Belgrade: A Short Primer

This is a very brief primer for people who ask (usually in forums or social networking sites) '''"What do you recommened in Belgrade e.g. bars, clubs, restaurants, hotels etc?" Thanks to film-maker Steve H for the original list. '''

If you have time, check out Belgrade 2.0 or the main Belgrade Foreign Visitors Club Wiki...if not, read on:

Clubs
Clubbing is massive in Belgrade. Every weekend top international DJs are playing in the city. Tickets are easy to get and inexpensive. What follows is a list of venues that if you attend you are likely to find quality music and people.


 * Tube - a superb new club from the people who brought you Bassment and Underground. Situated in Dorcolat Simina 21 (but the entrance is actually around the corner on Dobracine street numner 17.
 * Magacin (Warehouse) - The excellent DJ Peppe is the resident DJ at Magacin, one of Belgrade's newest and swankiest clubs. It caters for Belgrade's self-styled elite and its prices match its ambitions. I personally do not like the place very much becuase it reminds me of pretentious London clubs (gay eyecheck, no dance floor, 20 bouncers, London prices and world class poseurs). Magacin is located at Belgrade port (Karađorđeva 2-4) and is essentially only a Winter club. During the summer it hosts a very pleasant cocktail bar on the terrace.
 * Andergraund (Underground)- One of Belgrade's most famous clubs carved into the caves under Kalemegdan (address isPariska 1a). It has been recently renovated (Summer 2007) and is looking pretty good. The club has been saved in recent years by as the new home of Bassment (DJ Pookie/DJ Peppe and the LNP crew) - by far Belgrade's best clubbing and promotion crew. It also occasionally hosts superb DJs like like Marco Nastic, Marco Hollywood and Drum &amp; Bass master Bad Boy.
 * Plastic/Mint- Located in winter at the mammoth Plastic club near the Botanical Gardens on the junction of Takovska and Dalmatinska streetsand in summer on the Plastic Jam splav (raft) near 25th may Sports Club, this is one of Belgrade's biggest and best club nights. During the Winter season people oftejn end up in Plastic for the final sessions 4-7am. The club is huge with two pretty distic sections (the main area and the back bar). Earlier in the evening there is  a very cool bar open in the VIP section when invited DJs often spin warm-up sets.
 * Mr. Stephan Brown - This shows up regularly on recommendation but I am not sure why. The crowd is younger, it is always packed (one is supposed to reserve a place before going), the music is hit and miss.   
 * Siprazje(pron. Ship-rah-jee) - New but hugely popular bar/clublocated at Golsvortijeva 13 in Vracar. Part owned by Darko Dub, the music is superb (eclectic old school house, electro, funk, drum and bass) and the crowd is great too.
 * L'Idiot - Located at Dalmatinska 13, this is apparently a superb club, but I have only been once and sat outside.
 * The Splavs - In summer time (May to September) the main clubbing activity takes place on the various spalvs (floating clubs). The main cluster near Belgrade's Old Bridge, on the west side of the Sava, comprise of the clubs Exile, Sound, Freestyle and Povetarac. My favourite is the Mad Max like Povetarac which has to be seen to be believed. This place could only exist in Belgrade - which has the combinatiuon of riotous party spirit and no Health and Safety Executive to shut it down. Povetarac is great fun. Slightly older crowd (30ish) and superb music similar to Siprazje. There are several spalvs up by Hotel Yugoslavia in Zemun (the most notorious being the meat market Blaywatch) and another set by the 25th of May Center on the Danube. The best one there is Plastic mentioned above.

Other Clubbing Links

http://www.clubcoyu.com http://www.b92.net/music/events/e/index.html http://www.chillout.co.yu/kalendar.php http://www.biletservis.co.yu/index.php?UID=20061017194103217.36.42.225 http://www.klubskascena.com/content/category/20/81/100/

Cafes &amp; Bars

 * Pastis - located at 52 Strahinjica Bana aka Silicon Valley, Pastis is a wildly popular venue despite its unassuming character. Styled on a simple French bistro, it attracts the best of the Dorcol set and is both an excellent venue for hard partying or a quite one-on-one coffee during the day.
 * Movie Bar -Very cool bar and restaurant in the middle of town at Kolarčeva 6, part of the Belgrade Cultural Centre (Kulturni Centra).
 * Pevac (Rooster) - A summer bar located on the trianle whereGračanička and Cara Lazara streets meet Vuka Karadzica.I love this place even though it is exorbitantly priced (on a par with Magicin). The drinks are superb, the clientel (female) are inhumaly beautiful and it is a wonderful marshaling point before taking on the splavs.
 * Bar Central -My local cocktail bar - located at 59 Kralja Petra street - and one of the best places to go large in Belgrade. The head barman - Zac - was trained at BBB in London and he and his merry men make the most fantastic cocktails . The music is superb, the atmosphere slightly wild, and the crowd is young and beautiful (except me of course).
 * Belle Epoque - Opposite Baljoni market on Cara Dusana, its a superb place for cocktails late at night. 
 * Ben Akibe -Located on the 3rd floor of a building you access through an alleyway, this is one of Belgrade's best bars. Superb cocktails and great crowds.
 * The Federal Association Of Globe Trotters (aka AUR) - Located at Bul. Despota Stefana 7/-1 near the main city square-Trg Republike, this is one of Belgrade's most famous Bohemian cafe bars. It has an interesting interior (though a bit post- modernistic), decent staff and free wireless internet all complimented by relaxing ambient music which perfectly fits the atmosphere of the place.
 * Tapas -A personal favourite, again in my beighbourhood (Dorcol). Serves great cocktails and has excellent resident DJs. Hard to explain where it is. Ask locals in Dorcol or mail me.
 * SHKD (Sahovski klub Dorcol) - Another famous Dorcol drinking spot - located on the corner of Gospodar Jevremova and Cara Urosa - SHKD is ostensibly a chess club. SHKD has superb music and a great crowd. Its only limitation is that is is small and get very tightly crowded. Not very good for coffee. Very good for drinking and partying, especially if you get there early.
 * Bollywood- located in the centre of town at Safarikova 12, Bollywood is a relaxed and popular venue. They sell some sort of lethal cocktail there but I cannot recall its name as my last visit there ended in utter inebriation.
 * Absinthe- located near Slavia Circleat Kralja Milutina 33, Absinthe isboth a bar and superb restaurant. It is a good idea to eat there then follow up with cocktails.

Strahinjica Bana (aka Silicon Valley) has loads of bars along its strip. Take a walk and choose one that takes your fancy, they are all pretty similar. Another bar cafe strip is at Obilićev Venac (parallel to Knez Mihailova).

Restaurants
There is a crowded field in Belgrade with dozens of superb restaurants catering to every taste you can imagine. Here are some of my favourites:


 * 1) Campo de Fiori- Skadarlija (near the top) (Tel: 011 324 2940) - Brilliant newcomer on Skadarlija. Their pizzas rival Duomo, which really is saying something.
 * 2) Madera - Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 43 (Tel: 011 323 1332). Superb restaurant and very popular with Belgrade's expatriate population.
 * 3) Zaplet-Kajmakcalanska 2 (Tel: 011 2404 142). Superb eatery in Vracar serving both international cuisine and delicious Serbian food food.
 * 4) Guli- Located on Skardarlija in the heart of Dorcol, this is an inexpensive but excellent restaurant. Try the beef salad.
 * 5) Kosava- Kralja Petra 36 (Tel: 011 262 7344). One of my favourites, recently renovated. The food is consistently excellent and the service is also superb.
 * 6) Iguana- Karađorđeva 2 (Belgrade Port). (Tel: unknown) It is extremely popular with foreigners in Belgrade. It has great food and its legendary Sticky Date Pudding is required eating.
 * 7) Dorian Gray-Kralja Petra 87-89 (011 2634 151).Wonderful food but clientel can be a bit BWC /Mafiosi in characters.
 * 8) Opera-Obilićev venac 30 (Tel: 011 3036 200). This upmarket spot in the centre of town is a favourite of mine.
 * 9) Duomo- Strahinjica Bana 66a (Tel: 011 3036 076).Without doubt Duomo serves the best pizzas is Belgrade.
 * 10) Knez - Kneza Sime Markovica 10 (Tel: 011 635 160). One of Belgrade's best and most well established restaurants.
 * 11) Mao Tao - Gračanička 18 (Tel: 011 2627 059) - The best Chinese restaurant in town.
 * 12) DjuDju -Rige od Fere 16 (Tel: 011 2182 276). The best Sushi restaurant in Belgrade.
 * 13) Ikki Sushi Bar &amp; Japanese Restaurant - Gospodar Jovanova 46 (Tel: 011 2184 183). The second best Sushi restaurant in Belgrade. Still excellent.
 * 14) Kalemegdanska terasa - Kalemegdan Fort (Tel: 011 328 2727). A very popular and impressive restuarant situated in Belgrade's famous Kalemegdan fort.
 * 15) Langouste - Kosancicev Venac 29 (Tel: 011 328 3680). Legendary Belgrade fish restaurant. Probably the most expensive restaurant in the country.
 * 16) Pogodjena Patka (The Shot Duck)- Djure Danicica 13 (Tel: 011 33 40 460). This is a great little restaurant that specialies in duck dishes but has a wide variety of fine food.
 * 17) Pantarei Restaurant- Tadesa Koscuska 63 (nr 25th May Sports Centre) (Tel: 011 303 66 98 www.pantarei.co.yu ). Superb restaurant down on the river. Outside area, very popular so book in advance.
 * 18) Byblos - Nebojšina 6, (Tel: 011 244 19 38). Wonderful Lebanese food. The starters (Mezza) are better than anything else. Their Lebanese white wine is also amazing.
 * 19) Fish&amp;Bar - Braće Jugovića 3 (+381 11 262 2146, +381 11 328 6715) - Magnificent food and a no-smoking section. My current fave restaurant.
 * 20) Cantina de Frida - Karađorđeva 2-4 (Tel: 011 2181-120, 2181-107, 069 654-018) - Superb new Spanish restuarant down at Belgrade port. Always busy, so always book in advance.

For more information on Restaurants, see Belgrade 2.0's Restaurant Page

Hotels
Hotels are one of the biggest let downs in Serbia. The hotel industry has for years been orientated at only business travellers and have been getting away with overcharging for poor standards (think Communist era accomodation charged out at EU150 per night). Thankfully the industry is modernising rapidly and there are now several excellent and reasonably priced hotels in Belgrade.


 * 1) Le Petit Piaf- Very good, relatively inexpensive and superbly located hotel.

As for the rest, see Belgrade 2.0's Hotels page

Miscellaneous Information
Guides

Belgrade Instant Guide - http://www.scribd.com/doc/124021/belgradeinstantguide 

Serbia Travel Club - http://www.serbiatravelers.org/en/ [Brilliant]

General


 * 1) http://www.011info.com/en/
 * 2) http://www.beoclick.com/ - Serbian language but very comprehensive services list
 * 3) http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=220 - City of Belgrade Official Website
 * 4) Maps of Belgrade (satellite and interactive street maps)


 * 1) http://web.mit.edu/most/www/ser/Belgrade/architecture.html - Architecture of Belgrade
 * 2) Weather in Belgrade
 * 3) http://www.bg.ac.yu/en_index.php - University of Belgrade
 * 4) 24 Hour Pharmacy

Tourist information


 * 1) http://belgrade.org.yu/ -Belgrade 2.0 - [Excellent]
 * 2) http://www.backpackserbia.com/ - Backpack Serbia [Excellent]
 * 3) http://wikitravel.org/en/Belgrade - Wikitravel - Belgrade
 * 4) http://www.tob.co.yu/ - Tourist Organization of Belgrade
 * 5) http://www.belgradehotels.org - Belgrade Accommodation &amp; Hotel Guide
 * 6) http://www.belgradeeye.com - Belgrade Eye (Tourist information)
 * 7) http://www.world66.com/europe/ - World66 recommends Belgrade as a tourist hub
 * 8) http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/europe/belgrade - Lonely Planet Belgrade guide (Tourist information)
 * 9) http://www.totallybelgrade.com - Totally Belgrade (Tourist information)
 * 10) http://www.worldroom.com/pages/cg_belgrade/belgrade_main.phtml - Worldroom Belgrade guide(Tourist information)

Photo galleries


 * 1) http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/belgrade/clusters/ - Belgrade photos on Flickr
 * 2) http://rabotic.tripod.com/pictures/ - Rabotic Pictures of Belgrade
 * 3) http://zivotic.com/photo/top.asp?G=Beograd - Belgrade Photo Gallery
 * 4) http://www.mondophoto.net/europe/serbia/beograd/beograd01.html - Mondophoto.net: 129 Public Domain photos of Belgrade
 * 5) http://www.beobuild.co.yu/?strana=media - BeoBuild Photos (Photos and panoramas of Belgrade)
 * 6) http://www.pbase.com/vmarinkovic/belgrade - Vlado Marinkovic's Belgrade Gallery

News


 * 1) http://news.google.com/news?q=belgrade%20serbia&amp;hl=en - Google news Articles : Belgrade
 * 2) http://www.b92.net/eng/ - B92 in English
 * 3) http://www.belgradenews.com - Belgrade News

Art, Design &amp; Fashion


 * 1) http://www.arte.rs/en/home/ - Serbian Art Magazine
 * 2) http://www.belgradedesignweek.com/homeeng.html - Belgrade Design Week
 * 3) http://www.belgradefashionweek.com/english/index.php - Belgrade Fashion Week

Blogs


 * 1) http://belgrade.org.yu/ - Belgrade 2.0 - [Excellent]
 * 2) http://blogs.tol.org/balkans/ - Balkanizer
 * 3) http://blog.b92.net - B92 Blogs (Many in English)
 * 4) http://www.gridskipper.com/travel/belgrade/ - Gridskipper

Architecture


 * 1) http://web.mit.edu/most/www/ser/Belgrade/architecture.html - Belgrade Architecture
 * 2) http://www.beobuild.net - BeoBuild is the premier architecture and development site for Belgrade
 * 3) http://www.skyscrapercity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=739 - Belgrade &amp; Serbia discussions on Skyscraper City Forum