I love to eat out when I travel – it's a huge part of experiencing a country so when I planned my trip. I knew I couldn't wait to experience the best restaurants in Kotor, Montenegro. When I say "best" I don't necessarily mean the most expensive. I love to visit a range of bars and restaurants from the very authentic, local places. To the more mid-range right up to the more expensive places depending on my budget. Montenegro has been high on my bucket list for many years – I always thought it seemed such an underrated country.
Since visiting, it has become one of my favourite countries in Europe and I couldn't only describe it as the continent's best hidden gem. Not only is it insanely beautiful – particularly Kotor where the ocean meets the mountains. But the local culture, the history, the beautiful old town. And of course – the food! Kotor is a fantastic destination for foodies and best of all, it's very reasonably priced so perfect for budget travellers who still want to enjoy the local cuisine.
What is the food like in Kotor, Montenegro
Spending a week in Kotor, Montenegro, really showed the melting pot of different cultural influences from traditional Montenegrin cuisine, to Italian, Croatian and even Greek at times. I loved how light and fresh the food was – it was also perfect for my partner and I. While he's a big meat-lover and enjoyed the pork and meat dishes, I prefer seafood and vegetarian dishes – we were both catered for and rated the food very highly. I would go as far as to say Kotor has the widest range of food I've seen so far on trips to the Balkans.
Due to the area being a stop-off for cruises, it can get very busy during the day, this is why I would recommend you dine out in the evenings when it is more peaceful. Also be sure to look up the ratings of restaurants before you dine to avoid disappointment, the one night we didn't check was our most disappointing meal. There are a lot of more touristy restaurants where the standard of food is lower and the price is higher, so that's why I've created this blog post on the best restaurants in Kotor to give you a heads up on the places you need to experience.
Does Kotor have vegan or vegetarian food?
Kotor is not the best place for vegans, who might struggle to find variety among what is available. There is one restaurant – Restobar Taraca – which has an extensive vegan and vegetarian menu so you certainly won't go hungry as the food is great there! But just be aware before you travel that it might be challenging to find a dish on some menus which don't contain mean, fish or dairy. The language/cultural barrier at times makes it slightly difficult to check whether a dish contains animal products.
However, for vegetarians there is a huge amount of choice and every restaurant had at least one vegetarian dish on the menu. The staff were also extremely friendly and happy to make any changes to the dishes if you needed. Pecastarians will be in absolute foodie heaven as there is a lot of fresh seafood on the menu.
The 10 Best Restaurants in Kotor, Montenegro
Konoba Scala Santa – innovative & unique dishes
Konoba Scala Santa was by far our stand-out favourite of the restaurants in Kotor. You'll find it situated in the most beautiful square of restaurants and bars in the heart of Kotor Old Town. Make sure to try and book ahead or go early to reserve a table, they get VERY busy every night during peak season and this is a meal you won't want to miss out on. We finally managed to get a table for our last night after a few attempts and we were so glad we managed to squeeze it in before the end of our holiday in Kotor, Montenegro. The staff were amazing and made every effort to get us in despite the queue of people trying to demand tables.
Make sure to look out for the overly friendly cats, one fluffball jumped up on my chair for a cuddle as I was drinking my wine. There's so many amazing dishes on this menu but what we loved was the variety and the creative twists the chef had put on the dishes. We both had dishes we had never tried before and we loved them! Started with the octopus salad which was a favourite of ours while in Montenegro. We really rated the monkfish which quite literally melted in your mouth, it was served in a tomato sauce with olives and other vegetables. While I had a rich and creamy gnocchi with truffle – I could have died happy after that meal. Do not miss dining at Konoba Scala Santa when you travel to Kotor, Montenegro.
La Catedral – pasta bar – the best pasta in Kotor!
My mouth is watering just thinking about La Catedral – pasta bar. We ate there twice in one week because the food was so good and I really recommend stopping by. Not only is the service amazing, there's one waiter in particular who was the reason we were so keen to go back and try the pasta. But the food speaks for itself, when a place only does one thing and does it so well. The second I saw a truffle tagliatelle dish on the menu I knew I was going back there.
We had one rainy day during our trip to Kotor, Montenegro, and it was the perfect day to sit outside and listen to the rain with a glass of wine and a bowl of delicious pasta. They have a huge menu of different pasta dishes so there's something for all tastes, and they also have other sides and dishes available. We also really loved the bruschetta – I had the salmon and it was huge!
Restobar Taraca – best vegan & vegetarian food in Kotor
This was our stop for breakfast/brunch after we hiked up to St John's Fortress in the early morning. We'd certainly worked up an appetite and after the hike we were craving something healthy and fresh. We ended up at Restobar Taraca which we had spotted earlier in the week. We were so impressed with this beautiful little spot, it's a super cute restaurant that overlooks a stream and the Kotor Old Town walls.
While we waited for our food, we sat and watched a family of ducks Think fresh juices, buddha bowls, vegan curries, burgers, salads, even vegan gyros! There's loads of choice and they also serve meat dishes so it's a great one for keeping everyone happy. Check out the Restobar Taraca vegetarian menu here.
Konoba Roma – romantic Kotor Old Town vibes
Konoba Roma restaurant is located in the same square as Scala Santa, it's a beautiful place and one of my fave areas for dining in the evening in Kotor. Ithas to be listed as one of the best restaurants in Kotor. Not only was the food incredible but it felt like a very special evening. The town square was buzzing and the restaurant was packed, there was a live musician playing and a sky full of stars above us. The service was a little lacking, but more in that slow European way. We were more than happy to lounge with our bottle of wine and enjoy the evening.
This was the night I got to enjoy the black cuttlefish risotto which is a dish I first tried years ago. I was so excited to have it again and it was delicious, not the best one I have ever had but still so good. My partner had a kebab/meat dish which he also really enjoyed.
Mon Bistro Cafétéria – the best coffee in Kotor!
If you're a coffee lover like myself, you can't visit Kotor without stopping at Mon Bistro Cafétéria for one. It is without doubt the best coffee in Kotor, Montenegro. This tiny cafe sits in the shadow of the Old Town cathedral with a few seats inside, but you'll want to sit outside to admire this beautiful building and watch the world go by.
They have some light snacks and cakes, and the orange juice is also delicious. Best of all, they have alternative milks such as soy and almond milk so it's a perfect spot for vegans or anyone who prefers non-dairy. We kept going back there for a cappuccino and an Americano.
Caffe Pizzeria Mondo – great pizza and seafood
By far the highest rated place for pizza in town, but they also serve a wide range of other delicious meals. One thing that really stood out about Caffe Pizzeria Mondo was the combination of the incredible views across the bay as you sit right by the water. It's a perfect spot for sunset and you won't be disappointed. It's also great value for money. We had been sat in a restaurant just down the road but were shocked by the prices so we left and tried this place, it was one of our best meals of the trip!
I had a local delicacy of squid stuffed with shrimp, served with roasted vegetables. It was absolutely delicious and I highly recommend. My partner enjoyed a pasta dish with a beef ragu which was also a hit. It was all washed down with an amazing red wine from the region. You'll find that most wine served in restaurants is either imported or from one specific brand who are the main wine producers in Montenegro. They have a huge range of wines so there are lots of try and enjoy! We didn't have a single bad wine while we were there.
Przun – the best for seafood and steaks
We truly were spoiled with great food on this trip and the night we dined at Przun was no exception. We had been eyeing this place up for a few days and when we looked online it was one of the highest rated and considered one of the best restaurants in Kotor. Not only was the service fantastic and super attentive compared to other restaurants, but the food was delicious. It's a great spot for steaks and seafood.
We enjoyed a bottle of local rosé and we both had steaks, I went for a tuna steak with was incredible. My partner had a beef steak served with garlic butter, vegetables and potatoes. We also had a caprese salad which was so fresh and yummy!
Marshall’s Gelato Montenegro – best gelato in Kotor
You cannot leave Montenegro without trying Marshall's gelato! I had this recommended by a follower on Instagram so shout-out to her because I would have missed out otherwise. We went in our final hours before we flew home and it was the perfect way to end the trip. Whether you like ice cream or not (I'm not usually that bothered) this place is amazing.
The owners and staff are super friendly and welcoming, and the gelato is next level! We shared a lime and rosemary flavoured sorbet which was so refreshing and delicious on a hot day. Cannot recommend this enough on my list of the best restaurants in Kotor – it's a perfect after-dinner stop.
Little Bay Restaurant – best for ocean views & beach dining
This one was a totally unplanned dining experience but we walked over to the beach one day and we were both a little hungover. We decided to stop for a bite to eat and passed Little Bay Restaurant. It looked like somewhere that would be expensive due to the location and amazing views. But when we checked the prices it was actually very affordable. It's a beautiful location with mountains encircling the bay and ocean lapping at the steps and sides of the restaurant.
It's definitely a more touristy spot with a lot of burgers, pizzas, pastas and breakfast-type dishes on the menu. But there's also lots of Montenegrin options as well. I had a pizza and my partner had a local pork dish which he enjoyed. Overlooking Kotor beach, I'd recommend this place for the location alone but the food is also good. It's worth a stop-off if you're exploring that part of town.
Wine Bar Cesare – try the tuna steak!
We popped into Wine Bar Cesare on the night we arrived in Kotor and it was a great start to the holiday after a full day of travelling. I actually had one of my best meals of the holiday in Kotor at this restaurant. While overall I wouldn't necessarily rate the whole experience as one of the best restaurants in Kotor. I am still so impressed with the dish I ordered.
Fresh tuna steak is a weakness of mine. I ordered it at Wine Bar Cesare, it was served with yellow risotto and fresh avocado. It was truly incredible, my mouth is watering just remembering it. This combined with a bottle of local white wine was just dreamy to enjoy in Kotor Old Town. My partner had a fresh shrimp pasta which was also delicious.
