Serbia Celebrates New Year’s Two Times
You can party twice, and drink twice the amount of craft beer.
Maybe you’re extending your Christmas holiday. Perhaps your between school semesters. And you found a cheap flight to Belgrade. Or you could be a Serb wondering why some jebeni Amer is writing about this. Even though it’s the dead of winter, you notice everyone is in costume and the city is alive.
Serbia (along with Russia and Macedonia) follows the old Julian Calendar, and observes a second “Old” New Year on Sunday, January 14th. Yes, you can celebrate New Year’s Eve all over again on the night of Saturday, January 13th.
Plenty of typical Serbian clubs and “kafanas” will have parties, with plenty of “rakija” and industrial Jelen beer. Yet, if you want good craft beer with your celebration, it can be hard to find. There are many craft beer bars in Belgrade. But the craft bars below are the only ones that host parties for the “Old” Serbian New Year.
So order a beer, and practice your Serbian. And it’s still New Year’s: don’t forget your costume.
Craft Beer Parties For The Serbian New Year
Beerwood, in downtown Dorcol, will have a Costume Ball and live acoustic music. There’s several craft taps and this is the place to try the neighborhood favorite, Dorcol Pivara. No cover
Reservation: 061 3242994
Brkati Pub, in Nikola Pasic Square, has live acoustic music until the early hours. Tron and Kors are often on tap and they have snacks available. No cover.
Reservation: 064 2546266, 063 1606366
Lakat Pub, in beautiful Zemun, hosts a Costume Ball and has a great food selection. They have 20 taps and feature their house beer from Juzni Vepar. 1000 Dinar cover includes food and a beer.
Reservation: 011 4201267
Tavan Beertija, by the Canadian Embassy, will have an open blues, rockabilly and jazz jam session with several local musicians. They usually have their own homebrew on tap. No cover.
Reservation: 061 6130162
Old London Pub in downtown will have live acoustic music. They have mainly English craft on tap and some local bottles. 1800 Dinar cover includes beer and spirits.
Reservation: 011 4068184
