Sarma is the Serbian stuffed cabbage roll: minced pork, beef and rice rolled in a soured cabbage leaf, slow-cooked in tomato and paprika stock until the meat melts.
Sarma reached Belgrade through Ottoman rule (the Turkish sarma means rolled), then took the Serbian form: soured (kiseli kupus) rather than fresh cabbage leaves, minced pork and beef rather than lamb, slow-cooked through Christmas Eve for the Serbian Slava feast. Every Belgrade kafana has its house version.
4 editor picks for Sarma in Belgrade, ranked by editorial score. All Belgrade signature dishes · Sarma across every city.
Tri Sesira ★ 4.6
stari-grad · Skadarska 29, 11000 Belgrade
Tri Sesira (Three Hats) opened on Skadarska in 1864 in a building whose previous workshop had three pleated hats for trademark. Skadarlija anchor.
Sesir Moj ★ 4.3
stari-grad · Skadarska 21, 11000 Belgrade
Sesir Moj (My Hat) sits in the middle of Skadarska in Belgrade. Live tamburica on weekday evenings and weekend afternoons, classic Serbian menu.
Stara Hercegovina ★ 4.3
stari-grad · Carigradska 36, 11000 Belgrade
Stara Hercegovina has hosted Belgrade artists and politicians from a Carigradska room. Herceg lamb, halls named for Herzegovinian regions, garden.
Ima Dana ★ 4.2
stari-grad · Skadarska 38, 11000 Belgrade
Ima Dana opened on Skadarska in 1969 during the Skadarlija renovation by Bogunovic, Kapor and Dzumhura. Painted interior, tamburica evenings nightly.