Cotroceni

Quiet residential area with old villas, the Botanical Garden, and local character. Safe and peaceful but few restaurants and no nightlife. For people who want authentic residential life and don't mind traveling to other areas for food and going out.

The Romanian President's residence and the Botanical Garden sit here among 19th-century villas on streets lined with old linden trees. During the day locals walk dogs, families visit the Botanical Garden, people relax at small cafes like Ceainăria Infinitea. The crowd is mostly Romanian residents - families, older couples, professionals who live here. Quiet and peaceful, feels removed from the city even though it's still central. English is less common than in tourist or business areas, but people are friendly enough. The few restaurants and cafes do traditional Romanian food at local prices, not tourist markups. Eating alone works at the tearooms and local places, though the vibe is more family-oriented. Safety is solid - residential area where people walk around anytime. Limited dining and nightlife though, so you'll taxi to other neighborhoods for evening stuff. Good if you want real residential Bucharest with safety and quiet.