Best Restaurants in Bar Montenegro
There’s certainly no shortage of places to eat at this well-liked and family-friendly holiday resort in southeast Montenegro. Though several restaurants cater to tourists in search of international flavors, there are also some genuine taverns delivering traditional Montenegrin as well as creative Adriatic cuisine.
The two major hotspots are centered around Bar’s pretty coastal promenade, particularly close to the marina, and up in the Bar’s Old Town. Alfresco terraces with sweeping sea views are obviously the most sought-after. Still, some of the best restaurants in Bar can be found a little further away from the beach.
A relaxed Coastal Town
Bar, Montenegro is home to the country’s largest port, offering seasonal ferry boat connections to Bari, Italy. It is also a popular beach resort with Mediterranean vibes.
The fascinating Old Town
Bar’s Old Town sits a few kilometers away from the new neighborhoods down by the sea. It is well worth a visit, with a history dating back many centuries.
La Forchetta
Traditional Italian cuisine (but not exclusively) is on the menu at ‘La Forchetta’, a comfortable restaurant close to the marina in Bar. Tomahawk steak coated and cooked in delicious demi-glace sauce, frog legs with capers and olives, and sesame cream salmon pasta, are just some of the noteworthy typical dishes. Excellent bruschetta, too.
This unpretentious eatery may not have sea views but it makes up for it with its hospitality and honest cooking. Using fresh, high-quality ingredients that are locally sourced – whether beef, lamb, or fish straight from the fishing boats just 100 meters away – leads to incredibly tasty results. A perfect venue for all the family.
Konoba Bedem
A relaxed place to satisfy your craving for traditional Montenegrin and Balkan cuisine with a picturesque terrace setting, just outside the ancient city walls. From the cheeses of Njegusi and Kolasin to the vegetables from Stari Bar’s farmers market, Konoba Bedem (Bedem translates to city walls) is passionate about keeping the cooking connected to the region.
The vibrant rustic decor and affordable sharing menus are the draws of this old-town venue, which is not surprisingly also popular with the locals. Waiters incessantly scurry back and forth carrying small cups of strong Turkish coffee and mezze platters full of homemade delicacies such as eggplants in yogurt and stuffed grape leaves.
Besides that, you’ll find fresh pasta, risotto dishes, grilled seafood, and many vegan and vegetarian options on their menu. You may be inclined to stay a little longer with a glass of freshly made pomegranate beer or wine. Dating from 1905 means that Konoba Bedem has a long tradition and can get very busy during the peak season, so it’s worth booking ahead, especially for larger groups.
Kaldrma
Whether a lunch of octopus salad or dinner of perfectly grilled veal or sea bass, a meal here will be complimented by magnificent views of the main cobblestone street this restaurant is named after. The peaceful atmosphere attracts an international clientele looking to relax beside the historic city walls in Stari Bar.
A series of tasting menus and platters are on offer, including a reasonably priced five-course vegetarian, meat, or fish menu. There’s a rather large selection of other native classics as well – roasted lamb with vegetables, grilled squids with Swiss chard and potatoes, and tre leche cake to name but three.
The Sons Eatery
Visitors to Bar looking for an unhurried place for lunch or dinner will love The Sons Eatery, in large parts thanks to the warm service and the delicious mix of dishes that are offered by its Turkish owners. You’ll find an eclectic choice of meals (inspired by the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern), which the enthusiastic kitchen team prepares fresh every day using high-quality ingredients.
Located adjacent to the ancient city walls and new to 2023, it didn’t take long for The Sons Eatery to cause a stir in Bar’s culinary scene. Barely a surprise because you won’t find better-tasting Manisa kebap and Neapolitan pizza anywhere close. This restaurant has a cozy front terrace and balcony seating on the first floor, overlooking the old town.
Restaurant XIO
Restaurant XIO is the new ‘secret’ spot for foodies in Bar. The menu leans towards fresh Mediterranean cuisine, with hints of flavors from Russia. This stylish venue with its elegant yet homely setting, boasts one of the best sea-view rooftops in the area and has quickly become a local favorite, bringing something new to Bar’s dining scene.
This is one of those places where you can just unwind, feel free, and completely switch off. At XIO, everything is playful and lively, like a breath of fresh air. Chicken Kiew, squid ink pasta with seafood, and creamy pink summer borscht are popular here, and their burgers and creative signature cocktails are also highly recommended.
Dot Com
Don’t be put off by its setting, right next to a roundabout in the Susanj neighborhood. This is not where foodies usually flock to, but Dot Com is changing that with exceptionally cordial and attentive service, and its tasty Mediterranean-Asian-Middle-Eastern fusion menu. Expect the place to be filled with freelancers from the adjacent coworking space, who must also love the fast and efficient service that they receive from the young and upbeat staff.
Great dishes abound – risotto with shrimp & saffron, or truffles & mushrooms, spicy ahi tuna tartare Thai style with avocadoes and pickled cucumbers, and Vietnamese Pho Bo soup (a generous portion) were some of the highlights when we visited. Don’t overlook the delicious Middle Eastern appetizer platters either, which included all-time classics such as hummus, baba ghanoush, and labneh.
Akvadukt
Family-run, unpretentious, and full of charm, Konoba Akvadukt is where to get great-value-for-money dining and drinking away from the tourist crowds. The tavern-style eatery proposes a concept that revolves around plain-spoken simplicity, with quality ingredients and passionate care for tasty Balkan traditional dishes at its core.
Konoba Akvadukt is named after the town’s Ottoman-era waterway and offers patrons an intimate dining room and a cozy outdoor terrace, overlooking the old town. Stuffed vegetables with ground beef and rice (Dolma), homemade meat balls in tomato sauce, and cevapcici served on kajmak are only some of their exceptional offerings. There are also four affordable set menus available for lunch.
Our tip: visit on market day (Saturday) for a great dining experience and to soak up the local atmosphere. Make sure to taste their olives: Bar is known for high-quality olives, which are known beyond Bar’s municipal borders for its zesty and full-bodied flavor.
Banjalucki Cevap
Banjalucki Cevap sits in the heart of Bar (New Town) and serves just one menu item but does it exceptionally well. Delicious Bosnian-style cevapcici is offered in three portion sizes (8, 12, and 16 pieces) at very competitive prices. There is a high turnover so the produce is always fresh and cooked to perfection.
This accessible, rustic restaurant makes this the ideal spot for an informal lunch or afternoon snack – the friendly team is there to welcome and look after you. It’s popular amongst locals and tourists alike, who enjoy the simple combination of fresh onions, cabbage salad, warm, homemade bread fresh from the oven, and a glass of Niksicko beer from the tap.
Stara Carsija
Stari Bar’s best restaurant location is that of Stara Carsija, where the large terrace offers breathtaking vistas of the old town and surroundings. Owner Hacko has created an attractive decor, matching traditional wood and stone elements to create a timeless environment and welcoming atmosphere in which to enjoy authentic Montenegrin dishes.
The cuisine is liberated from local constraints yet committed to its mountainous surroundings and Balkan heritage, offering an audacious and exhilarating culinary experience at the foot of Mount Rumija. Great food does not have to be complicated when fresh, farm-to-table produce takes center stage in all of the dishes.
This family-friendly restaurant is large and versatile, extending over several levels, making it the perfect setting for all types of dining events. Take note however that due to the owner’s muslim background, no alcohol is served. Expect fastidiously prepared meals – meat skewers arriving on wooden charcuterie boards, juicy chicken breast in creamy mushroom sauce served with homemade pita bread, and baklava, better than the Turkish original.
Konoba Kula
Lucky visitors to Bar’s Old Town might stumble across Konoba Kula – the cozy yet refined culinary offering from the Kula boutique hotel. Housed in an Ottoman-style building with a wooden balcony and vibrant window shutters, this restaurant is more than just another hotel amenity – it’s a destination in its own right.
Konoba Kula sits across the street from the entrance to the historic center and is the perfect place to take in the stunning views of the descending cobblestone street whilst sipping a perfectly chilled pomegranate beer or savoring something from the well-crafted breakfast, lunch, or dinner menus. We found the breakfast dishes particularly outstanding and lovingly presented.
Parapet
Everything seems to sparkle at this harborside eatery on Bar’s coastal promenade; from the fishing boats in the marina to the tableware. This lively venue is a local celebrity, serving some of the best pizza and pasta dishes in town. Good seafood, too. Look out for grilled or fried squid, Pasta a la Marina (with mussels, shrimp, squids, and vegetables), and the Mexican-inspired cajun salad with guacamole and chili.
It’s an ideal spot for lunch with the family or evening an meal with friends in an informal, relaxed atmosphere. Parapet compromises modern pinewood benches and tables on its glass-enclosed patio (smoking allowed), plus twenty or so more tables on the al fresco terrace, perfect for watching sunsets, which are magnificent in Bar by the way.
Many people come here after dinner to enjoy a beer from the tap, socialize, and have something from the snacks menu: burgers, nachos, and sausages show the most demand. It’s a real local hangout, and one of the eateries along the coastal promenade to stay open all year. It may feel chaotic at times, and service can be a hit or miss, but the Parapet remains genuine and reasonably priced.