Cărturești Carusel is the famous bookstore on Strada Lipscani in Bucharest’s Old Town. Behind its white façade, curved staircases and balconies open around a tall central atrium, with bookshelves on several levels and a café at the top. It is an easy stop while walking through the centre, even if you only have time for a quick look.
I visited on a busy Saturday afternoon and photographed the shop from the entrance up to the café. The English shelves, record bins and gift sections deserve a look too. Give yourself a little time to browse as you make your way upstairs.
Cărturești Carusel at a Glance
Visitor quick guide · Cărturești Carusel
Bookstore ratings checked 3 October 2026 · Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice 2026 · scores and review counts can change.
Why Visit Cărturești Carusel?
The architecture is the main reason many visitors come here. White columns, decorative arches and curved railings frame the shelves, and the glass roof brings daylight into the middle of the building. From the upper balconies, you can look down through the different levels.
It also works well as a shopping stop. You can browse Romanian and English books, choose a notebook or a gift, look through vinyl records, then go upstairs for a coffee. Entry is free, so it is simple to fit into an Old Town walk.
The History of Cărturești Carusel
The building belongs to the story of the Chrissoveloni banking family. Nicolae Chrissoveloni bought the property in 1903, and the present building was constructed in 1904, replacing an older structure on the site. The bookstore’s own history and the restoration engineers’ account describe the building’s changing uses.
- 1903–1904: The Chrissoveloni family acquired the property and rebuilt it.
- Communist period: The property was nationalised and used for commercial purposes, including the Familia clothing store.
- After 1989: The shop closed and the building deteriorated.
- 2010–2015: A major rehabilitation strengthened and restored the building.
- February 2015: Cărturești Carusel opened as a bookstore.
Architect Georgeta Gabrea and Capitel Avangarde led the building’s rehabilitation, while Square One designed the bookstore interior. The smaller intermediate levels were introduced within the tall original spaces, creating the balconies you see today.
Exploring the Bookstore
The Entrance and Central Atrium
The entrance is directly on Lipscani. Once you step inside, the open atrium gives you a good sense of the shop: books line the sides, stairs curve around the columns, and visitors move between the balconies above. The tables near the entrance hold book displays and changing recommendations.
During my visit, the Romanian fiction bestseller table was clearly labelled “Bestseller Ficțiune”. If you are looking for an English title, continue through the book sections rather than judging the selection from this first display.
The Balconies and Split Levels
The shop is often described as having six floors. More precisely, its official history describes four main levels and two secondary levels. Some are smaller intermediate floors, which is why you can see different heights around the same atrium.
Take the stairs slowly and stop on the balconies where there is room. Each angle gives a different view of the columns and shelves. The staircase landings are also busy routes through the shop, so leave space for people passing.
English Books and Other Reading Sections
Cărturești Carusel sells books in English. I photographed fantasy and science fiction shelves, fiction displays labelled “Dark Academia” and “Castle Core”, and nonfiction covering coffee, cooking, wine and photography.
The range goes beyond a small table of tourist books. Check the shelf signs and ask a bookseller if you have a particular author or title in mind. Stock changes, so the books in these photographs show what was on display during my October 2026 visit.
Gifts, Stationery, Vinyl Records and Games
The shop has plenty to browse alongside the books. The shelves I photographed held mugs, accessories, wine and gifts, while another aisle had plush toys. It is a useful place to look for a small present or something to take home.
Downstairs, record bins and music shelves sit in a space with a lower ceiling and large circular lights. There is a board game section too. If you collect vinyl, allow some extra browsing time here before heading back to the upper floors.
Art and Exhibitions
Cărturești Carusel also hosts contemporary art. The 1.5 Cărturești Carusel gallery works with /SAC, and temporary installations can become part of the space around the books.
On my visit, a large silver sculpture hung in the atrium: Free Fall into a Standing Position by Ovidiu Toader. The stainless-steel work imagines a falling star and was introduced in June 2026. It was still there when I took these photographs on 3 October. See the exhibition announcement for its background; the artwork on display may change before your visit.
Carusel Café on the Top Floor
The Setting
Keep going upstairs and you reach Carusel Café. The space has a wooden floor, plants, tables beside the windows and stools along the balcony. From those seats you look back into the bookstore, with its shelves and walkways below.
It is a convenient place for a coffee break after browsing. The current menu prices below give you an idea of what to budget.
Menu and Example Prices
The menu includes specialty coffee, tea, matcha, cakes and light savoury snacks. Here are a few examples from the official English menu, checked on 3 October 2026:
| Item | Serving | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Espresso | 20 / 50 ml | 14 lei |
| Cappuccino | 150 ml | 21 lei |
| Flat white | 150 ml | 23 lei |
| Caffè latte | 250 ml | 24 lei |
| Banana bread | 140 g | 22 lei |
| Brownie | 160 g | 28 lei |
| Cheese and cherry tomato tart | One slice | 23 lei |
| Pumpkin spice latte · autumn special | 265 ml | 29 lei |
A cappuccino and banana bread would cost 43 lei at those prices. The café’s 25 September Instagram post confirms the autumn pumpkin spice latte. Seasonal drinks and stock change; check the live menu before ordering.
For a savoury snack, the menu lists tarts and quiche. Its soups are served chilled in cans. For ingredients and allergens, use the café’s linked nutrition menu and ask at the counter.
Café Hours and Ordering
The café currently lists 10:00–21:00 on Monday and Wednesday to Sunday, and 12:00–21:00 on Tuesday. Last orders are at 20:30. This schedule is from the live menu; the bookstore stays open until 22:00.
Order at the bar. The café uses self-service and accepts cash and cards. Its Instagram bio gives an earlier closing time, so use the linked live menu when planning your stop and check again around holidays.
Tips for Visiting and Taking Photos
The shop was busy when I visited on Saturday afternoon. People were browsing, taking photographs and moving between the floors. If you want more space for pictures, a weekday near opening time is a sensible choice, although you should still expect other visitors.
- Allow 30–60 minutes to explore the shelves and balconies. A quick architectural look can take 20–30 minutes; add time if you want a café stop.
- Try several angles. The entrance shows the height of the atrium; the upper balconies show the stairs and book floors below.
- Keep the stairs clear. Pause where there is space and let shoppers pass before taking a picture.
- Use considerate handheld photography. For an arranged shoot or larger equipment, ask staff about permission first.
- Look downstairs too. The record and game sections are easy to miss if you head straight for the café.
How to Get to Cărturești Carusel
Walking and Metro
The address is Strada Lipscani 55, in the pedestrian part of Bucharest’s Old Town. If you are already exploring the centre, walking is the simplest way to get here. Look for the white façade and Cărturești sign above the entrance.
Universitate on the M2 line and Piața Unirii, served by M1, M2 and M3, are both useful metro stops. Allow roughly 10 minutes on foot from either area, depending on the station exit and your route through the Old Town.
Coming by Car
Plan to park around the edge of the Old Town and walk to the bookstore. Lipscani’s pedestrian section is not a place to drive to the door. These nearby parking zones are listed by amParcat; the figures are total capacities, checked on 3 October 2026, rather than spaces currently free.
Doamnei is on the northern approach; Bărăției and Patriei are to the southeast. Lipscani 3 is east of the main boulevard, while Academiei and Unirea offer alternatives farther out. The map markers show the approximate zones. Follow street signs, access restrictions and payment rules where you park.
| Parking | Total Spots | Directions |
|---|---|---|
| Doamnei 1 Parking Strada Doamnei | 23 | Get directions |
| Bărăției Parking Strada Bărăției | 33 | Get directions |
| Patriei Parking Strada Patriei | 30 | Get directions |
| Lipscani 3 Parking Strada Lipscani, east of Bd. I. C. Brătianu | 22 | Get directions |
| Academiei Parking Strada Academiei | 106 | Get directions |
| Magazin Unirea Parking Piața Unirii / Unirea Shopping Center | 700 | Get directions |
[→ View all parking spots on the map]
What to Visit Nearby
Cărturești Carusel fits easily into a walk around the Old Town. Continue through the surrounding lanes and you can add a church, another historic courtyard or a covered passage without making a separate trip across the city.
- Stavropoleos Monastery: A small church and courtyard on Strada Stavropoleos, a short walk southwest of the bookstore.
- Hanul cu Tei: A historic passage and courtyard off Lipscani, close to the bookstore.
- Macca–Villacrosse Passage: Head towards Calea Victoriei for its covered lanes and glass roof.
- Hanul lui Manuc: Walk south towards Strada Franceză for the historic inn and restaurant courtyard.
If you are planning a longer day in Bucharest, our Cișmigiu Gardens guide gives you another central stop for a walk outdoors. For more traditional food beyond the Old Town, see Restaurant Ceaun in Sector 2; it requires a separate journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. An ordinary visit to browse the bookstore is free, with no admission ticket. Books, gifts and café orders are paid separately.
Yes. During my October 2026 visit I photographed English fiction, fantasy and science fiction, as well as nonfiction on subjects including coffee, cooking, wine and photography. Ask a bookseller if you want a specific title.
Casual photography is common, and I took the photographs in this guide during my visit. Keep the stairs and aisles clear, respect other visitors and ask staff before an arranged shoot or using larger equipment.
Yes. Carusel Café is on the top level, with tables and balcony seating overlooking the bookstore. Order at the bar. Its opening hours differ from the bookstore’s; see the café section above for the current schedule.
I would allow 30–60 minutes to browse the shop and explore the different levels. A quick look at the architecture can take 20–30 minutes. Allow longer if you want to sit in the café or browse books and records in detail.
No. They are different branches of the Cărturești bookstore chain. Carusel is the white, multi-level shop at Strada Lipscani 55 in the Old Town. Verona is on Strada Pictor Arthur Verona, near Piața Romană.
Cărturești Carusel Photo Gallery
More photographs from my visit on 3 October 2026, including the atrium, shelves, music and game sections, and the upstairs café.
