Built in the 1880s as a posh restaurant and hotel, the Restaurant Capşa has become internationally reputed. Shortly after Romania’s entry into World War I, half of the country was under occupation. Well, Capşa became an important meeting club of the occupation army, a sort of club of the superiors of the said army.

Stories of the old tell how a general of the occupation army, a regular guest of the restaurant, having his coffee after lunch, spits on the floor to his right. The waiter, not saying a thing, brings a silvery bowl and puts it on the table for his guest’s convenience, on the side where he had previously spit. After a while, the guest, the general, spits again, now on his left. The waiter duly takes the bowl and moves it on the other side of the table. The general, really annoyed, told him, “If you don’t take that thing immediately away, I’ll spit in it!” not realising the bowl was intended exactly for this purpose.

The building (restaurant and hotel) has the very French look that was so modern at the end of the 19th century in Bucharest. The restaurant is highly specialised in French food and also serves some Romanian dishes. For a three-course meal, including drinks, one should count on around spending $20. The hotel itself re-opened in 2003 after a rather long break and offers the usual services of a five-star hotel.

I recommend it anytime to anyone wanting a special dinner out in town. The staff at Capşa can actually do the dinner special for you.