Iași has become an international scene for gastronomy, but there are still some wonderful places where tradition has kept its charm on the plate. If you want to find those gems where cooks still prepare meals like the boyars of the past used to eat, here are a few places that you will remember.

The oldest and most renowned restaurant is Bolta Rece. It’s the place where Junimea members used to drink and dine, and where Eminescu and Creangă became friends. While you’re there, you have to try the Sheep pastrami with polenta and curd, and after that the Sweet cheese dumplings. This is as local as it can get.

La Conac is a truly Romanian restaurant with a traditional interior design, where you can get a feeling of how people decorated their homes in the villages. Get the Mushroom stew with sour cream and polenta or the Mushroom stew with garlic. For desert, you won’t regret going with the Gomboti, which are prunes wrapped in potato dough.

If you prefer something closer to the city center, Cârciuma Veche is right near the City Hall and National Theatre. With an appetite for traditional food and old moldavian accents, the restaurant waits for you with some tasty Sarmale and some music bands like the good old days.

There are many other places in Iași that serve traditional dishes, though most are mixed with international cuisine for every taste. Just take the city step by step and enjoy the journey of discovery!