POPULAR Macedonia Restaurants You'll Want To Try (2023)

Macedonia restaurants are such a big part of the Macedonian travel experience! In this post, I’ll share about my favorite restaurants from Skopje, as well as some recommendations for restaurants near Lake Ohrid!

Macedonia Restaurants: What To Know

a brown pot full of cheese with a spoon beside it and a plate with a napkin underneath of it at a restaurant in macedonia

Macedonia is full of places which they call “kafanas”. They’re similar to cafe’s.

There are quite a few local dishes you’ll want to try, including:

Chorba (breakfast)
Gravce tavce (baked beans)
Pastrmajlija (Macedonian pizza)
Sarma
Kebapi
Sharshka pleskavica
Selsko meso (villager’s meat)

If you want to know whether or not a restaurant in Macedonia is serving local cuisine, check the menu for the above mentioned items!

Restaurants in Skopje, Macedonia

I’ve already written a post on restaurants in Skopje Macedonia here, so you can see a full list with descriptions and photos there!

In short, Skopje is full of local kafanas as well as restaurants serving international dishes, if you’re interested.

Some of my favorites made the list on this post, as well as other restaurants recommended by my friends who are from Skopje.

A few of the restaurants that I can recommend are:

CAFE DION RESTAURANT: SKOPJE DOWNTOWN CENTER

one plate with a salad and another plate with a meat patty at a restaurant in macedonia

Huge menu, beautiful riverside dining, and right next to the Skopje city center! I loved this restaurant!

DUKAT: A TOP BREAKFAST SPOT

a bowl of meat soup called chorba in a white bowl at a macedonian restaurant

Dukat’s breakfast chorba is phenomenal, and the location right alongside a quiet Skopje street will fulfill all of your European vacation dreams!

Restaurants in Lake Ohrid, Macedonia

If you’re looking for restaurants outside of Skopje, I’m guessing you’re heading to Lake Ohrid!

While I haven’t been to Ohrid, I did get some insider tips from my lovely Macedonian friends about what to look for in Macedonia’s restaurants! So here are a few restaurants from my research:

Restoran Sveta Sofija: Macedonian Traditional

Beautiful outdoor seating with reviews raving about their traditional Macedonian food, not to mention the location being super close to Lake Ohrid!

This seems to be your classic, perfect Macedonian meal, serving local dining in a perfectly authentic environment.

Kaj Kanevche: Fine Dining With A Lakeside View

Want a perfect view for a sunset dinner? Commenters say you can find it here!

While the prices are a bit higher (it’s directly beside the lake, so that’s to be expected), people seem to be pleased with both the dishes and the environment.

Kaneo: Seafood Specialty

If part of why you went to Ohrid was to try the local seafood, this seems like the spot to do it!

Another lakeside spot which provides a spectacular view while you enjoy fish soups and other Mediterranean favorites.

The Lion Ohrid: Top-Rated Dining

This restaurant has some of the best reviews across multiple apps. Reviews praise not only its food but its ambience, and many people write that it was one of the best parts of their Macedonia trip.

So if you’re in Ohrid, you may want to check this one out! (and let me know if it’s worth the hype!)

Summary of Macedonia Restaurants

several cocktails, including a green one, an orange one, and a pink one, on a tray at a macedonian cafe

While the options on this list will provide you with amazing dining experiences, don’t forget to do some exploring, too!

When in doubt: find a kafana!! These cute and humble restaurants are where you’ll find the local stuff. Honestly, we didn’t have a disappointing restaurant experience while in Macedonia.

So have fun! Whether trying the tried and true options on this list, or branching out to something small and off-the-trail, you’re bound to have an amazing experience with Macedonia restaurants!