Sarajevo Restaurants

Sarajevo is well noted for its excellent fast food, with the aroma of grilled meat drifting through the air in Bascarsija. Ice cream is also of a very high quality, and a strong caf culture has developed over the last few years, especially around the Ferhadija area where you will find some of the most decorated cafs in the Balkans.

Local cuisine

Local food tends to be heavy on meat, with few vegetarian alternatives. Even dishes which are predominantly based on vegetables mostly contain some cooked meats including bacon or smoked ham. Panini sandwiches are also a popular snack in Sarajevo and are served in most coffee shops.

The most common food in Sarajevo is cevapi. This ubiquitous Balkan kebab consists of a pastry made of filo dough and stuffed with meat (burek), cheese (sirnica), spinach (zeljanica), potatoes (krompirusa) or even apple (jabukovasa). Janjetina, lamb on the spit, is a very popular dish, and is advertised across the city. The entire lamb is cooked on a spit by rotating it over a coal fire, and the finished product can be purchased by the kilogram.

Regardless of what dishes you try, you will invariably be served bread as an accompaniment. Salads are also a common side dish to a meal, and are generally composed of mixed tomatoes, lettuce, onions and bell peppers, often with feta cheese.

Where to eat

There are many excellent restaurants and fast-food outlets scattered around the area surrounding Bascarsija square near the city centre. Follow any of the cobbled streets around this district and youll find a wide variety of restaurants, cafs and eateries to tempt you.