Obor

Obor is one of those places where you feel the real, unfiltered Bucharest. The heart of the district is Piața Obor, one of the city's largest and oldest markets, with roots going back centuries to the trade fairs once held on the edge of town — a loud, lively place crowded with stalls of vegetables, cheeses, flowers and just about everything else. It is the kind of market that has fed the city for generations and still pulls in shoppers from across Bucharest.

What to eat

Obor's fame runs through its mici: grilled rolls of minced meat, served simply with mustard and bread, are almost an institution and a reason in themselves to come. You queue, you order by the piece, you eat standing up — it's unpretentious street food, exactly as it should be. For sit-down options, see the local restaurants too, but honestly, you come here for the market atmosphere and the smoke off the grills.

The vibe

Authentic, working-class, unvarnished. Obor isn't pretty in the tourist sense, but it's honest and full of life, with an energy the polished northern quarters lack. It's a place to watch the city go about its everyday business. The Veranda mall is right next door if you want the contrast of a modern, air-conditioned space after the bustle of the stalls.

Getting there

The area is a well-served transport hub: there's the Obor metro stop and numerous surface lines converging here, which makes it easy to reach from most of the city. Check public transport for details. To see how Obor links to the rest of the city, head to the neighbourhoods page.