Located opposite Saint Anton Market, Cafeneaua Veche 9 is considered a true architectural and cultural gem. The building, certified since 1812, was recently honored with an interior design award in the Hospitality category at the European competition, BIG SEE AWARDS.
Cafeneaua Veche 9 – An Exceptional Culinary Experience Cafeneaua Veche 9 is not just a meeting place but also a venue where sublime culinary experiences unfold. The restaurant offers a refined menu with European influences and local touches, incorporated into innovative recipes that uniquely incorporate coffee into traditional dishes.

It is a place where Bucharest residents can enjoy both coffee and complex menus in an authentic historical setting.
Cafeneaua Veche 9, a Meeting Place for the Cultural Elite Throughout history, the café has served as a meeting spot for the former elite, hosting Romanian cultural figures such as Mihai Eminescu, Veronica Micle, Ion Luca Caragiale, and King Carol II.
Mihai Eminescu, while serving as the editor-in-chief at the Timpul publication, enjoyed his coffee here, just steps away from the newspaper’s office on Covaci Street.

Today, the same location continues to draw Bucharest’s residents with its unmistakable aromas and sophisticated menus.
The History of the Café Although officially documented in 1812, the story of Cafeneaua Veche began in 1781, when the Armenian Stefan Antîlop received permission from Prince Alexandru Ipsilanti to build a café near the Royal Court.
This rich and fascinating history has been preserved and highlighted through an ambitious renovation and reopening project.
Restoration and Preservation of the Café “The current owners of Cafeneaua Veche 9 have focused primarily on preserving the picturesque atmosphere of bygone eras.”
The exterior of the building has not undergone major interventions – the walls, tile roof, and shutters have been refurbished according to old patterns. The 200 lion heads and the eight engraved faces on the white walls, dating from the 19th century, have been carefully preserved.
The plaque inscribed with the name of the café and the two iron lamps hanging on the facade are other architectural elements that have been maintained over the years.

Cafeneaua Veche 9 Today: A Jewel in Bucharest’s Old Center “In Bucharest’s Old Center, within a historic building certified in 1812 and deeply integrated into the city’s story, culture, and art, we have reopened the capital’s oldest café, Cafeneaua Veche 9,” says the team at Cafeneaua Veche 9.
With its award-winning design and rich heritage, this venue continues to be a landmark in Bucharest’s landscape, attracting both locals and tourists eager to discover the charm of the past blended with contemporary refinement.