Best Restaurants for Vegetarians and Vegans in Sarajevo, Bosnia
Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, often–unfortunately–is quickly associated with its recent past of spending over three years under siege from 1992-1995 in the war that resulted from the breakup of former Yugoslavia. Today, scars of the war remain, but they are one part of the city’s long history and hopefully, firmly in the past.
Located in a valley surrounded by steep hills, the natural scenery of Sarajevo is stunning, but so is the city itself: Ottoman and Habsburg influences have given the city a distinctly Turkish old town right next to an Austrian-flavored city center. Tourists flock to the Latin Bridge over the Miljacka River that flows through the city to see the spot that sparked WWI, where Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife Sophie were assassinated.
With its natural beauty, fascinating history, and budget-friendly prices, Sarajevo has a lot to offer travelers.
But what about the food?!
Those who are familiar with the Balkan region already know that the cuisine tends to be pretty heavy on the meat. Luckily, Sarajevo has enough good restaurants with vegetarian and vegan options to keep veggie visitors busy.
✮ = Top Picks
✮Veganer
Good for: Budget travelers; casual dining
Amarillo burger.
This is currently one of the very few fully vegan restaurants in Sarajevo. So…the city doesn’t exactly have a lot of veggie spots. However, Veganer makes up for it by being damn good!
Veganer is a casual, fast food-style spot located just across the river from the city center. There are a few seats inside, otherwise you can do take-away. They serve mostly burgers and wraps with their own homemade patties and “balls” made from beans. Highlights are the Amarillo Burger with spicy sauce and the Veganer Wrap, packed with veggies and flavor.
Prices are very reasonable for the quality: a burger or wrap plus a drink costs about €5.
Zelena Sredina
Good for: Classic vegan eats
Zelena Sredina is your classic, unpretentious little vegan cafe with reasonably-priced eats like salads, pasta, and burgers. The problem? It’s kind of a pain to get to if you’re spending most of your time in the city center. However, those who make the trek will be rewarded.
Most main dishes are around €4-5.
Karuzo
Good for: Atmosphere; variety
Karuzo is a fully vegetarian restaurant (not vegan, but they do have many options). The menu is kind of…oddly extensive, with lots of dishes from different cuisines, but that just contributes to the quirky vibe. It has an old school, slightly haphazard atmosphere that’s big on charm and makes a unique spot for dinner.
Reservations are a must, so call ahead!
Mains are generally around €7-10.
ZDRAVO
Good for: Healthy snacks; non-alcoholic drinks
I’m not gonna lie: Zdravo is the kind of semi-healthy, trendy vegan food cafe that I am not particularly into. With that said, it’s a good place to stop for a snack, like soup or “nice cream” and coffee or juice. And, like I mentioned before, Sarajevo isn’t exactly overrun with vegan restaurants, so this is a good option for those who want something on the healthier side and don’t want to eat fast food every day at Veganer (like I did, lol).
Expect to pay in the range of €5-10 for a beverage and something to eat.
✮Nanina Kuhinja
Good for: Vegetarian and vegan Bosnian food
Left: Cheese and roasted pepper. Right: Grilled mushrooms with rice and kajmak (a kind of cream cheese common in the Balkans).
Located in the old town, Nanina Kuhinja is a Bosnian restaurant with an omnivorous menu, but has vegan and vegetarian options clearly labeled. This is a great place for veggie tourists to try Bosnian food. If you’re vegetarian, I highly recommend the cheese and roasted pepper dish; it was loaded with garlic and herbs and so tasty!
Dishes are mostly €5-8.
The Singing Nettle
Good for: Modern Bosnian cuisine; gluten-free options
While Nanina Kuhinja is a traditional Bosnian restaurant, The Singing Nettle offers an updated Bosnian cuisine in a more modern setting. As the name implies, nettles are a prominent ingredient on the menu. They have quite a few vegetarian and vegan starters and sides along with a few mains (all clearly labeled on the menu). There are also some gluten-free options, including gluten-free bread and vegan gluten-free pasta.
Veggie mains are around €6-9, with sides and salads for €2-3.
Margherita
Good for: Pizza cravings; restaurants near the bus/train station
Vegan marinara pizza from Margherita.
Need pizza? Sorry, I wrote that wrong. I meant to say: NEED PIZZA!*
It’s not hard to find vegetarian-friendly pizza places, but Margherita goes above and beyond by not only having their vegetarian pizzas in a separate section on the menu for easy browsing, but also by having vegan options. Their marinara pizza (vegan) is loaded with garlic and olives, and was a great treat for someone hungover after their last night in Sarajevo and waiting for the bus. (Me, it was me.)
Veggie pizzas are €3-5 for a small, which is plenty for one person.
*Often my first words upon waking.
Falafel Restaurant
Good for: Budget travelers; casual dining; falafel enthusiasts
My final pick is a restaurant focused around the vegetarian classic we all know and love (and sometimes get tired of): falafel. The aptly-named Falafel Restaurant is indeed fully vegetarian, and, in addition to its namesake, also serves the usual suspects: hummus, tabbouleh, yogurt dip, and some other vegetable sides.
A sampler mix type of meal is about €5.
While Sarajevo may not have quite the selection of vegetarian and vegan food you’d find in a larger city, there are still enough options to keep visitors satisfied.
Have you been to Sarajevo? What was your favorite thing to eat there?
