Name: Sljivovica (Belgrade style)
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Serbia
Ingredients: Bottle of aged sljivovica (look for stara sljivovica, 5+ years); Bottle of young sljivovica (clear, no oak); Bottle of a regional sister: kruska (pear) or dunja (quince); 4 small tulip-shaped tasting glasses; Walnut or hazelnut for the chasers; Hard cheese (Travnicki or sirene)

Sljivovica is the Serbian plum brandy, the national rakija. Twice-distilled from fresh plums, aged in oak, with a fruity edge that runs from clear to deep amber.

Sljivovica is Serbia's national spirit, protected as a geographic indication. The damson plum varieties of Sumadija and southern Serbia anchor the canonical style; every village holds its own distillery tradition. Belgrade Skadarlija kafane pour flights of regional sljivovica as the canonical Serbian opener.

4 editor picks for Sljivovica in Belgrade, ranked by editorial score. All Belgrade signature dishes · Sljivovica across every city.

Tri Sesira ★ 4.6

Cocktail bar

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.

Manufaktura ★ 4.4

Eastern European

stari-grad · Kralja Petra 13-15, 11000 Belgrade

Manufaktura plates traditional Serbian on Kralja Petra near Knez Mihailova. Mangalica meats, regional cheeses, cherry iced tea and garden seating.

Sesir Moj ★ 4.3

Cocktail bar

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.

Kafana Question Mark ★ 4.3

Eastern European

stari-grad · Kralja Petra 6, 11000 Belgrade

Question Mark is the oldest kafana in Belgrade, opened 1826 by Doctor Toma. The Ottoman-era low chairs and last-century decoration still in use.

Learn to cook it, or eat it with a guide

Sljivovica makes more sense with someone from Belgrade explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.

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