Traditional Foods in Montenegro to Try & Meat-Free Options for Local Dishes

Lucy at a table ready to eat a freshly prepared meal in Rijeka Crnojevića.

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We love food. But the food we find when we travel doesn’t always love us. Montenegrin food is a mix of hearty Balkan comfort food, fresh Adriatic seafood, grilled meats, local cheeses, and traditional dishes shaped by centuries of Mediterranean and Ottoman influence. What you eat locally can vary quite a bit depending on where you are, and is made even harder if you don’t eat meat.

We spent five weeks travelling around Montenegro and quickly realised that eating locally isn’t always as straightforward as it sounds, especially as veggie/vegans. Meat features heavily on many traditional menus, and some dishes that sound meat-free can contain hidden ingredients. Plus, we didn’t want to miss out on trying the best local specialities, but had to do a lot of digging to find non-meat versions. But you don’t have to miss out, though – we found plenty of traditional foods worth trying.

In this guide, we’ll cover the best foods to try in Montenegro, explain what traditional dishes are made from, where to go for local cuisine, and share the meat-free options to look out for, including vegetarian-friendly local specialities and tips for ordering when you’re eating out during your Montenegro itinerary.

Montenegro must-try foods at a glance

  • Fish: Grilled sea bream and sea bass, buzara, black risotto, Lake Skadar carp, and river trout.
  • Meat: Njeguški pršut, ćevapi, meat cooked ispod sača, roast lamb, and japraci.
  • Vegetarian: Kačamak, kamjak, pita (burek), Njeguši cheese, šopska salad.
  • Vegan: Prebranac, Sataraš, Ajvar, grilled vegetables.
Local dishes of Montenegrin food, including soup, fresh bread, and burek.

What is Montenegrin cuisine?

Montenegrin cuisine varies quite a bit by region, thanks to the country’s varied mix of landscapes:

  • Adriatic Coast – Along the coast, you’ll find Mediterranean influences, with fresh fish and seafood, pasta, olive oil, and local cheeses.
  • Northern region – Head inland to the central and northern regions, and the food gets heartier, with lamb, other grilled and roasted meats, freshwater fish, and plenty of dairy.
  • Central region – At inland lakes, freshwater fish is a local speciality, while the central region is also known for hearty meat dishes, traditional cheeses, and vineyards producing Montenegrin wines.

Like much of the Balkans, Montenegrin food has been shaped by centuries of cultural influences, including Ottoman and Byzantine traditions. It varies in different places in Montenegro, but we particularly noticed a divide between hearty mountain meals and Italian influences along the coast, especially in towns that were once under Venetian rule.

One thing worth knowing if you’re vegetarian or vegan is that traditional Montenegrin cuisine can be quite meat- and dairy-heavy, particularly away from the coast. That said, there are still local specialities worth seeking out if you know what to look for.

And refreshingly, Montenegro has no international fast-food chains like McDonald’s, so you’re more likely to find traditional restaurants, local bakeries, and family-run eateries.

Want to try more than just the food on the menu? Join a culinary tour in Montenegro to sample local specialities, discover regional wines, and learn about the country’s food traditions from local guides.

Dan sitting at a table full of plates of local food in the town of Rijeka Crnojevića.

The best food destinations in Montenegro

Montenegrin cuisine changes quite a bit depending on where you are, so it’s worth trying local specialities as you travel around the country.

There are some incredible restaurants in Kotor, especially in the Old Town, but the surrounding Bay of Kotor area is also a great place to try coastal Montenegrin cuisine. You’ll also find Italian influences on many menus, alongside local cheeses, cured meats, and traditional taverns tucked down the historic streets. Being touristy, it’s also one of the better places for non-meat eaters.

Lake Skadar is one of Montenegro’s best-known wine regions, with vineyards producing local varieties such as Vranac and Krstač. The area is also famous for freshwater fish, so it’s a good place to combine a wine tasting with a traditional meal.

An hour’s drive away, we also had some great meals in Rijeka Crnojevića, a small riverside settlement. Fish is a major draw, but we got to try traditional sides and accompaniments that were veggie.

With its busy restaurant scene, waterfront dining, and international influences, Budva was one of the best places we ate out in, with actually vegan-dedicated cafés. We also enjoyed pizza in Petrovac, but skipped dining in Sveti Stefan, as it’s fairly pricey.

The remote mountain villages around Prokletije National Park were some of our favourite places, but hard to eat vegan in. Expect hearty dishes, homemade dairy products, local cheeses, bread, and seasonal ingredients. Our cool accommodations were pretty accommodating, though.

Durmitor National Park was a lot better, with restaurants in Žabljak and a series of vegetarian-friendly food huts on the road to the Black Lake.

You can find all our restaurant recommendations for each place in our dedicated travel guides:

Two glasses of wine and two plates of pasta on a table at La Catedral Pasta Bar, one of the best restaurants in Kotor.

Traditional food in Montenegro: what to eat

These are the traditional dishes and local ingredients worth looking out for as you travel around the country.

1. Fish and seafood

With 183 miles (293 km) of Adriatic coastline, as well as numerous rivers and lakes inland, Montenegro has a long tradition of fishing and cooking with the local catch. Along the coast, you’ll find Mediterranean-style seafood dishes, from simply grilled fish to mussels cooked in wine, while the Lake Skadar region is known for its freshwater fish.

Here’s the most notable fish eaten in Montenegro:

  • Grilled fish and seafood – Fresh fish is often cooked simply over charcoal, known as na gradele, and served with olive oil, garlic, parsley, and lemon. Look out for sea bream, sea bass, dentex, red mullet, and mackerel, depending on the catch.
  • Buzara – A popular way of cooking mussels and other shellfish with garlic, parsley, and wine. The sauce can be white or tomato-based, and you’ll want some bread to mop it up.
  • Black risotto – A coastal favourite made with squid or cuttlefish ink, giving the rice its distinctive black colour.
  • Brodet – A rich fish stew made with different types of fish and sometimes shellfish, usually served with polenta. The Bay of Kotor has its own traditional versions.
  • Fried squid and octopus – Common seafood options along the coast, alongside grilled octopus and other Mediterranean-style seafood dishes.
  • Mussels and oysters – Particularly associated with the Bay of Kotor, where mussels are farmed and oysters are also cultivated.
  • Lake Skadar carp – One of the lake’s signature specialities, served grilled, baked, smoked, or cooked with onions and fruit such as prunes, apples, or quinces.
  • Bleak (ukljeva) – A small freshwater fish from Lake Skadar, often fried or dried and smoked. It’s a local favourite, particularly around the lake’s fishing villages.
  • Eel – Another Lake Skadar speciality, served grilled, baked, or cooked with rice and vegetables.
  • River trout – Popular in Montenegro’s mountain regions like around the Tara River, often fried or grilled and served with garlic, parsley, and olive oil.
  • Fish soup (riblja čorba) – A hearty soup made with fish, vegetables, and herbs, found in some coastal and lakeside restaurants.

Fish is often served with potatoes, chard, or raštan (collard greens), keeping things relatively simple and letting the fresh ingredients do the work.

Grilled fish and a vegetarian Dalmatian stew side on a plate.

2. Meat dishes

Meat has traditionally played an important role in Montenegrin cuisine, particularly in the mountainous interior, where livestock farming and preserving meat helped communities make the most of local produce. Lamb, veal, pork, and mutton feature heavily, from slow-roasted meat cooked over hot coals to air-dried specialities made in the mountain air.

Here are some popular meat dishes in Montenegro:

  • Njeguški pršut – Montenegro’s famous dry-cured, smoked ham, traditionally made in the village of Njeguši. It’s usually served thinly sliced with local cheese, bread, and olives.
  • Ćevapi (ćevapčići) – Small grilled minced-meat sausages, typically served with flatbread and chopped onions, sometimes with kajmak.
  • Ispod sača – Meat slow-cooked beneath a domed metal lid covered with hot coals. Lamb and veal are popular choices, often cooked with potatoes until tender.
  • Teleće pečenje – Roast veal, a traditional meat dish found in restaurants and family cooking.
  • Lamb cooked in milk – A rich, slow-cooked speciality associated with Montenegro’s mountain cuisine.
  • Kaštradina – Salted, dried, and sometimes smoked mutton, traditionally used in hearty cooked dishes.
  • Košet – Dried mutton leg, another traditional preserved-meat speciality.
  • Japraci – Raštan leaves wrapped around a filling that often includes minced meat and rice, particularly associated with the Lake Skadar region.

We’re not meat-eaters, so we don’t have much to say or show about Montenegro’s meat scene.

Sheep walking down a road in Prokletije National Park.

3. Cheese and dairy

Dairy is a huge part of traditional Montenegrin cooking, particularly in the north, where generations of families have raised sheep, goats, and cattle in the mountain pastures. Local cheeses, thick cream, sour milk, and other homemade dairy products appear everywhere, both as dishes in their own right and as accompaniments to bread, potatoes, and meat.

Here are some popular dairy foods in Montenegro:

  • Njeguški sir – Traditional cheese from the village of Njeguši, often made with sheep’s milk, although cow’s milk and mixed-milk versions are also produced.
  • Smočani kačamak – Montenegro’s national dish, a traditional mountain dish, made with potatoes and flour, then mixed with cheese and kajmak until thick, rich, and filling. It’s usually served with sour milk or yoghurt.
  • Kajmak (skorup) – A rich dairy product made from the cream that forms on heated milk. Depending on how it’s prepared and aged, it can be soft and creamy or firmer and more intensely flavoured.
  • Kolašinski lisnati sir – A distinctive layered cheese from the Kolašin and Mojkovac area. Its thin, leaf-like layers give it the name lisnati, meaning leafy or layered.
  • Pljevaljski sir – A traditional white cheese from northern Montenegro, known for its tangy, salty flavour and often matured in its own whey.
  • Cicvara – Another hearty mountain dish made by cooking flour, often cornmeal, with kajmak or other dairy products until it becomes rich and creamy.
  • Jardum – A traditional speciality made from sheep’s milk, particularly associated with the Kolašin region.
  • Kisjelo mlijeko (sour milk) – A traditional fermented dairy product, often served alongside kačamak and other hearty mountain dishes.

As vegetarians, we found ourselves eating a lot of dairy in the mountains. Cheese, kajmak, and kačamak were some of the main traditional options available to us, as vegan choices were much harder to come by.

If you don’t eat dairy, it’s worth planning ahead and checking how dishes are prepared, as even vegetable-based sides may be cooked with butter or served with cheese.

Bread and a big wedge of cheese on a table in the Cheese Shop on the Ladder of Kotor.

Vegetarian and vegan food in Montenegro

Traditional Montenegrin cuisine is pretty heavy on meat and dairy, so finding vegetarian food is usually easier than eating fully vegan.

Vegetarian food in Montenegro

There are plenty of naturally meat-free dishes to look out for, from cheese-filled pastries and hearty potato dishes to fresh salads and grilled vegetables, although it’s always worth checking how they’re prepared.

  • Pita (burek) – Filled flaky pastry, and the food I was most excited to be reunited with after loving it in Türkiye and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Look for cheese and spinach (zeljanica) and potato (krompiruša).
  • Sirnica – A flaky filo pastry pie filled with cheese, perfect for a quick breakfast or lunch.
  • Zeljanica – A savoury pastry pie filled with spinach or other leafy greens, often mixed with cheese.
  • Šopska salad – A refreshing mix of tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, and grated white cheese.
  • Grilled vegetables – Look for grilovano povrće, particularly along the coast, but check that they’re cooked in oil rather than butter.
  • Dalmatian potatoes (blitva s krumpirom) – A simple coastal side dish of boiled potatoes and Swiss chard tossed with garlic and olive oil.

Kačamak, kajmak, and cicvara are also naturally vegetarian. In Kotor, we loved La Catedral Pasta Bar and Resto Bar Taraca.

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Vegan food in Montenegro

Vegan options can take a little more planning, but these are worth looking for. Bear in mind that traditional recipes vary, and dishes that sound plant-based may contain butter, cheese, meat stock, or animal fat.

  • Prebranac – A baked bean dish with onions and paprika that’s often naturally vegan, although some versions include meat or animal fat.
  • Sataraš – A stew of peppers, tomatoes, and onions, sometimes with other vegetables. Usually vegan when cooked with oil.
  • Ajvar – A roasted red pepper spread, sometimes made with aubergine, that’s often served with bread or as part of a mezze-style spread.
  • Grilled vegetables – Aubergine, courgette, peppers, and other seasonal vegetables are common accompaniments, particularly at coastal restaurants.
  • Fresh salads – Tomato, cucumber, onion, and mixed seasonal salads are easy to find; ask for no cheese and check the dressing.
  • Potatoes – Baked, boiled, or roasted potatoes can be a simple option, provided they’re cooked without butter, animal fat, or meat stock.
  • Bread and olives – Often the simplest additions to a vegan meal, although traditional bread recipes can sometimes include milk or other animal products.
  • Seasonal vegetable dishes – Depending on the restaurant and region, you may find cooked greens, beans, or other vegetable sides that can be ordered without dairy or meat.

Of course, you’ll also fin popular items like pizza and pasta (veggie and vegan) on many menus, especially in the coastal towns and around the Bay of Kotor.

Two plates of pizza on a table in a restaurant in Petrovac.

Breakfast food in Montenegro

Breakfast in Montenegro is usually fairly simple, with local bakeries serving up fresh pastries like kiflice and homemade bread, while traditional mountain breakfasts tend to be heartier, with local cheese, eggs, and yoghurt. We were also served fruit, fresh juices, and pancakes, but one food I loved the most was priganice, little balls of fried dough, traditionally served with honey, jam, or cheese.

Burek and other types of pita are popular options for a quick breakfast on the go (we had quite a few on our trip) and are very affordable.

Even in remote and traditional accommodations, like when we stayed in Eko Katun Rosi, the breakfast was organically vegetarian, made from locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients.

A variety of breakfast foods on plates at Eko Katun Rosi, including eggs, fresh bread, priganice, and fruit.

Montenegrin sweet treats

Montenegro’s desserts reflect the country’s mix of Balkan, Ottoman, and Mediterranean influences, from syrup-soaked pastries to freshly made crêpes and little balls of fried dough. If you’ve got a sweet tooth like us, there are plenty of local desserts worth leaving room for:

  • Palačinke (Montenegrin-style crêpes) – Thin crêpes that can be served sweet or savoury. Sweet fillings often include chocolate spread, jam, crushed biscuits, or walnuts, making them a popular dessert or snack. We loved the ones from Vjerina Kužina in Cetinje.
  • Baklava – Layers of delicate filo pastry filled with nuts and soaked in sugar syrup or honey. Recipes vary across the Balkans, and you’ll find different combinations of walnuts, other nuts, and spices depending on where you try it.
  • Priganice – Small balls of fried dough, traditionally served with honey, jam, cheese, or sometimes powdered sugar. They’re often eaten for breakfast or as a snack.
  • Tulumba – A deep-fried pastry piped into ridged shapes, then soaked in sweet syrup. Crispy on the outside and soft in the middle, this Ottoman-influenced dessert is popular across the Balkans.
  • Krofne – Doughnuts that may be filled with jam, chocolate, or custard, depending on the bakery. These are a good option if you spot a traditional bakery while exploring towns and cities.
  • Krempita – A layered custard slice made with crisp pastry and a thick vanilla cream filling, especially found in bakeries in Kotor’s Old Town.
Tulumba on a plate, a traditional Montenegrin dessert.

What to drink in Montenegro

From coffees in local cafés to homemade rakija and wine from the country’s vineyards, drinks are a big part of Montenegro’s culinary culture. Whether you’re after your morning caffeine fix or something spritzy to sip with dinner, these are the drinks worth trying.

Coffee

Coffee is practically a daily ritual in Montenegro, with traditional Turkish-style coffee (domaća kafa or kuvana kafa) served alongside espresso-based drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, and other café favourites.

We found some great barista cafés, too, most of which stocked plant-based milks like oat milk. We especially loved CAVE Coffee Speciality in Kotor. We’re coffee snobs and also travelled with our Wacaco espresso maker, which was perfect for making our morning brew in the mountains before heading out on a hike.

Two coffees, one hot, one ices, on a table in a garden with plants at Piccolo Café in Kotor.

Nikšićko Beer

Montenegro’s best-known beer is a pale lager brewed by Trebjesa Brewery in the city of Nikšić. The brewery dates back to 1896, and the classic Nikšićko Pivo is a familiar sight in bars and restaurants across the country. Our favourite places to drink in Kotor were Patisserie by Wine House and the Hotel Hippocampus rooftop bar.

A glass of rose wine and a bottle of Niksicko beer on a table at a rooftop restaurant in Kotor backed by the mountains.

Rakija

This strong fruit brandy is a traditional Balkan drink and a familiar part of Montenegrin hospitality, often offered to guests as a welcome drink or served before a meal. Grape rakija, known as lozova rakija or lozovača, is considered Montenegro’s national drink, although you’ll also come across varieties made from other fruits. It’s potent stuff (I found it way too strong, but Dan liked it), so sip slowly if you’re not used to spirits!

Bottles of rakija lined up on a table at a tasting in Montenegro.

Wine

Montenegro has a long winemaking tradition, with the wine region centring around Lake Skadar and the Crnaica region.

Look out for Vranac, a full-bodied red made from a local grape variety, and Krstač, a native white that’s a good option with fish and lighter dishes.

The village of Godinje, in the Crmnica wine region, is a lovely place to explore this side of Montenegrin food culture, while there are some amazing vineyards you can stay at near Virpazar that put you close to Lake Skadar.

Glasses of white and red wine on a table in Winery Tradicija.

How to experience local food in Montenegro

One of the best ways to get a feel for Montenegro’s food culture is to go beyond restaurant menus and try traditional dishes where they’re still part of everyday life.

For a taste of authentic Montenegrin cooking, look out for konobas (traditional taverns), family-run restaurants, and mountain katuns serving regional dishes made with local ingredients. A few traditional restaurants in Montenegro to look into include:

  • Konoba Scala Santa, Kotor Old Town
  • Konoba Vila Marija, Prčanj
  • Restoran Vodenica, Kolašin
  • Koliba Bogetići, near Ostrog Monastery

A food tour can be a good way to learn about Montenegrin ingredients and regional specialities, particularly if you’re short on time or want a local guide to explain what you’re eating. If you’d rather get hands-on, a Montenegrin cooking class is a fun way to learn how traditional dishes are made.

Some traditional restaurants and rural stays offer set meals built around local and seasonal ingredients. These might include homemade bread, cheese, cured meats, hearty cooked dishes, salads, and dessert, giving you a chance to try several specialities in one sitting. They’re usually priced for 2 people.

A platter of traditional Montenegrin mountain dishes, including kačamak, kajmak, kiselo mlijeko, pickled cabbage, and ajvar.

Supermarkets and self-catering in Montenegro

Self-catering is a good way to keep costs down and make sure you’ve always got something to eat, particularly when travelling through Montenegro’s more remote mountain regions. We cooked for ourselves quite a bit (well, Dan did) over the weeks we spent in Montenegro, like at our cabin near Biogradska Gora, stocking up on groceries in nearby towns before heading into the countryside.

The good news is that supermarkets in Montenegro are generally easy to find and well stocked. These are some of the main supermarket chains to look out for when stocking up on groceries:

  • Voli
  • Aroma
  • IDEA
  • HDL

Everyday staples like pasta, noodles, rice, bread, and potatoes are easy to come by, while local markets can be a good place to find fresh produce. Canned foods are also particularly useful if you’re staying somewhere remote – we stocked up on kidney beans, chickpeas, sweetcorn, lentils, and chopped tomatoes for easy veggie meals. Most supermarkets are well stocked with fruits and vegetables, including bananas, apples, melons, salads, carrots, cucumber, peppers, courgette, mushrooms.

Vegan groceries in Montenegro

Podgorica’s supermarkets have the widest choice, and we even detoured to Zdrava Hrana Vodenica, a local health foods shop, but sadly couldn’t find any vegan foods, just supplements and snacks.

We managed to find plant-based products like alternative milks (Joya), but finding any kind of tofu or meat substitutes was almost impossible. Houmous was easy to find, and we even found quite a few different kinds of vegan cheeses (Violife and own brands).

We were saved by Paradise Foods in Budva, which is not only a great vegan café, but also sells its own tofu and sausages. When we met my family after a month of road-tripping, we also had my mum bring some vegan staples we were missing from home in her checked luggage.

A hand holding a palacinke in front of a café in Cetinje.

Tips for eating out in Montenegro

Here are our top tips:

  • Try the local dishes – It’s a shame to go all the way to Montenegro and stick to chicken nuggets and chips. Try something local!
  • Look beyond the waterfront – Restaurants with sea views can be lovely, but they’re not always the best value or most authentic.
  • Check the menu before sitting down – Prices can vary considerably, especially in popular coastal towns during summer.
  • Carry some cash – Cards are widely accepted in tourist areas, but smaller family-run restaurants and rural konobas may be cash-only.
  • Don’t rush your meal – Dining can be a leisurely affair, and service may feel slower than you’re used to, especially when restaurants are busy.
  • Book ahead in summer – Popular restaurants, especially those in Kotor’s Old Town and along the coast, can fill up during the busy season.
  • Check opening times outside summer – Some restaurants may reduce their hours or close completely during the quieter months.
  • Understand the cover charge – Some restaurants charge for bread or table settings, sometimes listed as kuver or cover. Check the menu or bill if you’re unsure what an extra charge is for.
  • Leave a tip if you’re happy with the service – Tipping isn’t compulsory, but rounding up the bill or leaving around 10% for good table service is appreciated. Carry a little cash if you’d prefer to leave the tip directly.
  • Don’t be surprised if the bill arrives early – Some restaurants in Montenegro bring the bill to your table before you’ve finished eating, even if you haven’t asked for it. You can still order more food or drinks – any extra items will be added to the bill, so check the final amount before paying.
  • Look for posno dishes if you’re vegan – Posno refers to food prepared according to Orthodox Christian fasting rules, and many dishes are naturally vegan.
  • Keep dietary requirements clear – If you have an allergy or need to avoid certain ingredients, explain this to the staff rather than relying on menu descriptions alone.
Lucy holding a glass of white wine in front of vines in a winery near Lake Skadar.

Montenegro food and drink FAQs

To help you plan what to eat and drink in Montenegro, we’ve answered these frequently asked questions.

What are some popular foods and drinks in Montenegro?

Popular foods in Montenegro include kačamak (a hearty potato and cheese dish), Njeguški pršut (smoked ham), local cheeses, grilled seafood, and ćevapi (grilled minced-meat rolls). For something sweet, try priganice (little fried dough balls) or palačinke (crêpes). Popular drinks include Turkish-style coffee, Nikšićko beer, local wine, and rakija, a strong fruit brandy.

What is the national food of Montenegro?

Montenegro doesn’t have one universally agreed national dish, but kačamak is often considered one of its signature traditional foods. Made with potatoes or cornmeal, flour, local cheese, and kajmak, it’s a hearty, comforting dish particularly associated with the mountain regions and is naturally vegetarian.

What is the national drink of Montenegro?

Rakija is widely regarded as Montenegro’s traditional national drink. This strong fruit brandy is often made from grapes, known locally as lozova rakija or lozovača, and is commonly offered to guests as a welcome drink. Montenegro is also known for its local wines, particularly Vranac red wine, and Nikšićko beer.

What fruit is Montenegro famous for?

Montenegro is known for its figs, grapes, plums, cherries, and wild berries, including blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Fresh figs are particularly popular in the warmer coastal regions during summer, while berries are associated with the country’s mountainous areas. You’ll find dried figs, homemade jams, and fruit preserves in local markets.

What is typical food in Montenegro?

Typical Montenegrin food varies by region. Along the Adriatic coast, expect grilled fish, seafood, risotto, and Mediterranean-style dishes, while the central region around Lake Skadar is known for freshwater fish and local wine. In the north, meals tend to be heartier, with kačamak, homemade cheeses, kajmak, lamb, and other slow-cooked meats.

What do they eat for breakfast in Montenegro?

Breakfast in Montenegro is often simple, with fresh bread, pastries, cheese, yoghurt, eggs, and coffee. Bakeries sell burek and other types of pita (filled filo pastry pies), which make a popular breakfast on the go. In mountain guesthouses, you’ll often find a more substantial spread of local dairy products, eggs, bread, fruit, and homemade preserves.

What’s the most popular street food in Montenegro?

Burek and other types of pita are among the most popular quick foods in Montenegro, sold in bakeries and takeaway shops throughout the country. These flaky pastry pies come with different fillings, including meat, cheese, and spinach.

Do you tip at restaurants in Montenegro?

Tipping isn’t compulsory in Montenegro, but it’s appreciated for good service. In casual cafés and restaurants, you can round up the bill or leave a couple of euros, while around 10% is a reasonable tip for good service at a sit-down restaurant. Check your bill first to see whether a service charge has already been included, and keep some cash handy for smaller establishments.

What time do people eat dinner in Montenegro?

Dinner in Montenegro is generally eaten from around 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, although times vary by region and season. Along the coast, restaurants can stay busy much later during the summer, while smaller mountain restaurants may have more limited opening hours. We liked to have dinner around 5:– PM-6:00 PM to avoid the crowds and snag a table in busy restaurants.

Can you drink tap water in Kotor?

Tap water in Kotor is generally treated as drinking water, but check local water-quality notices during your visit. We never had to worry, as we were travelling with our filter water bottles.

A group of cocktails being cheersed together in a bar in Kotor, Montenegro.

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