The restaurant market in Romania’s capital Bucharest reached some RON 4.89 billion (EUR 1.07 billion) in 2017, according to a study by Hospitality Culture Institute.

The restaurant market in five of Romania’s largest cities, namely Bucharest, Timisoara, Cluj-Napoca, Iasi and Brasov, amounts to RON 7.24 billion (EUR 1.58 billion). Almost half of the market, namely 46%, is represented by sitting restaurants, according to the same study.

Hospitality Culture Institute carried out two studies, one on the sitting and one on the delivery market. Some 800 urban Romanians over 18 participated in this study.

The study revealed that 87% of those questioned in Bucharest and 81% of those outside the capital went to the restaurant or ordered food at home at least once in the last six months. Most respondents prefer restaurants with Romanian food.

However, the restaurant location is even more important than the food it serves. Half of those interviewed said they spend between RON 30 and RON 50 on a restaurant meal.

editor@romania-insider.com