As Montenegro’s sun-drenched coastal hub, Bar offers a culinary landscape that is remarkably distinct from its northern neighbors. While the town is a well-liked, family-friendly holiday resort, its true soul lies in its status as the olive oil capital of the Adriatic, where ancient groves meet a bustling maritime spirit.
The dining scene is centered around two iconic hotspots: the vibrant coastal promenade near the marina and the pretty cobblestone streets of Stari Bar. From genuine Ottoman-era taverns serving local pomegranate wine to stylish seafront rooftops and Mediterranean-Asian fusion, Bar’s best restaurants ensure that whether you are seeking traditional Balkan soul food or creative Adriatic seafood, every meal is paired with an authentic sense of place.
Stari Bar Classics
Global & Fusion
Where Bar’s culinary boundaries expand beyond the Adriatic, blending Middle Eastern spices with Japanese precision.
The Sons Eatery
Located adjacent to the ancient city walls, The Sons Eatery has quickly caused a stir with its eclectic mix of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors. Owned by an enthusiastic Turkish team, it offers a fresh daily menu that has local foodies buzzing. You won’t find a better-tasting Manisa Kebap or authentic Neapolitan pizza anywhere in the region. Whether you sit on the cozy front terrace or the first-floor balcony overlooking the old town, the service is as warm as the homemade bread.
Sushi Market
Bringing a new level of culinary precision to the city, Sushi Market has become the go-to destination for those seeking fresh, vibrant Japanese flavors. This sleek venue delivers a high-energy menu that masterfully balances traditional techniques with creative fusion. From meticulously rolled Uramaki to spicy Tuna Tartare, the quality of the fish—sourced to meet the highest standards—shines through in every bite. The service is fast and upbeat, making it the premier choice for Bar’s modern diners and digital nomads looking for a clean, sophisticated alternative to Balkan classics.
Marina & Promenade
La Forchetta
Located just 100 meters from the fishing boats, La Forchetta specializes in honest cooking using high-quality local ingredients. While it lacks a sea view, it compensates with elite hospitality and noteworthy dishes like Tomahawk steak in demi-glace and sesame cream salmon pasta. It is the ideal venue for families seeking refined Italian-influenced flavors in the heart of the marina.
Parapet
A true local celebrity on Bar’s promenade, Parapet is the place for magnificent marina sunsets and social vibes. Known for the “best pizza and pasta in town,” this lively venue stays open year-round. It’s an informal, genuine hangout where you can enjoy a cold beer from the tap alongside Pasta a la Marina or their Mexican-inspired Cajun salad.
Local Favorites
Konoba Akvadukt
Named after the town’s Ottoman-era waterway, this family-run tavern is a masterclass in plain-spoken simplicity. Away from the tourist crowds, Akvadukt delivers passionate care for Balkan traditional dishes. From Dolma (stuffed vegetables) to Cevapcici served on kajmak, everything here feels intimate and honest. Visit on a Saturday (market day) to soak up the true local atmosphere and sample Bar’s world-renowned, full-bodied olives.
Banjalučki Ćevap
In the heart of New Bar, this rustic eatery does just one thing, but they do it exceptionally well: Bosnian-style cevapcici. Served with fresh onions, cabbage salad, and warm homemade bread straight from the oven, it is the ultimate informal lunch. With high turnover and competitive prices, the meat is always fresh and cooked to perfection. Pair it with a cold Nikšićko beer from the tap for the full local experience.
Konoba Kula
Housed in an Ottoman-style building with vibrant window shutters, Konoba Kula is more than just a hotel amenity—it’s a destination. Sitting across from the historic center entrance, it’s the best place to watch the world go down the cobblestone street. While dinner is excellent, we found their lovably presented breakfast dishes to be the true standout, best enjoyed with a chilled pomegranate beer on the wooden balcony.
Vranac, Krstač, & The Rakija Ritual
To sit at a Montenegrin table is to engage with a viticultural history that stretches back to the Middle Ages. From the sun-soaked vineyards of Lake Skadar to the private stills of the hinterlands, Bar’s “liquid” culture is as potent as its history.
The Soul of the Soil: Vranac & Krstač
If you drink only one wine in Bar, let it be Vranac. This indigenous black grape produces a wine that is deep, tannic, and incredibly “full-blooded” (the name literally translates to “Black Stallion”). It is the perfect partner for the heavy meat dishes of Stara Čaršija or Banjalučki Ćevap.
For white wine lovers, Krstač is a rare gem found nowhere else in the world. Grown in a vineyard that is shaped like a cross (hence the name), it is a light, crisp, and mineral-heavy wine that pairs flawlessly with the seafood at Parapet or La Forchetta. Ask for the Plantaže label for the classic national standard, or seek out private family labels for a more boutique experience.
The Spirit of Hospitality
The Rakija Rule
Rakija is more than a spirit; it is a medicine, a greeting, and a farewell. Most locals start their day with a small glass of Loza (grape brandy).
- • Loza: Pure grape, clean and sharp.
- • Šljiva: Plum-based, aged in oak.
- • Dunja: Fragrant Quince (highly recommended).
Note: Home-made Rakija is often 50%+ ABV. Sip it slowly; it is never meant to be a “shot.”
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.
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.
Locatedadjacent 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.
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.
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.
