Grilled meat dishes are popular and a good bet. Many fish dishes are of freshwater fish. Vegetarian choices are limited.

National specialities:
• Pihtije (jellied pork or duck).
• Cevapcici (charcoal-grilled minced meat).
• Raznjici (skewered meat).
• Sarma or japrak (vine or cabbage leaves stuffed with meat and rice).
• Pljeskavica (meat patties of pork, beef and lamb).

National drinks:
• Slivovica (a potent plum brandy).
• Rakija (spirit usually made from grapes).
• Loza and maraskino (made of morello cherries).
• Wine: Ljutomer, Traminer, Riesling and Vugava.
• Turkish coffee (Turska kafa).

Legal drinking age: 18.

Tipping: 10% is expected.

Cinemas stay open until 2300, restaurants until midnight and nightclubs until 0300 or later. Belgrade has excellent nightlife with a range of performance arts to enjoy: operas, concerts, theatre, many late-night cafes and clubs. Many splavovi (rafts) on the Danube and Sava rivers in Belgrade also serve as floating restaurants and nightclubs.

Special purchases include embroidery, lace, leatherwork, knitwear, metalwork and Turkish coffee sets. Belgrade has many designer clothing shops along the pedestrian street of Kneza Mihaila.

Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1500-2000, Sat 0800-1500 (many shops are open all day Sat). Supermarkets and grocery stores keep longer hours. Many shops on Belgrade's Kneza Mihaila stay open until late in the evening.