The favorite streets for shopping are Calea Victoriei, Bulevardul General Magheru and Calea Vitan where you will find stores selling clothing, jewelry, music, antiques, and handicrafts. You will find quality merchandise in local stores and you will also see chain stores that are known worldwide. Most of the imported merchandise is expensive but the best buys are antiques and handicrafts made in Romania. The folk crafts such as embroidered clothing, hand painted Easter Eggs, pottery, carpets and carvings are top quality yet very inexpensive. Another popular place to buy Romanian goods is the shops located in the Peasant Museum and the Village Museum.

Shops generally open 0900-1800 on weekdays and until 1400 Saturdays (some department stores open until 2000 or 2100 weekdays). Tax-free shopping is available for purchases over US$125. To get tax back, you must fill out a form which is available from most shops.

Shops offering clothing for the younger generation and students are everywhere, and local clothing products are reasonably priced and more than not, offering an impressive collection. The men’s selection is not extensive, but usually is good quality - depending on where you go. Listed below is a collection of the best known places, but just walking around the centers of towns and cities will bring you across many small outlets stocking impressive and well-priced goods. In Bucharest, the best areas to stroll around are Calea Victoriei, Bld. Magheru, Lipscani, and Piata Unirii.

Find below a selection of some of the finest places to shop:

Little Big
This chain of stores offers a great collection of well-made jeans, trendy trousers, tops and dresses, and accessories for the 15-40 year old age group. Prices are extremely reasonable and quality is very good. The shop girls are always extremely helpful and happy - shock, horror I know!

Done
Calea Victoriei Nr.68-70
Bucharest 1
Mon - Sat 10.00 - 20.00
This shop has become famous for its use of real-life models in its windows. Quite pretentious atmosphere, and you won’t get a lot of assistance, but there is a good selection of trousers, skirts, tops, dresses, coats, shoes, perfumes, make-up and accessories that will take you back again and again. Prices are reasonably good.

Escape Fashion
Calea Victoriei Nr.101
(through archway into small opening with 4 shops)
Mon - Sat 10.00 - 20.00
Excellent shop for those ‘clubbers’ out there. Young vibrant Romanian owners have made this small shop great to explore, with funky clothes (some designed by the owner himself), hair colourants and sprays and trendy jewery. The latest club music buzzing away while you look through the small collection is enough to make you think you are back in Soho. Well worth a visit.

Benetton
Calea Victoriei
(opposite the Military Academy)
This well known Italian chain of clothes stores has two branchs in Bucharest. There is a good collection of their clothing line, and prices are the same as you would expect in any Benetton store around the world.

Kookai
Str Putul lui Zamfir 6A (Near Piata Dorobantilor)
Tel.: 210 81 79
Mon - Sat 10.00 - 20.00
Very welcome to Bucharest when first opened, Kookai offers a small but reasonable collection of their well-known international collections.

Morgan
Calea Victoriei
(opposite Hotel Continental)
Only recently opened in Romania, Morgan sells well-made clothes ranging from funky trousers and tops, to the more sedate smart dresses and casual wear.

Eva
Bd Magheru Nr.9
Bucharest 1
Tel.: 613 65 77
Mon - Fri 08.00 - 20.00; Sat 10.00 - 15.00
Offering a more sedate selection of women’s clothing, and at cheap prices, Eva also sells a good collection of perfumes and cosmetics.

Griffes
Piata Unirii Nr.6
Bucharest 1
Mon - Fri 10.30 - 19.00; Sat 10.00 - 16.00
The men’s section has well-chosen, upscale clothing and accessories from England, Italy and France. Women may find elegant suits and dresses, mostly in brown or black, and nice scarves. Prices are high, but quality is good.

Steilmann
Bd Magheru Nr.1-5, Sector 1
Calea Victoriei, Sector 1
Mon - Fri 10.00 - 20.00; Sat 10.00 - 16.00
High quality clothing for both sexes, from Romania and Germany. A good selection of expensive casual and professional clothing. Pastel colours such as light yellow, green and blue are prevalent. Elegant accessories.

La Madonette
Str. Ion Campineanu Nr.9
Bucharest 1
Mon - Fri 10.00 - 19.00; Sat 10.00 - 14.00
A chic French collection for any season, at reasonable prices.

Stefanel
Calea Victoriei Nr.81-83
Bucharest 1
Mon 11.00 - 19.30; Tue - Fri 10.00 - 19.30; Sat 10.00 - 17.00
A good selection of the well-known Italian collection of clothing for business and pleasure. Impressive layout and assistance.

Bliss
Bld Magheru Nr.22
Bucharest 1
Mon 13.00 - 19.00; Tue - Fri 10.00 - 19.00; Sat 10.00 - 16.00
High quality, expensive conservative clothing for men, with elegant accessories. If you want things that last this is the place to come, but prices are high.

Tiffany & Tomato
Calea Mosilor Nr.198
Bucharest 2
Mon - Sat 10.00 - 20.00
Tel.: 210 95 90
A good collection of golf tweeds and warm raincoats. Jeans, T-shirts, pulovers for any size and season. Reasonable prices.

Stefanie Anais
Bd Magheru Nr.2-4
Bucharest 1
Mon - Fri 10.00 - 20.00; Sat 10.00 - 16.00
A beautiful collection of suits, dresses and evening gowns with a trendy romantic style. Some of the most expensive clothes in town.

Via Spiza
Calea Moųilor 262, Bl. 8
Bucharest 2
Mon - Fri 10.00 - 20.00; Sat 10.00 - 16.00
Tel.: 2122 709, 2528 032
Marvelous shop that has designer labels from Italy. High quality awaits you for day or evening wear.

Romanian Designers
During your trips around town, try some Romanian designers and buy an original piece. Comfortable hand-made clothes and wonderful accessories are available, and - more often than not - designers are glad to make chosen changes to the clothing should you so wish.

Levintza & Botez
Franklin Nr.5
Bucharest 1
Mon - Sun 10.00 - 20.00
You will find the work of the Romanian designer Doina Levintza here. Levintza is a professional designer with several exhibitions and fashions shows abroad. Her clothes represent a return to the warm colours of nature. Original skirts and dresses with wooden or straw accessories.

Janine
Bd Magheru Nr.1-3
Bucharest 1
Tue - Sat 10.00 - 22.00; Sun 13.00 - 22.00
Tel.: 210 16 41
Janine offers a particular style with a collection of suits, dresses and evening gowns in green and red. Clothes that you can wear on special occasions.

Rebeca Rita
Calea Floreasca Nr.101
Bucharest 1
Mon - Fri 10.00 - 19.00; Sat 10.00 - 16.00
Tel.: 230 27 34
Fashionable and trendy clothes for any season. Reasonable prices and accessories.

Miss Moda
Academiei Nr.1
Bucharest 1
Mon - Fri 10.00 - 20.00; Sat 10.00 - 14.00
An impressive collection of Romanian-made clothes. Suits, dresses, evening gowns and pants in fashionable designs that you can wear. Each piece is unique - which can result in uneven quality. Look at the material carefully.

Accessories

Dada
Tache Ionescu Nr.1
Bucharest 1
Mon - Fri 10.00 - 20.00
High-quality, stylish leather belts, handbags and wallets. It is expensive, but whatever you buy here will probably last a lifetime.

Done
Calea Victoriei Nr.68-70
Bucharest 1
Mon - Sat 10.00 - 20.00
Quality leather backpacks, belts and briefcases. Nice ties at good value.

Shoes

Scarpe Diem
Bdul I C Bratianu Nr.18
Mon - Fri 09.00 - 20.00; Sat 09.00 - 14.00
Italian shoes with an elegant classical line, and very strong. Original clasps. About the same prices as in Italy.

Superb
Str. I Campineanu Nr.11
Bucharest 1
Mon - Fri 08.00 - 20.00; Sat 08.00 - 14.00
One of the most extensive selections of Romanian and English shoes. Casual and professional styles as well as shoes for special occasions.

Moda Costanzo
I C Bratianu Nr.44
Bucharest 1
Mon - Fri 10.00 - 13.00; 14.00 - 19.00; Sat 10.00 - 14.00
Italian shoes for any season. An extensive collection of elegant shoes including flat and high-heeled sandals. Good prices.

Lingerie

Castel
Visarion Nr.1
Bucharest 1
Mon - Fri 10.00 - 21.00; Sat 10.00 - 18.00; Sun 10.00 - 17.00
Elegant pieces of lingerie are sold here. Pretty expensive, but of high quality.

Rafaelli
Calea Mosilor Nr.168, Bl.14
Mon - Fri 10.00 - 20.00; Sat 10.00 - 18.00
An extensive collection of Italian lingerie of silk and lace. Any colour and size. About the same prices as in Italy.

Dry Cleaner Recommended

Ama-Ecol
Bd Nicolae Titulescu Nr.95-103, Bl.3
Tel.: 222 23 17
Mon - Fri 08.00 - 20.00; Sat 08.00 - 14.00
Extremely high quality dry-cleaners, with very efficient service and facilities. Prices are very low, and your clothes will look like new within hours. Friendly and professional staff, and their will always be someone who speaks English. Urgent dry cleaning (ie. within 2 hours) is available for an extra cost. You will never want to wash your own clothes again!


Looking for that top-quality, top-label piece of clothing or make-up? Try a stroll around the World Trade Center Shopping Gallery.

Cosmetics & Hairstyling
There are hundreds of hair and beauty salons. The best thing to do is to poke your head through the door of any you pass and just get a general idea, but be careful - some have procedures that date back to the last century and you may find yourself emerging from a salon looking like a heavily made up Margaret Thatcher with orange hair and a strained neck if you are not careful! The places listed below all offer consistent, good services, and are the best known to the international community. Another option in Bucharest for hairstyling are the independent stylists who make house-calls - ask friends. For men, most barbers in the main cities and towns are extremely reliable - you can’t really go wrong with a “Short back and sides, please”!

Blues Line
World Trade Center
Bd Expozitiei Nr.2
Bucharest
Tel.: 223 38 52
Very well known to expatriates in Bucharest, this salon is expensive but extremely professional, and offers numerous services including hairdressing for men and women, manicures and pedicures, wax treatment, etc. Very popular, so appointments should be made well in advance. English and French speaking staff.

Salon MonaLisa
Bd Iancu de Hunedoara Nr.2-6
Bucharest 1
Tel.: 650 49 33
This salon offers hairdressing, manicures and pedicures, facials, gymnastics, massages, sauna and solarium. Run by local staff, mainly only speaking Romanian, but there is always someone who speaks English or French. Good service at very reasonable prices. Facilities are clean and professional. Treat yourself to a wash and blowdry every other day for only 80,000 lei a go!!

Blondi
Stirbei Voda Nr.2-4
Bucharest
Tel.: 614 01 43

Cella Femina
Bd Ion Mihalache Nr.106, Bl.84
(used to be Bd 1 Mai)
Bucharest 1
Tel.: 666 28 32

Cosmetics
As with hair and beauty, establishments selling various ranges of cosmetics are everywhere - but quality and prices can range greatly. Many stock cosmetics from world famous houses such as Dior, Lancome, Guerlain, Boss, Armani, Lauder, Revlon, Kenzo, etc, and in addition, regularly also stock excellent collections of perfumes. There are highly-qualified and extremely helpful assistants speaking English and French as well as Romanian, and many have been trained by the cosmetic houses they represent.

Dumarex
Calea Victoriei
Mon - Fri 08.30 - 20.30; Sat 10.00 - 18.00

Estee Lauder
Calea Victoriei Nr.100
Bucharest 1
Mon - Fri 09.00 - 20.00; Sat 10.00 - 18.00

Ina Center
Str. Rosetti Nr.14
Bucarest 1
Mon - Fri 09.00 - 20.00; Sat 10.00 - 18.00

Privilege International
Str. I Campineanu Nr.11
Bucharest 1
Mon - Fri 09.00 - 20.00; Sat 10.00 - 18.00

Maison Niran
Calea Victoriei Nr.134
Bucharest 1
Mon - Fri 09.00 - 20.00; Sat 10.00 - 18.00

Folie Douces - Paris
Strada Lipscani Nr.68
Bucharest 3
Mon - Sat 10.00 - 20.00

Flowers

Chris Style
Piata Romana Nr.9
Bucharest 1
Mon - Sat 08.00 - 20.00
A nice and friendly flower shop. You can also order ornate arrangements for decoration, and special deliveries are accepted.

Amzei Market
Near Piata Romana
Bucharest 1
A non-stop flower market selling not only local flowers but also exotic rare flowers.