Are you looking for the best restaurants in Sarajevo? I have a few suggestions for you! Me love good food (and have definitely travelled to certain countries for their cuisine!). I've been living in Sarajevo for three years now and have probably eaten my way through the city to find the best restaurants, cafés and fast food spots.
In this article, I dive into the culinary landscape of the Bosnian capital and introduce you to the best traditional Bosnian restaurants, some modern eateries and a few of my favourites and hidden gems!
What to eat in Sarajevo?
Bring an appetite for your visit to Sarajevo - because this is a city of good food and flavours! Our restaurants and cafés in Sarajevo are becoming increasingly diverse: whether you're looking for traditional Bosnian food, Balkan cuisine, Italian pizza, a good breakfast or something completely different, you'll definitely get your money's worth!
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The best restaurants in Sarajevo
My favourite restaurants for traditional Bosnian cuisine
When you visit Bosnia and Herzegovina, you will of course want to try the traditional food. And although I can highly recommend a visit to the ascinicas, buregzinicas and cevapdzinicas, sometimes you just want to sit in a cosy restaurant and round off the evening. So here are my favourite places to eat.
Inat Kuća
For me, Inat Kuća is one of the best restaurants for Bosnian cuisine in Sarajevo's Old Town. The Bosnian dishes are excellent and I like the concept of ordering a large platter to share for the table - so everyone can try everything Bosnian cuisine has to offer.
The Inat Kuća ("House of Defiance") is also beautifully situated on the Miljacka River and furnished in the old Bosnian style.
Please note: You can only pay in cash here.
Dveri
Anyone who has ever been to Dveri will talk about the pogačathe freshly baked bread. But not only that, I could also fall in love with the other dishes. There are many meat dishes, but also great vegetarian options.
The interior is cosy and unique. The only thing Dveri can't offer is outdoor seating.
I recommend booking a table - Dveri is fully booked days, sometimes even a week in advance and often doesn't accept walk-ins.
Bašča kod Ene
One of the best traditional Bosnian restaurants in the city. When we have visitors, we eat at Eno.
Today, the restaurant is popular with locals and tourists alike, with a garden that offers the best view over Sarajevo and a great selection of Bosnian dishes. I recommend you try the klepe (Bosnian ravioli) and the pljeskavica (burger patty). There is often live music here at the weekends.
You have to book at Eno, especially at weekends.
7 šuma "Minjo"
Another traditional Bosnian restaurant with a beautiful view. Minjo is one of those old-fashioned places with chequered tablecloths - as soon as you enter, you know it tastes good! I recommend Sarma (stuffed cabbage rolls), but no matter what you order, everything here is excellent. The waiters are a bit old-school but friendly and you'll definitely meet more locals than tourists here.
🍷 Local tip 🍷 Book a guided food tour! Food tours are my favourite way to explore a new city, and I book one in almost every single place I go. It's a perfect way to not only discover a new place but dive deeper into the local culture with a guide too.
Restoran Vrelo
A hidden gem, because tourists hardly ever find their way here. This restaurant is not located in the old town, so if you don't have a car, you'll have to take a taxi, but it's worth it. Not only because of the food, but also because of the idyllic location right next to a small stream and with a beautiful garden.
You can find more traditional restaurants in the old town centre of Sarajevo here (including the best places in Baščaršija to eat Ćevapi & Burek).
The best cafés for breakfast
Brunch and breakfast are slowly becoming more and more popular in Sarajevo. Not all cafés and restaurants offer brunch breakfast options yet, but there are now a few places where you can order a delicious start to the day.
Brunch SA
Good coffee and typical brunch: poached eggs, avocado toast, oatmeal and waffles. The interior of the café is also super stylish, black and white.
I recommend you make a reservation. Brunch SA is located in the centre of the old town and is not very big, so it gets full quickly.
Mrvica
Another breakfast café in the centre of Sarajevo that I like to visit: Mrvica has been around for ages and the food is great. Especially for breakfast, there is a large selection of sweet and savoury dishes and good coffee. It's also one of the few restaurants in Sarajevo where you can get decent pretzels.
NYC BAGEL
This newly opened café is run by an American-Bosnian couple who thought: It's high time for real New York bagels in Sarajevo. Their coffee is definitely one of the best in town, and my Jewish-American cousin confirmed it: These bagels are authentic! I recommend the bagel with cream cheese and lox and a large iced latte.
Coffee Station
The Coffee Station has good sandwiches and various egg dishes on offer - the ideal place for a quick pick-me-up during your lunch break or to start the day. Both cafés are located just outside the old town and you'll meet more locals than tourists here.
Mediterranean and Italian restaurants
Tavola
The best Italian restaurant in Sarajevo! The pasta is homemade and everything is cooked according to the old recipes of the owner's grandmother. The food at Tavola is excellent every time and there is a great selection of local Herzegovinian wines.
Regina
This hidden gem in the Marijin Dvor neighbourhood has a large menu with dishes that are great for sharing, such as bruschetta or quesadilla. Regina offers Herzegovinian wines and has a lovely garden where you can sit comfortably under the trees, especially in summer.
BarSa
No list of the best restaurants in Sarajevo is complete without a mention of BarSa - after all, it serves the best pizza in town! Many of the ingredients for their pizza are imported from Italy and you can taste the quality. What's more, the interior design of the restaurant is eclectic and artistic - sitting here is simply a great experience.
Reservations are a must in BarSa.
Appetite
There are now two restaurants of this brand in the city. My favourite is the one on Vilsonovo Šetalište, where you can sit outside on the large terrace and watch the people. The menu is not particularly extensive, but all the dishes are spot-on. I also think Apetit is one of the best places for cocktails in the city - be sure to try the Basil Smash!
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The best street food and burger places
Burgerica
Of all the smash burgers available in Sarajevo (and there are many), this is by far my favourite. Very classic - patty, cheese, lettuce, patty, burger sauce - that's all you need. Absolutely delicious.
📍 Bulevar branilaca Dobrinje bb, Sarajevo
Kantina - Feed your soul
From burgers and crispy fries to Philly cheese steak sandwiches - the food at Kantina is incredible! Kantina now has more than one location in different parts of the city.
Žeks
Sometimes you just need and want a good old kebab. And Žeks is one of the best you can find in Sarajevo (and in Bosnia and Herzegovina in general)!
Burger Bar Jedi Me
This burger joint also has great vegan burger options and offers Bosnian-style burgers, for example with ajvar, in addition to the classic burger variations. The atmosphere is like an American diner and the owners are super friendly and always up for a chat.
The best cafés in Sarajevo
Okay, real talk: on my first visit to Sarajevo in 2017, I was not impressed with the coffee. Yes, you could find good Bosnian coffee, but a cappuccino usually consisted of airy, frothed milk and burnt espresso. A lot has changed since then and more and more speciality coffee shops have opened in the city. These are my favourites.
Kawa
When my friend Resa opened this café in 2021, it immediately became the new 'it' spot - and has managed to stay there for three years. Not only does Kawa have great coffee (with changing beans and roasts from all over the world) and a large table for co-working, but it's also perfect for an after-work cocktail. Smoking is prohibited here, pets are allowed, it's cosy and the waiters are always in a good mood.
Fabrika
This Bosnian coffee chain was founded in Banja Luka and has since spread throughout the country - no wonder, because it's better than Starbucks! The flagship store in Sarajevo not only serves excellent coffee with various house blends, but you can also work from here.
Ministry of Ćejf
Good coffee and soul food is the motto of Ministry of Ćejf. There are various coffee blends and cakes or savoury dishes. The café in the city centre is often very busy, so you need a bit of luck to get a seat. The newer shop near Sarajevo City Centre is bigger, has more food to choose from and is perfect for a remote work session.
Kuća Sevdaha
This café is located in the old town centre of Sarajevo, but is a little hidden. For me, it serves the best Bosnian coffee in the city. They also offer Bosnian sweets, which go wonderfully with a strong cup of caffeine. I recommend you try their tufahija.
Sweets and bakeries in Sarajevo
Cake i to
The cheesecake is legendary among the people of Sarajevo - but all the other cakes and tarts are also really, really good. This shop is somewhat hidden away from the main streets and is therefore rather quiet and relaxed with a large terrace.
Marshall's Gelato
Believe me, this is the best ice cream in Sarajevo - and perhaps even in the entire Balkans. The ice cream flavours change constantly, depending on what's in season. There are fresh fruit sorbets and an absolutely delicious salted pistachio gelato that you have to try.
Baklava Dućan
This is the last baklava shop in Sarajevo that produces a special kind of this sweet treat: Dzandar baklava. It is prepared differently to normal Bosnian baklava and not only looks different, but also tastes very unusual - less sweet and more refreshing than Bosnian baklava. Even if you're not a fan of sweets, make sure you stop by anyway.
The best accommodation in Sarajevo
If you only have a few days to visit Sarajevo, you'll probably want to stay in the city centre to be close to the main sights as well as the city's best restaurants. Here are a few hotels in different price categories that I can recommend.
💲 Studio XXL with parking
💲 Hostel Franz Ferdinand
💲💲 Bed & Brekfast Pansion River
💲💲 Flats Villa Basamak
Conclusion: The best restaurants in Sarajevo
Sarajevo is a city full of excellent cafés and restaurants, the Sarajlije, the inhabitants of the city, are connoisseurs and love to eat well. Whether you want to eat classic Ćevapi or burek or fancy something different - you won't go hungry here!
I hope you've found a restaurant that you're already hungry for 😃
And if you want to delve deeper into Bosnian cuisine, I can really only warmly recommend a Food Tour where you can not only savour classic Bosnian dishes, but also learn more about the culture, country and people.
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