University / Romana Square

Student and young professional area with local atmosphere and decent nightlife. Less touristy and cheaper than Old Town, safe to walk with active streets, lots of cafes where eating alone is normal. Good if you want local energy without tourist crowds.

Students, young professionals, and locals hang out here - less touristy than Old Town but still active. During the day university students work on laptops in cafes while office workers grab lunch. At night the area lights up and sidewalk cafes stay busy past midnight. The crowd is younger and more Romanian than Old Town - students and young professionals who actually live and work nearby. Salon Golescu does daytime lounging and evening drinks, Ceramic Cafe lets you paint ceramics over coffee. Eating alone is standard since students and workers do it constantly while studying or working. The younger crowd speaks English, though you'll hear more Romanian than in tourist spots. Prices are more reasonable and the vibe feels less manufactured than tourist areas. Streets stay lit and busy late, which helps with safety, but pay attention on quieter side streets.