Top 5 Sarajevo Food & Drink: A Tasty Traveler’s Guide

Sarajevo, the gorgeous capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, offers so much that’s worth savoring. Very many think of the stunning historic architecture and fascinating cultural blend, though you see, one aspect very deserving special attention is Sarajevo’s delightful food and drink scene. More or less, you get a mixing pot of flavors influenced by Ottoman, Mediterranean, and Central European traditions, so every meal actually tells a story. At the end of the day, you’ll see that from hearty savory dishes to really sweet treats and potent drinks, there’s usually something for everyone. Let’s have a look, actually, at the top five food and drink experiences you absolutely must try in Sarajevo; these are really just local favorites, so I recommend.

1. Ćevapi: Sarajevo’s Beloved Grilled Meat

So, when you talk about Sarajevo cuisine, Ćevapi usually comes up first. Arguably, it’s the undisputed king, very similar to small skinless sausages typically crafted from a blend of beef and lamb, arguably always grilled to perfection. More or less, these scrumptious delights are usually served in a somun, a flatbread that’s just, you know, perfect for soaking up every bit of tasty juices. You see, that little thing usually is accompanies with chopped onions and, at times, kajmak (a creamy dairy spread) or ajvar (a roasted red pepper relish). In that case, the beauty is basically its simple flavor – really hearty and incredibly tasty! Usually, I’d say visit Željo or Mrkva – so they’re famed spots dishing up Ćevapi, actually. Apparently, both places always have queues during peak hours; trust me, you want to have that experience; you know. They’re totally worth it.

Read our full review: Sarajevo Ćevapi Full Review and Details

But there is that thing: everybody, like your mom or the Uber driver, probably has an opinion on who serves the best Ćevapi; yet that is alright because everybody has different tastes. More or less, there is such thing as universally disliking fresh grilled meat served with lovely bread with a side of onions – arguably that combination is just tasty!

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2. Burek: A Flaky, Delicious Pastry

If there is a kind of carb you should definitely eat in Sarajevo, it tends to be Burek, and if you haven’t experienced the marvel of burek, get ready – that’s a flaky pastry normally made of thin layers of dough (yufka) so filled with ground meat. Basically, it is basically a type of pie that you find all over the Balkan region, yet Sarajevo’s burek truly has that special touch. Actually, the pastry actually must be crispy on the outside but soft and so tasty inside; so that you just wanna keep coming back. It can be arguably eaten for breakfast, as a light lunch, or at any time you crave anything that makes your tongue very happy. As I was saying, it is more of a process, that; when done by skillful hands, this can actually just make you appreciate baking very much.

Read our full review: Sarajevo Burek Full Review and Details

Okay, alright; it’s worth noticing that though you can get burek usually filled just with meat, other versions also is a cheese pie (sirnica), or a spinach pie (zeljanica), or a potato pie (krompiruša). Usually I enjoy the meat one best, but you know; just feel totally free to experiment and maybe see what works best for you!

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3. Bosanski Lonac: Traditional Bosnian Stew

Arguably, one that’s so good during cooler months would be Bosanski Lonac. By the way, it refers to a hearty meat stew typically featuring lots of beef, lamb, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, and garlic. This delicious dish so gets cooked in layers in a pot, allowing those different flavors to blend beautifully. Often cooked over an open fire for literally hours; therefore the meat almost melts away in your mouth and the veggies is basically amazing. I mean, the warmth and depth that just radiates truly feels like home. A bit, you know, more traditional restaurants throughout Baščaršija (Sarajevo’s historic Old Town) do offer very scrumptious versions of Bosanski Lonac. Actually, finding such local joint usually gives you probably even a better experience and some insight.

Read our full review: Sarajevo Bosanski Lonac Full Review and Details

So, what usually makes Bosanski Lonac kinda cool, you know, is its old style: This old traditional method preserves all tastes within it, delivering flavor bomb as it fills the space with a delicious and appealing aroma; now isn’t that just lovely!

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4. Bosnian Coffee: A Cultural Ritual

Coffee-drinking in Sarajevo really is not about quickly just chugging down caffeine; indeed, it really is actually more like a cultural ritual. As a matter of fact, Bosnian coffee, basically very similar to Turkish coffee, generally prepared in a džezva, a coffeepot. This actually gets served in a fildžan, which tends to be a small, handleless cup, usually alongside sugar cubes and some kind of a Turkish delight. The whole process from the coffee being brewed to poured usually shows up with great ceremony and you see attention to detail, truly offering some unique experience.

Read our full review: Sarajevo Bosnian Coffee Full Review and Details

In fact, many cafes in Baščaršija also is just very awesome for sinking in and enjoying your coffee; and sometimes a gossip too. You see, Bosnian coffee tends to be about togetherness, some conversation, a little bit of joy. Okay, at the end of the day the perfect method is to just sip it so slowly and kinda enjoy its tastes alongside those tasty treats. Anyway, the local tip tends to be enjoying Bosnian coffee slowly alongside buddies. So that sounds great; that can really makes you think. Right?

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5. Rakija: The Potent Fruit Brandy

Anyway, moving to beverages that packs something a bit of punch – Rakija. Typically, you know, it really refers to a kind of fruit brandy kinda common in Balkan countries. Often, so it’s constructed of fermented fruits, which tends to be plums (šljivovica) or grapes (loza). A bit, many families actually makes Rakija theirself; which then you can just only expect can deliver in different strength. Seriously; that thing must pack something!

Read our full review: Sarajevo Rakija Full Review and Details

But do proceed cautiously, yet. Because Rakija often hits strong, with tastes depending hugely on fruit that was selected alongside how well it kinda had been constructed. A shot glass or a small glass; these sometimes appear after meals to aid with some good times; it can be drunk slowly, so people will take pleasure from its complicated profile; usually a shot for celebratory times! Really; I advise you just try this at the cafe or at bars scattered near city locations. At the end of the day it tends to be something truly Bosnian.

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