Coffee. Chisinau, Moldova

August 2021

Whilst out for dinner with a friend, I casually mentioned my upcoming trip to Moldova and she was straight on to her coffee app to inform me that there are precisely two speciality coffee shops in Chisinau.  So, obviously, I had to visit both!

First up was YOCO Coffee And Drinks.  Along the M3, the main road running south out of the city, around 4 miles from the city centre, it's not the most convenient place to get to, but I decided to combine it with my morning run (not my most scenic...), much to the bemusement of all the locals who were probably wondering why on earth I was trying to jog down pavements which are consistently more hole than paving.  Once inside though, it's the complete opposite of the Chisinau traffic chaos outside, cool and calm with simple yet sophisticated decor.  The flat white was exceptional and they make their own cold brew.

Next up was the much more accessible Pasio.  The outside looked a bit like a chain coffee shop and I would have walked right passed if I hadn't been looking for it in particular.  The interior, though, is lovely - a tranquil haven of plants and stacks of books, tables, window stools and comfy seating.  Coffee wise, we were spoilt for choice.  All the espresso based offerings, plus Aeropress, Chemex, and even candy floss coffee which seemed to involve actual candy floss and be served with a test tube of coffee on the side.  Having chosen our brew method, we then had to choose between 8 types of beans, roasted by Mad Heads in Kiev, with the barista helpfully suggesting which are best for the chosen brew method.

With our perfect people watching spot in the window, the lovely, calm atmosphere and the friendly staff, we could have happily sat there for hours.  There's also a great range of delicious food, from smoothie bowls topped with granola and avocado, to banana, blueberry and coconut peanut butter toast.  The sweet treats are enticing too - we particularly enjoyed sampling the Moldovan speciality, Tort Smetanik, layer upon layer of honey cake sandwiched with sour cream.  And if it's a hot day, be sure to try out their lemonade menu, grapefruit and mint is the ultimate thirst quencher.

This is the kind of place you can sit for hours, and come back day after day. And we did!

Find Pasio on Strada Vasile Alecsandri in the city centre, and YOCO Coffee And Drinks on Grenoble Street, heading south out of Chisinau.