While Bosnian food does not offer much to pescatarians like me, Sarajevo itself is nothing less than a heaven for foodies of all sorts. Moreover, if eating local is not something you fancy for any other reason, you will be happy to know that the city is home to plethora of spots that serve anything from decent risotto to crispy falafels, and anything in between. Below is a list of Sarajevo eateries that I enjoyed thoroughly, though admittedly some were significantly better than others.
Besame Mucho – https://maps.app.goo.gl/n9RgjWkqHCUAZzSJ9
Besame Mucho is like pizza. It is a safe choice. It is so safe that it serves both local and international cuisines, to cater to as many people as possible. While my mother really enjoyed her local dumplings, I made the mistake of ordering a shrimp risotto here. Mind you, the risotto itself was fine, other than being severely under spiced, but eating that the day after I had the best risotto ever in Restoran Laguna in Neum was simply a dumb move on my part. Nevertheless, there is something for everyone at Besame Mucho, and it is located in a very central location.
Pekara Kovači kod Mahira – https://maps.app.goo.gl/XXtgGhKUqWQa8cP97
While I considered placing this one to the list of Bosnian eateries one can enjoy in Sarajevo, I decided not to after actually tasting their food. You see, you can enjoy a heavily modified version of a pizza in this Bosnian bakery. It is almost a bit too thin and crispy, and it is topped with tomato sauce, mushrooms, cheese, clotted cream, and cured meat, though you can remove anything that you do not want. Is this pizza? I am not sure. Its tomato sauce was too sweet and runny, and it barely had any cheese. Is it tasty? Hell yeah! You usually have to wait for up to ten minutes until your order is processed, they are that busy, because it is that tasty. There is no seating arrangement, so get ready to eat your Bosnian pizza sitting on a wall that separates the cemetery from the road. It is worth it though.
Piccolo Mondo – https://maps.app.goo.gl/Z73qG58xWwrquKjw7
If you are interested in eating your pizza in a more comfortable setting, you may prefer visiting Piccolo Mondo. Their take on pizza is similar to what one can have across the globe as well. Still, they do have something special up their sleeve. Their pies are served with three sauces, and their bold flavours are gamechangers. While the green sauce by itself was mediocre at best, both of the red sauces were amazing. I believe one of the red sauces is a type of salsa, while the other is chili oil. Putting all of these atop a slice of tuna pizza and devouring it was a joy to say the least. This is one of those places I would definitely visit again when I am back in Sarajevo at any point in the future.
Da Zero Pizza – https://maps.app.goo.gl/HDhxTBKMojht3cP28
I do enjoy pizza, so I could not help but had it a few times in Sarajevo. Sue me. Da Zero Pizza serves Neapolitan style pizza pies, which just happens to be my favourite style. The dough is amazing, and the tomato sauce is tangy. Cheese is plentiful and the olive oil tastes just fine. They really need to up their pasta game but given the fact that ‘pizza’ is literally in their name, you know what to get (and what to avoid) when you visit this fine establishment.
Sushi San – https://maps.app.goo.gl/gTnQRG3m8rGNLH7s8
The best sushi in town, and perhaps in the entire region, can be ordered in an unassuming little spot called Sushi San in the seldom visited alleyways of Sarajevo. The older gentleman that tended the restaurant clearly knew what he was doing. He worked methodically, as I watched him prepare my complimentary cup of cold green tea, possibly the best miso soup I had in my life, followed by four different rolls, each tasting better than the one before. He even serves wasabi, the real stuff, and you will be pleased with just how much of an improvement that is over the store-bought crap. While this is one of the more expensive meals I enjoyed in Sarajevo, it was worth every single BAM in my humble opinion. Will be back for more!
Falafel Restaurant – https://maps.app.goo.gl/QsVH8vm8aaK8jckt9
It is mostly Turks and Arabs that visit Sarajevo, that much is clear from the languages found in menus to languages spoken on the street whenever you are in a touristic area. Where there are Arabs, there is often some falafel to be had. It is all the better to see that some actual Arab tourists buy falafel from a local falafel vendor. The humbly named Falafel Restaurant certainly does justice to this nutty Arabic specialty, instead of treating their Arab clientele as a captive audience. I enjoyed their crispy and well spiced falafels, though it was their hummus that conquered my heart. This place is well worth a visit in my book!
Veganer – https://maps.app.goo.gl/fwVDqBwyfefKvgZF8
As a pescetarian that plans to be eventually fully vegetarian, vegan food has a special place in my heart. I just love how creative people can get with plant-based food. Eating some of the finer examples of vegan food make me realize that I may even be able to go fully vegan one day. The lovely people at Veganer can sleep peacefully knowing that they do serve some of the finer examples of vegan food out there, especially in Sarajevo. Their homemade bean patties are tastier than what most fast-food franchises served as ‘meat’ back when I was still eating meat, and that is telling something. I feared that they may taste like cardboard or falafels, which is often the case, but they do not. You can enjoy a few different varieties of vegan fast food here, which can be a great alternative even for those that enjoy a meat heavy diet.
Burger Bar JEDI ME – https://maps.app.goo.gl/CCDS9vuRHB78AHpAA
We can end this list with another example of vegan fast food in Sarajevo. Apparently, Burger Bar JEDI ME used to make the best vegan burgers in town, alas, they seemed to have lost their cult like following recently. Their food seems to have gone downhill, and the service became slower than ever. I must say, I did enjoy the vegan Balkan burger I had here, though its bun was a bit on the tougher side, and the service was indeed pretty slow. They also did not have half the items on the menu, which is never a good sign for an establishment’s future. I still think that they are worth paying a visit, but do keep your expectations low so as not to be disappointed.
