The Best Bars in Kotor, Montenegro

There are certain things you can expect from an establishment called Old Town Pub. For example, it will be located in the old town, and Kotor’s somewhat eponymous boozer most certainly ticks that box. This pub spills out onto the cobbled streets of the old town with a certain bravado, pint in hand and a story to tell. It also offers plenty in the way of finger food, with njeguški pršut making a claim to be the classiest pub grub we’ve come across to date.

Those claiming that there are no parties in Kotor have obviously never stepped foot in Maximus. It is the premier nightclub in town and one that could easily do good business on the heady streets of Belgrade if given the chance. If you are looking for the stereotypical Balkan night out when in Kotor, then Maximus is the place for you.

Kotor and cocktails go together like magnet and steel. The elegance of the old town mixes perfectly with a colourful concoction, and The Harbour Pub is an ideal spot to experience this. It also offers a decent menu of food and some excellent coffee, although Culture Trip definitely recommends an evening visit. The service can be a little on the slow side, but who comes to Montenegro in a rush anyway?

Montenegro is one of the most underrated destinations in Europe for oenophiles. Bokun Wine Bar is the place to go in Kotor if you are looking for a glass or two of the fine stuff, an experience embellished by a delightful selection of cold meats and cheeses too. It doesn’t get much more elegant than a glass of wine in Kotor’s old town, although the live music at weekends can add a certain spice to that most graceful of escapades.

Authenticity is the name of the game at Letrika. Located in a seemingly hidden part of Kotor’s old town, this café-bar avoids the crowds of the cobbled streets and offers an energetic experience all at the same time – a further testament to the legitimately unique way of life found here in Montenegro. It is a cosy place to enjoy a glass of wine, a bottle of Nikšičko or something a little stronger.

Now we’re talking. Leave your pretences at the door before heading into Bandiera, and prepare yourself for an evening of hard rock and cold beer, arguably the best combination known to mankind. The atmosphere is the main reason to visit this place, although you can have just as good a time by sitting in the little terrace and watching the world go by as a presumably leather-clad band wails away behind the stone walls.

There is nothing better in Kotor than a warm summer’s evening in the garden of Pržun Pub. This is Montenegro at its finest, as a convivial atmosphere sidles up to pleasant conversations with a cold drink to create something marvellous. If you can’t enjoy this, then travel in the Balkans might not be for you. It also does great food, as if the simple joy of the night wasn’t enough.