If you are hungry after all the sightseeing in Ohrid, here are some personal recommendations for restaurants:
Belvedere: One of the best
Restaurant Kaj Chetkarot (Hotel Belvedere) is located just before the square near the harbor of Ohrid. They have a big terrace outside. It’s usually quite busy and they often have life music. Although it was so busy that we had to wait a couple of minutes for a table, the service was super-fast this time! The food is more or less the standard (grill) menu, but tasty and good quality + quantity for your money. Both the mixed orderver (hors d’oeuvre) and the Shopska Salad that we shared with 3 people were delicious. Actually, we had difficulty finishing the main dish (mixed grill) after the appetizers because it all was so abundant. Certainly one of my favorite restaurants in Ohrid. They also have a vegetarian dish, vegetables in a pot, but not too much other choice for vegetarians, unless you would combine several vegetarian starters as the main course. We have eaten here several times, so it is a place you come back to. They also have a branch at Biljana Springs, outside of the center of Ohrid. Website: http://hotelbelvedere.com.mk/
Biljana Izvori: Mind your step!
The restaurant is located next to the Biljana Springs, outside the center of Ohrid. We were here with 6 people. First we ordered two plates with starters (ordever), a vegetarian one and one with meat, a Shopska salad and another salad. This was more than enough for six people. The house rakija was not very special. My mixed grill was excellent, and almost too much for one person, since we also had the starters and salads. I really liked the meat, and especially the home-made sausage was very good. The vegetarian pot ordered by the two vegetarian girls and my mother-in-law had was rather tasteless, and they thought it mainly consisted of frozen vegetables. There were supposed to be mushrooms in the dish, but there were not. It was Ilinden day, the most important holiday in Macedonia, and there was live music, and traditional dancing inside the restaurant. Overall: Good atmosphere thanks to the music and dancing, and good meat. The vegetarian option was not so good. We think back at this restaurant with mixed feelings: After the dinner we visited the wooden replica of a boat next to the restaurant at Biljana Springs. The boat was not well illuminated, and my girlfriend made a bad fall in the boat and broke her ankle. This was the end of our hiking holiday in Macedonia! Website: http://hotelbelvedere.com.mk/
Stanica: Where the locals eat
Most of the restaurants in the center of Ohrid are pretty much catering for the tourists, which is reflected by the high prices. If you’re looking for good food and generous portions, try restaurant Stanica. They have even have a pizza oven and make a great traditional Macedonian oval pizza with meat, called Pastrmajlija. I had the Selsko Meso or Village Meat, a very tasty stew often served in traditional restaurants. Restaurant Stanica is location outside the old center of Ohrid, see here for Google Maps. They have nice outdoor seating as well. https://www.facebook.com/restoranstanica1/
Panorama: Where the locals eat
The story of restaurant Panorama is quite similar as that of restaurant Stanica: Located outside the expensive center of Ohrid and therefore friendly priced, good food and large portions. It is located close to the Ohrid Mall and the Ohrid Bus Station, see here for Google Maps. https://kajak.mk/gastronomija/restaurant-panorama-ohrid-macedonia-en
Pinokio: Best burger in Ohrid?
I would be lying (and my nose might grow) if I say Pinokio has the best burger in town, because I haven’t tasted all the other burgers out there. But their burgers are really excellent! The location is not the most romantic, along the Boulevard Turistichka, the main road through Ohrid (Google Maps). But the terrace is nicely fenced off from the street and the food makes up for the location! https://www.facebook.com/p/Sendvicara-Pinokio-100030756296523/
Damar: Good atmosphere and vegetarian choices
Restaurant Damar is located opposite to the Church of St Sofia in the old center of Ohrid. The dinner already started great with a complimentary rakija from the house. The rakija was so strong that we only had 1 extra half liter Skopsko beer during the entire dinner! Me and a friend both had a mixed grill, which was *a lot* of meat, and very tasty as well. My friend could not even finish his plate. The two vegetarian girls both had a vegetarian plate, basically compiled from a selection of vegetarian starters. Although not everything that was listed on the menu was actually on the plate, it was a good vegetarian dinner. And those are hard to get most of the time in Macedonia! In addition, the service was very friendly, and there was live music. We were very satisfied with this restaurant. Address: Kosta Abrash.
Dalga: Up-market
Great location on the lake, you can sit outside if the weather allows it. Very good food but more expensive than average. Address: Kosta Abras
St Sofia: Across the church
This fine restaurant is situated across the monumental church Sveti Sofija (St Sophia). The food is good, although the quality of the meal appears to depend on who’s cooking. We ate here twice, the first time was excellent and we were raving about it. However, when we came back a second time, the dinner was good but not as good as the first time. Life music in the evenings!
Cosa Nostra: Did somebody say pizza?
Very, very good pizza. Try their special “Cosa Nostra”! Address: Str. “Kosta Abras” no. 50. Directions: Cosa Nostra is located between the center of town and the Church Sveti Sofija.
Zito Leb bakery: Great for take-away sandwiches
This bakery sells very nice bread and sandwiches. Very good for a breakfast or to take as lunch when you go to one of the beaches at the lake. It is located on the road from Ohrid to St Naum, and (mini)buses to the beaches stop in front of the bakery. The burek is very nice as well (but you’ll be one step closer to atherosclerosis) Directions: On the crossing of Bulevar Turistika and Jane Sandanski, east of the old center. There’s another bakery about 50 meters to the south which also sells good sandwiches and burek.
Antiko: Expensive and crappy food
This was my second visit to Antiko, located in a very nice old house in the center of Ohrid. The first time was years ago together with my vegetarian girlfriend. After we were seated, it turned out that there were no vegetarian dishes on the menu, and that the chef was not willing to make something vegetarian. So we left.In 2016 we decided to give the restaurant a second chance, no vegetarians in our party of three this time. It again turned out to be a bad decision. The ordever (hors d’oeuvre) was very disappointing, the ingredients seemed to come straight from the supermarket. The famous Shopska salad was a disaster. I don’t know how they did it, because it is almost impossible to find bad vegetables in Macedonia. On top of this, the salad was ice-cold, it just came from the fridge, which certainly does not contribute to the taste. The one dish that I was looking forward to, grilled liver, was not available. The ridiculously expensive “steak” my friend had was an undefined piece of meat, but definitely not a steak. The dish of my girlfriend tasted weird, like the meat had gone bad. Normally we like to share a few bites but I had to decline this time! I had a traditional Macedonian meat dish which was tasteless and I doubt if this even should be labeled “traditionally Macedonian”, because it was an insult. We were sitting outside and were basically invisible for the waiters who did not care to come and check on us. The amount of food was a lot less (maybe for the better) and more expensive compared to for instance the very satisfying experience we had at Restaurant Belvedere. I don’t think we’ll try restaurant Antiko for a third time!
Want to burn some calories after visiting the restaurants? Maybe you are interested in a free city walk through Ohrid, or go hiking in Galicica National Park!
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