If we talk about vacation by the sea, it is worth noting that everyone dreams of different islands and distant overseas countries where you can feed monkeys from your hands and climb to the heavenly shrine. But often paradise is much closer, and it is much cheaper than you might imagine.
Each resort town is a small cozy village on the seashore, where Aborigines entertain tourists, thereby embellishing their lives. Restaurants in Budva (Montenegro) will not let you feel like a stranger , because there are many Russian-speaking tourists. All establishments offer a menu in Russian, and the charm and comfort of a small town with narrow streets will give a feeling of detachment from the worldly bustle.
All inclusive or not?
Over the past five to ten years, the all inclusive option has been popularized through inexpensive trips to Egypt and Turkey. They are offered absolutely in all travel agencies. But a truly unique trip is only possible if the tourist himself chooses what he would like to see.
What does Budva offer you? Restaurants, the sea, music and just a chic atmosphere - but this is not all that will please the city. "Food Cult" will allow any tourist to find a dish to their liking. Even the local cuisine at each restaurant is prepared differently, and the chefs have their own secret recipe even for the most ordinary Shopska salad. Therefore, choose all inclusive or impromptu - the decision is up to the traveler.
How much is?
Prices for any cuisine increase in proportion to proximity to the beach. And what will cost 25 euros in the city, on the coast will cost about 50. The gastronomic quality, taste, color and portion size can be different. Those who have heard about the giant portions offered by the restaurants of Budva should read the menu carefully, because there are classic serving sizes, especially in European and Asian cuisines. However, all the dishes are very hearty, so you definitely will not be hungry!
Budva, whose restaurants have an average check for one person of about 15 euros (regardless of the type of cuisine you prefer), is becoming more popular every year. The cost should be considered when planning a daily budget for the rest. This is very important, isn't it?
What to eat
Along the promenade there are two streets, completely built up by a food service for every taste and color, as they say. There is a place for lovers of meat, fish, seafood, vegetables, dairy products, desserts and exotic drinks.
As for the local cuisine, all the main dishes come with a side dish (this is potatoes cooked in different ways, or rice). Montenegrins are “meat people”. Despite being close to the sea, they don’t really like to eat fish for food, therefore it is not served as often as meat. Although, according to reviews, restaurants in Budva provide an opportunity to enjoy the taste of freshly caught and fried fish.
Does Budva have McDonalds?
Catering many times tried to seize fast foods, but everyone went bankrupt and closed. If a tourist wants a McChiken, he won’t get it in his usual form. The city of Budva, whose restaurants offer healthy fresh food, instead of the usual burger, provides more interesting and healthy fast food that satisfies hunger for the whole day.
The best place of this kind, according to visitors, is “Skolijera”. Located on the beach, low prices, and works around the clock. According to reviews, employees of the institution will always meet with a smile and conduct customers.
"Big Mac"? No! Gyros is a local bread cake with toppings. Anyone can afford this food, and the guest himself decides what to put there. All that is on the window - choose, well, and what is not - just ask.
In addition to Shkolyary, both in Budva and throughout Montenegro, you can find butcher shops (Mesara), where the purchased piece of meat is fried on the grill for free. The prepared dish can be eaten in your room in a completely relaxed atmosphere. This is a very budget option, because it will cost even less than an ordinary gyros.
Cheap but not angry
No matter what the average price of a restaurant check, you will still be served with a smile and patience. Budget Budva, cheap restaurants - it is definitely “Parma” and “Kuzhina” (Parma and Kuzina). Eat meat and fish with french fries or black risotto here for only 5-10 euros per person. And it is only 5 minutes walk from the sea!
Kangaroo is a unique establishment where, in addition to pleasant food and heart-pleasing prices, there are a number of soft drinks and free Wi-Fi. Recently, an outdoor terrace was built on the second floor, where you can have a good time, surf the Internet and enjoy frappe or glance for a couple of euros.
But where to drink, not drink?
You won’t have to search for a long time, because for many years tourists have chosen several cafes and bars of Budva. In the first place is Casper. There is no limit to the perfection of drinks in this bar, just as there is no limit to music and good mood.
Budva attracts tourists, cafes and restaurants, whose bars and hotels are simple but thought out. Therefore, any beer ("Casper" including) will not have a kitchen, except for primitive snacks for drinks. It is logical that after visiting the bar, it is advisable to stock up with the address of a 24-hour restaurant where you can eat tightly.
All visitors to the “Casper Republic” (this is the full name) adore it for its special atmosphere. All local creative people and foreigners gather here. Casper is the center of various jazz festivals. The history of the bar is long, and the territory is wide and roomy. In addition, in 2016, Respublika “swallowed” the neighboring premises. Now there will be a place not only for old patrons, but also for new visitors.
An example of drinks that cannot be tasted anywhere other than Montenegro is raspberry or kraft beer, and among wines - Malvasia. The local strong drink is raki. The strength of brandy is approximately 40%, but it is much softer than vodka. Brandy is plum, quince and grape.
In addition to the “Republic of Casper” (by the way, that was the name of the owner’s cat), the “Pivnica” is very popular, where reviews recommend tasting local beer. Moreover, Budva has its own brewery.
But what about the luxury class?
If you are attracted to luxury and a “jewelery” view of the sea, then there is such a place as “El Ray”. There are always a lot of visitors. This is a cafe-restaurant, but it is mainly visited to drink coffee and look at the beautiful sea view from the panoramic window.
To see the sunset in comfort is the most expensive thing, it’s for this reason that it is worth overpaying three times for coffee. But such a pleasure is subject only to those who are driving, because there is an institution far from the center on the highway passing through all the Balkans.
All the best restaurants in Budva are located along the coastline. Among them, there are relatively inexpensive places, but all are mainly tourist-oriented, which means that both prices and the situation are binding, as they say.
As one of the luxurious establishments, reviews mark the Divino wine bar, where you can sip a wide range of wines from all over Europe at a very affordable price. Of course, the menu has raki and several types of beer. But wine comes first.
The cuisine for wines, as always, is very modest in quantity, but immodest in essence: olives, several types of cheese and more. Here you can drink coffee, take a swim and imagine yourself a rich man in a beautiful cozy atmosphere.
But what should children do?
Among all this endless string of gastronomy and drinks, it may seem that children in Budva have nothing to do. Everything is exactly the opposite. In 2016, a water park was opened directly in the city, and so far only children can visit it, because the terminal for adults is not finished yet. The next season promises to be even more fun, because what kind of adult does not want to feel like a child on vacation?
Near the bus station is a zoo. And such a park is loved by people of all ages in any city, regardless of whether you can pet the animal and feed it or not. This zoo has a cafe, paths, a small lake, as well as igrolend with humane prices, thanks to which parents can relax while the baby jumps. Every year, the zoo is replenished with new animals, and in 2016, a deer was born here.
Food, drinks and food again. Everything?
Yes, Montenegro is a country of food adoration, and not just any, but national. But this is not all that you can explore if you are in a city like Budva. Restaurants are far from all the sights.
It is worth remembering that this city is more than 2500 years old. It has many ancient walls that can tell the stories of past millennia. The whole city can be bypassed from one region to another in half an hour, and proceed along and across in one day. The ancient walls of the Citadel, a panoramic terrace, a national restaurant, architecture museums - all this in large numbers will be at every step, around every turn.
If until 2010 Montenegro did not seem interesting for the bulk of travelers, then over time, everything has changed. So, the Balkans have become a godsend for the traveler.
Monotonous cuisine throughout Europe and America is no longer surprising. Budva restaurants reviews from visitors are mostly enthusiastic, because the cuisine really does not look like anything, although meat prevails in most cuisines of the world. Unusual seasonings and cooking methods (on charcoal, grill, etc.) - everything gives an unusual taste and desire to try again.
To learn new things, swim in the sea, get acquainted with a new culture and people is a fantastic vacation. The choice is only the guest!