Takeaway coffee doesn’t exist in Montenegro. Coffee is something to enjoy slowly, preferably with friends, with your face in the sun. It’s absolutely not something to be gulped from a paper cup on the way to work. Montenegro’s vibrant capital has lots of places to linger over coffee and get brunch with your friends. From cozy to chic, Podgorica’s top brunch spots are made for enjoying the weekend — Montenegrin style.
The Hilton, in the heart of downtown Podgorica, is the perfect place to get brunch on Saturdays. With a special brunch buffet of delectable cheeses, desserts that are almost too pretty to eat and complimentary bubbles, the Hilton holds brunch every Saturday between 12pm and 4pm.
A favourite with locals and regular foreign visitors, The Republic of Good Food specialises in healthy options and traditional favourites with a twist. Pancakes loaded with berries, smoothies in bright hues, tortilla wraps and classic burgers are all on offer. Add in the bright, airy feel and The Republic of Good Food is a wonderful place to lounge over a long brunch with friends.
For something out of the ordinary in Podgorica, you can’t go past Byblos. The Lebanese restaurant has a fabulous brunch menu of Middle Eeastern goodies like shakshuka, cheese saj and foulh mudammas. These are the perfect accompaniment to a strong kuvana kafa, the traditional Turkish coffee favoured in Montenegro. They also serve chocolate croissants and fresh fruit salads for those who like the classics.
Baba Ganus is an Asian-inspired restaurant, but also specialises in health food and vegetarian options. In a carnivorous country like Montenegro, it’s refreshing to find a place with good vegetarian food. Linger over a lasagne, stuffed vine leaves or one of their sweet treats packed with super foods.
A cozy little place with an Italian influence, Forest is a trendy joint in Podgorica. Their cheesecakes in giant glasses are always popular, but the top pick has to be their ‘gastronomic museum’, which is a sampler platter of miniature dishes. Their full-length wine wall makes it the perfect place to sample a local wine over brunch.
Garden is an Italian restaurant that’s a favourite brunch spot with locals. For breakfast try hemendeks (ham and eggs) or bekendeks (bacon and eggs). They also have Italian classics like risotto, pasta and bruscetti, as well as a Montenegrin favourite – savoury stuffed pancakes.
This Italian restaurant has six locations throughout Podgorica, and does some of the best pizzas in town. They also do breakfast, which makes it a great place for brunch. Choose from Italian classics like bruschetta or try a traditional Montenegrin breakfast of przenice, fried dough balls with sides of honey and cheese.
French toast, English breakfast, toasted sandwiches, soups and salads. Restobar Strudla has delicious Montenegrin and international dishes with plenty of vegetarian options. In the centre of Podgorica’s buzzing bar district; this cozy hideaway is also a popular night spot with live music and djs.
In the Atlas Centre, Hotel Centreville’s dark and moody The Living Room is traditionally a place to get a late night whiskey. But it’s also a great place for brunch. Their mixed platter is highly recommended, as is their eggs Benedict. Other good choices include the club sandwich, Montenegrin mille-feuille and strawberry parfait.
Also in the Atlas Centre, Elit Restaurant and Lounge is a very popular place, day and night. They specialise in cocktails, and as anyone who’s ever watched Sex and City knows, brunch isn’t brunch without a Cosmo. Their pancake stack and vegetarian omelettes are ever popular, but it takes a strong will to walk past their cake stand without indulging!