Belgrade has a strong coffee culture and excellent cafes can be found around every corner. A notable cafe is Skica due to its stunning location above the Sava River, along the tree lined cobblestoned street.

At most restaurants the food portions are massive with a significant amount of meat. Here are some traditional meals and restaurant recommendations:

Burek: pastry made with thin flaky dough and filled with cheese or meat. Normally eaten for breakfast
Sopska salad: cold salad made from tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, peppers, sirene (white brine cheese) and parsley
Ćevapi: grilled minced meat
Kajmak: made from unpasteurized and unhomogenized milk similar to cream cheese.
Karađorđeva šnicla: rolled veal or pork schnitzel and stuffed with kajmak
Sarma: Spiced minced meat rolled in sour cabbage leaves.
Pljeskavica: a Serbian hamburger without the bread. Grilled meat with a mixture of pork, beef and lamb

Skardarlija

The gathering point for many poets and artists in the early 20th century. Stroll down this charming cobblestone street with many traditional restaurants. At night it’s lively with musical groups moving along the street and into restaurants to entertain the guests. They expect a donation after they play around your table. Our favourites are Dva Jelena and Tri Sesira.

Belgrade Waterfront

A newly constructed riverside promenade with restaurants, cafes and shops. At one end is Beton Hala, a concrete hall that was converted into trendy restaurants. Our favourite is Comunale, a modern Italian restaurant. Walk 2km along the river to Galerija Belgrade, the biggest shopping mall in the Balkans. On the way you will pass another trendy cafe / restaurant called Savanova. Belgrade is famous for its street art and you will find graffiti underneath the bridge next to the food trucks. Often there are art exhibitions, festivals and fairs along the promenade.

Restaurant Rubin

Venture 20 minutes outside of Belgrade for the full Serbian dining experience. You will need to make a reservation. This old traditional restaurant provides an excellent quality of food and service. The restaurant is located in the woods and has a panoramic view over Belgrade from the outdoor terrace.

Znak Pitanja (Question Mark)

The oldest restaurant in Belgrade. It’s located in the city centre and serves traditional Serbian food.

Terazije Street

Hotel Moskva is the main attraction along the boulevard. Not just for it’s grand architecture but also it’s cream fruit cake called Moskva snit.

Zemunski Kej & Gardos

Located on the other side of the river along the Danube. It’s one of Belgrade’s most picturesque neighbourhoods. It’s also known for its cafes, lively bars and fish restaurants along the riverside promenade. Here you will find an excellent cafe, Cafeteria Gardos. From this cafe and Tia Gelateria you can walk up the hill to Gardos Tower which gives you a unique viewpoint into Belgrade.

Ada Ciganlija

A lake located just outside the city centre. You can walk around the lake and visit boho style cafes and restaurants. You will find less touristy and better options on the south side. You can also hire a bike to get around the lake.

For those with a sweet tooth

Crna Ovca: arguably the best ice cream shop in central Belgrade.

Slatkoteka: donuts with a variety of delicious toppings. It’s hard not to resist a box of 6.

Milky: the most epic selection of pancake toppings. Be aware of the pancake coma!

Foodies Guide To Belgrade