three great places - Belgrade
Written by Paul Bradbury Illustration by Philip Bannister
With the most vibrant nightlife in the Balkans, Belgrade has a gastronomic scene to match. With many restaurants overlooking the mighty Danube, the emphasis is on indulgence.
Iguana
Iguanais one of the best dining experiences in Serbia, combining a central waterfront location with great food, live music, and atmosphere.
A waterfront restaurant with nightly live jazz from 7pm, Iguana’s small but very diverse international menu makes it a firm favourite among the Belgrade expatriate crowd.
With tasty starters including Thai-style beef salad and salmon tartare with goats’ cheese, there is plenty of variety for the mains, from a range of curries and stir-fries, to pistachio-crusted chicken, and roast duck fillet in cranberry sauce. Make room for the desserts, however, with the not-to-be-missed sticky date pudding.
Iguana is one of the great people-watching centres on the Belgrade culinary scene.
Lorenzo and Kakalamba
If you have ever wondered what happens gastronomically when the southern Serbian town of Pirot meets Florence – your curiosity will be satisfied in Belgrade when you enter Lorenzo and Kakalamba, once of the most unusual eateries in the Serbian capital.
Try the Kakalamba starter, then head for the hearty old mountain goulash or lamb roast, finishing with an Italian Kiss. The unlikely fusion of Italian and Serbian cuisine works a treat. And once your curiosity and appetite have been satisfied, sit back and take in at your leisure one of the most original restaurant décors in the world. Described by some as a modern-day Alice in Wonderland, there are not enough words here to describe it – discover it for yourself. You will not be disappointed.
Saran
While Serbian national cuisine is a delight for meat eaters, there is plenty on offer for freshwater fish lovers. Head out to fashionable Saran (which means ‘carp’) and enjoy a fish extravaganza from one of the city’s most traditional restaurants.
Ever since Vicentije Vukotiç opened a café on the ground floor of his house on the banks of the Danube more than a century ago, offering a delicious fish soup (a recipe still used in the restaurant today), ·aran has become synonymous with quality freshwater fish.
For an extra treat come in January for the Days of Hvar Cuisine festival from Croatia’s lavender island and its seafood specialities. Traditional live music adds to a very lively, cosy, and welcoming atmosphere.
Contact
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Belgrade, Serbia |
Iguana |
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Lorenzo and Kakalamba |
Saran Kej Oslobodenja 53 Tel: +381 11 261 8235 Mon 4pm–1am, Tue–Sun 12pm–2am www.saran.co.rs |
