Mostar’s food is classic Bosnian with a Herzegovina twist: heavy on meat and stuffed vegetables, with a Mediterranean undercurrent from the Neretva River and nearby vineyards. The city runs on ćevapi joints, burek bakeries, and river-view restaurants - plus some local Herzegovina specialities like Neretva-river trout and sogan dolma that you are less likely to find in Sarajevo.
Must-Try Meat Dishes
Ćevapi - the street-food staple
Grilled minced-meat sausages (beef or beef-lamb blend) served in flatbread (lepinja) with raw onions, kajmak, and ajvar. The same Bosnian staple as in Sarajevo, but the Mostar version is well worth trying in its own right.
- Price: 5–8 BAM (≈2.5–4 €) for a 10-piece plate with bread
- Where: Cevabdžinica Tima-Irma (local favourite close to Stari Most)
Pljeskavica - the Balkan burger
Grilled minced-beef patty, often with a cheese or cream core, served in a bun with onions and ajvar.
- Price: 8–13 BAM (≈4–6.5 €)
Burek - meat phyllo pastry
In Bosnia, burek means only beef-filled pastry. Cheese-filled is sirnica; potato-filled is krompiruša. Sold by the slice all day.
- Price: 2–5 BAM (≈1–2.5 €) per slice
- Where: Pekara Lučki Most (near the Old Town)
Mixed-grill platters
Large shared platters of ćevapi, sausages, and grilled meats - a “Sultan’s wedding feast”-style group dish.
- Price: approx. 30–50 BAM (≈15–25 €) for a platter feeding 2–3 people
- Where: Aščinica Balkan II and other Old Town restaurants
Herzegovina Specialities
Neretva-River Trout
Freshwater trout from the Neretva, grilled or pan-fried, served with potatoes and blitva (chard). A Mostar-specific dish connected to the river that runs through the city.
- Price: 12–20 BAM (≈6–10 €)
- Where: Podrum restaurant (near the Old Town)
Hercegovačka Tava - Herzegovina stew
A pork-based casserole with vegetables, baked in the oven. A regional variant of Bosnian stew with a lighter, Mediterranean feel.
- Price: 12–18 BAM (≈6–9 €)
Bosanski Lonac - Bosnian pot
Slow-cooked clay-pot stew of beef layered with cabbage, potatoes, and seasonal vegetables. Shared between two people.
- Price: 15–25 BAM (≈8–12.5 €)
- Where: Aščinica Balkan II
Stuffed Vegetables
Dolma (stuffed bell peppers)
Bell peppers stuffed with meat and rice, simmered in tomato sauce.
- Price: 10–16 BAM (≈5–8 €)
Japrak (stuffed chard leaves)
Chard leaves stuffed with rice and minced meat, simmered in tomato sauce and served with mashed potatoes. Particularly popular in Mostar-style menus.
- Price: 10–16 BAM (≈5–8 €)
- Where: Aščinica Balkan II
Sogan dolma (stuffed onions) - Mostar specialty
Onions stuffed with meat and rice, slow-cooked in their own gravy. More distinctive to Mostar than to Sarajevo.
- Price: 12–18 BAM (≈6–9 €)
Vegetarian-Friendly Options
| Dish | Notes |
|---|---|
| Grah (bean stew) | Ask “bez mesa” for a meat-free version |
| Ajvar (roasted pepper relish) | Usually vegan; served with bread |
| Pizza and salads | Many cafés offer vegetarian-friendly versions |
| Burek/sirnica/krompiruša | Check for dairy-free; potato version usually easiest |
Desserts
Smokvara - fig semolina cake
A Herzegovina specialty made with figs and semolina. approx. 4–7 BAM (≈2–3.5 €) per slice.
Hurmašice - syrup-soaked biscuits
Biscuit-style pastries soaked in syrup and rose water. approx. 3–5 BAM (≈1.5–2.5 €).
Lokma and pancakes
Fried yeast-dough balls soaked in syrup, often served with chocolate or fruit. Lokma House is the dedicated venue. approx. 5–8 BAM (≈2.5–4 €).
Baklava
Available throughout the Old Town. approx. 4–7 BAM.
Drinks
- Bosnian coffee: 2–4 BAM (≈1–2 €) - the daily ritual; drink slowly from the džezva
- Rakija: 2–4 BAM per shot - plum, peach, or walnut
- Herzegovina wine: Žilavka (white) and Blatina (red); 3–6 BAM per glass
Price Overview
| Item | BAM | € |
|---|---|---|
| Ćevapi plate with bread | 5–8 BAM | 2.5–4 € |
| Pljeskavica in bun | 8–13 BAM | 4–6.5 € |
| Stuffed vegetables (dolma/japrak) | 10–16 BAM | 5–8 € |
| Neretva trout main | 12–20 BAM | 6–10 € |
| Bosanski lonac | 15–25 BAM | 8–12.5 € |
| Dessert (smokvara, baklava) | 3–7 BAM | 1.5–3.5 € |
Plan your trip: Browse guided tours of Mostar - food tours and guided walks are a great way to get into the eating scene. Sort travel insurance before you fly, and grab a Balkans eSIM for data when you land.