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Cluj-Napoca

Tranzit House

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Why it matters: the Tranzit Foundation has leased the former Poalei Tzedek synagogue from Cluj’s Jewish community since 1997 and run it as an independent centre for contemporary art and thinking – the reason a building that went from house of worship to communist-era warehouse is still standing and still in community hands. The restoration is ongoing and self-driven: the west facade, with its 2003 mural by Cosmin Pop and Vera Weisgerber, was completed in 2025. Come for a concert, film night, exhibition or performance in the old sanctuary and look up – the ceiling murals show a starry sky and the four creatures of the Pirkei Avot: leopard, eagle, deer and lion. Check the programme before you walk over; it opens for scheduled events rather than keeping museum hours.

Cofeels

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Why it matters: opened in 2021 by Lucian Butnaru as Cluj’s first social cafe, Cofeels employs people with disabilities – its operating company, Eyes Love Coffee, is a state-authorised protected unit, so the inclusion is the business model rather than a marketing line. The coffee holds its own regardless: freshly roasted specialty beans, the house Seaside blend, single origins from Ethiopia, Colombia, Peru and Brazil, plus pastries and fresh juices. Order an espresso drink at the counter and take a bag of Seaside home with you. It is a daytime place – doors close at 17:30 on weekdays and 16:00 at weekends, so do not save it for the evening.

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