Hotaranu Pharmacy

This Romanian pharmacy, oldest in the country, survived the difficult times of Romanian communism. The original interior and the spirit of the Hotaranu family still live here.

During a rainy day in May 2026, we (Abandoned Nordic and Niko - @kupanik) were welcomed to this beautiful and unique pharmacy in Bucharest, Romania. Long abandoned, but now under restoration, the building offered an interesting history as well as great opportunities for photography. Simona, a pharmacist herself, guided us through the building, sharing stories discovered by her and her team. Although the general history of the building is known, they are still putting the pieces of the puzzle together.

The Gheorghe Hotaranu House and Pharmacy was built in 1925. Designed by architect Statie Ciortan, the Neo-Romanian style pharmacy is the oldest one with a laboratory in Bucharest. Gheorghe Hotaranu was an important figure in Romania’s pharmaceutical and healthcare institutions. Much of the pharmacy’s original interior has survived, including furniture and equipment made in Vienna in 1925, with Carrara marble and engraved crystal bearing Hotaranu’s initials. 

During the “Stalinist period” (late 1940s to 1965) in Romania, many industries, banks and businesses were nationalized, and this was the fate of the Hotaranu pharmacy as well. In 1949 the property was nationalized and the Hotaranu family evicted, never to return. After this the building served as a home for loyal party member families. A story, heard too often.  

Recently, the Bucharest College of Pharmacists purchased the property using savings from pharmacists’ membership contributions. Their goal is to restore the building and transform it into a unique pharmacy museum.

During our visit, we walked through floors and rooms with details from the original Hotăranu and the communist era side by side. The grand main pharmacy hall is an absolute gem, and many dusty rooms with beautiful old furniture pleased the eyes of us, urban explorers. Along with beautiful original items - glass jars and pharmacy equipment - odd items from communist era remain inside.

Simona shared the story of the pharmacy but also her childhood memories of the communist era with strict rations, such as “half an orange per person a year”, which seem nightmarish nowadays. Our visit was accompanied by our local urban explorer friend, nicknamed @unseen_romania. 

Urban explorers can visit the pharmacy and help Simona, and her team, in the restoration of the pharmacy. For more information: (link).