ABOUT US
The past, tradition, history and iconic place for many generations of Belgrade citizens, Proleće restaurant continues to cherish all past memories and create new ones in a brand new form.
Opened for the first time back in 1950, Proleće has a taste of the past served in a pleasant and unique environment in the heart of Belgrade. From the very beginning, it has been providing its visitors with authentic dishes prepared according to traditional recipes, with the use of fresh, local foodstuffs and carefully selected ingredients.
Almost eight decades of tradition and culinary skills have been passed on through generations, with special dedication when preparing and serving typical Serbian cooked dishes from the daily menu. The restaurant’s lent menu, which is prepared during fasting, is extremely popular among guests.
Among the wide range of restaurants that celebrate national cuisine, Proleće is famous for its superior service and affordable prices, providing an unforgettable gastronomic experience.
As an iconic place in Belgrade, in recent decades it has also been an honored meeting place for many public figures. We proudly hosted a number of writers, painters, actors, athletes, scientists and politicians.
Some of the notable guests include names such as Petar Kralj, Momo Kapor, Mića Popović, Milovan Vitezović, Dušan Kanazir, Dragan Zarić, as well as many others who have left their mark in therich history of our restaurant.
Belgrade taverns used to be places where stories were born and inspiration for diverse artistic expressions was found, and at the same time they were places for deep political discussions. They often became improvised stages for concerts, attracting artists and music lovers. It was not a rare situation that taverns became
creative workspaces by gathering intellectuals and encouraging the exchange of ideas.
Despite the changes of time, Belgrade’s taverns still preserve their charm and remain an important part of the Belgrade’s social map, providing space for diverse encounters and experiences.
HISTORY
According to the data, the largest number of inns and taverns in Belgrade opened their doors at the end of the 19 th and the beginning of the 20 th century. At the turn of these two centuries, Belgrade had one tavern or inn for every 50 inhabitants.
Proleće restaurant was opened in the middle of the last century, but the history of this part of the city dates
back many centuries before its opening. There used to be a mosque where the restaurant is now.
In the 19 th century, this part of the city was called Varoš-kapija, after one of the four gates that served as the entrance to Belgrade’s downtown. Before it was demolished in 1862, Varoš-kapija included the area that went down to Brankova St., bounded by Obilićeva St. and Kosančićev venac, as well as Pop Lukina St. There were numerous cellars in that area for storing goods arriving at the Sava river port.
Proleće restaurant is not only located in one of the most important places for the Belgrade history, but there is also a green haven in the middle of the oldest part of Belgrade next to it, bearing two names: it is known as “the park near the Proleće tavern” or Park Vojvoda Vuk.
Regardless of how you call it, this seemingly ordinary park, surrounded by the streets of Carice Milice, Vuka Karadžića and Topličin venac, actually represents a kind of time machine through the rich history of Belgrade, perhaps even the place where the key events of the Europe’s fate were shaped.
Everything changed in 1950, when the restaurant “Proleće” was opened on the corner of Carice Milice and Vuka Karadžića streets. As a real pearl of the hospitality industry, it quickly became a Belgrade institution, which echoed the name of the park, soon to be known as “the park near Proleće”.
Today, bearing this name, the park represents the focal meeting point of all generations and a place where different life stories intertwine, the youngest have fun, friends meet and everyone else passes through, leaving a small part of their own history.
