On the way to Golubac Fortress, we stopped for brunch at an upscale restaurant with a panoramic view of the Danube, known for its romantic ambiance called Vinogradi Restoran aka Vineyard Restaurant.

Situated on the Aga’s Hill in the municipality of Grocka, the Vinogradi Restaurant is a historic site, built on the orders of Josip Tito, the Yugoslov communist revolutionary and politician. It served as a meeting place for his official guests, international delegations, and also the artistic elite. The famous names entertained there include Sophie Loren, Henry Kissinger, President Ahmed Sukarno, European state offficlas, and leaders of non-aligned countries according to what I could gather.

That is all in the past. Now anyone who can afford the food and wine can entertain themselves and their family and friends. at the restaurant, and they are doing just that by the number of people that frequent the restaurant. When we landed there though it was a weekend, but the rush hour hadn’t yet begun.

There’s both indoor and outdoor seating and we chose to sit outside. Nothing like watching the Danube flowing serenely in the distance below us. Google tells me, that astronaut Neil Armstrong famously compared it to looking from the moon. The view is indeed breathtaking.

The vineyards lush with grapes hug the slopes to the river. I saw some peach trees too, though I could be wrong about that, having never seen one till now. In the far bank I could see a couple of boats tethered and bobbing in the water. The red-roofed houses in the distance only added to the charm.

Altogether it is such an idyllic place to relax and spend a Sunday morning, or any morning or evening for that matter. The beauty of the location makes it a favourite with film crews and also is popular as a venue for weddings. Let’s not leave out the painters who’d just as quickly reach for their brushes and paints as a glass of homemade rakija, a traditional Serbian fruity brandy that’s a specialty of the place.

The restaurant is famous for traditional Serbian cuisine and also the local wine. I left the ordering of food to the ‘experts’. Please don’t ask me for the names of the stuff I had. I have forgotten them, only the taste lingers, along with a couple of photos. The lemonade I ordered was so strong that I had to add water to dilute its sourness.

We spent a while savouring our food and soaking in the scenery, not forgetting to take pictures, and also walk through the garden. The meandering river, the vineyard, and the red-roofed houses in the distance make it just the place to unwind and disregard time. But Golubac was waiting for us and in the meantime the restaurant was also filling up fast with the weekend crowds getting in. So goodbye it was, to Vinogradi Restoran.

Here are the mandatory pictures for Foto Friday:

©️ Shail Mohan 2025