The “Pescăruș” restaurant is one of the gastronomic and cultural landmarks of Bucharest. Built in 1938 according to the plans of architect Horia Creangă, the restaurant appeared even before Herăstrău Park (today King Michael I Park) was landscaped. In fact, the park was later developed around the restaurant, turning the area into a promenade and meeting spot for the people of Bucharest.

Located on the lake’s shore, “Pescăruș” was, from the very beginning, a place frequented by those who wanted to combine walks in the open air with a meal in an elegant atmosphere. At its inauguration, Bucharest was undergoing a modernization phase, and the restaurant quickly became one of the city’s most sought-after places. Unfortunately, its years of freedom were short-lived – after the communist regime took over, the restaurant was nationalized and turned into one of the favorite venues of the party elite.

The favorite place of the communist nomenklatura

It was during the communist era that “Pescăruș” cemented its reputation. Members of the Communist Party, led by Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej, frequented the restaurant almost daily. Dej had his own private salon with a separate entrance and restroom, and the waiters were used to his generous tips. Often, he was accompanied by prominent figures of the time, such as Ana Pauker.

Later, Nicolae Ceaușescu’s son, Nicu, became a regular guest. In an era marked by shortages and endless queues for basic foods, the young Ceaușescu organized extravagant parties at “Pescăruș”, events that became part of the city’s folklore. The refined atmosphere, fine dishes, and rare drinks made the restaurant inaccessible to ordinary people, yet deeply cherished by those at the top of the political hierarchy.

Among the few places where you could find Coca Cola

One of the details that enhanced the restaurant’s legendary aura was its access to products that were almost impossible to find in communist Romania. Among the few places in Bucharest where you could order Coca Cola or Pepsi Cola, “Pescăruș” offered an exclusive experience. At a time when regular citizens had limited access to basic goods, the simple fact that a restaurant served a Western beverage was a clear sign of privilege.

Alongside Coca Cola, clients could enjoy imported cigarettes and fine liquors, all in an age when luxury was beyond the reach of most. This difference consolidated “Pescăruș” as a symbol of a parallel world, one where the elites lived by rules entirely different from the rest of the population.

A place visited by international personalities

The prestige of the restaurant was not limited to the domestic scene. “Pescăruș” was visited by prominent international figures such as chess master Anatoli Kasparov, King Juan Carlos of Spain, and former Israeli president Shimon Peres. The restaurant thus became a showcase through which Romania displayed its “hospitality” during a period of political and economic isolation.

What happened after 1989

The fall of communism brought major changes for “Pescăruș”. Without the support of the political elite and faced with the building’s degradation, the restaurant went through a difficult period. Its status as a historical monument made restorations complicated and costly, and the heavy atmosphere of its communist past made it hard to adapt to the new tastes of the people of Bucharest.

A real revival came in 2015, when the restaurant was purchased and renovated. The work preserved heritage elements – the original floors, wall finishes, and some of the light fixtures – while adding a modern air suitable for a venue aiming to regain its place as a public attraction. Today, “Pescăruș” once again serves as a meeting point, while maintaining its historic aura.

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“Pescăruș,” between legend and reality

Looking back, the story of “Pescăruș” reflects the history of Bucharest itself: a mix of modernity and constraint, elegance and restriction. If before the war the restaurant was a symbol of urban refinement, during communism it became the emblem of a privileged world, inaccessible to most. The presence of Coca Cola on its menu – a rarity in Romania of the 1970s and 1980s – says a lot about the paradoxes of the time.

Today, both locals and tourists who step inside “Pescăruș” discover a renovated place, but one still charged with history. The restaurant remains a meeting point between past and present, between urban legends and the modern reality of a city that never ceases to reinvent itself.