The Best Live Music Venues In Banja Luka Bosnia

Several bars and restaurants hold live music events in Banja Luka that range from relaxing jazz to heavy rock. Occasionally, big-name singers make their way to the Republika Srpska’s capital to entertain the locals and those few tourists. Here are some of the best venues for live music in Banja Luka.

Mac Tire Pub

The one bar you’ll find in every town, city and country in the world is an Irish Pub. Banja Luka is no exception, with Mac Tire boasting fresh pints of Guinness, a range of draft beer, and more than 30 types of bottled beer. With cosy wooden interior and a warm atmosphere, everyone feels welcome here. Live music, including solo singers and rock bands, is featured daily starting at 5:00pm. Mac Tire wants to revive old genres such as soul and jazz, and the early gig times make the venue an ideal last stop straight from a day of sightseeing.

Opening hours from 8:00am to 1:00am (Sunday to Thursday); 8:00am t0 2:00am (Friday and Saturday).

Mala Stanica

Park

For more traditional live music, head to Mala Stanica, a few minutes from Park Mladen Stojanovic. The restaurant has ethnic decorations, and each weekend their orchestra performs. You can expect decent Serbian food with a band playing various types of ethnic and Bosnian music. Why not spend an evening at Mala Stanica to soak up some of the regional cultures in the form of music?

Opening hours from 7:00am to midnight daily.

Kastel Fortress

Banja Luka’s oldest building, Kastel Fortress, doubles up as a concert venue in the summer. Various regional artists perform inside the castle’s walls, and revellers enjoy music in the open-air arena. Encountering familiar bands and musicians is unlikely, but you can expect a party atmosphere. Regular concerts take place during the summer; the schedule is available online.

Monnet Café Bar

Monnet has a reputation for being one of the best venues in Banja Luka for live blues and jazz. The café/bar is about 15 minutes from the city centre on foot and located on the banks of the River Vrbas. Patrons enjoy the outdoor seating areas with views of the river during the warmer months, or sit inside the airy interior when it’s cooler. Live music is on most nights and tables tend to fill up quickly.

Opening hours: Monday to Wednesday and Saturday: 7:00am to midnight. Thursday and Friday: 7:00am to 1:00am. Sunday: 8:00am to midnight.

Ziza

Cathedral, Church

If you want to see live events and bands in a less-frequented venue, visit Café Bar Ziza. Little information is available on this small bar that’s a minute or two from Christ the Saviour Cathedral. But Ziza holds live events on a regular basis inside its modern interior. Expect a student atmosphere as they tend to make up the crowd.

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday: 7:00am to 1:00am. Sunday: 7:00am to midnight.

About the author

Sam Bedford

Sam is a self-confessed travel addict who loves exploring the places most tourists don’t covering just over a third of the world's countries to date. When he’s not travelling, he’s writing. When he’s not writing, Sam follows his other passions in life: long distance running and reading.