And while the Fortress of Kalemegdan with the citadel and the park are right in front of the confluence of the two rivers, not far from this building, destroyed 44 times and rebuilt over the centuries by Celts, Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans, one of the finest places of hospitality in Belgrade was built. It's called Square Nine and is the elegant five-star boutique hotel with seven levels and 45 rooms.
Its entrance, it should be said, overlooks another well-loved place in the city: that Studentski Park opposite the University where, among trees and green areas, monuments have been erected to professors who made a contribution to the history of Belgrade and its university: from the botanist Josif Pancic to the geographer Jovan Cvijic.
The façade, in the Bauhaus style, is the right prelude to the interior of the building which is just a short walk also from Knez Mihailova, the fashionable pedestrian street well loved by tourists and locals, from the Theater and the National Museum. Far from the international chains that in recent years have “invaded” the city, Square Nine, designed by the Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld, comes close to a more personal and original concept of hospitality, and it does so by looking to the future, choosing to use iconic pieces of the finest American and Scandinavian designers that stud the entire structure: from the guest rooms to the lounge area, but above all from the lobby lounge next to the bar to the dining room. And then everywhere there are collections of books and art, floors of polished limestone and plenty of fresh flowers.
The Hotel's main restaurant is on the ground level and is called The Square: in a refined location, also equipped with an outdoor area, it offers a modern European cuisine with French and Italian flavors and an evolving gaze onto Serbian specialties. The wine list is impressive, as is the list of cocktails also served in the nearby Lobby Bar. On the roof of the building there is instead Ebisu, the restaurant for Japanese food featuring a terrace with a view over the city. Here they use ingredients from Japanese markets all over Europe in order to make Teppanyaki, Ramen, but also fish dishes such as Adriatic Sea Bass or fresh Salmon to be enjoyed with beers, sake and spirits from Japan.
Lobby Bar
Stylish, the Square Nine Lobby Bar overlooks the hotel lounge and features an extensive and careful selection not only of excellent wines, but also of spirits. The waters served here are excellent, as are the beers, coffees or Champagne, but it’s the cocktails that tell the true story of this increasingly more loved place in town. For that matter, by now there are many restaurants that combine the wine list with the cocktail or alcohol-free list and it often happens that there are venues in the hotel: the Lobby Bar is definitely one of the best in Belgrade.
The Bar is on the left of the restaurant called The Square that offers an interesting combination with cocktails for dinner: there are around forty drinks, both classics and specialties, among which stands out Negroni (also aged to intensify its aromas). The proposal obviously crosses into dinner, and the drinks can also be enjoyed seated on stools facing the bar, in the armchairs in the hall or at the vintage tables of international designers. Although open all day, the aperitif and after dinner drinks are the best times for tasting the suggestions that can also be accompanied by salads, first courses, main courses, hamburgers or sandwiches such as Smoked Salmon or Pulled Pork Bun.
A dozen classic cocktails are served: from Martini to Manhattan, Daiquiri, Dark & Stormy or Clover Club. And then the homage to the world of Negroni with other cocktails based on Vermouth such as Boulevardiere and Americano or drinks aged in barrels ranging from Aged Negroni to Aged Vesper, the famous twist of James Bond on a classic Martini with vodka, gin and white vermouth, all left in oak barrels for four weeks. Square Nine originals include Pollock with Campari, Vermouth Carpano Antica Formula, Martini Ambrato, Peychauds Bitters or Iris with Gin Mare combined with rhubarb liqueur, lime juice, grapefruit and fresh sage leaves. And then cocktails based on Champagne, alcohol-free drinks such as Shirley Temple or Virgin Mojito, beers (Serbian, Dutch, Danish and Japanese) and a list of waters that includes Fiji, the only bottled water in the world that comes from an artesian well. There is also an extensive range of labels: from Vodka to Gin, Tequila, Rum, Whiskey, Cognac & Brandy.
