There are over 1000 restaurants and 300 coffee shops in the Romanian capital, where officially reside approximately 2 million people, according to real estate consultant Eurisko. In Paris thee are 30,000 restaurants and coffee shops, but the French capital has a populace of 10 million citizens.

On a short and medium term the brands’ expansion is essential and so is the structuring of the market, says Florina Cojocari, senior broker of Eurisko Retail Department.

The HORECA market is characterised by retailers and franchise holders. The retailers prefer the central locations. The monthly rent for a restaurant may ranges between 15-30 Euros/sqm. The restaurant owners prefer the villas with old architecture, and surfaces of 150 -400 sqm. A fast-food restaurant entails a surface of 50 – 150 sqm in a concentrated traffic area.

Coffee shops emerged and developed on street, at the ground floor of office buildings, in shopping malls and in the commercial galleries. The best locations for coffee shops in Bucharest are Dorobanti, Piata Amzei-Ateneu, Piata Romana, historical center, Piata Universitatii, Rosetti, Unirii. Old buildings, with special architecture, and large windows are most wanted.

However, the rent in these areas is prohibitive. In Piata Romana, a monthly rent is 130 Euros/sqm +VAT. The coffee shops surfaces range between 80-150 sqm. In the office buildings, the coffee shops mostly address the businesspersons in the area, and focus on breakfast and lunch. In the shopping malls, there are ground floor and fashion floor coffee shops, and food court coffee shops.

The "La mama" chain of restaurants will expand with a three-level unit, during this year. The total surface is 800 sqm, half to be destined for customers. The investment amounts to 300,000 Euros.