Guide · Belgrade
What to drink in Belgrade: rakija, wine and cocktails
Belgrade drinks differently from Western Europe: evenings start late, tables are held for hours, and nobody rushes you. Here's the short version of what's in the glasses around you — and what it costs in 2026.
Rakija: the national ritual
Fruit brandy, 40–50% ABV, drunk slowly — never as a shot, despite the glass size. Šljivovica (plum) is the classic, dunja (quince) the smoothest for beginners, medovača (honey) practically a dessert. In a bar expect 250–500 RSD a pour; a polite "živeli!" before the first sip is mandatory. At Čin Čin we take the tradition sideways — our infusions and house distillates go into cocktails instead.
Serbian wine: better than you expect
Serbia has been making wine for two millennia and drinking most of it domestically, which is why you haven't heard of it. Look for Prokupac (light-ish red, the local signature), Kadarka (juicy, low tannin) and Tamjanika (aromatic white). Restaurant bottles run 2,500–7,000 RSD; by the glass 350–700 RSD. Our list pairs Serbian Kadarka with Barbaresco and Chablis — see what's open.
Beer: the default
Jelen and Lav are the industrial lagers (about 300–400 RSD); the craft scene — Kabinet, Dogma, Salto — is strong and cheap by EU standards (450–650 RSD). Most kafanas only stock lager; craft lives in dedicated bars.
Cocktails: small scene, high standard
Belgrade's cocktail culture is young but serious — a dozen bars doing proper programmes, mostly in Vračar, Dorćol and around Cetinjska. Expect 750–1,100 RSD for a signature drink, roughly half of what you'd pay in Vienna or Budapest. Our own list at Čin Čin runs 750–990 RSD: Čin-tonic on anchan-flower gin, Serbian Breakfast under smoke, Midnight Pearls in an edible sphere. Full menu here.
The one rule
Don't order fast. Sit down, take the menu, let the waiter bring water. Belgrade evenings are a marathon of small pleasures — pace accordingly.
Drink with us in Vračar →