Sarajevo City Guide: The best places according to locals

An eternally charming city that captivates with its unique energy, Sarajevo will be living for film art in the coming days. Final preparations are being wrapped up, and from Friday, August 17, the city will begin breathing to the rhythm of the Sarajevo Film Festival, which runs through August 22. Major film stars such as Willem Dafoe and Paolo Sorrentino will stroll through the city and along the red carpet, alongside many other industry guests, and as for where we should stroll when in Sarajevo, we asked those who know best.

Kemil Bekteši
visual artist

Favorite morning spot: Sophie’s Garden

I usually start my mornings with colleagues at Sophie’s Garden, a café located near our studio and on a historically significant Sarajevo corner, directly across from the Latin Bridge. Locals still refer to it as Princip’s Bridge, because it was at this very spot in 1914 that Gavrilo Princip assassinated the Austro-Hungarian heir apparent and archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie.

Address: Zelenih beretki 25 / @sophies.garden.sarajevo

Cocktail spot: Aperitivo bar

With an excellent cocktail list and the wonderful energy of its owners, Aperitivo bar quickly climbed to the top of my list for more relaxed summer nights out in Sarajevo. The bar is located across from the Bosnian Cultural Center, which serves as the festival box office during the Sarajevo Film Festival, making it an ideal place for a brief break from the festival buzz.

Address: Branilaca Sarajeva 39 / @aperitivobarsarajevo

Place to dance: Hram

When I am not at Aperitivo bar and feel like dancing and listening to good music, I usually head to the newly opened bar Hram. It quickly became one of the freshest nightlife spots in Sarajevo, thanks to its carefully curated music program. Only vinyl records are played here, and on weekends Ilhan and Mirza are usually responsible for the great atmosphere.

Address: Branilaca Sarajeva 24 / @cb.hram

Favorite restaurant: Dveri

My forever favorite restaurant in Sarajevo and a fail-safe spot for lunch or dinner. It is located in the very heart of Baščaršija. I almost always order goulash with dumplings. A small tip: always order their homemade flatbread as well.

Address: Prote Bakovića 12 / @dveri_restoran

Best burger in town: Šah Mat

When I am in a rush and do not really have time to sit down in a restaurant, I order a burger from Šah Mat. My choice is the burger with truffle sauce and fries with smoked mayonnaise.

Adsress: Čurčiluk Veliki 63

Place for art: Sarajevo as an open-air museum
Sarajevo’s museum map is quite extensive, but my favorite museum is actually the city itself. Starting with a walk along the cobblestones of Baščaršija, you can see beautiful architecture from the Ottoman period, and if you continue walking along the river, you will find yourself admiring the charms of Austro-Hungarian architecture. If long walks on hot summer days are not your thing, hop on tram number 3 and enjoy the city panorama through the window, from Baščaršija all the way to Ilidža.

Ida Keškić
actress

Place to watch films: Kino Meeting Point

Because alternative films are screened here, as well as films from festivals around the world, and there is a fantastic café where you can grab a drink.

Aderess: Hamdije Kreševljakovića 13 / @meetingpoint_sa

Favorite restaurants: Apetit and Barsa

I love Apetit restaurant on Vilsonovo Promenade because of its beautiful location, away from the downtown crowds, its spacious interior, and its excellent food and wine. And right in the city center, Barsa restaurant. A diverse menu with great food and a cultured spot frequented by a refined city crowd.

Adsress: Zmaja od Bosne 13 / @restoranapetit; Šime Milutinovića 12 / @barsa.restaurantandpizzeria

First morning coffee: Čajdžinica

On the Old Town street, run by an elderly gentleman owner who carefully and lovingly explains how Bosnian coffee is properly enjoyed, and who also offers a wide selection of teas.

Address: Kovači 16

Place for art: National Theatre, Chamber Theatre, SARTR, and Youth Theatre

It is worth seeing a performance at any of our four theatres.

Ena Mulavdić
jewelry designer and owner of the brand Elird

Favorite fashion brands: Kaftan Studio, PlusMinus Studio, Belma Tvico i Molimao

Sarajevo is home to outstanding fashion designers and brands whose unique expressions and innovative approaches to brand development and evolution are truly inspiring. I would especially single out Kaftan Studio, synonymous with timeless elegance; PlusMinus Studio, where fashion merges with art; Belma Tvico, who subtly weaves Bosnian culture into her designs; and Molimao, which brings authentic street fashion in a Sarajevo style.

Favorite place for art: Manifesto Gallery

This exceptional initiative was launched by four friends, young artists and intellectuals, who aimed to create a sustainable and strategic model for the production of contemporary art. Their goal was to create a hybrid cultural space where the community could, through art, confront social and political challenges. Manifesto is not just a gallery, but also a platform for dialogue, a place where ideas meet, intertwine, and evolve, shaping new perspectives.

Address: Despićeva 3 / @galerija.manifesto

Favorite shop: Zanat

Last night, the exhibition and retail showroom of the outstanding Bosnian brand Zanat opened. Located in the heart of Sarajevo, this space will include not only a showroom but also a specialized bookstore and an event platform dedicated to promoting excellence in design, architecture, and craftsmanship. Zanat is a true example of centuries-long perseverance and dedication, preserving the spirit of tradition through generations while simultaneously opening new horizons.

Address: @zanatcraft

Favorite vintage shopping area: Baščaršija
My daily walk home from work usually takes me through Sarače, the beating heart of Baščaršija. Along the way, I pass several shops selling authentic antique jewelry deeply connected to Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina. I cannot resist stopping to admire the meticulous craftsmanship, the beauty of the motifs, and the harmony that defines this jewelry.

Coffee spots: Rahatlook, Franz & Sophie

Life and work in Sarajevo’s Baščaršija are inseparably linked to coffee. In this part of the city, coffee is enjoyed at all times of the day, not just in the morning and not only during breaks. A place especially dear to me, close to work and where I feel at home, is Rahatlook. This is where I find peace and comfort. On the other hand, when I want to enjoy a perfect morning tea, I choose Franz & Sophie, a place with fantastic energy that serves the best tea in Sarajevo.

Addresses: Rahatlook Ferhadija41; Franz & Sophie Petrakijina 6

Adna Muslija
curator and co-founder of Manifesto Gallery

Favorite museum: History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina

A museum that never stands still. A new permanent exhibition and a dynamic, always engaging exhibition program make every visit inspiring. As a lover of modernist architecture, I often viewed the museum building itself as my hideout.

Address: Zmaja od Bosne 5 / @historijski.muzejbih

Favorite restaurant: Noovi

A restaurant tucked away above Veliki Park, perfect if you prefer small, quiet places free of unnecessary pretension. An excellent choice if you are planning dinner with people of very different preferences, from the best steak in town to first-class pasta and delicious vegetarian options.

Address: Tina Ujevića 13 / @nooviwine

Coffee spot: Caffe Museum

The café in the garden of the Museum of Literature and Performing Arts is located in the very heart of the Old Town, yet offers a feeling of absolute calm. A few tables on old Sarajevo cobblestones, a flower garden, and homemade elderflower juice make this café the perfect choice when you need a break from urban dynamics.

Address: Šime Milutinovića Sarajlije 7

Place for art: Manifesto Gallery

Subjectively speaking, Manifesto is my favorite place on the planet, not just in Sarajevo. Objectively speaking, there is currently an exhibition of video works on view that is truly worth seeing. Manifesto has also become a kind of gathering place, so in addition to the works of local artists, you are likely to meet interesting people as well.

Aderess: Despićeva 3 /@galerija.manifesto

Ernad Prnjavorac
actor

Where to watch films: Kino Meeting Point

As a great film lover, I have watched all the films that had a major impact on me, and on my life, in this cinema. I am sure it holds a special charm for me because my very first cinema experience was there

Address: Hamdije Kreševljakovića 13 / @meetingpoint_sa

Dinner and wine spot: Luka

If you find yourself walking along Obala Maka Dizdara, the scent of grilled fish will draw you in. On the riverbank, in a small street, is the restaurant Luka, where you can easily forget that you are in Sarajevo and enjoy its invaluable seaside feeling, with a glass of wine and a wide selection of seafood.

Address: Obala Maka Dizdara 5 / @luka.sarajevo

Coffee spot: Caffee u kinu Meeting Point

When I finish all my work, even without a call from a friend, I head to Trasa, the café within the Meeting Point cinema. There is always someone there seemingly waiting for a coffee, and you might run into someone you have not seen in a long time, so the moment creates itself and the words come naturally, shall we grab a coffee, with a big smile on your face.

Address: H.Kreševljakovića 13

Favorite theatre: SARTR

When it comes to theatre, it usually begins around the time the first cold wave hits Sarajevo and everyone comes to terms with the fact that summer has ended, along with all its open-air cinemas. And then it naturally starts, well, we could go to SARTR tonight. Every performance I have ever seen there has been pure theatrical creation.

Address: Gabelina 16

Ajla Salkić
photographer

Coffee and cocktail spot: Kawa

I would definitely take my coffee break at the relatively new café in town called Kawa. It is located in the city center but is quite tucked away and far from the crowds. The atmosphere is very pleasant and throughout the day it often serves as a workspace for freelancers, which is great when you want a change of scenery. Quite often, coffees extend into happy hour, as they have the best cocktails in the city.

Address: Dženetića Čikma 16 / @kawasarajevo

Lunch spot: Barsa

My personal favorite, where I have lunch at least once or twice a week. The food is fantastic, the staff wonderful, and it is also very convenient because it is close to Baščaršija, so you can always take a stroll through the old part of the city after lunch.

Address: Šime Milutinovića 12 / @barsa.restaurantandpizzeria

Place for art: National Museum

The National Museum is my favorite weekend getaway. In addition to the permanent exhibitions related to archaeology, ethnography, and botany, the museum constantly offers new content, with displays often conceived in a very conceptual and interactive way. I often go on weekends when I need some rest and quiet, spending hours wandering between the museum’s departments.

Adsress: Zmaja od Bosne 3