Lipscani - Bucharest Historic Centre

The area of Bucharest described by the river to the south, Calea Victoriei to the west, Brătianu to the east and Regina Elisabeta to the north is more or less all that’s left of pre-World War II Bucharest.
What the war didn’t destroy, the grandiose Civic Centre project during communism did. It saw almost a fifth of the total area of the city flattened to make way for Bulevardul Unirii and Casa Poporului. That anything survives at all is little short of a miracle. And you'll find many such evidences around the area.

Lipscani Zoom image Van Gogh Caffe 2

Nowadays

As we write, much of Lipscani is, if not exactly inaccessible, then rather difficult to navigate. A number of streets were dug up ahead of planned street repairs before quite simply being abandoned. The problem? The discovery of archaelogical ruins, which delayed work indefinitely, and an almighty row between Bucharest city council and the contractor, a Spanish company. Str. Lipscani itself, however, was at least repaved in time for Bucharest's 550th birthday party in September 2009.

Not that entrepreneurs have been put off, far from it. This year, more cafes, restaurants, bars and clubs have opened than ever before in the Old Town area. We counted a grand total of 65 venues (bars, pubs, restaurants, cafes and hotels) on our last trawl of the area in September. At least a third are new this year.