We had not been up to the top of the Tampa Mountain in Brasov by cable car for well over a decade, long before we had any kids to keep entertained. Now that holidays and weekend breaks involve two young children, we are always looking for things to do that will keep them quiet and happy, and so in Brasov at the weekend a trip on the cable car seemed like the ideal thing to do.
We also thought we should head up for research purposes: you never know, the Panoramic restaurant at the top might have been radically refurbished and turned into a vibrant, welcoming kind of place with a terrace commanding magnificent views over the city.
As we suspected, however, little at the Panoramic appears to have changed for quite some time.
We could have saved ourselves the 12 lei per person it costs to go up and down the mountain on the cable car.
For those unaware of the Panoramic and its legendarily obtuse design, here’s the brief:
Imagine the perfect Romanian city, with a huge mountain placed majestically above. Then pick the perfect spot on that mountain for a sunny terrace, overlooking the city below. Then design a restaurant with such a terrace.
Then… (and this is the clever bit) turn it through 180 degrees so that the terrace in fact has no view at all of the city below.
Brilliant.
The no-view terrace at the Panoramic, Tampa Mountain, Brasov
Fortunately, you do get a great view of the city from the viewing platform, a five minute walk (which takes you behind the Hollywood-style BRASOV sign) from the cable car summit station.
This view, in fact:
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
What is it about Romanians?! It’s as if they are incapable of acting logically. This restaurant is just another fine example. Here in Bucharest I have the distinct feeling that it is a city inhabited by farmers. In the center the way people behave just does not feel right for the center of an EU capital. The dilapidated grand pre-Communist buildings don’t fit the people currently living here. Something went wrong a while back and that something was Communism killing off the intelligentsia and forcefully relocating peasants to live in The Paris of The East. The whole vibe here is rough. Every day I see things that don’t make any sense: village guys driving 100,000 euro cars. How the heck did that happen?! Are these guys educated from top schools?! No! Their parents ride horse carts yet they somehow swindled the system and bought cars that you don’t even see in America, EVER. There is an irrationality to Romania that has to be seen to be believed.
Brilliant! I’ve been there. Think I had a Nestea complete with straw but no glass. Very ROM.
without connection to the article
http://www.mediafax.ro/social/anat-turisti-straini-s-au-plans-ca-toaletele-din-palatul-parlamentului-au-fost-inchise-6340078/
The view is indeed very nice!
)
However, the restaurant looks like 1995-1996. I’m not repeating what you said, these are my own conclusions
The restaurant is pure 1970s.