bookstores
If you are looking for something to read, there are two bookstores in Piata Unirii, in the center. Junimea has several books in French, while Libreria Humanitas has some books in English. It has its own website too: (http://librariilehumanitas.ro).
Go to "the Mall"! Iulius Mall, close to Podu Ros, along the Bahlui river. This mall is rather elegant, and houses several eateries which are european-priced and far from traditional romanian food, but if you're out to spend money this is as good a place as any. It is also the place to go to the movies, with the exception of kids movies, foreign movies are usually shown subtitled with original audio. (http://www.iuliusmall.com...)
Carrefour / Felicia. The Felicia Mall is smaller and less elegant than Iulius and offers little in the way of dining. However, it contains a Carrefour "hypermarket" which is convenient if you're looking for a one-stop shop for electronics, clothes, food and everything else. It is about as Romanian as a McDonalds, but nicely illustrates the near-future total westernization of the Romanian economy. Ask the taxi driver to go to "Carrefour". (http://felicia-iasi.ro/)
The "old malls". Moldova Mall and Hala Centrala are located in the City Center close to the Cultural Palace. They are not as big or modern as "the mall" Iulius, but may be a bit cheaper. They both date back to communist times, but have been heavily renovated. One feature typical of the era is the open circular subterrain marketplace in front of Hala Centrala, where you can still buy local food from the producers. Other marketplaces exist around town, but this is the easiest to find. On various holidays and other occasions, tent stalls pop up outside Hala Centrala selling goods or acting as bars. (http://www.moldovamall.ro/) (http://www.halacentrala.ro)
Bazar!
the Bazar! This is a purchasing junkyard, curiously popular with the locals. Most of the stuff sold here is reminiscent of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, and is probably produced in the same Chinese factories. The Bazar is underneath the land bridge which connects Podu Ros to Nicolina. You can find jeans, sneakers, plastic toys and trinkets of all varieties here.
The area near Piaţa Unirii is a general shopping area with the usual selection of stores.
Era Shopping Park
Similar to Felicia. Contains lots of boutiques of all sorts, a Carrefour supermarket, an electronics shop, a little food court, etc. Outside there is a karting track.