I hope you really missed the Must Vist Campaign, one of my favourite projects ever, for which I had the immense joy of working with the talented and special photographer and friend, Ioana Buru (Desene cu lumina). Because we're back and ready to show you one of Bucharest's most beautiful places in 2025.
In today's article, part of the #MusaideVizitat/#MustVisit Campaign, Ioana Buru—the one who took the wonderful photos—and I invite you to discover ITALIAN VINTAGE CAFFÈ E PROSECCO BAR, a space where good taste has impeccable coherence and the dolce vita kind of vibes.
Before I moved to Spain, I had the joy of visiting this amazing place, and I fell in love with every detail of it, but even more with the owners: Ana and Heni Haidar. These are the kind of people who bring light and effortless coolness into one's life.
You don't have to believe my word; just read the interview below, and please, pretty please, pay a visit to ITALIAN VINTAGE CAFFÈ E PROSECCO BAR. You're welcome!
Tell me more about Italian Vintage. Who is behind this project, and what does the name stand for?
Italian Vintage represents a big part of my heart and soul, a place that I can proudly call home. Behind the brand, the human parts stand for me, Anamaria, but I was also lucky enough to have my beloved family and friends along this journey. I chose the name after living in Italy for 8 years, to bring back a piece of sun and inspiration to my native country.
And I would like to hear the story of this house again, including all of the interior design details, furniture, paintings, and so on.
The house was built in the 1920s in the Beaux-Arts style by a certain Bals, and it features art deco elements and is classified as a historical monument. We have decorated it with vintage furniture that stood the test of time, having pieces from the 1800s to the 1950s. Victor Teslaru's paintings decorate our walls, for which we are grateful.
What criteria do you use when deciding which products to sell? The procedure itself is probably not as simple as it seems. Please elaborate on the variety of products available at Italian Vintage, including accessories, jewellery, home decor, porcelain, and more.
It is indeed not a simple process, as you have to feel these little treasures’ energy. Firstly, we have to determine the year, style and object the object belongs to and make sure they are in mint condition; then we have to carefully discover all their secrets and stories.
We have a wide variety of objects and accessories, which include vintage silver-plated vanity sets, vintage gloves, exotic leather bags from the 80s, jewellery such as cultured pearls, clip-on earrings and antique pieces, furniture such as Louis XV nightstands, and porcelain such as Villeroy & Boch, Obernai or Rosenthal.
We firmly believe that if you visit our store, there will be a special item waiting for you.
What kind of people are your customers?
Our customers are the core of this vision. Without their support, my dream could not have been possible. They are young, free-spirited people, students, artists of all kinds, or seniors full of knowledge. All of them are truly special for us, and we are all united in our love for the past.
"Quality helps us live happier, calmer, and with more confidence in life and in ourselves. It's not a matter of means but of choices. The ancients said they couldn't afford to buy poor-quality things; purchases had to have a long life." Dominique Loreau, "The Art of Refinement." What are your thoughts on this quote?
As a vintage collector myself and also a vintage shop owner, this quote deeply resonated with the essence of what I have created here and what I want to offer: a curated selection of high-quality items that transcend trends. This is what I believe draws people to vintage. A common love for specially crafted objects.
Fortunately, I had the opportunity to visit Italian Vintage before we relocated to Spain, so let me ask you: how do you and your husband turn a simple visit to Italian Vintage into an emotional and unforgettable experience?
At Italian Vintage, we believe that every piece has a story, and we want to make every customer feel like they are always something unique and beautiful.
Also, we genuinely treasure every single one of them, and we thank them for being here with us. What we desire is to create an atmosphere that transports everyone to another time frame.
We also believe in personal connection, and we take our time to get to know our customers tastes and take their suggestions. At last, we embrace and emphasize sustainability and authenticity.
The full name is Italian Vintage Caffé e Prosecco Bar. Tell me more about the second half of the name Caffé e Prosecco Bar.
Caffè e Prosecco Bar comes from my time in Italy. I loved how, after a stressful day at work or maybe in a lunch break, they were celebrating themselves and their lives with a glass of red wine or prosecco, a good coffee or some carefully prepared aperitivos, which we also included in our menu.
For a while, I had showrooms only for vintage pieces and antiques, and every time someone spent more time admiring the objects, I felt the need to offer them something, may it be a fresh cup of coffee or some delicious red wine or prosecco, and that is exactly how our Italian Vintage Caffè e Prosecco Bar was born!
Italian Vintage can also accommodate intimate and lovely gatherings. Please elaborate on this subject, as I am sure many people are interested in hosting such events in such a beautiful and welcoming setting.
Absolutely! At Italian Vintage, we have been offering our space and have transformed it into a charming and intimate place for gatherings. We believe it's perfect for hosting small but memorable events.
We have already hosted birthday parties or dinners, guided tours, photoshoots, workshops, and many other events at our location. In order to have your event hosted at our location, you only have to DM us.