This article about Belgrade was published yesterday in the travel section of the Times Online. It tells readers in the UK and across the world to ‘enjoy the finest nightclubs, bars and restaurants in Europe’s new capital of cool’. Well, for us in the region, it’s been a well-known secret for sometime that Belgrade is the place for nightlife, but the folks over in the ‘West’ have been a bit slow to catch on. 
The article is well-written and extremely positive about what Belgrade has to offer those looking to club until sunrise, those seeking out unique and atmospheric bars, as well as those simply wanting to suppress their rumbling stomachs with some hearty Serbian cuisine. The club and bar recommendations (I’ve only been to one of the restaurants) are spot on but I would disagree with Club Energija. I went once (when it first opened, maybe it’s better now) and it was just a tad weird and I’m really not fussy about club design – a good up-for-it and relaxed crowd is what matters the most. 
It really is great to see more and more positive articles on Belgrade and Serbia in the Western media and the tourist cash would be greatly welcomed. I just hope Belgrade manages to avoid turning into the next British stag and hen party destination – I’m pretty sure the Serbs wouldn’t tolerate the ridiculous drunken antics my fellow Brits get up to in the name of tradition.
‘Europe’s Best Nightlife in Buzzing Belgrade‘, Times Online, 4 Nov 2008.
Do you agree with the recommendations in the Times article? Are there any nightclubs, restaurants or bars which you would have recommended instead? Click here to leave your comment.
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on Nov 6th, 2008 at 7:04 am
[...] Original post by Adam [...]
on Nov 6th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Similar article today in Blic. Every foreigner I know who visits here comes away enchanted.
on Nov 7th, 2008 at 5:01 am
I agree that the article is nicely written, as well as that the actual choice of places to visit is kind of traditional. They should have gotten someone “hip” to show them around and the offer would be different, more interesting.
on Nov 8th, 2008 at 12:30 am
@Bibi
It’s very true, almost all of my British friends who have come over to Belgrade fell in love with the place and had a great time. I think most people have very dark connotations about Belgrade and Serbia and are completely taken aback at just how ‘normal’ and modern the city is.
@Popkitchen
Yeah, it would be good to have someone more ‘hip’ to contribrute and make an ‘alternative’ guide to Belgrade – perhaps I should write about some of the places I frequent (not that I’m that ‘hip’!)
But the article is good enough for your average traveller visiting Belgrade for the first time.
on Nov 8th, 2008 at 1:14 am
i am sure that you are hip enough:)
just to spice it up a little bit, for example, skip Skadarlija and go to Daco restaurant in Karaburma. it is mainstream definitely, but foreign people go crazy, when they go there.
on Nov 14th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
I found it a little hard to be a vegetarian in Belgrade though. There were vegetarian versions of pita – or burek, as they call them there – and then there was ka?kavalj. Very nice, but also unhealthy in the long run.
I found a café called Kandahar I think, in Strahinji?a Bana, it was cool. And “?”, where I had my first ka?kavalj
on Nov 22nd, 2008 at 2:21 am
@Amila – Yeah, it’s not that easy to be a vegetarian in Belgrade. There are a few (over-priced) restaurants scattered around though. Kandahar is my preferred place on Strahinica Bana, the teas are great and the absinthe even better
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