Avlija is a traditional bosnian restaurant in Centar, Sarajevo.
Avlija is the Sarajevo courtyard institution off Mehmeda Spahe, with a vine-shaded garden and roast lamb under sac that locals book for any occasion.
Signature dishes: Roast lamb under sac, Pljeskavica, Bosnian platters
Must order: Roast lamb under sac, pljeskavica and a pitcher of homemade lemonade.
Tip: Book the courtyard for warm-weather dinners; closed Sundays, and the kitchen winds down around 22:30 most nights.
Address: Sumbula Avde 2, 71000 Sarajevo
Klopa in a passage off Ferhadija reads as Sarajevo's quiet daytime kitchen, working risotto, veggie burgers and pizza alongside a small Bosnian rotation.
Signature: Veggie burger, Risotto, Pasta, Pizza
Order: Veggie burger with sweet potato chips and a glass of Vranac.
Tip: Non-smoking and baby-friendly, with a small front terrace; arrive before 13:00 to claim it in the warmer Sarajevo months.
Cakum Pakum on Kaptol is the Sarajevo trattoria-coded room near Markale with vintage interiors, hand-cut pasta and crepes for a long brunch sitting.
Signature: Sweet and savoury crepes, Homemade pasta, Salads
Order: Truffle pasta and a sweet Nutella crepe to finish.
Tip: Closed Sundays; lunch is the busy seating and Saturday brunch needs an early arrival to get a table on the small front terrace.
Restaurant Libertas at the foot of Logavina works Sarajevo's cathedral-side corner with grilled Adriatic fish and a steady Bosnian rotation for residents.
Signature: Grilled meats, Pasta, Adriatic fish
Order: Grilled Adriatic sea bass with chard and potatoes.
Tip: Sit on the cobbled corner terrace in summer; the fish brought up from Neum on the Bosnian coast is the kitchen's standout.
Restoran Manolo on Marsala Tita is the polished Sarajevo Italian room serving hand-cut pasta, slow risotto and a brunch list locals book for weekends.
Signature: Risotto, Hand-cut pasta, Tiramisu
Order: Truffle risotto with parmigiano-reggiano and a slice of tiramisu.
Tip: Reserve weekend mornings for brunch; the risotto of the day and tiramisu are the house signatures.
Sedef in Ilidza is the Sarajevo family room cooking the canonical sahan, bosanski lonac and colourful dolma at suburban prices for the Vrelo Bosne crowd.
Signature: Sarajevski sahan, Bosanski lonac, Dolma, Small cevapi
Order: Sarajevski sahan platter with five Bosnian dishes in one tray.
Tip: Take the tram to Ilidza, then walk; the outdoor alley tables are the ones to ask for, and the kitchen does whole roast lamb on order.
Klopa in a passage off Ferhadija reads as Sarajevo's quiet daytime kitchen, working risotto, veggie burgers and pizza alongside a small Bosnian rotation.
Signature: Veggie burger, Risotto, Pasta, Pizza
Order: Veggie burger with sweet potato chips and a glass of Vranac.
Tip: Non-smoking and baby-friendly, with a small front terrace; arrive before 13:00 to claim it in the warmer Sarajevo months.
Cakum Pakum on Kaptol is the Sarajevo trattoria-coded room near Markale with vintage interiors, hand-cut pasta and crepes for a long brunch sitting.
Signature: Sweet and savoury crepes, Homemade pasta, Salads
Order: Truffle pasta and a sweet Nutella crepe to finish.
Tip: Closed Sundays; lunch is the busy seating and Saturday brunch needs an early arrival to get a table on the small front terrace.
Barhana on a Djulagina dead-end is the Sarajevo Bascarsija mehana with the city's longest rakija shelf and a courtyard for warm-evening drinking.
Signature: Homemade rakija, Pasta and pizza, Bosnian platters
Order: Homemade quince dunja rakija and a plate of pasta with kajmak.
Tip: Order a rakija flight to start; the herbal travarica and quince dunja are the house pours and the kitchen does a good Bosnian-Italian crossover.
Restaurant Libertas at the foot of Logavina works Sarajevo's cathedral-side corner with grilled Adriatic fish and a steady Bosnian rotation for residents.
Signature: Grilled meats, Pasta, Adriatic fish
Order: Grilled Adriatic sea bass with chard and potatoes.
Tip: Sit on the cobbled corner terrace in summer; the fish brought up from Neum on the Bosnian coast is the kitchen's standout.
Restoran Manolo on Marsala Tita is the polished Sarajevo Italian room serving hand-cut pasta, slow risotto and a brunch list locals book for weekends.
Signature: Risotto, Hand-cut pasta, Tiramisu
Order: Truffle risotto with parmigiano-reggiano and a slice of tiramisu.
Tip: Reserve weekend mornings for brunch; the risotto of the day and tiramisu are the house signatures.
