National Wine Day and Chișinău's Cathedral: where to eat in Moldova
A selection of restaurants in Chișinău, Orhei and Bălți for a walk on National Wine Day and near the Metropolitan Cathedral.
National Wine Day is a reason to head to the city center, walk to the Nativity Cathedral, and not rush home. After the tastings and a long walk, you'll want to sit down at a table — with a glass, without hurry, and preferably nearby. We've gathered places from the catalog that fit different scenarios for this day: from a private dinner with company to a family lunch with kids.
Near the center: for groups and a private evening
If the holiday turns into an occasion to gather loved ones around one table, it's worth stopping by HOME by Beleacov - Private Rooms. Located on Mitropolitul Varlaam, within walking distance of the center, the place operates by prior reservation and offers three hall formats: a cozy one for 10 people, a medium one for 20, and a spacious one for up to 60. For a private dinner after a walk by the cathedral — an option worth booking in advance.
For a lighter format where you can linger with a glass, Apero Chic - Rooftop Bar on Strada Pușkin fits well — a wine bar with a cocktail menu, where the wine celebration can naturally continue into the evening.
Family lunch between festivities
If you're going to the celebration with kids, it makes more sense to look for a place with a children's area and a terrace. Korjik Family Cafe in Botanica is exactly that: a large menu, an open terrace, open around the clock, so it's easy to fit into your walking schedule. The average check here is one of the most affordable in the selection — around 250 MDL.
If you'd like to find other options for an outing with kids, the catalog has a separate selection of restaurants for family time in Chișinău.
Georgian table for long gatherings
After wine, something hearty and warm fits well. Mimino on Strada Arborilor keeps exactly this format: Adjarian khachapuri, lamb khinkali, homemade liqueurs — on a weekday lunch it's calmer here, in the evening it gets crowded, but the place works both for a group and for a couple. The average check is around 350 MDL.
A quiet evening for two
If the holiday bustle has already worn you out, you can retreat to a calm dinner. Mentogohan on Strada Pantelimon Halippa is a Japanese restaurant with a menu that changes every week: a set lunch with soup and salad, ramen, sushi with good fish. The place suits a one-on-one conversation or a business meeting, without unnecessary noise.
If you need a simpler and faster sushi option, Tokyo Sushi operates in Chișinău on Strada Constantin Vârnav — with delivery and a calm atmosphere, no smoking inside.
If you want to continue the celebration outside the city
National Wine Day is celebrated not only in Chișinău. In Orhei, in Peresecina, you'll find Josper Grill-Restaurant — a meat-focused place where everything is cooked on a Spanish grill. The open terrace and parking make it a convenient stop on the way to the wineries. And in Bălți, you can stop by Restaurant VISPAS, if the celebration catches you in the north of the country.
In short
National Wine Day is a good reason to walk through the city differently: stop by the cathedral, linger over a glass, and choose a table not out of habit, but by mood. If none of the options above suited you, the full list of restaurants in Moldova, with filters by city, cuisine, and average check, is in the catalog.
