Coffee shops in Iași have become more than places where you drink coffee. They are forming communities around them and their values, they host diverse social and cultural events, they make you feel like you belong. Here’s a list of five that you’ll surely remember, from small charming ones to cafes that combine a cozy vibe with perfect respect for coffee.
Gist is one of the newest cafes in the city and managed to make its way into people’s hearts through beautiful interior design, location and a set of values that it stands by. Located right in the city center, at the bottom of Continental Hotel, it shows a strong Parisian atmosphere, with seating across the window sills. Inside there are swings, pillows, beautiful flowers and books. The upper interior balcony hosts a long bar with sockets and chairs perfect for the freelance traveler. Everything is made out of wood and steel, with an industrial yet homey feel to it. You should definitely come by in the mornings for coffee and croissants but also in the evenings for the cocktails and wine. You’ll get to meet Tudor, the owner and creator of the most Instagramable coffee shop in the city.
Close by you’ll find Fika, a wonderfully colored youthful coffee shop with outside seating. They also serve delicious snacks but you’ll definitely want to try the Flat White, it’s aroma and punch will make you happy throughout the day. If you’re lucky, you might be able to take part in the events they organize inside, be it book launches, educational workshops or intimate concerts. Fika also has some of the best foods in their catering department, so be sure to check out their Facebook page if you want to order something yummy.
One of the first coffee shops in Iași is Jassyro. With a location that only serves coffee to-go (unless you care to sit on the cute pillows they have on the stairs outside) in the city center on Stephen the Great Boulevard and a brand new one in Copou, Silviu and Daniela, the owners of Jassyro, are not just excellent baristas, but also great people. You have to get to know them. Jassyro Copou has an intimate terrace and they often host cooking and tasting events with local producers. In addition to perfect coffee, you’ll find a selection of the best wines you can taste in the city.
At Navar, the Guatemala and Columbia coffees come with stories which Bianca and Vlad can’t wait to tell you all about. A small place on the Stephen the Great Boulevard, not far from Jassyro, Navar regularly brings coffee roasted by the best roasteries in Europe. On the other hand, if you find yourself up on Copou, you can try one of the veteran coffee shops in the city, The Beginning. With the same respect for carefully selected coffee and great taste they started with, The Beginning is a perfect option if want to have your coffee in the park, since it’s right across the street from Copou Park.
