The kafana is a courtroom where everyone testifies and nobody objects. Rakija administers the oath. Belgrade has kept these sessions running for two centuries.
- 1 · The Cold Open
Znak Pitanja „?“
The censors refused to let it be named after the cathedral across the street, so the owner hung a question mark and the city adopted it. Belgrade's oldest kafana, low ceilings, šljivovica poured level with history.
est. 1823 · from noon · verified Jul 2026
- 2 · The Detour
Šešir Moj
My Hat, on the cobbles of the poets' quarter, tambura players working table to table. Order the plum and surrender the melody. The oath begins in three quarter time.
Skadarlija tambura house · evening · verified Jul 2026
- 3 · The Anchor
Tri Šešira
Three Hats, Skadarlija's anchor since 1864, where starogradska music and roast pork run all night and the waiters have watched ministers cry. The main testimony, delivered with bread.
est. 1864 · dinner till late · verified Jul 2026
- 4 · The Wildcard
Kafana Pavle Korčagin
Named for a Soviet novel's hero, walls dense with partisan flags and old photographs, long tables where strangers become co-defendants by the second carafe. Live music nightly; no one leaves early.
socialist memorabilia hall · dinner till late · verified Jul 2026
- 5 · The Last Call
Rakia Bar
Fifty rakijas by the glass, quince to walnut, served with straight faces and water you will ignore. The oath concludes with an apricot. Overnight custody is your own affair.
Dobračina tasting room · till late · verified Jul 2026