Getting to know a new place involves many things, but among the first experiences are certainly those gastronomic. The experiences are indispensable, because they are personal and complex. To become acquainted with local food products takes some time. Perhaps you wish to try local food, yet your large local supermarket does not offer some superior-quality inspiring products. Yet you crave for something exquisite, homemade and premium. Of course, it might be easier to visit your favorite restaurant, or some of those eateries that you haven’t been to yet, though someone recommended them to you.
Most famous bakeries in Belgrade
Belgrade is full of bakeries. At every, and literally every corner, you can find baked pastry (in addition to sandwiches and cakes), its smells spreading along the pavements. As bakeries can be found absolutely everywhere, you should never be hungry on the street. However, there are some pastry workshops that certainly stand out and deserve their cult status, being an integral part of this city’s spirit.
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Čarli Bakery — Čarli is a cult bakery and guardian of the spirit and scent of old Belgrade. It is located in the very heart of the city, right by the Republic Square, and it is famous for its savory and sweet rolls, buns with cracklings and burek pie with meat, cheese, spinach, or without filling. Here you can also find vegan burek!
Ljupče — Bakery Ljupče is run by a Macedonian guy who makes the best burek in the city, and is located in the vicinity of the Botanical Garden. You should arrive here early and wait in one of the two lines: the first is for the burek with meat, cheese, or without filling, while the other is for the rest of their assortment.
Čubura — Another famous place, best-known for its burek. It is one of the favorite places of this kind, partly because of the fact that they work 24/7. The Čubura bakery is an around-the-clock burek concept. There are two types of Belgrade folks: Ljupče burek fans and Čubura burek fans.
Kirćanski — This almost hundred years old bakery is located in the vicinity of the Đeram farmers’ market, in the shade of linden trees, and in order to reach it, you can take a nice walk down the King Alexander’s Boulevard. This bakery is a family affair and you can always find an abundance of fresh pastries there. Kirćanski makes fantastic rolls in different shapes and flavors, without filling, or filled with cheese, or bacon, sprinkled with seeds…
We also need to mention Aca Bakery, known as perhaps the best quality bakery in the city, located in Svetogorska Street, adjacent to the Srpska Kafana restaurant. Aca is oriented toward French-style pastries, while they also make pottage of the day, an odd portion of lasagna and small homemade cookies and desserts. Trpkovič Bakery can be found in a couple of different locations.
Traditional Serbian food and restaurants
When in Belgrade, Serbia you walk into a restaurant that serves traditional food, you enter a time-capsule. Not because of the interior, because it is not always the case (though it often is) that the interior has some retro-ethnic elements to it, but rather because of the food. Here are some tips for good restaurants in Belgrade where you can try traditional Serbian food.
Zavičaj — Famous for its pleasant and hospitable staff. Zavičaj serves excellent traditional food, from meats under the sač, to sarma and wedding sauerkraut. They also offer good quince rakia. Please note that Zavičaj is frequently visited by foreigners.
Stara Herzegovina — A restaurant in the city center, in the Dorćol neighborhood. Stara Herzegovina is a famous restaurant frequented by the entire Belgrade and people of all generations and lifestyles. Across the restaurant, there is a small park, where you can let your kid play, as you sip homemade rakia and treat yourself to a portion of greasy, but oh so delicious fried sauerkraut dish – podvarak.
Orašac — One of the last places in Belgrade which preserved its old, authentic look. You go to Orašac for their bean specialties, either bean soup, or baked beans with sausage, as well as for their grilled meat specialties! Orašac is located on King Alexander Boulevard, on the very edge of the city center, and going there may be a pleasant walk for you, wherever you are coming from. Take this walk, you won’t regret it.
Čubura — Restaurant Čubura is a cult bohemian place that has been frequented by all the greats of the city. Here you can eat a range of traditional Serbian food, but most people come for their grill specialties – ćevapi, smoked pork rump steak, sausages – as well as for their veal soup and sweet tulumbas.
You can always go once again to Skadarlija and choose any of the restaurants there, since absolutely each and every one of them is serving excellent traditional food. Our recommendations go to Šešir moj if you’re a fan of grilled meat, or Velika Skadarlija for their fantastic ham hock with cabbage. You will hear tambura playing as an extra.
This article was made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this article are the responsibility of Nova Iskra and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
