If you’ve been struggling to quit smoking, we’ve recently learned of a new clinic that has been opened in Romania to help people with a smoking addiction: the Allen Carr clinic. You might have heard of Allen Carr himself or read his book. Well, Allen Carr’s method is also available in Romania. Diana Vasiliu organizes sessions and you can get in touch with her: 0732138383, raspunsuri@allencarr.ro.

(corina@citycompass.ro)

Address: Banu Antonache 40-44, Floreasca area
Phone: 0730930421

Well, everybody appears to be back to school and Bucharest is in full swing again after the holiday season, it would certainly appear so based the traffic. This means the search is back on to find new bars and restaurants and old favorites to re visit. Ginger Bar in Floreasca opened its doors this summer and is part of the Embassy chain of bars, this newest operation makes it their 5th in Bucharest. This is a positive sign as they must be doing something right! Ginger Bar has a very modern and bright feel with comfortable seating throughout, with great bar stool if you would rather sit at the bar and chat to the bartender. The interior design was inspired by visits to some of the great bars in London, this is reflected in the style of the design and the attention to detail.

The bar is on the ground floor, with a smaller mezzanine level upstairs with seating in front of large glass window which goes from floor to ceiling giving a bright and open feel.
The food is very well prepared offering a range of pasta and selection of light bites. The drinks offering is comprehensive a good range of beer and wines local and imported, fresh juices and well made cocktails. Daniel Avadanei and his team have done a very good job with Ginger Bar.
Private parties are welcomed, you can reserve anything from a small area to hiring the whole bar, maximum would be around 120 so keep this in mind if looking for a party venue. There is a terrace outside which is constructed out of wooden decking adds a nice slightly more rustic touch is good additional drinking space, this can still be enjoyed with the late summer weather we are having.

Opening times are from 9am until late everyday, with DJ’s playing the tunes over the weekend.
This is one to check out!

As summer is not gone yet, there’s still some time to discover more of Romania- even for Romanians. We found this list of 40 hidden places in Romania you should not miss. Some of them were novelties even for Romanians. Check the list here. Plus a bonus, for those of you who like to fish: the list of fishing ponds near Bucharest. Check them out here. Enjoy the rest of the summer in Romania!

(corina@citycompass.ro)

ADDRESS: Str. Banu Antonache 40-44, Floreasca
Web: www.madamepogany.ro
Phone:   0743 661 782

Madame Pogany opened in October last year bringing something new and fresh to the area around Floreasca fruit and vegetable market. Situated on the ground floor under the large office building at 40 Str. Banu Antonache, this bar and restaurant is fitted throughout with natural, light coloured, wooden flooring giving the space a bright and open feel. It is open daily from 9am, the kitchen closing at 12 midnight and provides a very comfortable environment to be in at any time of the day.
The space is divided into 3 main areas: the restaurant with seating for around 80, the bar area serving very good Tapas and a large terrace outside.

The tables and bench seating on the terrace are all created from the wooden decking as used in the floor, a modern and functional design. The food in the restaurant is an international mix with a wide variety of choice, described by Razvan the General Manager as his ”urban kitchen”. My regular choice has become the Asian Chicken dish, very tasty and reasonably priced at 30 Ron. The seared fresh Tuna cooked rare is also a favourite. The staff are very friendly and attentive and it is true to say “service with a smile”.
Madame Pogany also offers a variety of regular weekly events, from Wine and Whisky tastings to bar tending courses. Live Jazz is played on Friday nights and the DJ operates on Saturday nights until late.
We have here a good environment to meet and discuss business or pleasure over a coffee, a glass of wine, lunch or dinner.

We’ve been recently recommended a couple of very good shaorma places in Bucharest, by people who love this food and who have tried most shaorma places in town.  One top of the list is the shaorma place at Dristor, opposite of Prosper shop (not the already famous Dristor Shaorma, which has recently expanded in shopping malls as well).  Another one is called Marius Fast Food and is located on Soseaua Pantelimon. Products are always fresh and a big shaorma is RON 13.  The third recommendation from our shaorma – loving friends is Gyros, on Mihai Eminescu Street. Here you will find shaorma with Pita, not with Lipie, and our friends say it is to die for.  Another personal favorite is the Iskender shaorma place on Mihai Bravu boulevard, at the intersection with Ferdinand boulevard. The food used to be even better in the past here, but it is still one of the best in town. They have also opened a small restaurant adjacent, where they can make you fresh lipie ( flat-bread) with different lamb specialties. Worth trying!

Address: Sos. Nordului Nr. 7-9,
Web: www.aquachique.ro
Phone:  +40 731 888 999

Aqua is a restaurant set in an idyllic location on the banks of the Harastrau Lake.   Its modern and sophisticated style places it firmly in the upper end of the restaurant spectrum in Bucharest.   The excellent food, service and setting make it all worth the price tag, a fact proven by its customers. It is always busy.
Large sliding doors open up the comfortable seating areas inside so you can enjoy the warm summer weather from within. However at this time of year, an outside table is the place to be. The fabulous lake side garden is encased by large mature over hanging trees.  To secure a table outside a reservation is necessary.

In the middle of this garden there is a large island bar where you can enjoy a pre dinner cocktail. There are some great cocktails, but unfortunately no cocktail list and guidance from the waiter is required.  You can remain at the bar to have dinner, a perfect option for two diners.
The menu is extensive with a wide range of European cuisine, good fish and meat. Very good Sushi is also available. On the three occasions I have eaten there recently I have gone with an open mind and been guided very successfully by the waiter. There is a good although modest selection of quality wines fairly priced.
Dining in the beautiful garden evokes feelings of escapism, such as being cast away on a tropical island perhaps. These are likely to disappear however when you leave the restaurant and get into the back of a Bucharest cab.  Still it is nice to dream.
Aqua gets top marks in my book, and if you are looking for something above the ordinary then this should satisfy your needs.

If you have decided to start learning Romanian, give it a first try with a free course in the first half of July. The Rolang school will organize a free Romanian language course this summer, on July 6,  Casa Universitarilor (46 Dionisie Lupu St.), starting 17:00 hours, with a duration of 1.5 hours. For registration, go here. The company will also organize two Romanian language summer schools in Bucharest, in July and August, 2011. For registration or more information, go here.

The Association for a Natural Birth and Nursing has recently opened a counseling center for lactation in Bucharest. The team of the new center has been trained within the Anna center by Claudia Bider-Heim, who is a lactation consultant accredited by the International Lactation Consultant Association. The center offers tailored consultancy for each mother-baby couple, for all periods of the lactation and covers most issues that can come up. The center is located on 9 Muzelor St. withing the Shop for Parents (Pravalia pentru Parinti). It is opened Monday to Friday between 11,00 and 14,00 hours. You  can make reservations by phone: 0723.184.750, every day between 14,00 and 20,00 hours.

ADDRESS: 2 Sf. Dumitru Street, Lipscani area, Bucharest
Web: www.malagamba.ro

Being blessed with a sweet tooth and thus a great lover of dessert, as I sample different restaurants around the city, a pecking order takes shape a bit like a league table in my head of what tickled the taste buds. Fortunately sharing such appreciation of all things sugar based with a French girl can often mean shared moments of pleasure, which in turn does help ease the conscience about the calorie intake.
A choice of dessert is a very personal thing and can depend much on what you have just eaten, and what mood you are in. Any dessert made with chocolate tends to suit my palate.

This is all leading up to my personal favorite on that pecking order of desserts found in Bucharest. I now keep this in my locker alongside my all time favorites like, the Sticky Toffee Pudding at the Ivy in London.
Enough ado, this award goes to… the Pectato Della Gola found at Resaurant Malagamba in Lipscani. Even if you are not staying for dinner, I would suggest for those sweet lovers looking for a late evening fix, to share of course, then this is it! This fine dessert to the French would be Fondant au Chocolat. As you break through the crisp outer the hot chocolate centre starts to flow, served with vanilla ice cream…. need I say more……..
Dessert served until 11pm everyday

A group of expat women in Bucharest, under the guidance of photographer Mihai Constantineanu have organized a photography group for the last two years. This year, 38 women discovered Romania and took pictures across the country, while learning the secrets of photography. They have put the best of these images in a book called ‘An A to Z of Romania, Through the Lenses of Expat Women’. This photo book could be a great gift if you plan to visit friends abroad this summer. All revenues from selling the book or photo prints will go to a group of charities. If you want to contact this photography group or join them, get in touch with Mihai Constantineanu or Annie-France Charbonneau.