The 10 Best Restaurants in Dorcol, Belgrade

What’s that, a Japanese restaurant in Belgrade? That sounds like an unusual combination, but ‘unusual’ can often be used in a positive way. That is true here, and Marukoshi is one of the finest eateries in the city. We’ve made the mistake on many occasions of nipping in for lunch, only to find ourselves hanging around due to the majesty of the teriyaki chicken. There’s a whole lot more to Japanese food than just sushi, and Marukoshi is the perfect place to find out.

Mixing the classical flavours of French and Italian cuisine, Casa Nova brings something quintessentially mediterranean to the Serbian table. The prices are among the highest in the city, but the service comes with an air of professionalism and commitment to quality that is sometimes lacking in the more down to earth restaurants around. If you’re looking for a fancy place to take a date but want plenty of substance to back up the style, head to Casa Nova.

A popular bistro on Kralja Petra, there are few summertime Belgrade experiences more sublime than brunch at the Little Fig. The decor through the door leans more on the Mediterranean than the Balkan, but there remains something unmistakably ‘Belgrade’ about Smokvica. Maybe it is the abundance of effortlessly attractive people, the good food and the animated discussions taking place all around. It could also be the many different varieties of egg that are available.

Belgrade’s Asian food scene is beginning to move beyond the many subpar Chinese takeaways that used to dominate, and Istok is at the forefront of that revolution. The name is the first giveaway (Istok is Serbian for ‘East’), and the restaurant was actually the first Vietnamese joint in the city. Considering the quality of food on offer, Istok is a tough act to follow for the next Asian restaurant.

There might be a million restaurants in Belgrade serving traditional grilled meat (a slight exaggeration, admittedly), but only the finest are busy from morning through to night. Walter is one such place, somewhat out of step with the ‘cooler than cool’ establishments on Strahinjića Bana but demanding attention nonetheless. The kajmak here is as good as anywhere in the city too, especially once it has melted all over the meat in question.

A jack of all trades and a master of plenty of them, Endorfin is difficult to miss when in Dorćol thanks to the abundance of energy coursing out of the place. A craft beer hub and a must for gin lovers, the menu is the real main event with a changing rote of fascinating dishes taking centre stage alongside some rather magnificent steaks.

Good food and easy jazz go hand in hand like magnet and steel, and New Reset is one such place in the Serbian capital that understands this on another level. Located in a splendid house built in the 1920s, New Reset is best experienced in its quaint garden on a summer’s evening. There also happens to be plenty of excellent wine, another reason to add this place to your gastronomical tour of Belgrade.

An Italian-style restaurant on Strahinjića Bana, Duomo pulls off the difficult feat of mixing the convivial homeliness of the Mediterranean with the unshakeable style of contemporary cuisine. The usual pizza and pasta offerings make up the majority of the menu, but there is an intangible quality here that demands return visits.

This trendy spot in an even trendier neighbourhood is becoming increasingly popular with locals and expats alike. An extensive selection of salads, soups and pasta dishes is available, along with a wide variety of breakfasts and no small amount of glorious pancake options. It is no smoking too, which is even rarer than finding great vegetarian options in the city.

Despite the slow improvements in the quality of Asian food in Belgrade, good quality sushi has remained somewhat difficult to find. The opening of Ima Sushi in Dorćol has put that search to bed, adding a fresh layer of style to Strahinjića Bana. Their dishes can also be ordered online, but why not head down to Dorćol for the full experience.