The best restaurants Northern Macedonia

This restaurant (Македонска Куќа), whose name means "Macedonian house", is worth a stop for its traditional dishes and rustic decor. The rooms spread over two floors are decorated with exposed dry stonework, handmade weavings and dried peppers. Specialties on the menu includeurnebes (a mixture of cottage cheese, sweet paprika, garlic and olive oil), pileški (chicken skewers stuffed with cheese and surrounded by bacon), makedonskla or Macedonian hamburger (minced steak stuffed with yellow cheese). Annexes in Skopje and Ohrid.

The "Couscous" restaurant (Кус Кус) owes its name - which sounds very exotic here - to a French woman who founded it in 2003. She left, but the name stuck. Today, it's the address most often recommended by locals. No longer serving couscous, it still serves tabbouleh (French-style), good pizzas, pastrmajlija (the local version of pizza), falafel and meat dishes. We're not a big fan of the menu, but it's still more varied and polished than most of Bitola's other restaurants.

This bar-restaurant (Пелистер) is a must-visit with its large terrace on Macedonia Square. A former state-run establishment founded in 1961, it takes its name from the Pelister massif near Bitola. Nothing gourmet (pasta, risottos, salads, meats, desserts, hearty breakfasts), but the wood-fired pizzas are good. Otherwise, it's also a superbly located hotel: six rooms and apartments (from €60 for two with breakfast) with a breathtaking view of... the square's ugly monuments.

Dalga is one of the local population's most popular restaurants for its fish (grilled or baked trout or carp, cassolette of eel, etc.), traditional recipes and waterfront terrace. The walls of the dining room are covered with photos of celebrities who have dined here. In the evening, with a superb view over the lake, an orchestra accompanies the dinner for couples in love. Excellent service and cuisine. Alternatively, in a similar vein, you could go next door to Momir.

This small complex (Комплекс Лебедово Езеро) is set around a pond with trees, swans, geese, a water fountain, wooden bungalows and farmed fish. The restaurant is large and the terrace is nice, but the staff a little overwhelmed on weekends. Ideal for a hearty meal (grilled meat, trout, fried squid...) after a walk to the Smolari waterfall or a hike on Mount Beles. For information, in the village, there is also a small private museum dedicated to socialist Yugoslavia with more than a million objects (banknotes, photos, medals...).

Close to the park adjoining the Trgovski shopping centre, the Nacional offers Macedonian dishes and tasty pizzas. All in a musical atmosphere at sometimes sound level.

This restaurant (Кај Местоно) is located opposite a pier and right next to Peštani beach. It has a pleasant terrace flush with the waves and serves good Ohrid trout, as well as Macedonian meats and specialties. The waiters are friendly. They translate the menu into English for foreign customers. You can also sip a drink on the deckchairs. Opposite, on the other side of the road, the Dac restaurant (Дац) is more popular and less expensive. It serves Ohrid trout, fish soup and grilled meats.

This restaurant (Фрателис Визиана) is accessible by a footbridge over the Pčinja River. It serves mostly fish (grilled, salt-crusted, fried...) and enjoys a delightful setting: river, large garden, small lake, tennis court, children's playground and animal park (donkeys, deer, peacocks...). The establishment belongs to the mineral water brand Viziana, whose site is right next door, as well as the riding center Whisper/Виспер, which organizes excursions upon reservation (+389 71 27 22 43, [email protected]).

This bakery (Фурна Чаир) is one of the oldest in Skopje. It's in the Čair district (Чаир, Çairi), on the corner of Kemal-Ataturk Street and in front of the "Chair" bus stop (buses 8, 9, 18a, 19, 26, 35, 47, 47a, 57, 57a, 59, 61, 71 and 81). All kinds of bureks are prepared here. It's also one of the last places to serve simit-pogača, a bun filled with plain burek dough (a kind of bread sandwich!). All around, several establishments are popular with late-nighters, with the Broadway bakery open 24 hours a day.

This fish restaurant (Сидро) is the best in Skopje. It serves products from Greece and the Atlantic (grilled octopus, mussels, salmon, red mullet, sole...) as well as carp and trout from Lake Ohrid. Pleasant setting, with a terrace reminiscent of a fisherman's hut, and well-presented dishes. The restaurant is located in the Taftalidže district, on a street perpendicular to the main north-south Franklin-Ruzvelt street, which opens onto Mitropolit-Teodosij-Gologanov boulevard. Bus: 4a, 5 or 5a, "Fabrika Treska" stop.

This restaurant (Ресторан Луле) enjoys a large terrace on the shore of the artificial lake in Tikveš. Fish from fishing or farming are served here. Among the wild fish, the huge catfish(catfish in the menu in English) can exceed 2 m in length and 100 kg. It is served fried, sliced... and whole by reservation! Some meat dishes as well as good French fries, salads and fried or grilled vegetables. In the evening, in summer, you should bring mosquito repellent. In the area, there are several accommodations in villas.

Located at the entrance to Stara Čaršija, next to the footbridge spanning Goce-Delčev Boulevard, this restaurant surprises with two old Yugoslav cars embedded in the walls: a Zastava 750 and a TAS 1300 J, the local versions of the Fiat 600 and VW Beetle. The menu is less surprising: salads, burgers, grills, pizzas and more. It's for tourists, quite expensive, but quite good. The place is popular for its garden, fruit juices and cocktails. The same family runs the Austrian Palace hotel, east of Stara Čaršija.

In Debar Maalo, this restaurant opened in 1991 (Скопски Мерак) offers good traditional cuisine: mezzés(pindjur, ajvar, makalo), simmered dishes(tavče gravče, selsko meso...), "Macedonian pizza"(pastrmajlija), grilled or bell-cooked meats(sač), fish, fried zucchini, etc. English menu, wine and live music. Access: 300 m south of City Park. Bus 8 or 15a on Ilinden boulevard (stop "Gradski Park Fontana") and numerous lines on Partizanski-Odredi boulevard (stop "Gradezhen Fakultet").

This restaurant (Ресторан Уранија) is especially noteworthy for its location, in the center of City Park. It is in fact the restaurant of the Jug tennis club, whose clay courts are located on either side. The menu is very Italian (no pizza) with pastas, salads, risottos, osso buco, mozzarella meats... All the dishes are rarely available, but on the whole it's pretty decent. And if you're just looking for a place to take a break while strolling through the park, Café Jug is right next door.

This restaurant (Јавор Мрзенци) offers one of the best spit-roasted lambs in the Skopje region: melt-in-your-mouth yet crispy. Established in 2004, it is an annex of the highly regarded Javor Agapi in Gevgelija, in southern Povardaria, on the Greek border. In the pleasant little shaded courtyard, under a wooden arbour or in the simply decorated dining room, lamb chops, veal cooked under a bell, grilled pork, salads, vegetables, stuffed cabbage leaves, etc. are also served. English menu. Efficient waiters.

In the absence of McDonald's and other international junk food giants in North Macedonia, Skopje has developed its own fast food offering, including vegan. Since 2017, paninis, falafels, soy, veggie and fake cheese burgers and good coffees have been served here, next to St. Clement of Ohrid Cathedral. For more traditional fast food, open later, there's the "7" chain with four addresses and the delicious burgers at Oljo's Street Food, next to Kamin Čamo, in Debar Maalo.

Within the same house here coexist two restaurants heir to the Idadija cafe (Идадија) founded in 1928. Both are "the soul" of Debar Maalo, the nicest neighborhood on the West Bank. In both, the clientele remains very local and the rates lower than the neighboring establishments. On one side, Idadija III has remained very popular, offering beer, wine, rakija, kebabs and a good tavče gravče (national dish of baked beans). On the other, Idadija M is a bit more modern with also grilled vegetables and meats.

This restaurant (Гостилница Дукат) is one of the best in the country, specializing in very good but not cheap grilled or baked meats (MKD 1,400-4,000/kg). Traditional soups and stews are much more affordable. We also like the white tablecloths, creative desserts and impeccable service in English. It's a pity that the wine list is unsurprisingly limited to bottles from large estates (Tikveš, Bovin...), some of which are not bad, but expensive. Bus: 4a, 5 or 5a (Fabrika Treska stop).

This restaurant (Ресторан Лира) is a little off-center: it's in the Karpoš district (bus 8 or 15a on Ilinden Boulevard, stop "Gimnaziјa Ortse Nikolov"). Romantic atmosphere: subdued lighting, candles, musicians, fireplace in winter and small terrace in summer. The traditional Macedonian cuisine served here is generally of good quality. Otherwise, on the same street, the Tribeca restaurant (facebook.com/tribecamk) is also very popular with Skopians: terrace, international cuisine and cocktails.

This is the restaurant of the Marriott hotel. Not really our cup of tea, but it's the best table around Macedonia Square. The "Mediterranean" menu includes pizzas, foie gras, houmos, pasta, risotto, burgers, salmon and brochettes served with Macedonian ajvar. Everything is rather well done. We also appreciate the bar that serves cocktails inspired by Slavic mythology. This adds a little local touch to this place where everything seems to feel like any other Marriott in the world.