Timisoara’s food scene is evolving beautifully, and there are plenty of great restaurants to try out during your stay: from traditional Romanian food to amazing international cuisine, delicious pizza, and budget picks – you’ve got it all here.
And today I am here to share the absolute best restaurants in Timisoara – my all time favorites (including some newer options that are just as amazing). One thing’s sure: you won’t go wrong choosing any of my recommendations below.
We’ve already covered where to stay in Timisoara and what are the best things to do here (among other things), so let’s get to the truly delicious part of our trip and find out where to eat in Timisoara.
Warning: don’t read this on an empty stomach, unless you are already in Timisoara, getting ready to find a great spot to eat!
Best Traditional Food Restaurants in Timisoara
If it’s your first time in Romania, I recommend sampling some of the best traditional Romanian foods at my recommended restaurants below.
Nora Restaurant
While this is mostly appreciated for the generous portions of grilled minced meat rolls (the famous “mici”, or “mititei”), Nora Restaurant is also one of the best restaurants in the city with traditional food.
They have new offers every day, plus fresh grill, tasty traditional soups and very generous platters with various ingredients from the Romanian traditional cuisine.
A great thing about this restaurant is the fact that it’s visited mostly by locals – so not as touristy, resulting in a more authentic experience and some really amazing prices.
It’s also a bit farther away from the city center – towards the outskirts of Timisoara, so you will most likely need a car (taxi or Uber) to get there. But trust me – it’s worth it. The food is delicious and their garden is just as good!
You can find Nora Restaurant in Timisoara on Google Maps or check their official
Quick details:
- Price Range: $$
- Area: Bulevardul Dâmbovița (Outskirts) – Google Maps link here
- Vibe: Traditional, Local, Family-friendly
- Must-Try: The grilled “mici” with mustard
- Check out: Official Facebook page or official website.
Beraria 700
Just as its name says, “Beraria 700” Restaurant is situated in 700 Square (Piata 700), and it is one of the oldest, most popular, rustic and active restaurants of the city.
Most of the tourists gather here, because it’s situated in the old fortress of Timisoara that once stood there, and live concerts with local artists are organized here during most of the weekend evenings.
While the atmosphere is extremely relaxed at Beraria 700, the generous menu is also filled with unique, delicious dishes.
Those include traditional platters, freshly grilled meat (as they have their own outdoor grill) and the famous beer of the house, a tradition kept with passion since 1761. Difficult to beat this offer, really!
Check out the location of Beraria 700 on Google Maps here or visit their Facebook page for more photos and details.
Quick details:
- Price Range: $$
- Area: Piata 700 (here on Google Maps)
- Vibe: Lively, Historical, Relaxed
- Must-Try: House beer and mixed grill platters
- Check out: their Facebook page or official website.
Grădina Bănaţeană
For a truly Romanian experience by the Bega River, I recommend visiting the well-known Grădina Bănaţeană restaurant. It really makes you feel like you’re eating a a Romania’s place, even though they have plenty of International dishes available.
My advice? Ignore those and go for the traditional food, as this is where they excel. I love their huge portions of pork knuckles, their filled polenta (called Bulz) or the amazing tripe soup. Must try!
As a bonus, you’re right by the Bega river, so you have amazing views and a very, very chill vibe. And huge, tasty platters if you don’t know what to pick:
A great place to go for lunch or dinner – and make sure to have your phone fully charged because you will take a lot of photos here!
Quick details:
- Price Range: $$
- Area: On the shore of the Bega River (I’ve marked it on Google Maps for You)
- Vibe: Chill, Authentic
- Must-Try: Ciolan de porc in bere (pork knuckles baked in beer)
- Check out: Their official Facebook page here.
Fine Dining & Modern Experiences
If you want something fancier, you can definitely step outside of the traditional taverns and check out the new “wonders” of fine dining in Timisoara. Here are my top picks:
Vinto
If you want to experience the peak of the local culinary evolution, Vinto is the absolute go-to right now.
Located right in the center of the city, this restaurant is currently considered the best gastro-wine bar in the city. They know how to pair their extensive list of international wines with their elevated dishes, but expect to pay a premium for both. It’s definitely worth it if you can afford it.
Quick details:
- Price Range: $$$
- Area: Strada Florimund de Mercy (I’ve marked it on Google Maps here)
- Vibe: Upscale, Elegant, Romantic
- Must-Try: Cotlet de porc in crusta Panko
- Check out: Official website here.
Sabres
Sometimes you just want the best seafood available, and for that you have Sabres, which also offers various other Mediterranean-inspired dishes.
Their seafood platters and fresh catches are delicious, and I always appreciate the fact that both the staff treat you well, as well as the general decor. Of course, the latter won’t treat you well, just looks good.
Tip: If you travel when the weather is warm, you MUST stay on their terrace, it’s absolutely amazing!
Quick details:
- Price Range: $$$
- Area: Strada Craiova (here on Google Maps)
- Vibe: Refined, Quiet
- Must-Try: The signature seafood platter
- Check out: Their official website or their Facebook page
Sky Restaurant
Located in the 700 Square area, Sky Restaurant will offer you some of the most unique views in the city – if not the most.
A bit more expensive than your regular restaurant, this 6th floor, rooftop restaurant pairs the amazing views with delicious, exquisite dishes that impress with design and taste.
I recommend you go there at sunset, because you’ll definitely get that uplifting memory of a colorful sky with the sun going down, just as the restaurant itself promises, that will also make your tastes vibrate in joy from the amazing flavors they serve.
This is also a great place for a date – one of the most romantic spots in the city.
Quick details:
- Price Range: $$$
- Area: here on Google Maps
- Vibe: Refined, Amazing Views
- Must-Try: Vegan Halloumi burger
- Check out: Their official website or their Facebook page
Best Pizza Places in Timisoara
You don’t always have to eat at a traditional restaurant. Sometimes, when you’re in a hurry or just craving for pizza, that’s exactly what you should get. And fortunately Timisoara has a lot to offer in this area as well.
The truth is that most places recommended above can also prepare a delicious pizza, but if you want to know my favorites, check them out below!
La Pizza Napoletana
This is my favorite pizza place in the city, but they only open after 5PM (you should double check in case things change). On weekends, they open starting 12PM though.
What I like about their pizzas is that they have that homemade feeling. Not a perfectly round shape, not arranged to be completely symmetrical, yet amazingly delicious.
Great thin crust and high quality ingredients will always keep you satisfied. Plus you get that unique taste from the stone oven with real wood (or maybe coal? I have no idea, but it’s delicious).
They offer a huge variety of pizzas and they like to experiment a lot with their offer, so it’s impossible not to find something you’ll love. Then be curious about a different offer and try it, then a new one and so on. Oh, life is hard!
Quick details:
- Price Range: $$
- Area: Complexul Studentesc
- Vibe: Casual, Artisanal
- Must-Try: Pistachio Mortadella pizza
- Check out: location of La Pizza Napoletana here, and you can check their Facebook page for more mouthwatering pictures.
Pizza Benitto
If you want to eat well on a budget and it happens that you love pizza, this is the place you must try. They usually have very affordable offers if you buy 2 pizzas from their menu (plus soda and extra sauce).
And you get nice value for the money, with delicious pizzas that will keep you full and happy.
Their pizzas aren’t the thinnest you have ever tried – nor the largest – but they are cheap and taste good, and that’s all that matters in the end when you talk about budget pizza.
You can also order their pizzas (or other food items from the menu) if the location – which is a bit away from the city center isn’t drawing you in.
Quick details:
- Price Range: $
- Area: Towards the Easter outskirts (Google Maps location)
- Vibe: Takeaway, Budget-friendly
- Must-Try: Any of their 2X combo deals
- Check out: Their Facebook page or website.
Other great unique restaurants in Timisoara
Now, let’s check out some various other restaurants that I absolutely love – and which I think you should try too.
From restaurants with amazing views, to those serving absolutely amazing traditional food (or just a fabulous breakfast), these are my top choices in the city:
Neața Omelette Bistro
Specialized in breakfast only, they have some of the most delicious things you could eat – from hearty, delicious omelets to various sandwiches to pancakes.
We just stumbled upon it randomly while exploring the central area of the city and, for the duration of our stay, we ate there each day. No regrets, not even for the extra calories.
The portions are huge (their omelets are made from 3 eggs, for example), so you can easily share a meal. I didn’t, haha.
But honestly now – you must give this one a try. Upon checking more details, it seems that they’re now open all day so if that’s the case, you won’t have to just get breakfast there. But whatever you do, make sure to try them out!
I’ve marked them on Google Maps here and you can also check their Facebook page here.
Little Hanoi
If you love Vietnamese or Asian food in general, Little Hanoi is a beautiful place close to the Botanical Garden where you can enjoy great Asian dishes (including noodles, caramelized fruits or spring rolls).
Again, I’ll give them some bonus points for the interior design, where colorful fly lanterns are suspended from the ceiling, creating a Chinese festival-like atmosphere and filling the room with a warm light.
There is actually a second Little Hanoi near the Victoriei Square, so you can definitely choose the location that suits you best.
They’re not as cheap as you would expect your regular Chinese or Vietnamese restaurant to be, but they’re not very expensive either and they do serve delicious food.
I marked the one near the Botanical Gardens on Google Maps and you can check it out on Facebook as well.
Fenice Palas Timisoara
Last but not least, Fenice Palas Mediterranean & Lebanese is located in Iulius Town and it is one of the most exquisite and luxuriant restaurants in Timisoara.
Fenice is the largest specific restaurant in the region, created by Italian, Romanian and Turkish designers, arranged over four floors and serving an exotic menu with Mediterranean flavors and spices from the Middle East.
I absolutely love Lebanese food and I have it as often as possible and even though I usually prefer the smaller, family-run types of restaurants for that perfect authentic flavor (and general feel of the place) I can’t deny the fact that dining out at Fenice Palas is a really good experience.
Just as with the other spots to eat in Timisoara, I’ve marked this one on Google Maps for easy access. You can also check it out on Facebook for more details.
Craft Rooftop
Known for the great view of the entire Victoria Square, Craft Rooftop is situated in the center of Timisoara and is a great place to enjoy any type of exquisite food with a great view.
If you’re a beer lover, then this is exactly your place! Craft Rooftop produce their own artisanal beer in various colors and flavors, so choose your favorite before testing as many as possible, of course!
And, if you won’t get a place at a table from the rooftop, no worries. The interior of the restaurant is also stunning.
The ceiling is all dark, designed to create the impression of the sky at night, filled with stars and galaxies. A magical place with a unique atmosphere, one that is truly worth visiting.
I marked its exact location on Google Maps, but you can also visit its Facebook Page for all the extra details and photos.
Riviere Brasserie
This one is located on the bank of the Bega River, and it’s a restaurant that you don’t want to miss if you’re in Timisoara.
Not only the view is unique when the sun reflects through the water, creating a vibrating atmosphere filled with light and inner peace, but also their menu!
They serve some great dishes and coffees, but I strongly recommend that you taste their cream soups. They are very creative and flavored, with generous portion sizes and affordable prices.
As with the previous restaurants, I’ve marked it on Google Maps for easy access, but you can also check their Facebook page for more details.
Conclusion
A lot of food and amazingly mouth-watering photos, right? This was definitely not the easiest article I had to write, even though I started it on a full stomach. Now I’m hungry!
The good thing is that if you are already in Timisoara and already drooling, you can pick any of the top restaurants recommended above and enjoy.
If not in the city yet – not a problem! At least you know where to eat in Timisoara once you get here! And if you plan to visit other cities in Romania and want to see my recommendations, here are a few more:
- Best restaurants in Craiova
- Best restaurants in Drobeta Turnu Severin
- Best restaurants in Constanta
- Best restaurants in Cluj Napoca
I am a journalist and local expert who has been documenting life in Romania since 2013. Based in Constanta (after living in Bucharest and Drobeta Turnu Severin), I provide up-to-date, on-the-ground advice for expats and travelers. My articles are based on real life experiences and plenty of research – from paying Romanian bills to exploring the wild “Rawmania” countryside.