Bucharest: Markets and Mahallas Small Group or Private Tour

Your Bucharest tour begins at the National Theatre, the geographical and administrative heart of the city. Absorb all that sociopolitical history before taking a short walk to Strada Batistei, formerly known as the 'St Germain' of Bucharest and the site of the old American embassy, now an overgrown testament to different times. We’ll then make our way to the Armenian quarter. Based around the Armenian church, their mahalla (neighbourhood) features a spectacular variety of architectural styles from all over Europe and the Ottoman empire. After, we'll experience the quintessential Bucharest public transport: a short ride on a tram. Rattling along the famous Mosilor Street, you’ll enter Communist Bucharest, with its regimented blocks and housing projects, as you make your way to the famous Obor Market. This market is the largest and most famous of all the peasant markets in Bucharest. Since you’ll be on the trail of the sights, scents, and tastes of Romanian cuisine, we’ll stop just before the market for a drink of traditional Romanian tuica (brandy) to prepare the palate. That's why we'll accompany it by a truly traditional "peasant platter" with 4 staple Romanian dips: aubergine, zacusca, whipped beans and fish roe, fresh and matured cheeses (telemea and burduf), cracklings (yum!), sausages, smoked bacon, red onions, tomatoes, toast. And of course a glass of local beer or wine or soft drink. Next, after such a big introduction into Romanian cuisine, we'll stretch our legs a bit and we’ll enter the indoor market proper to sample a range of Romanian cheeses: cow, sheep, and goat. Probably the most famous and typical of Romanian foods — at least for Romanians — is called mici (a kind of skinless sausage), served with mustard and cold beer, and every Romanian has their own opinion about where and how the best ones are made. And finally, because your gastronomic adventure would not be complete without a dessert, we’ll grab a sweet Wallachian doughnut, served piping hot, before sending you happily on your way home.