Hanul lui Manuc

Manuc's Inn is one of the best-known and most picturesque places in old Bucharest, a han, that is a caravanserai, built in the early 19th century, in 1808, by a wealthy Armenian merchant, Manuc Bei, a novelistic figure, diplomat and businessman. It is one of the few old inns preserved in the capital, with a spectacular inner courtyard ringed by two levels of wooden galleries, exactly as it looked when it lodged merchants and travellers arriving from every corner of the Orient and Europe.

Today the inn operates as a restaurant and event venue, and its courtyard remains one of the most photographed images in the Old Town. To have a meal or a coffee here, beneath the wooden galleries, is an experience that carries you back two centuries, in the very heart of the historic centre. The place also carries a particular historical weight: the negotiations for the Russo-Turkish peace treaty of 1812 were held here, and pages of the city's history were written within its walls.

Good to know

• You can step into the courtyard to admire the architecture; for a meal, a restaurant booking is advisable in busy periods, especially in the evening and at weekends.
• It stands right beside the Old Princely Court and Piața Unirii, in the heart of the Old Town, and is very easy to find.
• Combine the visit with the area's other attractions and, in the evening, with nearby clubs.

Even if you do not eat here, a glance into the courtyard of Manuc's Inn is one of the loveliest memories of old Bucharest, a corner that has kept the atmosphere of times past.