Zissou Coffee Shop

Zissou started as a family business in 2019 and describes itself, only half joking, as probably the smallest specialty coffee shop in Bucharest, a tiny Cotroceni counter that built a loyal following despite barely having room to stand. Rather than running its own roastery, Zissou sources beans from a rotating lineup of respected roasters from around the world, meaning the origin on the menu genuinely changes with whatever the team has found and liked, and regulars have come to trust that rotation rather than expecting one house blend every visit.

The shop has since added a second, larger location at Obor, but the original Doctor Joseph Lister counter keeps the same close, personal feel that built its name, small enough that the same few staff know most of the regulars by their order. A chai latte gets singled out often enough in the winter months that it has become something of a house specialty alongside the espresso menu.