The 7 Best Bars and Cafes in Užice, Serbia

Užice is a city with a history of rebellion and revolution behind it, so it isn’t entirely surprising to come across a bar with such a name. The one thing that is surprising is the modern western pop music blaring out from the speakers, but you can’t have everything. This is a dark and dingy drinking hole with the chops to back up its moniker, the sort of place to get comfy in and enjoy a bottle or four of beer, with all pretence left at the door.

One of the most popular cafes in Užice, Vremeplov is the place to seek out if you are looking for a lazy afternoon coffee with a good book and the buzz of discussion around you. During the summer months, the little terrace becomes a real hub of conversation in the city. The cautious buzz of the day is replaced by an energetic frenzy once the sun goes down, with plenty of rakija, whisky and beer available for those looking to indulge.

Užice doesn’t possess the all-night party madness of Belgrade or the gritty commitment to fun of somewhere like Niš, but you can still find hints of that famous Balkan chaos there. Klub Skala is the premier nightclub in the city, a place to hit late and stay later. Some of the best DJs in the region frequently ply their trade here, so throw on your finest threads and get ready to dance the night away.

Užice is a solidly meat and potatoes sort of place, but a little bit of cocktail and cafe class can be found in the shape of Cafe Satelit. A variety of colourful concoctions are on offer once the sun has gone down (you can always have an afternoon cocktail, if you’re into that sort of thing), and there’s no better place in town to drink them than in Satelit’s charming courtyard terrace.

And the eyes of those who speak Serbian should light up right about now. This two-tiered marvel is the place to visit in Užice if you’re after pancakes with your coffee, or maybe even something a little sweeter. It also offers plenty of live music in the evening, showing there are indeed two sides to every coin. You could always have a crepe and coffee as a local jazz band explodes around you, but we don’t particularly recommend that.

Serbia and the Balkans in general is more renowned for its coffee as opposed to tea, but Kuća Čaja (literally ‘House of Tea’) is flying the flag for the combination of hot water and cured leaves. It isn’t all tea of course, as there is plenty of beer waiting to be imbibed while local musicians ply their trade on the stage. This is a tea house with a difference, to say the least.