The first kafana (coffee house) in Europe opened in Serbia the 1520s. It was introduced by the Ottomans (Turks) and only served black Turkish coffee. These kafanas evolved from being a place where people simply ate and drank, to being a pillar of their community. They hosted political discussions, marriage arrangements and the first films in Serbia.The most prominent Serbian kafanas are located on Skadarlijia, a vintage street in Belgrade.
In the 1830s Skadarljia and the kafanas, also referred to as the “Gypsy Quarter,” were unsafe and run down. However, prominent Serbian artists, actors and writers who wanted to be close to the theatre or with nowhere else to go began moving to Skadarlija and it quickly became a popular and trendy area that hosted Belgrade’s cultural and intellectual elite.
Today Skadarlija and the kafanas remain important to their community and draw upwards of 20,000 visitors a day.
Brevin and I went to ŠEŠIR MOJ tavern which was recommended to us for a traditional Serbian meal.
ŠEŠIR MOJ 
Skadarlija 
ŠEŠIR MOJ 
Beefsteak tagliata in oil with spicy herbs, slighlty smoked 
Chicken fillet tagliata in a sauce of three types of mushrooms 
Shopska salad and bread 
Skadarlija 
ŠEŠIR MOJ
The Jo Show 