Belgrade Food Tours & Drink Tastings

Discover Serbia Through Its Food and Drink

Serbian food is home cooking more than restaurant food. Many recipes come from family kitchens and haven’t changed much in generations. Food tours in Belgrade take you past the tourist restaurants to local bakeries, family-run grills and taverns where people from the city actually go.

A tour also gives you context. Your guide explains what each dish is, when people eat it and what goes with it. Whether you try street food at a Belgrade market, share a homemade meal in a village or learn why rakija matters so much here, you leave knowing how to order on your own for the rest of your trip.

Why Food & Drink Matter in Serbian Culture

In Serbia, gostoprimstvo (hospitality) is more than good manners. It’s a basic part of the culture. Guests get food and a drink as soon as they sit down, and no one is supposed to leave hungry.

The cuisine shows the country’s history as a crossroads. Ottoman influences are in the grilled meats, burek and sweet pastries. Hungarian traditions show up in stews and paprika dishes, mostly in the north. And Austrian heritage lives on in schnitzels and cakes. The mix is distinctly Serbian, but a lot of it will feel familiar.

Central to Serbian food culture:

• Rakija: fruit brandy, most often from plums, offered to guests and raised at every celebration
• Meze: small plates of kajmak, ajvar, cheese and cured meats, served before the main meal
• Seasonal cooking: fresh vegetables in summer, and in autumn families make ajvar and preserves for the winter
• Long meals: lunch with family or friends can easily last a few hours

Meals here are slow, and people care more about the company than the clock. That’s why a food tour in Serbia is about more than tasting dishes. You also see how people spend time together.

Types of Food and Drink Tours in Serbia

Street Food & Markets

Belgrade’s food scene is easy to see on a market visit or a walk between street stands. These tours start with pekara (bakery) culture, where locals grab burek for breakfast, and go on to small grills serving ćevapi and pljeskavica. Markets like Kalenić and Zeleni Venac show you seasonal produce and a slice of daily life. For tours that focus only on quick bites, see the Belgrade street food tours.

Traditional Serbian Meals

Village visits and kafana (traditional tavern) dinners are about home-style cooking. On these tours you often eat a meal of several courses made by a local family, with stories about the recipes. Expect hearty dishes like sarma (cabbage rolls), roasted meat and fresh bread. In Belgrade, many kafana evenings happen in Skadarlija, the city’s bohemian street, often with live music.

Wine & Rakija Tastings

Serbia has several wine regions, and Fruška Gora near Novi Sad is the easiest one to reach from Belgrade. Wine tours in Serbia visit family wineries and cellars, where you learn how the wine is made and taste local varieties. Many also include a rakija tasting, with brandies made from plums, apricots, quinces or pears. If you’d rather stay in the city, shorter tastings in Belgrade wine bars are another option.

Beer & Specialty Tours

Belgrade also has a growing craft beer scene, and Belgrade brewery tours take you to local breweries and taprooms. Other tours focus on one interest: vegan-friendly food walks, cooking classes where you make traditional dishes, visits to cheese producers or honey tastings.

What to Expect on a Serbian Food Tour

How the Tours Work

• Duration: city food walks usually take a few hours; wine and village trips outside Belgrade often take most of the day
• Group size: many tours run in small groups, and private food tours are common too
• Stops: several places, so you get variety instead of one big meal
• Pace: slow, with time to eat, ask questions and talk

Your Local Hosts

Most food tours in Serbia are led by locals: guides, home cooks or people who simply love their food. Besides explaining the dishes, they share family stories and tell you how certain foods are tied to holidays and everyday life.

Dietary Needs

Serbian cooking uses a lot of meat, but most tours can adjust for dietary needs if you tell them in advance. Vegetarian options often include ajvar (roasted pepper spread), kajmak (a creamy dairy spread), fresh cheeses, pies and seasonal vegetables. During Orthodox fasting periods, many places also serve dishes without meat or dairy.

Portions

Portions are generous. On many tours the tastings add up to a full meal, so come hungry.

Tips for Food-Loving Travelers

Try what you don’t know. Kajmak, ajvar and čvarci (pork cracklings) may be new to you, but they’re basic to Serbian food. Your guide will explain each one.

Don’t skip the drinks. Many small towns have their own wine or rakija, and local drinks say a lot about the region and the families who make them. If you don’t drink alcohol, just say so. There’s always something else to try, like homemade juice or strong Serbian coffee.

Ask about homemade food. The best stops often serve things families make themselves: rakija, bread, cheese and preserves from their own garden.

Pace yourself. Hosts will keep offering more. It’s fine to take small portions and say no to seconds.

Wear comfortable shoes. City food tours are mostly on foot, and some streets in central Belgrade are steep.

Want to know what to order before you go? Read the guide on what to eat and drink in Serbia.

Frequently Asked Questions