Despite being such a small country, Montenegro food is a great range of local and traditional foods and dishes. This is partly due to its mix of landscapes, the widespread mountains and the idyllic Adriatic coast, which both contribute to Montenegro’s produce and ingredients. Combined, the two result in some of the best dishes in the country. As well as meat dishes, that come from the mountain areas, there are also many seafood and fish-based specialities, with fresh fish being caught from the Adriatic. We’ve explored Kotor, Budva and Tivat to give you our pick of the best restaurants to try Montenegro’s traditional food, including the national dish of Montenegro and an overview of what to eat in Montenegro:
1. Montenegro’s National Dish – Njeguški Pršut
Similar to prosciutto, Njeguški Pršut is a dry-cured ham that is served uncooked and comes from the village of Njeguši in the South of Montenegro. The ham is delicious, with its flavour coming from the mix of sea and mountain landscapes, combining sea salt, the sea air and the beech wood smoke used to cure it. It takes around 1 year to complete the full cycle of preparing, curing and maturing the ham. While it can be served in many dishes, it’s best tried with simply some cheese and accompanying dried fruits. This is widely considered Montenegro’s national dish and if you only try one local Montenegro food then this should be it.
- Where to Try: Konoba Scala Santa, Kotor
- Address: Trg od Salate, Old Town, Bay of Kotor, 85330
- Price Range: $$
- Opening Times: Daily from 09:00 until 23:00
2. Traditional Montenegro Food – Ispod Saca
This is a hearty, filling dish consisting of lamb, goat or veal roasted with potatoes and usually carrots, tomatoes and onions. It is a traditional dish across the Balkans but is seen more often on the menu in Montenegro, making it our top pick of Montenegro traditional dishes. The meat and vegetables are cooked under a large metal or ceramic domed lid, which looks like a bell and baked on hot coals. As a result, the perfect conditions under the lid make for beautifully tender meat and vegetables. The dish was once often made by poorer households who could not afford a stove but has now become a popular dish served in restaurants.
- Where to Try: Restaurant Cattaro, Kotor / Mala Barka, Tivat
- Address: Put Prvoboraca 230, 85330 / 2 Kalimanjska, Tivat 85320
- Price Range: $$ / $$
- Opening Times: Daily from 07:00 to 12:00 / Daily from 08:00 to 00:00
3. Montenegro Dessert – Krempita
Krempita or Cream Pie is a dessert dish that is served throughout the Balkans, with several different names. The dessert is usually made with a puff pastry dough that is filled in layers with thick custard. Occasionally, the custard is also combined with meringue. The result is a light, fluffy and delicious dessert which is the perfect end to any meal.
- Where to Try: Konoba Scala Santa, Kotor
- Address: Trg od Salate, Old Town, Bay of Kotor, 85330
- Price Range: $$
- Opening Times: Daily from 09:00 until 23:0
4. Buzara
With fresh fish and seafood aplenty, Buzara is a popular dish served along the coastal regions in Montenegro. The word ‘buzara’ means ‘stew’ and explains the concept behind this dish. Most commonly mussels, but various types of shellfish as well, are stewed in a pot with wine, olive oil, garlic, parsley, breadcrumbs and sometimes tomato.
- Where to Try: Theodorus Restaurant, Tivat
- Address: 6 Trg od kulture, Tivat
- Price Range: $$
- Opening Times: Daily from 07:30 until 00:00
5. Njeguški Steak
So we’ve covered Njeguški Pršut, and now we move to Njeguški Steak, which is a veal or pork schnitzel steak filled with Njeguški ham and cheese. The steak often also comes with melting cheese on top which is commonly Kajmak, a local cream cheese. The stuffed ingredients and cheese on top of the steak keep it juicy and give it a real savoury kick. As a dish, the steak is usually served with chips and a side salad.
- Where to Try: Marenda Grill House, Kotor
- Address: Put prvoborca 232, 85330
- Price Range: $$
- Opening Times: Daily from 07:00 to 00:00
6. Burek
Probably the most common pastry in Montenegro, Burek is formed of layered flaky pastry, usually, filo, filled with meat, cheese, spinach or potatoes. It is most commonly eaten for breakfast, with yoghurt, but can be eaten at any time of day as a tasty snack or for lunch. As well as being a popular pastry in Montenegro food, Burek is generally a Balkan pastry so can also be found in some of the neighbouring countries such as Serbia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Croatia.
- Where to Try: Good Food Bakery, Budva
- Address: Nikole Tesle, Jadranski put, Budva
- Price Range: $
- Opening Times: Daily from 07:00 to 18:00
7. BLack Risotto
Black risotto is a popular dish across the Balkans and Montenegro is no exception. The dish can be found throughout Montenegro but is best in coastal areas where the squid or cuttlefish used to make the dish are fresh. It has a very rich seafood flavour and is made with squid ink, which creates black colouring. The rice is usually cooked al dente and chunks of cuttlefish, and sometimes calamari, are complimented with garlic, onion, butter and parmesan cheese.
- Where to Try: Restoran Rivijera, Budva
- Address: Trg Palmi Stari grad, Budva
- Price Range: $$
- Opening Times: Daily from 09:00 to 00:00
Thanks for reading, let us know in the comments if you have tried any of the Montenegro foods we have listed and where. Check out our collection of Montenegro Travel Guides for more information about how to get in, out and around the towns of Kotor, Budva and Tivat, including where to stay, what to see and do and all our related travel articles. For more Montenegro food check out our Budva restaurants guide or our Tivat restaurant guide.
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