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Just like the city itself, Sarajevo cuisine is a blend of east and west, with both Turkish and European influences. Of the many reasons we were looking forward to visiting the city, sampling the local fare was high on the list.
During our trip, we sought out the Best Sarajevo Restaurants and feasted on classic Bosnian Food. Fellow travelers can use our list of what to eat in Sarajevo to route their way to the city’s prime restaurants, cafes and bars.
Best Food in Sarajevo, Bosnia
On our previous travels to the Balkans, we quickly took a liking to two of the most popular regional dishes, cevapi and burek.
Not only are these two meals hearty and satisfying, they are also incredibly popular Sarajevo foods, too! In fact, cevapi is actually the national dish of Bosnia.
During our visits to the city, we navigated our way to the best restaurants in Sarajevo. In addition to indulging in our two favorite mainstays, we also branched out to try other Sarajevo gastronomy.
We sipped on plenty of Bosnian coffee, spoiled ourselves with a few decadent Bosnian desserts and sampled the local Sarajevo beer and traditional spirits.
Top Restaurants in Sarajevo
Our list of the best food in Sarajevo includes classic dishes and our picks for the best places to eat in Sarajevo. Along with our list of restaurants, we offer suggestions for Sarajevo cafes – and the best bars, too!
For each of our recommended restaurants in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina, we provide a link to Google Maps. At the end of the post, we also share a complete map of Sarajevo places to eat and drink.
Save, Pin or Bookmark this Sarajevo Foodie Guide for your trip to Bosnia!
#1 CEVAPI: Classic Sarajevo Food
Cevapi is the Balkan equivalent to the American hot dog and probably the most popular of all Sarajevo cuisine.
The slightly seasoned minced meat (usually a mixture of beef and lamb) is formed into finger-sized sausages, grilled and stuffed into somun bread (Bosnian pita) and served with a side of diced onions. It’s absolutely delicious!
In the Balkan region, there are variations of accompaniments, like ajvar (eggplant and pepper sauce), sour cream and French fries. In Sarajevo, it’s served two ways: with or without kajmak, a thick cream they sometimes call cheese.
Yogurt is also often listed on the menu. It is served in a glass, because it is to be drunk – a cevapi-chaser of sorts. We thought we were ordering sauce, which elicited a few odd stares when we poured it over our meals!
The quality of cevapi ranges from greasy to gourmet. It is available as take-away street food or at sit-down Sarajevo restaurants, called cevabdzinicas. Wherever you buy them, they are always inexpensive – about $2-5 per heaping serving.
Ćevabdžinica Željo 1: Best Restaurant for Cevapi
We didn’t try any that we didn’t like, but the cevapi from Cevabdzinica Zeljo 1 was outstanding! Ranking as one of the Best Restaurants Sarajevo Old Town, it can be difficult to find a seat! People stand on the sidewalk, waiting for space to become available.
We squeezed in at a table already partially occupied by other diners. The uncomplicated menu (basically: We serve cevapi, how many do you want?) makes ordering easy, with the one option being ‘with or without kajmak.’ We take ours with! MAP
#2 BUREK: Traditional Sarajevo Cuisine
Our second favorite Balkan meat-and-dough option is burek. The flaky pastry is traditionally filled with ground meat, wound into a spiral and baked.
Several Sarajevo restaurants sell small, individual pies, but typically a large portion is made on a platter and baked under a dome lid over hot coals. The pie is then cut into pieces (usually quarters) and sold by weight.
For non-meat-eaters, other versions of the pastry are stuffed with cheese, potato or spinach. Just as with cevapi, there is a range in quality.
Burek is sold from restaurants called buregdzinicas and can also be found in just about every bakery in town. Burek can be eaten for any meal – breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Buregdzinica Sac: Best Sarajevo Burek
Of all the burek that we ate – and we consumed a lot – we favored the traditionally prepared pie from Buregdzinica Sac.
Located on a small alley in Old Town Sarajevo, this Bosnian restaurant has a few indoor tables with most of the seating at large picnic tables outside. Flavorful and filling, but not greasy, makes for perfect burek! MAP
#3 SARAJEVO PALACINKE: Bosnian Pancakes
During our stay in Sarajevo, we noticed that pancakes were offered on several menus. However, these are not pancakes as Americans think of them.
Instead, Sarajevo restaurants prepare ‘pancakes’ like crepes that are stuffed with both savory and sweet fillings. Pancakes are one of the traditional dishes in Bosnia that can be consumed anytime of day – or even as a snack.
Cakum-Pakum: Top Pancake Restaurant in Sarajevo
Our interest was piqued when we found a small Sarajevo restaurant, Cakum-Pakum. Run by a local couple, they only serve two things: pancakes and pasta.
Intrigued, we ventured into the seven-table restaurant on our last night in town. The shabby chic interior is a throw-back to the 60s and highlighted by luggage cases. MAP
The menu is simple with several choices of fresh vegetables mixed with savory ingredients. Each combination is available stuffed into a pancake or served over pasta. We ordered one of each – and both were divine.
After our main course, we shared a sweet Nutella palacinke, which we have discovered is quite a popular dessert in Bosnia. The food and service were excellent – and the meals a great valve.
Top Tip: Cakum-Pakum is popular and the small interior fills up quickly! We recommend going early.
#4 PIZZA IN SARAJEVO
Rarely do we make it out of a city without having pizza and Sarajevo was no exception. We love seeing how an international dish like pizza is tailored to specific regions. For example, my favorite place in Split, Croatia puts beans on their pizza!
What we find interesting about pizza in the Balkans is that locals top it with ketchup. However, the ketchup is not a dipping sauce, but rather it is added on the pie in a spiral before anyone takes a slice. I was skeptical – why would anyone want to ruin good pizza? – but I have to admit, it worked!
Pizza U2 Sarajevo
While Pizza U2 will not likely win any awards for having the best food in Bosnia, it is a favorite fast food Sarajevo restaurant. Around for 20 years, Sarajevo Pizza U2 hits the spot at the end of a late night…just don’t forget the ketchup! MAP
#5 BOSNIAN DESSERTS
There are almost as many sweet shops in Sarajevo as there are cevabdzinicas – and no better way to balance out a meal of salty meat than with a dose of sugar. While baklava and tulumba are the two specialties in town, we preferred the bars of marzipan topped with chocolate.
Our favorite dessert shop in Sarajevo was Carigrad, but really, we liked them all! Simply take a stroll through the Baščaršija and you will surely find something sweet! MAP
More Top Restaurants in Sarajevo
We have featured our favorite Sarajevo restaurants for Bosnian food. They are casual and comfortable places where locals dine, too.
However, visitors have a few choices for fine dining in Sarajevo, as well. Currently, there are no Michelin Star restaurants in Sarajevo, but these establishments are the top choices for an upscale meal.
Mala Kuhinja
Unlike our recommendations that serve traditional Bosnian cuisine, the chef at Mala Kuhinja offers a different culinary experience. The chef greets diners, asks what kind of food they like, makes a few suggestions and then whips up a concoction. MAP
The Four Rooms of Mrs. Safije
This fine dining establishment features multi-course meals accompanied with local wine in a cozy space. While they do not prepare traditional Bosnian foods, they do offer a creative, international menu. MAP
Food Tour Sarajevo
Visitors who want to get a taste of the best Bosnia cuisine – and only have a short time to do it – should join a Sarajevo Food Tour. Participants not only taste the traditional flavors, but learn about the culture as they are led to the city’s top spots by a local guide. Find out more!
Sarajevo Café Culture
The café culture in Sarajevo is unmissable. Life in Sarajevo revolves around the cafe scene. Coffee is consumed throughout the day in cafes, restaurants and bars (often pre- or post-beer).
However, rarely do you see anyone drinking coffee on-the-go. Kafa – or coffee – is to be sipped and shared with friends and there are plenty of cafes in Sarajevo to do just that!
Bosnian Kafa
Drinking traditional Bosnian Kafa delivers quite a jolt. Similar to Turkish coffee, the grounds are boiled in a small copper pot and left to settle before pouring the top liquid into a small ceramic cup. The bitterness is countered with a gummy sweet called rahat lokum, similar to a Turkish delight.
Traditional Café Sarajevo
While it is impossible to go far in the city without stumbling onto a café, we think the best Sarajevo cafes are found in a tangle of the oldest streets.
At Old Town Sarajevo cafes, both locals and tourists sit at the tables that spill into the lanes. Unsure on the proper etiquette of consumption? Just ask! The waiters and locals are friendly – and love to share their traditions.
Tea House Dzirlo
Atmospheric and quaint, Teahouse Dzirlo is located in one of the oldest areas in the city. The hospitable owner is helpful in sharing cafe customs – and they serve the traditional salep, too. MAP
Café Tito
Not all Sarajevo cafes serve Bosnian coffee. As machine-made lattes and espressos become more popular, modern coffee shops are springing up. Although it may not be steeped in tradition, we found the café environment as stimulating as the cappuccino.
While it’s difficult to find a café in the city that isn’t humming, Café Tito has a particular edge and a flair of Yugo-nostalgia.
This Sarajevo coffee shop, which honors the late Yugoslavian president, Josip Broz Tito, attracts a young crowd. Visitors should be sure to check out the eclectic array of Yugoslavia décor including the old tank that sits out front. MAP
Sarajevo Beer and Local Spirits
Beer and spirits are almost as much a part of the Sarajevo culture as kafa. The city has long been producing their own alcoholic beverages – and we were eager to try them!
Sarajevsko: Sarajevo Beer
This local beer has been brewing in Sarajevo since 1864. However, we’ve heard debates regarding how the taste is holding up.
From what we’ve gathered (which isn’t much), either the process or the ingredients have recently been improved and some locals are coming back around to the old favorite.
All bars in the city serve Sarajevsko – either in the bottle or on draft. However, we believe the prime place to get a taste is the brewery itself. MAP
In addition to the two standard beer options – light or dark lager – during our visit they were offering a special wheat beer (which was the best of the three to our taste buds!).
Local Sarajevo Rakija
Rakija, a fruit brandy, is popular throughout the Balkans. In Sarajevo, we saw it ordered both with beer and on its own. Although many varieties are quite potent, we favored medica, a sweet honey brandy with a smooth finish.
Fun Bars in Sarajevo
The Sarajevo bars that we liked the most were the places that were unique and emitted a great vibe.
Zlatna Ribica: Goldfish Bar Sarajevo
For whatever beverage we were after, we could find it and a mesmerizing atmosphere at Zlatna Ribica, or Goldfish Bar.
The interior resembles an antique shop and the wait staff dress the part. A goldfish swims in a small tank with a plaque that reads, “I am the fish that is made of gold, what is your wish?” MAP
RajvoSA: Local Bar in Sarajevo
The legendary RajvoSA is an absolute hidden gem! We wandered into the basement bar, lured there by the sound of music and colorful lights. Inside, there were four small tables and walls covered in historic memorabilia. MAP
A family was having a celebration and the owner played songs paying tribute to Tito and Yugoslavia. We were invited to join their party and they shared stories of how, during the Siege of Sarajevo, the small bar would fill with more than a hundred friends, packed so tightly they could barely move.
Map of Sarajevo Restaurants
Use this Google Map to find all our suggested spots for food, drink and fun in Sarajevo!
Planning a Trip to Sarajevo
Now that you know the best places to eat in Sarajevo, we have a few more tips that will help you plan your trip to the city.
Sarajevo Sightseeing
Sarajevo is a fascinating place to visit. The city boasts interesting architecture, poignant memorials, an Abandoned Bobsled Track and beautiful landscapes.
Use our Guide to Sarajevo Sights, which is organized as a self-guided walking tour. We feature the city’s intriguing history and the must-see attractions. Plus, we share tips on where to stay and need-to-know facts about traveling to Sarajevo.
Organizing Your Trip to Sarajevo
As you start to prepare for your trip to Bosnia, use our outline for Planning a European Vacation that is packed with advice.
Visiting Mostar, too? Great! Be sure to read our detailed guide to the Top Things To Do in Mostar!
Organization is key as you plan your trip. Our Vacation Travel Planner will help keep you on top of all the pertinent details!
Start planning your trip to Bosnia & Herzegovina! Search for the lowest airfares, the best accommodations and fun things to do…then start packing! Want more advice? Head over to our Travel Planning Page for tips on traveling – and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides Page!
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