Living in Brașov: Farmer’s Markets, Supermarkets & Food Shops

I’ve spent a lot of time staying in Brașov, and now I’m officially a resident, so I’m well-versed in the local markets, supermarkets and other food shops. It’s a good city to live in, and there are lots of things to do in Brasov.

There are many options for food shopping, including farmers’ markets, supermarkets, and other food shops. For less frequent purchases, Brasov has a few good shopping malls and other independent shops.

To supplement this page, I have created a guide to free ATMs in the city and various places to do laundry.

Farmer’s Markets in Brasov for Fresh Local Food

I really enjoy visiting farmers’ markets wherever we travel, and there are a few good options in Brasov. These tend to specialise in local and seasonal produce and can be a fun place to visit. I usually have a browse through, then pop to the market bar to ponder what to buy on the current jaunt.

Piața Astra

Piața Astra, just outside of the central areas in the Astra district of Brașov, is the most vibrant food market in the city. There are lots of stalls and shops at the edge. I found Piaţa Astra to have a wider choice of food than the other markets in Braşov. First, they have some amazing fruit and vegetable stalls to pick up my greens.

One of the big draws for me is the specialist butchers that sell steak. I find most supermarkets and butchers don’t have the range of steak cuts that Piața Astra does. They also have a few bakeries and other food shops, which make it a great place for food shopping.

They also have many non-food stalls at Piața Astra, which is handy and makes the trip to the market interesting. Piața Astra also has a few bars and places to eat. The markets open at 7 am daily except for Sundays, which start at 8 am. You can find out their opening hours and read some reviews on their Google Maps listing.

Market at Star Shopping Mall

In the Brasov city centre, near the Mount Tampa promenade, is the Star Shopping Mall. They have a handy, centrally located food market that sells nice produce. Outside in the square, they have some lovely greengrocers selling fruit and vegetables. I’ve found the vegetables I’ve purchased from here to be of good quality, and the prices are good.

In addition to the outdoor stalls, Star Shopping Mall also has an indoor market with various stalls. My favourite is the local cheese stall that has some delicious Romanian cheeses. I usually end up with far too much, as they don’t seem to sell small portions. They also have a butcher and a few other shops in the market area. As it’s part of a shopping mall, there are other stores to visit nearby too, including a Carrefour supermarket in the basement.

Piața Sfatului Market

In Piața Sfatulu, there is a weekly market on a Friday which sells some local goods, including local cheeses, cured meats, chutneys and some other produce. The honey stall is great, and when required, they have lots of different options to choose from.

It’s not a full-on food market and is geared more towards tourists. However, it’s nice for a mooch around.

This market is in a beautiful location in the old town of Brașov and is well worth popping in if visiting the city. But it’s not a place for food shopping. There are loads of bars and restaurants nearby, which enhance the visit and are a good place to make purchasing decisions.

Piata Privata Craiter

On the road out of Brasov, towards Harman, is Piata Privata Craiter. This is a former bus station turned into a market with a few stalls. It’s not my favourite, as it seems very empty. However, it’s next to Lidl, so it’s worthwhile popping in. They have a few food stalls in the market selling fruit and vegetables, but I’ve yet to see it busy.

They have a pleasant bar and restaurant next to the markets, which adds to the experience for me. It’s next to a wine shop that also has good options. There are no advertised opening hours, so it’s a hit-or-miss affair to pop in. Hopefully, the market grows. I’m sure I’ll find out when it does.

Supermarkets in Brașov

Brașov has many supermarket options, including small local shops for essentials and larger ones. The major supermarket chains in Brașov are Carrefour, Kaufland, Auchan, Mega Image, Profi and Lidl. Each has its plus points for me. However, they all mostly stock the essentials. You can pick up fresh fruit, vegetables and popular meats at most of these, including the smaller supermarkets.

As I love cooking a range of international dishes, I visit all the supermarket options to get the required ingredients. I find the bigger stores offer more options for meats and spices, which is essential for me. These are the plus points for me.

Mega Image

Mega Image has a fantastic warm food counter, and from testing, they supply the best rotisserie chicken, which is great for a quick, easy meal. They also sell the best value sun-dried tomatoes so far.

They have good options for essentials, and their fruit and vegetables are of great quality. Mega Image also has a loyalty card; they give you discounts on various products.

Lidl

Lidl is a place I enjoy shopping, and they seem to have different things than many of the mainstream supermarkets. They also sell some delicious cheeses, including farmhouse cheddar.

For me, this is where I head if I want a steak dinner. They use the cut names I’m familiar with, unlike everywhere else. They get a thumbs up from me for sirloin and ribeye steaks.

I found it a good place to pick up sauces like pesto and pasta. Lidl also has a nice bakery with some wonderful bread options. They are also good for stocking the pantry. Lidl seems to have cheaper options and more for tinned goods.

Auchan: A Supermarket At Coresi Shopping Mall

Auchan is an enormous supermarket in the Coresi Shopping Mall in Brasov. It has sections for food, drinks, clothing, and homeware; it is a one-stop shop. Auchan has an amazing selection of foods; thus, it is a great place for a shopping trip. Their cheese selection is rather impressive, including cheeses I’ve not seen elsewhere, like Neufchâtel, a cheese we enjoyed in Dieppe. The supermarket has self-service checkouts and manned tills.

Carrefour

Cheddar cheese is one thing I miss from home, and Carrefour supermarket is the best place to find it. The small stores seem to only stock one variety, Kerrygold mature Cheddar cheese, which is nice. Their larger stores have even more options, including my favourite, Castello extra mature.

The larger stores have more options for meats, and they usually purchase beef and lamb options when visiting. They also have a bit more diversity in terms of herbs and spices. If you keep your eyes peeled, they also have a small international section. This has some interesting spice blends, including harissa, ras el hanout and some Asian flavours.

The supermarkets also have a hot food counter selling various ready-to-eat pork and chicken options. One thing I highly recommend is their cabbage salad as a side dish. This is delicious and moreish. They also have a bakery; one standout option is their olive bread.

Shopping Malls in Brașov

There are various shopping malls to visit in Brașov, and most have a supermarket and food hall too, which adds to the shopping experience for me.

AFI Shopping Mall

AFI is a mall just out of Brașov and is rather nice. It has a reasonable range of clothes shops, including some designer clothing stores. It also has a sports shop selling sports shoes, clothing, and equipment. I’ve also shopped at LC Waikiki and a posh shirt shop.

One observation about living in Romania is that any shoe bigger than size 12 is like finding a unicorn. The same with shirts with a collar larger than 17 inches. Both of these are problematic; however, it’s a good excuse to do a city break abroad. Finding large T-shirts and shorts seems slightly easier but requires some searching and limited choices.

AFI has one of the best Carrefour supermarkets in Brașov, and they have some great options for food products. At AFI, there are also some cake shops and those selling chocolate too.

Upstairs, there is a food hall with all the usual suspects, including American corporations such as McDonald’s, KFC, and Taco Bell. They also have Sergiana, which serves good-quality Romanian food. A unique aspect of this shopping mall is its outside terrace with views of Mount Tampa.