Best Restaurants in Sarajevo and Bosnia & Herzegovina

Bosnian food is one of the more unexpected reasons visitors to Bosnia and Herzegovina end up extending their trip or planning a return. Bosnia and Herzegovina cuisine blends Ottoman-style grilled meats with desserts shaped by Turkish heritage, and it is naturally halal at the vast majority of local restaurants thanks to the country’s Muslim majority, which makes eating out in Sarajevo and Mostar refreshingly free of the concerns that can come with travel to other parts of Europe.

This guide covers the dishes that define Bosnian food, then moves on to the best restaurants in Sarajevo, along with top picks in Mostar and the rest of Bosnia, plus where to stay near these restaurants.

Bosnian Food: The Dishes You Need to Try

• Cevapi: grilled, casing-free minced meat sausages served in somun flatbread with raw onions, the single most iconic dish in Bosnia and Herzegovina cuisine.
• Burek: thin pastry filled with meat, cheese, potato, or spinach, and the ideal quick lunch.
• Dolma and sarma: cabbage leaves or vegetables stuffed with rice and minced meat, typically served at traditional Ottoman-style restaurants.
• Bosnian coffee: served in a small copper pot alongside a piece of lokum, with the ritual of preparing and pouring it as much a part of the experience as the coffee itself.
• Bosnian stews: slow-cooked beef or lamb dishes, usually served at traditional restaurants known locally as ascinica.
• Baklava: a crisp, nut-filled dessert soaked in syrup, shared with the wider Ottoman culinary tradition.

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Best Restaurants in Sarajevo

• Cevabdzinica Zeljo: the most famous cevapi restaurant in the city, located in the heart of Bascarsija Bazaar on Kundurdziluk Street, an essential stop for the national dish at its simplest and best.
• Morica Han: a historic Ottoman caravanserai built in 1551, serving traditional Bosnian coffee and local dishes in an exceptional inner courtyard owned by the Gazi Husrev-beg waqf.
• Kibe Mahala: one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in Sarajevo, set in a restored Ottoman-era building with an outdoor courtyard, known for slow-cooked meats and dolma.
• Barhana: the closest thing to a modern Bosnian dining experience, serving traditional dishes like japrak, grilled meats, and burek with more refined presentation, a short walk from Bascarsija.
• Nafaa Halal Restaurant: a halal Palestinian restaurant serving authentic Middle Eastern dishes, a great option for anyone craving a familiar Arab flavor in the middle of a Bosnian trip.

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Best Restaurants in Bosnia Beyond Sarajevo

Mostar holds its own against Sarajevo when it comes to Bosnian food, especially thanks to restaurants sitting right on the Neretva River facing the Old Bridge. Kulluk Restaurant is one of the best options there, sitting just about 80 meters from the Old Bridge and serving a mix of Bosnian, Turkish, and Mediterranean dishes. It is specifically known as one of the better choices for anyone looking for halal food in Mostar.

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Where to Stay Near These Restaurants

Most of the Sarajevo restaurants above sit in or near Bascarsija Bazaar, which makes staying in the old town a practical choice. Here are a few solid options:

• Hotel Europe, a luxury historic hotel sitting right at the entrance to Bascarsija Bazaar, minutes from Zeljo and Morica Han.
• Malak Regency Hotel, a hotel geared specifically toward Arab and Gulf visitors, with fully halal food throughout.

For more options, browse the full list of Sarajevo hotels on almatar.

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Tips for Trying Authentic Bosnian Food

• Order cevapi by count, not by portion: this dish is typically measured by the number of pieces, so it is worth asking how many you actually want before ordering.
• Take your time with Bosnian coffee: it is meant to be sipped slowly over conversation, more of a social ritual than a quick drink.
• Carry some cash in the traditional markets: not every small stall in Bascarsija accepts card payment.
• Book ahead at Mostar’s bridge-view restaurants in summer: places overlooking the Old Bridge get extremely busy between June and August, and a reservation saves you the wait.

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Book Your Trip Now

Now that you have a full guide to the best restaurants in Sarajevo and Bosnian food, use almatar’s flight search feature to compare fares to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

You can also book your stay in Sarajevo all in one place.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most popular Bosnian food dishes?

Bosnia and Herzegovina cuisine’s best-known dishes include cevapi, burek, dolma, sarma, traditional Bosnian coffee, and baklava.

What are the best restaurants in Sarajevo?

Some of the best restaurants in Sarajevo include Cevabdzinica Zeljo for cevapi, Morica Han for traditional Bosnian coffee, Kibe Mahala and Barhana for traditional and modern Bosnian dishes, and Nafaa for halal Middle Eastern food.

Is food in Bosnia generally halal?

Yes. Since Bosnia and Herzegovina has a Muslim-majority population, most local restaurants and traditional dishes are naturally halal without needing to search for specialized options as you might elsewhere in Europe.

What is the best restaurant near the Old Bridge in Mostar?

Kulluk Restaurant is one of the best options near the Old Bridge in Mostar, sitting just about 80 meters away and offering solid choices for anyone looking for halal food.

Can you find traditional Bosnian coffee in Sarajevo?

Yes, and Morica Han in Bascarsija Bazaar is one of the best places to try it in an exceptional historic Ottoman setting.