The work of French architect Albert Galleron, who also created the National Bank of Romania, the Athenaeum was finished in 1888, financed almost completely with funds donated by the public. One of the most excellent public fundraising operations ever in Romania, the Give a penny for the Athenaeum campaign saved the venture after the innovative patrons ran out of money. With its high dome and Doric pillars, the Athenaeum looks like an ancient shrine.

The entrance hall has a wonderfully painted ceiling decorated in gold leaf, while arched balconies cascade in ringlets off a twisting stairway. A ring of pink marble pillars is connected by elegant arches where intricate brass lanterns hang like gems from a necklace. Within the concert hall, voluptuous frescoes wrap the ceiling and walls. Well-known worldwide for its exceptional acoustics, it is Bucharest's most esteemed concert hall and home of the Romanian George Enescu Philharmonic.