Tarboosh
Tarboosh on Bulevardul Carol I fills the lounge role in Copou that no other venue in the student district occupies. The Middle Eastern decoration (hookah pipes, brass lanterns, patterned textiles, low seating in the back section) is executed with enough care that it creates a distinct atmosphere rather than a generic theme. Hookah is available for table orders at 40-80 RON per session depending on tobacco flavor and duration. Cocktails run 22-32 RON, beer 10-15 RON, and the non-alcoholic menu covers the specialty tea and shisha-supporting drinks that complete the format. The crowd skews toward graduate students, young professionals in their late 20s, and the older end of the undergraduate population who prefer extended evenings over high-volume club nights. Tarboosh is where people go when they want to talk for three hours rather than stand in a crowd. The atmosphere is quieter than Pub Hardway or Camera 80 by design.
Where to stay near Tarboosh
Hotels close to Copou, Iași.
What to Expect
A Middle Eastern-themed lounge bar with hookah, quality cocktails, and a more relaxed atmosphere than the student pubs. Better for extended evenings and conversation than for dancing or meeting large groups.
Relaxed and intimate. The low seating in the back section creates enclosed pockets that feel private despite being in a public venue.
Ambient, world music, chill-out, light electronic. Volume stays low.
Casual to smart casual. The lounge format draws a slightly more dressed crowd than the standard student pubs.
Graduate students, couples, travelers wanting a slower evening, hookah smokers, anyone who wants cocktails in a quieter environment.
Cash and cards both accepted
Price Range
Hookah 40-80 RON per session, cocktails 22-32 RON, beer 10-15 RON, specialty tea 12-18 RON
Hookah ~8-16 EUR / $8.80-17.60. Cocktails ~4.40-6.40 EUR / $4.84-7. Beer ~2-3 EUR / $2.20-3.30
Hours
Daily from 3 PM to 1 AM, extended to 2 AM Fri-Sat
Insider Tip
Book a table in advance on Friday evenings during term time; the back section with low seating fills early. The hookah quality depends on the session length you order; the 80 RON option gives significantly more tobacco and a longer burn. Cocktails are better than average for Copou.
Full Review
Tarboosh occupies a space on Bulevardul Carol I that's deeper than the facade suggests. The front section operates as a standard cafe-bar with upright seating and a bar in view of the entrance. The back section opens into the lounge format: lower seating, more enclosed, with the decorative elements concentrated here. The two sections create venues-within-a-venue, which makes Tarboosh adaptable for different purposes.
The hookah is the strongest distinction from other Copou bars. The service is professional rather than the casual afterthought it often is in Romanian venues that added shisha as a trend item. Sessions at 40-80 RON are priced appropriately for the quality. The tobacco selection covers standard flavors rather than exotic combinations, which is fine for most customers.
Cocktails at 22-32 RON are well-made for a student district bar. The bar staff clearly care about what they're producing. The menu covers the standard international list with a few Middle Eastern flavor additions.
The crowd dynamic is different from the other Copou bars. Tarboosh doesn't attract the first-year students whose main requirement is cheap beer. The graduate students and young professionals who end up here are looking for an evening rather than a night. Conversations tend to run longer, groups stay until closing, and the energy is sociable without the frenetic quality of the packed student pubs.
For travelers passing through Iași who want one evening in the student district without the volume level of Pub Hardway, Tarboosh provides the most comfortable option.
The Neighborhood
Tarboosh is on Bulevardul Carol I in the Copou student district. Camera 80 and Kazanluck are on the same boulevard. The Alexandru Ioan Cuza University campus is a 10-minute walk uphill.
Getting There
From central Iași, Bolt costs 8-10 RON and takes 8-10 minutes. Walking from Piața Unirii takes 20 minutes via Bulevardul Carol I.
Address
Bulevardul Carol I 15, Iași
Other Venues in Copou
Pub Hardway
The most reliable student pub in the Copou area, known for cheap beer, rock music on the sound system, and a crowd that comes early and stays late on weekends.
Camera 80
Retro-themed student bar near the university with 1980s decor, cheap drinks, and a pop-rock playlist. One of the more social venues in Copou where strangers regularly end up at the same table.
Crescendo
Small music venue and bar near the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University campus hosting regular acoustic and band nights. Lower-key than Acaju in the center, with a genuinely local student crowd.
Kazanluck
Bulgarian-themed pub with craft beers, shots, and a terrace that fills on warm evenings. One of the more internationally-flavored bars in Copou, popular with Erasmus students.