If you only have 24 hours in Belgrade and want to experience the essence of Serbian cuisine, here’s a food guide that takes you through the day like a true local. From breakfast to late-night bites, this itinerary highlights the must-try dishes that define Serbian food culture.
Table of Contents
Morning: Turkish Coffee, Burek and Yoghurt
Start your day the Serbian way, with a strong cup of national coffee, often called Turkish coffee or Serbian coffee. Locals usually sip it slowly while chatting, but if it’s too strong for your taste, save it for after breakfast. These days, most bars in Belgrade no longer serve it, favoring espresso and instant coffee instead. Therefore, for the most authentic experience, it’s best to prepare it yourself: just put a tablespoon of coffee in a cup of boiling water and wait a few seconds for it to lift.
You can easily find the right kind of coffee in any Serbian supermarket (popular brands include Grand, Doncafe, and C Kafa) and if you’d like step-by-step instructions, follow my tutorial on how to easily make it at home like a true Serbian.
.jpg)
For breakfast, nothing beats a fresh burek with yogurt. Whether filled with cheese or minced meat, it’s the most iconic Serbian breakfast. Look for a busy traditional bakery (pekara) where locals queue up in the morning. That’s where you’ll find the best burek, and you can also buy your yoghurt there.
The most popular bakery for burek in Belgrade:
- Pekara Trpković (Nemanjina 32)
Lunch: Rakija, Veal Broth, and Karadjordjeva with Šopska Salad
Serbians love to start lunch with a shot of rakija, the national fruit brandy, as an aperitif. It’s strong, but it warms you up for the meal. You can choose from many flavors, but the most famous and traditional is plum brandy, known as slivovitz (šljivovica).
Begin with a veal broth (teleća čorba), then move on to the star of the show: Karadjordjeva šnicla (a rolled schnitzel stuffed with kajmak, breaded, and fried). Pair it with a refreshing šopska salad (tomato, cucumber, peppers, onion, and white cheese) and, if you like spicy food, add a hot pepper in oil (ljuta paprika u ulju).
Wash it all down with a Serbian beer (Lav, Jelen or Zaječarsko), and you’ve had the perfect traditional lunch. Every traditional Serbian restaurant serves this meal, with Skadarlija being the most popular area for first-time visitors in Belgrade, for example:
- Dva Jelena (Skadarska 32) – a classic Skadarlija restaurant, touristy but atmospheric.
- Tri Šešira (Skadarska 29) – another iconic Skadarlija spot with live music.
Dinner: Ćevapi with Kajmak
In the evening, head to a traditional Serbian restaurant and order ćevapi with kajmak. These grilled minced meat rolls, served in warm lepinja or somun bread with a dollop of creamy kajmak, are beloved across the Balkans and make for a hearty dinner.
If you don’t feel like sitting at a restaurant twice in one day, you can also visit a pljeskavica fast-food vendor and customize your burger with toppings such as for example pavlaka (sour cream), mayonnaise, onions, cucumber, tomato and ketchup for a quick, satisfying alternative. Pljeskavica is easy to find across the city.
- Walter (numerous locations in the city) – reliable choice for ćevapi and pljeskavica in Belgrade.
- Šiš Ćevap in the “Valley of the Hungry” (Bulevar Maršala Tolbuhina) – famous late-night fast food street in Novi Beograd.
Take Home: Ajvar and Čvarci
If you want to take a piece of Serbia home with you, look for ajvar (roasted red pepper spread) and čvarci (pork cracklings) at supermarkets or green markets. If you’re lucky, you might find duvan čvarci, an even rarer specialty.
Prices vary, but a good-quality 500g jar of ajvar can cost up to €9, while 200g of čvarci usually goes for about €4. Quality differs a lot between brands, but as a general rule: the more expensive, the better.
- Kalenić Green Market (Maksima Gorkog) – best place to find homemade ajvar and čvarci from local farmers.
- Maxi supermarket (citywide) – convenient if you just want to grab packaged products.
Final Word in Belgrade Food Guide
Belgrade’s food scene is a perfect way to get to know the city and Serbian culture in just one day. From the flaky layers of burek in the morning to the smoky flavor of ćevapi at night, this one-day guide gives you a true taste of Balkan tradition. You’ll sample all the must-try dishes, so forget about portion control for the day and enjoy the flavors. Pro tip: Rakija will help you have more space for food in your stomach.
Leave a Reply