We’ve been living in Sibiu for quite some years now and we have constantly been in search of true taste. Sometimes it’s hard to find it, especially when you visit the city for just a few days, so here are some of our favourite places to eat out.

At a first glance, one would say that the gastronomy in Sibiu is nothing too spectacular. And yes, most of the places prefer to keep to that “selling” menu of salads, pizza and pasta with some steaks and french fries in between and 2 or 3 soups. The city center, especially on the main touristic streets (Piața Mare and Nicolae Bălcescu Boulevard) are quite pricey and might be disappointing. But still, there are other places, with personality and with chefs and owners who are willing to experiment and to bring a bit of color and taste to your plate.

We’re true gourmands, to be honest and sometimes a bit picky when it comes to what we eat. We’re even more picky when it comes to Sibiu, as we live here and we know what fresh and tasty ingredients you can get from just a few kilometers away, directly from the local farmers and producers. The area is so rich and diverse in ingredients that gastronomy should be one of the main attractions of this city.

Restaurants

We’ve tried quite a lot of restaurants in Sibiu and there are too many that we visited once and never went back. But forget about those and let’s talk about the ones that make us go “Hmmm, sooo delicious” when we sit at their tables. We keep this list short and simple and try to constantly update it based on what new places open and what new places we try out.

Consommé Bistro

Consommé is in many situations, our first choice when going out, either for a nice dinner or for a weekend afternoon lunch. With a rather old school look, simple and elegant decorations, it’s exactly what we are looking for when talking about interior design for restaurants. For us it’s our comfort place and is always on top of our list when recommending places to locals or visitors.

The menu is rather small (something I really appreciate at a restaurant) and constantly changes based on what’s fresh during the season. It’s a mixture of the world’s cuisines so you will find here everything from Asian, to Middle East, to South American, to Mediterranean or Romanian dishes. Every time we check this place out, the culinary experience is at its best for us. We have never tried something from their menu and didn’t like it to the maximum. The dishes they prepare are quite simple, noting very fancy, but the combination of fresh and quality ingredients and the perfect mix of spices and herbs makes every dish just perfect.

We mostly enjoy the warm summer months, when we can dine outside on their small terrace, right next to the Astra Park and away from the noise of the main old center streets.

Restaurant Pasaj

Restaurant Pasaj focuses more on local, seasonal dishes, using quality main ingredients with a very nice plating, which is exactly what we’re looking for when choosing a place to eat (in Sibiu, or anywhere else we go).

It is mostly aimed to those who eat meat and want to enjoy a very well cooked piece of beef, pork or lamb, but vegans and vegetarians will also have some very tasty options like all sorts of starters with squash, all sorts of local cheeses and eggs, or a delicious plate of gnocchi with goat cheese and butter squash. Plus the deserts which I must admit (being a person who’s not really into sweets) that are just perfect.

The interior is nice and cozy, a small room with not too many tables, with simple and elegant decorations, enough to make you feel comfortable and to enjoy a nice dinner out. Their outdoor terrace is a good option for the hot summer days, as it has a lot of shade and has a beautiful view over the upper old town. One extra point for their location in the lower part of the city center, a bit away from the super touristic areas of Piața Mare and the Nicolae Bălcescu Boulevard.

Kombinat Gastro-Brewery

It’s mostly local products they buy from small producers around the Sibiu county and this makes all the difference. The menu is colorful and flavorful, with local and Romanian dishes, with a bit of modern twist. Plates look and taste good, the menu is small, but changes seasonally which means that you can try new stuff every few months, based on what fresh ingredients are at that time on the market.

La Cuptor

Ideal for when you’re looking for a rather more fancy dinner with a twist. A bit more pricey than the average, but the experience will for sure be remarkable. The menu is fresh and small, but big enough as to cover everyone’s taste. From quality meat dishes to sea food and pasta, plus some very tasty starters, it’s very much worth the try. They get an extra star for their summer terrace, in a super cosy ambiance, away from all the outside noise.

Hochmeister

Just outside of the Big Square (Piata Mare), away from the crowds, Hochmeister is a restaurant that definitely deserves our attention. Their menu is fresh and authentic, based on seasonal ingredients coming from local farms. As they describe it themselves: Our menu is a manifesto called New-Old Transylvanian Cuisine, a concept that is inspired by our grandparents’ old recipes and dusty books with different influences from the 11 peoples who have bequeathed us their gastronomic culture.

Local

In the city center, but away from all the crowd, Local is a perfect place for breakfast, but lunch and dinner as well. They have a rather small menu, with very good option for vegetarians but meat lovers also. They use as much as possible local products and seasonal ones, so expect a menu that changes from time to time. I love their wild mushroom stews every summer and the fresh falafel dish. Plus their cozy terrace with such a nice view.

Konak Restaurant

Being super passionate about all that has to do with the Middle Easter cuisine, Konak is our favorite spot when craving for some proper kebabs and other Oriental dishes. It’s always an experience full of flavors!

Restaurant Weinkeller

Weinkeller has one of our favorite summer gardens in town. It’s right in the old town, but hidden away enough to offer you the quiet and coziness needed after walking around on Sibiu’s touristic streets. Their menu is a very good mix of Romanian, German and Hungarian recipes (exactly what Sibiu is also about) and lots of fresh ingredients from the Cibin Market. So if you want to have a taste of the local cuisine, this place is a very good option. Plus, they have a wide Romanian selection of wines and other local drinks.

 

Per Tutti Ristorante

Away from the city center, this is a rather new place in town (July 2023). It’s a sea food and Italian place, not something we are normally looking for when going out to eat, but we tried it once and considered that it makes sense to include it on our list. Leaving aside pasta and pizza, they do have nice sea food and meat dishes worth giving a try when you are looking for a place that has nothing to do with the old town.

Crama Sibiului Vechi

If you want to try the traditional Romanian cuisine, this is the place to do it. The place looks, smells and tastes traditional. Located somewhere in the city center, expect to find a small restaurant always full of people and a big line waiting for a table. They don’t do reservations, so the only way to eat here is to wait in line.

The menu is very much Romanian traditional and very tasty. I would recommend the soups, all of them are great, and the polenta dishes. Plus the traditional desert “papanași” at the end. Everything in the menu is tasty, but expect big portions and heavy stuff that will make your stomach digest for a few hours.

Cabana Valea Aurie

If you want to feel the vibe of one of the neighborhoods of Sibiu, Cabana Valea Aurie is the place. They have a traditional menu, the place is always full and you will get to see here people living in the area who come for a quick lunch, people who just finished their bike ride and people who know that the food here tastes like the one made by mothers and grandmothers. The menu is a traditional one, perfect place to try some of our Romanian soups and other traditional dishes. Consider that the dishes are huge, so come on a very empty stomach.