What to eat in Kragujevac

Šumadija cooking is heavy and slow: roast meat, kajmak, smoked pork and plum brandy are the base, and wedding cabbage cooks for hours in an earthenware pot. Kafanas in the centre run all day, from morning coffee to dinner.

Šumadija cooking

Nobody eats lightly here: roast meat, kajmak, smoked pork and plum brandy are the base of every table, and 'wedding cabbage' cooks for hours in an earthenware pot. A portion in a kafana is €4.25–12.80.

2 daysWhere this lunch fits into the day-by-day plan:Kragujevac in 2 days →

Set lunch and a main course

The dish of the day or a set lunch in a kafana is €4.70–5.50 — quicker and cheaper than the full menu. A main course off the menu, no drinks, is €4.25–12.80, a range that depends on whether it's a kafana or a restaurant.

BudgetHow these meals fit into the daily budget:What Kragujevac costs →

Kafanas in the centre

Gradska kafana Balkan and Stara Srbija are two kafanas in the centre with confirmed menu prices — neither runs on a tourist schedule, both open all day, from morning to evening.

Where to stayWhich part of town is closest to the kafanas in the centre:Where to stay in Kragujevac →

How long lunch takes

• Wedding cabbage cooks for hours ahead of time — it's ordered, not made to order, so it isn't a dish for a quick lunch before the next stop.
• The set lunch is the fastest option for a working lunch, usually at a kafana in the centre.

Getting aroundHow to walk to the kafanas in the centre:Getting around Kragujevac →

When to goWhich month is best for sitting outside a kafana:The best time to visit Kragujevac →

Day tripsLunch by Lake Gruža, as an alternative to the centre:Day trips from Kragujevac →

Hidden gemsWhat to see after lunch, off the main list:Kragujevac past the six main sights →

MistakesThe mistake most often made around this lunch:Mistakes everyone makes in Kragujevac →