As a movie fan, I am always looking out for ?sleeper hits??the ones that win the audience?s attention, hearts, and dollars despite lacking a huge advertising budget or megastar actors. Bucharest and its environs could be the city equivalent. I recently had the pleasure of visiting Romania for a business meeting and it was a wonderful trip. Overshadowed by Vienna and Prague, and the up and coming Baltic cities like Tallin, I found that Romania is, in fact, well worth visiting.
Of course, packaging matters. When a country counts among its famous citizens Vlad the Impaler and Nicolae Ceausescu, it needs to focus on happier topics. Fortunately, in Romania, there are many from which to choose. For a visitor, one of the most appealing aspects of the country is its authenticity. The city does not exist for foreigners; it exists for the locals. Everyone I met was unwaveringly kind and interested in learning more about me and India. They were also quick to offer advice on what to do in this city of about two million people and I was able to enjoy some of the best.
Having gone through a famous revolution about 20 years ago, there are some areas of Bucharest that need to catch up to their more advanced neighbours. But there are many architectural interests?you can pass by modern office buildings, grand European palaces, communist-era apartment blocks, and the amazing Parliament Palace, Europe?s largest building. I found the Belle ?poque buildings and the wide boulevards the most appealing aspects of the city. While Bucharest is a great walking city, I saw a surprising number of new luxury vehicles, referencing its growing affluent population.
As I?m always looking for the best restaurants in every city I visit, I was very pleased to have enjoyed an evening at Loft. The incredibly fashionable crowd dined on French and Italian cuisine and there was a lively bar scene, even on a weeknight.
The ?poque Hotel is a small, all suite-hotel that is newly constructed but, as the name suggests, done in grand style. The hotel?s bistro is well run, has a great chef, and serves some wonderful Romanian red wines. With a stay at the ?poque, you?d also be quite near the lovely Cismigiu Park, Bucharest?s famous theatres, and the old town.
Of course, if you visit Bucharest you should try some of the traditional Romanian cuisine. Influenced by the Ottoman period and its status as a crossroads between east and west, traditional Romanian food emphasises on hearty meats and stews, along with vegetables like eggplant and zucchini. Bucharest has lots of great places from which to choose so I?ll just suggest you pick a simple one with menus on a chalkboard and a cash-only policy. That way authenticity is assured. Even better, head outside the city to one of the many villages and have your meal in the lovely Romanian countryside. The food will be delicious, but be warned: it will not be a light meal; you will leave your table very full! And if you give Romania half a chance, you will leave very satisfied.
Deepak Ohri is CEO of lebua Hotels & Resorts. He can be reached at deepak@lebua.com