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Food tours in Brașov: what to eat and which tour to book
Brașov sits in southern Transylvania under the Carpathians, and its food mixes Romanian, Hungarian and Saxon German traditions: cabbage rolls (sarmale) with polenta and sour cream, sour soups (ciorbă), grilled mici, sheep's cheeses from the mountain villages, and Hungarian chimney cake (kürtőskalács) baked on spits in the old town. Portions are big and prices are moderate by Western European standards. The pedestrian streets around Piața Sfatului (Council Square) are the busiest place to eat, while the produce markets and the Șchei quarter show how locals shop and eat.
Use this page to decide what to order and where, with rough 2026 prices in Romanian lei. The tours shown are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; confirm the price and meeting point on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Brașov
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabbage rolls with polenta sarmale cu mămăligă | Pickled cabbage leaves rolled around minced pork and rice, slow-cooked with smoked meat, served with polenta (mămăligă), sour cream and often a hot chilli on the side. | Traditional Romanian restaurants in the old town and around the city. | roughly 40–60 lei (about €8–12) a portion |
| Sour soups ciorbă (de burtă, de perișoare, de fasole) | Romania's soured soups: tripe soup with sour cream and garlic (ciorbă de burtă), meatball soup (ciorbă de perișoare), and bean soup with smoked meat, sometimes served in a bread bowl. | Almost every traditional restaurant, often as the lunch starter. | roughly 20–35 lei (about €4–7) a bowl |
| Grilled minced-meat rolls mici (mititei) | Small skinless sausages of minced beef, pork and lamb with garlic and spices, grilled and eaten with mustard, bread and a beer. | Grill terraces, beer gardens and market food counters. | roughly 5–8 lei (about €1–1.60) per piece |
| Chimney cake kürtőskalács / kürtős | Sweet yeast dough wound around a wooden spit, rolled in sugar and baked over heat until caramelised, then coated in cinnamon, walnuts or coconut. A Hungarian speciality of Transylvania, sold hot. | Stalls and small shops on Strada Republicii and around Piața Sfatului. | roughly 15–25 lei (about €3–5) each |
| Papanași | Fried doughnuts made with fresh cheese, one ring and one small ball on top, served with sour cream and jam (often sour cherry or blueberry). | Dessert menus in most traditional restaurants. | roughly 25–35 lei (about €5–7) a portion |
| Polenta with cheese and egg mămăligă cu brânză și smântână / bulz | Polenta layered or stuffed with salty sheep's cheese and sour cream, sometimes topped with a fried egg; bulz is the version shaped into balls around cheese and baked. | Traditional restaurants and mountain cabanas around Brașov. | roughly 25–40 lei a portion |
| Mountain cheeses brânză de burduf / cașcaval / telemea | Brânză de burduf is a strong sheep's cheese packed in fir bark or a casing, associated with the Bran–Rucăr area south of Brașov. Telemea is a brined white cheese; cașcaval a yellow semi-hard one. | Cheese stalls at the produce markets and shops on the road to Bran. | roughly 50–90 lei a kilo, depending on type |
| Plum brandy țuică / pălincă | Fruit spirit, most often plum. Țuică is the softer, single-distilled version; pălincă is stronger and more common in Transylvania. Often offered as an aperitif. | Restaurants and bars; homemade versions at markets (buy with caution). | roughly 10–20 lei a shot in a restaurant |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Piața Sfatului and Strada Republicii
Council Square and the pedestrian street running north from it are the centre of the old town, lined with restaurant terraces, cafés and chimney cake stalls. Convenient and lively, but the most touristy prices in town.
Piața Astra
One of Brașov's main produce markets, used by locals for fruit, vegetables, cheese, honey and meat, with small food counters nearby. Outside the old town.
Șchei quarter (Șcheii Brașovului)
The historic Romanian quarter south-west of the old town, around St Nicholas Church, with quieter streets and a few local restaurants and cafés.
Strada Mureșenilor and Strada Michael Weiss
Old-town streets just off the main square with cafés, bakeries and restaurants that are slightly calmer than the square itself.
Bran and Moieciu villages
Mountain villages about 30 km south, known for sheep's cheese, smoked meats and guesthouse cooking; roadside stalls sell cheese and honey.
Food tours in Brașov compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarmale Cooking Class in Brasov with unlimited drinks | 4.5 hours | from €75 per person | max 8 | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Discover Romania’s Wine Heritage in Brasov’s Historic Center | 2 hours | from €56 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Brasov: Foodie tour for the blind | 3 hours | from €65 per person | max 1 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Brașov: Romanian Wine and Cheese Tasting Experience | 2 hours | from €56 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Brașov: Fortress Walls Picnic with Sparkling Wine & Coffee | 1 hour | from €24 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Romanian Wine&Dine in Brasov | 2.5 hours | from €92 per person | max 2 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
Sarmale Cooking Class in Brasov with unlimited drinks
On GetYourGuide · run by Local Footsteps
- Length
- 4.5 hours
- Price
- from €75 per person
- Group size
- max 8
- Included
- Transport from Brașov Main Square to our family home and back Hands-on sarmale cooking workshop with a local host All ingredients and materials for cooking Traditional appetizers Unlimited local wine and țuică Cultura…
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
Discover Romania’s Wine Heritage in Brasov’s Historic Center
On GetYourGuide · run by Via Enescu SRL
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €56 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 28 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Brasov: Foodie tour for the blind
On GetYourGuide · run by Melkuhn Andrea Gizella PFA
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €65 per person
- Group size
- max 1
- Included
- Guided walking tour Visit to a Romanian pastry shop Coffee and local cookie Tasting of Saxon and Hungarian dishes Visit to Gate Street of Brasov Tasting of locally crafted beers Visit to the Council’s house Transporta…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- The Public Library ”George Barițiu” Brașov - Baiulescu House
Brașov: Romanian Wine and Cheese Tasting Experience
On GetYourGuide · run by Radisson Blu Aurum Hotel Brasov
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €56 per person
- Included
- Guided wine and cheese tasting session Selection of 4 premium Romanian wines Artisanal Romanian cheese platter Expert sommelier to guide the tasting Access to the historic Ordo di Artis wine cellar Additional food an…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Front desk
Brașov: Fortress Walls Picnic with Sparkling Wine & Coffee
On GetYourGuide · run by RINDMOB SRL
- Length
- 1 hour
- Price
- from €24 per person
- Included
- Romanian artisan picnic basket (450g) with bread, lard, bacon, salami, telemea cheese, butter, jam, seasonal vegetables and zacusca one glass of Balla Géza Clarus Brut Transylvanian sparkling wine one espresso or capp…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Strada Mureșenilor 3, 500026 Brașov, Romania
Romanian Wine&Dine in Brasov
On GetYourGuide · run by Ma Cocotte Gastro Wine Bar
- Length
- 2.5 hours
- Price
- from €92 per person
- Group size
- max 2
- Included
- 1 Glass (150 Ml) Stirbey Cramposie Selectionata Champenoise 1 Glass ( 150 Ml) Avincis Feteasca Regala 1 Glass (150 Ml) 1000 Chipuri Iordache Feteasca Alba 1 Glass (150 Ml) Aurelia Visinescu Artisan feteasca Neagra 1 G…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Ma Cocotte Gastro Wine Bar
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Street food in Brașov is mostly chimney cake, covrigi (pretzel-like rings) from bakeries, pastries such as plăcintă, and mici from grills. It's cheap and quick but not the main way locals eat.
Sit-down meals
Most eating is sit-down in traditional restaurants with big menus of soups, grills and stews, often with folk décor. Lunch from about 12:00–15:00 is the main meal for many locals; the daily set lunch (meniul zilei) on weekdays is the best value. Dinner from about 19:00.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes are not as common as in bigger cities; some guesthouses and private hosts teach sarmale, papanași or cozonac. Check whether the class includes a market visit and how much you actually cook.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | 80–130 lei (about €16–26): bakery breakfast, weekday meniul zilei, mici or chimney cake |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | 180–280 lei (about €36–56): two sit-down meals with a drink |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | 400+ lei (about €80+): a top restaurant with wine |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Possible but limited in traditional restaurants, which are meat-heavy. The Orthodox fasting periods help: dishes marked 'de post' are vegan (bean stews, vegetable sarmale, zacuscă, potato dishes). Polenta with cheese and sour cream works for vegetarians.
Halal: Halal food is scarce; a few kebab and Middle Eastern places exist. Pork is in many traditional dishes, including sarmale and bean soup with smoked meat.
Gluten-free: Polenta (mămăligă), grilled meat, many soups and cheese dishes are naturally gluten-free, but bread is served with every meal and soups are sometimes thickened with flour. Say 'fără gluten'; awareness is improving in newer restaurants.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Menus listing meat and fish prices per 100 grams, so the final bill is much higher than it looked. Check whether prices are per portion or per 100 g, and ask for the weight and price before ordering grilled fish or meat.
- Unrequested bread, appetisers or drinks added to the bill on the main square. Say no to what you didn't order and check the bill line by line.
- Exchange booths with poor rates or hidden commission. Use bank ATMs (decline the 'conversion' offered by the machine) or pay by card; cards are accepted almost everywhere.
- Unlicensed taxis overcharging from the train station. Use metered licensed taxis with prices displayed on the door, or a ride app.
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
Do I need to tip in Brașov?
Yes, about 10% is normal in restaurants, more for very good service. Tips are often left in cash or added when paying by card — tell the waiter the total you want to pay. In cafés, rounding up is enough. Check whether a service charge is already on the bill.
What should I eat first?
Start with a ciorbă (sour soup), then sarmale with polenta and sour cream, and finish with papanași. In the old town, buy a hot chimney cake. If you visit Bran, look for brânză de burduf, the strong mountain sheep's cheese.
Is Brașov expensive for food?
Less than Western Europe, though the main square is pricier than the rest of town. A weekday set lunch costs roughly 35–50 lei; a full dinner with a drink in a traditional restaurant around 90–140 lei per person. Prices are a little higher in the old town.
Can I pay by card?
Yes, almost everywhere in the city, including many market stalls. Carry some cash for small kiosks, rural stalls and tips. Use bank ATMs and always choose to be charged in lei rather than accepting the machine's conversion to your home currency.
Is it safe to drink homemade țuică or pălincă?
It's offered widely and part of the culture, but homemade spirits can be very strong and quality varies. Drink it in moderation, preferably from a source you trust such as a restaurant or guesthouse, and avoid unlabelled bottles from roadside sellers.
What time do people eat?
Lunch, often the main meal, is usually 12:00–15:00, and dinner from about 19:00 to 22:00. Restaurants in the old town are open all day. On weekday lunchtimes, look for 'meniul zilei' boards for a fixed-price soup, main and sometimes dessert.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.