who do not speak Romanian. Check in advance if the chosen restaurant is listed on such a platform.
Do not forget that Șepcari Street is part of a larger network of venues in the Old Town. If the desired restaurant is full, Franceză Street and Covaci Street offer serious alternatives. Șelari Street is also just a few minutes’ walk away. It is useful to have a backup plan, especially during peak season.
Accommodation near Șepcari Street: where you leave from and where you return
Proximity to Șepcari Street is one of the practical advantages of accommodation in the Old Town. When the restaurant is a few minutes’ walk from your room, the evening takes on a different rhythm: you can have dinner without rushing, you can stay longer at the table, and you do not have to calculate the last public transport connection.
Hotel Old Town, with its address at Șepcari Street 12-14, is the most direct option for those who want to combine accommodation with immediate access to restaurants in the area. Accommodation in Bucharest Old Town offered by the hotel includes the advantage of having its own restaurant on the ground floor, which completely eliminates the need to search for a place for breakfast or a last-minute dinner.
The pedestrian area around the hotel makes evening travel very simple. There is no need for a taxi or public transport to reach restaurants and museums. Other points of interest in the Old Town are equally accessible. All are within walking distance, which saves time and reduces the logistical stress of a busy day.
For those planning a longer stay, a hotel reservation in the old town allows systematic exploration of local gastronomy, restaurant by restaurant, without limiting yourself to a single evening. You can try Toro Old Town one evening and Lacrimi și Sfinți another, without changing your base of operations.
If you have questions about facilities or hotel policies before making a reservation, the hoteloldtown.ro FAQs page offers clear answers to the most common questions. It is a useful starting point before contacting the team directly.
The Old Town is a neighborhood that is experienced differently when you are staying in it, not when you navigate from another part of the city. The short distance to Șepcari Street transforms a simple restaurant dinner into a more complete experience, integrated into the rhythm of the neighborhood.
Frequently Asked Questions
What restaurants are there on Șepcari Street in Bucharest Old Town?
The two most well-known restaurants on Șepcari Street are Toro Old Town, at number 12-14, and Lacrimi și Sfinți, at number 16. Toro Old Town has Romanian and international cuisine, while Lacrimi și Sfinți offers contemporary Romanian cuisine with an innovative menu.
How can I make a reservation at Toro Old Town on Șepcari Street?
Reservations at Toro Old Town are made by phone at +40 371 501597 or +40 731 100 090. You can also send an email to reservations@hoteloldtown.ro. If you are staying at Hotel Old Town, the reception can handle the reservation for you.
What are the operating hours of Lacrimi și Sfinți restaurant?
Lacrimi și Sfinți is open Monday to Wednesday from 12:00 to 00:00. Friday and Saturday the schedule extends from 12:00 to 01:00, and Sunday from 12:00 to 00:00. Thursday is not explicitly mentioned in the published schedule, so check in advance.
Is a reservation needed to eat on Șepcari Street on weekends?
Yes, booking is strongly recommended for Friday and Saturday evenings. Venues on Șepcari Street have limited capacity due to the historic spaces, and demand is high on these days. A call 24 hours in advance is sufficient in most cases.
Is there accommodation near Șepcari Street in the Old Town?
Yes. Hotel Old Town has its address right at Șepcari Street 12-14 and includes Toro Old Town restaurant on the ground floor. It is the closest accommodation option to the restaurants on this street, with immediate pedestrian access to all venues in the area.
If you want to spend a worry-free evening in the Old Town, the simplest decision is to book your table right in the heart of the Historical Old Town in Bucharest. Check availability and book your spot directly at Toro American Tavern, just a few steps from the best places on Șepcari Street.
