A very informative and engaging article! Discover what Montenegrin cuisine is famous for, which dishes you must try, and learn about the staple ingredients used in Montenegro. You’ll also find insights on Montenegrin taverns and restaurants, local customs, tipping etiquette, portion sizes, oyster farms, and much more.

Table of contents:

It will be difficult for you to plan your dream trip to Montenegro without these websites
air tickets to montenegro cheap
Cheap Flights
car rent in montenegro cheap
Car Rental
excursions montenegro cheap
Excursions and tours
Package tours montenegro cheap
eSIM mobile data
Insurance montenegro cheap
Travel Insurance
hotels and apartments montenegro cheap
Accommodation
montenegro recipes traditional dishes
In Montenegro, there is a lot of meat in dishes and the portions themselves are large.

Montenegrin Cuisine: Key Ingredients and General Aspects

Montenegro’s history spans over 3,000 years. Throughout these centuries, various empires and nations ruled these lands, leaving their mark on the local cuisine. At different times, the territory of present-day Montenegro was part of the Roman Empire, Byzantium, and the Ottoman Empire, all of which influenced its culinary traditions.

Here are some key factors that have shaped Montenegrin cuisine:

  • A favorable climate with mild, humid winters and over 300 sunny days a year.
  • A lack of arable land and challenging agricultural conditions—over 80% of Montenegro’s territory consists of mountains.
  • A strong tradition of livestock farming on alpine slopes, making meat the primary ingredient in Montenegrin cuisine.
animals in montenegro
Prokletije Mountains in Montenegro. Sheep farming is well developed in this region.

Good to know:

In short, Montenegrin cuisine is all about meat, meat, and more meat, with a few vegetables thrown in.

The traditional ingredients used in Montenegrin dishes are natural and healthy. There is very little fast food or unhealthy cuisine, which might explain why Montenegrins tend to live long lives and obesity is rare—though genetics might also play a role.

Key Ingredients in Montenegrin Cuisine:

  • Meat: Beef, pork, lamb, and chicken. The primary cooking methods are roštijl (grilled over charcoal) and varevo (stewed).
  • Cheese: There are hundreds of varieties and producers. Fresh, brined cheeses made from cow, goat, and sheep milk are especially popular.
  • Olives and Olive Oil: While the land is not very suitable for agriculture, it is perfect for growing olive trees. Olive groves are spread across the country, and both olive oil and olives play a crucial role in Montenegrin cuisine.
  • Vegetables: The variety is not extensive. Almost all Montenegrin salads and vegetable dishes consist of just four ingredients: tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and onions.

Interesting to know:

A typical Montenegrin dish consists of meat, cheese, a small portion of vegetables, all drizzled with olive oil.
Another surprising fact for many tourists is that although Montenegro is a coastal country, seafood and fish are not staple ingredients in its cuisine. While fish dishes exist, they are not as dominant as one might expect.

Traditional Montenegrin Dishes: What to Try as a Tourist

Here are the most iconic Montenegrin dishes—make sure to order them at a restaurant! You’ll find them on almost every menu.

Good to know:

Good to Know: For most of its history, Montenegro was part of the same country as Serbia. As a result, there is very little difference between Montenegrin and Serbian cuisine, just as the Montenegrin language is nearly identical to Serbian. All about the Montenegrin language and the vocabulary for a tourist.

Meat Dishes in Montenegro

  • Pljeskavica. A massive ground meat patty (usually a mix of beef and pork) with cheese and herbs (but never cilantro), always grilled. It is often served in a bun or flatbread. It resembles a burger but is four times bigger and ten times tastier.
Gurmanska Pljeskavica montenegro
Montenegro Cuisine: Gurmanska pljeskavica is the main dish in any tavern. Pictured is a restaurant serving. When you take it to go, it will be placed in a bun (you get a big burger)
  • Ćevapi (Ćevapčići). Small grilled sausages made from minced meat (typically a mix of beef and lamb, sometimes with pork). You can also find raw ćevapi in grocery stores, ready for grilling.
    • Tip: If you rent an apartment from locals, many accommodations have a roštijl (grill), which you can use. All about apartments and hotels in Montenegro and the features of local accommodation.
traditional Montenegrin cuisine
Cevapi. Please note that this portion is for one person, 500g of meat only, with almost no vegetables.
  • Bela Vešalica. A perfectly grilled pork loin—tender, boneless, and juicy, always cooked over charcoal.
montenegro restaurants dishes
Vešalica . Regular serving with french fries.
  • Sarma. Similar to stuffed cabbage rolls, but with a twist. The meat filling is wrapped in pickled cabbage leaves or grape leaves, with grape leaf sarma being the more common variation. It is closely related to Turkish dolma.
Montenegrin food
Grape sarma – minced meat is wrapped in grape leaf.
  • Mešano Meso (Mixed Meat Platter). As the name suggests, this is a platter of various grilled meats. A single portion usually weighs around 1 kg (2.2 lbs), making it perfect for sharing. The dish typically includes ćevapi, pljeskavica, bela vešalica, and different types of sausages.
national cuisine of montenegro meat
Mešano meso – serving per person. On plate – pljeskavica, vešalica and cevapi.
  • Sač. A cast-iron pot used for slow-cooking meat with vegetables. The most famous variation is “Jagnjatina isopod sača”—a dish traditionally prepared for large family gatherings and special occasions in enormous 20-liter cauldrons.
food montenegro buy
Jagnjetina ispod saca. This dish is cooked on holidays for the whole family in large cauldron of 20 liters.
  • Čorba. In Montenegro, the word čorba refers to a thick soup or stew. There are two main types: meat čorba and fish čorba.
corba montenegro
Classic corba. The photo shows a fish corba, but the meat one looks the same.
  • Pršut. A dry-cured ham, similar to Italian prosciutto, and a staple Montenegrin appetizer. It pairs perfectly with wine and cheese. Montenegro has around 40 pršut producers.
    • A must-visit destination for pršut lovers is Njeguši, a village on Mount Lovćen where families have been producing homemade pršut for generations. The village is also famous for its cheese-making traditions. Details about the village of Njegusi in the article: Lovcen National Park.
njegus prsut montenegro
Pork ham – pršut – one of the main and traditional food in Montenegro cuisine.

Fish Dishes in Montenegro

Although Montenegro is a coastal country, fish and seafood are not as prevalent in traditional cuisine. The most notable fish dishes include:

  • Riblja Čorba – A rich, thick fish soup, commonly found in most restaurants.
  • Skadar-Style Carp – Carp baked with prunes and ajvar, a dish originating from the villages around Lake Skadar.
food in montenegro
There are a lot of bones in carp. But many small incisions, as in the photo, help to make the bones soft and invisible.

In coastal restaurants, Mediterranean seafood dishes are widely available, including:

  • Grilled fish (sea bass, sea bream, barracuda, tuna)
  • Grilled squid and octopus
  • Pasta with seafood
  • Seafood risotto
  • Mussels in white or red wine sauce

Montenegrin Salads

Montenegrin cuisine features three main salads, found in almost every restaurant:

  • Srpska Salata (Serbian Salad) – Tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, onions, and olive oil.
  • Šopska Salata (Shopska Salad) – A Serbian salad topped with crumbled cheese (feta or brined cheese).
  • Sezonska Salata (Seasonal Salad) – Similar to Shopska but without onions.
salads in montenegro cuisine
The Montenegrin cuisine is large portions of salad. Specifically in the photo – Šopska Salata. Served as in the photo, refuel with oil and salt yourself.

Another popular local delicacy is Ajvar, a roasted red pepper spread served with bread or meat.

ajvar montenegro
National Montenegrin appetizer ajvar is popular as well as prsut. Every store has a great selection.

Beverages in Montenegro

Montenegro has a strong coffee culture. Tea is rarely consumed, and only a few packaged varieties are available in stores. The most popular beverages include:

  • Domaca Kafa (Homemade Coffee/Turkish Coffee) – A thick, rich, traditional coffee brewed in a small pot (cezve).
  • Ayran – A slightly salty fermented dairy drink similar to kefir.
  • Alcoholic Drinks – Montenegro offers excellent wines (Vranac and Krstač), rakija (fruit brandy), herbal liqueurs, and locally brewed beer.
    • Follow the link for a detailed review of Montenegrin alcoholic drinks: about Vranac and Krstač wines, about Lozovaca rakia and fruit wines, about herbal liqueurs and beer.

Dining in Montenegro: Restaurants, Cafés, and Taverns

  • Portions in Montenegrin restaurants are generous. A single meat dish typically contains 400-500g of meat, often served with minimal sides.
  • Prices are fair and transparent; the menu price is the final price.
  • Tipping is optional but appreciated. A reasonable tip is 10% of the bill.
  • Many taverns and family-run restaurants offer homemade wine.
meat in montenegro national dishes
Mesano meso for two: a kilo of meat, some potatoes and no vegetables. Keep this in mind. This plate costs an average of 15-20 euros.

Average Prices in Restaurants:

  • Main course: €6-10
  • Salad: €3-5
  • Soup: €3-4
  • Steak: €15
  • Mediterranean seafood dishes: €12-15
  • Beer: €2

Good to know:

At a local restaurant, my wife and I usually leave 20 euros with a tip for a meat dish, one salad and two beers. The serving is very large, enough for everyone to eat. In a cafe with a sea view, the same order will cost you 30 euros and the serving will be smaller.

Montenegrin Oyster Farms

Montenegro’s oyster farms are primarily located in the Bay of Kotor, with most situated between Kotor and Herceg Novi. Each farm typically has a small restaurant where visitors can enjoy freshly harvested oysters with local wine.

Details about the Bay of Kotor and all that a tourist needs to know. By the way, there is more information about oyster farms.

oyster farm in montenegro
This is how oyster farms look in the Bay of Kotor. Nearby is a small restaurant literally for 2-3 tables.

Here are the coordinates of several farms (see OYSTERS FARM signs):

oysters in montenegro and seafood
Such a set for two is about 30 euros. There is only one glass of wine, because the second person is the driver and that’s me 🙁

Oyster Farm Prices:

  • Oysters: €2 per piece
  • Mussels: €10-15 per kg
  • Tiger prawns: €15 for 10 pieces
  • Grilled fish: €10 per kg
  • Homemade wine: €10 per liter

Conclusion

Montenegrin cuisine is based on fresh, natural ingredients and is both hearty and delicious. While it may not be the best destination for vegetarians, meat lovers will find it a true paradise. Every visitor should try: ćevapi, pljeskavica, mešano meso, pršut, Montenegrin cheeses, ajvar, olives, and, of course, oysters from a local farm.

Resources to help you plan your dream trip to Montenegro

  • WayAway: Cheap flights and best deals.
  • Car rental in Montenegro:
    • LocalRent – works with local rental companies. Leader in car rental in Montenegro.
    • DiscoverCars – a large international platform.
  • Budget-friendly vacation packages to Montenegro: CheapOair.
  • Hotels and apartments all over the country:
    • Trip.com – the most popular accommodation booking platform
    • TripAdvisor compares the prices among dozens of other booking services and offer the best price
  • Tours, excursions and activities (including extreme ones):
    • GetYourGuide – more than 800 tours
    • Viator – 1000+ excursions and activities throughout the country
  • Comprehensive travel insurance: EKTA
  • Internet and Calls:
  • Taxi and airport transfers: Intui.Travel