Food · Kotor · Montenegro
What to eat in Kotor
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Kotor, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: User:Ggia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Njeguši prosciutto, Njeguši cheese and Buzara. On the drive up to Lovćen, stop at a family smokehouse in Njeguši for prosciutto, cheese, bread and a glass of wine at wooden tables beside the curing rooms. Restaurants on the old town's main squares charge more; walk a few lanes back or along the bay for better value.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Njeguši prosciutto
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 6
- Tipping
- Tipping is not obligatory but appreciated.
- Food experiences
- 3
10 foods to try
Dish
1.Njeguši prosciutto (Njeguški pršut)
Dry-cured ham from the mountain village of Njeguši above Kotor, smoked over beech wood and air-dried in the mountain breeze. It is thinly sliced and served with cheese, olives and bread.
Where: Restaurants across Kotor, the green market, and family smokehouses in Njeguši itself on the Lovćen road.
Dish · Vegetarian
2.Njeguši cheese (Njeguški sir)
A hard, slightly salty cheese from the same mountain village, often served with the prosciutto as a starter platter.
Where: Kotor's green market and restaurants serving a meze platter; stalls in Njeguši sell it by the piece.
Dish
3.Buzara
Mussels or other shellfish cooked in white wine, garlic, parsley and sometimes tomato, with bread to mop up the sauce. Mussels are farmed in the bay itself.
Where: Fish restaurants in the old town, Dobrota, Muo and Prčanj.
Dish
4.Black risotto (Crni rižot)
Risotto coloured and flavoured with cuttlefish or squid ink, a staple across the eastern Adriatic coast.
Where: Most seafood restaurants in Kotor and Perast.
Dish
5.Grilled fish (Riba na žaru)
Whole fish such as sea bream or sea bass grilled with olive oil and garlic, served with blitva (chard and potatoes). Fish is usually priced by the kilo.
Where: Waterfront restaurants around the bay; ask what was caught that day.
Dish · Vegetarian
6.Kačamak
A heavy mountain dish of cornmeal or potatoes cooked with cheese and kajmak (clotted cream), traditionally eaten by shepherds. It is filling enough for a day of hiking.
Where: Mountain restaurants in Njeguši and around Lovćen, and traditional restaurants in town.
Breakfast · Vegetarian
7.Priganice
Small fried dough balls served with honey, jam or cheese, a favourite breakfast and snack in Montenegro.
Where: Cafés and traditional restaurants, especially in the morning.
Dessert · Vegetarian
8.Perast cake (Peraška torta)
A dense almond cake flavoured with lemon and a little liqueur, traditionally baked in Perast for special occasions.
Where: Cafés and restaurants in Perast and some pastry shops in Kotor.
Drink · Vegetarian
9.Vranac wine
Montenegro's signature red grape makes deep-coloured, full-bodied wines, mostly grown around Lake Skadar and Podgorica. Krstač is the main local white.
Where: Every restaurant and wine bar; the old town has small wine bars for tastings.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Rakija
Grape brandy (lozovača) is offered as a welcome drink and digestif across Montenegro, often homemade and strong.
Where: Restaurants and guesthouses, sometimes offered free at the end of a meal.
Food experiences
Smokehouse stop in Njeguši
On the drive up to Lovćen, stop at a family smokehouse in Njeguši for prosciutto, cheese, bread and a glass of wine at wooden tables beside the curing rooms.
Seafood on the bay
Spend an evening at a waterfront restaurant in Muo, Prčanj or Dobrota with buzara, grilled fish and a bottle of local white, watching Kotor's walls light up.
Market picnic
Gather figs, cheese, ham and bread at the green market by the Sea Gate and eat by the water in Dobrota.
Quick bites and street food
- Priganice — Cafés and traditional restaurants, especially in the morning.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 6 are usually vegetarian: Njeguši cheese, Kačamak, Priganice, Perast cake, Vranac wine and Rakija. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Restaurants on the old town's main squares charge more; walk a few lanes back or along the bay for better value.
- Fish is usually sold by weight, so ask the price before it is cooked.
- Portions are generous, especially of grilled meats; sharing is normal.
- Book waterfront restaurants in Perast and Dobrota for sunset in July and August.
- Many restaurants in the bay close or reduce their hours between November and March.
Tipping
Tipping is not obligatory but appreciated. Rounding up or leaving about 10% in restaurants is common; round up for taxis.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Dobar dan | Good day / hello |
| Hvala | Thank you |
| Molim | Please / you're welcome |
| Račun, molim | The bill, please |
| Živjeli | Cheers |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Kotor famous for?
Njeguši prosciutto, Njeguši cheese, Buzara and Black risotto. Dry-cured ham from the mountain village of Njeguši above Kotor, smoked over beech wood and air-dried in the mountain breeze.
+Is Kotor good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Njeguši cheese, Kačamak and Priganice.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Kotor?
Tipping is not obligatory but appreciated. Rounding up or leaving about 10% in restaurants is common; round up for taxis.