Kafana Introduce
## Kafana: A Taste of Serbia in the Heart of the East Village
For New Yorkers looking for a unique and deeply satisfying culinary experience, Kafana offers an authentic journey to the Balkans right in the heart of Alphabet City. This isn't just a restaurant; it’s a cultural hub that brings the warmth, hospitality, and rich flavors of Serbia to a cozy and inviting space. The name "Kafana" itself is a nod to a traditional Serbian tavern, a place known for great food, drinks, and a lively atmosphere. This establishment lives up to its name, providing a dining experience that feels both genuinely authentic and perfect for a New York evening.
Kafana has earned a reputation for its incredible food and its wonderful vibe. It's the kind of place that's perfect for a romantic date night, a celebratory dinner with a group, or a simple, satisfying meal on your own. The atmosphere is praised as casual, cozy, and even trendy, with a special emphasis on the indoor seating. What truly sets it apart is its authenticity. As one customer noted, the food is "killer" and the vibes are "authentic Balkan," making it a great place to introduce friends to a new and delicious cuisine.
## Location and Accessibility
Kafana is ideally located at 116 Loisaida Ave, New York, NY 10009, USA, placing it in the vibrant Alphabet City sub-neighborhood of the East Village. This location is easily accessible for both locals and tourists. While it’s a bit of a walk from the main subway stations like Union Square, the L train at 1st Avenue and the F train at Second Avenue are a manageable distance away. The area is also well-served by buses, and street parking (paid) is available, though it can be competitive. The cozy atmosphere and street-level presence make it a welcoming destination for all.
The restaurant is committed to being accessible to all guests. It offers a wheelchair accessible entrance and seating, ensuring that diners with mobility issues can enjoy their meal comfortably. The option for outdoor seating is also a major plus, allowing guests to enjoy the lively streetscape on a pleasant day or evening.
## Services Offered
Kafana provides a range of services designed to offer a flexible and high-quality dining experience for a diverse crowd.
- Dine-in Service: The main service is a full dine-in experience with table service. The cozy and romantic setting is perfect for a relaxed meal.
- Outdoor Seating: For those who prefer to dine al fresco, outdoor seating is available, which is perfect for enjoying the lively East Village atmosphere.
- Curbside Pickup, Takeout, and Delivery: In a city that never sleeps, convenience is key. Kafana offers curbside pickup, takeout, and delivery, including no-contact delivery, making it easy to enjoy their delicious food at home.
- Lunch and Dinner: The restaurant serves both lunch and dinner, making it a great option for a satisfying midday meal or a full evening dining experience.
- Catering: For special events or parties, Kafana offers catering services, allowing you to share the unique flavors of Serbian cuisine with a larger group.
- Reservations: The restaurant accepts reservations, which are highly recommended, especially for dinner, to ensure you get a table.
- Full Bar: An on-site bar offers a great selection of beer, cocktails, and an extensive wine list to pair with your meal.
## Features and Highlights
What makes Kafana a standout among European restaurants in New York are its unique features and its commitment to authenticity. These elements create a truly memorable experience for every guest.
- Authentic Serbian and Balkan Food: The menu is a highlight, featuring traditional dishes like Cevapi, Gibanica (Cheese Pie), and the Mixed Grill platter. Customers rave about the authenticity and quality of the food, especially the meat dishes.
- Great Cocktails and Wine List: The bar offers a wide selection of drinks, with customers praising both the great cocktails and the extensive wine list, which perfectly complements the hearty Serbian food.
- Live Music: The inclusion of live music adds a layer of cultural authenticity and enhances the overall "Kafana" experience, making it a lively and fun place to be.
- Cozy and Romantic Atmosphere: The vibe is a perfect blend of casual, cozy, and romantic. It's a great spot for a date or a small, intimate gathering.
- Family-Friendly: Despite its romantic atmosphere, Kafana is also noted as being good for kids, with a kids' menu and high chairs available, making it a versatile option for family dining.
- Serves Local Specialty: In a city full of diverse food, Kafana’s focus on serving authentic Serbian dishes makes it a unique destination to try something new.
## Contact Information
To make a reservation or for any inquiries, you can reach Kafana using the following information:
Address: 116 Loisaida Ave, New York, NY 10009, USA
Phone: (212) 353-8000
## What is Worth Choosing?
Choosing Kafana is a decision to immerse yourself in a delicious and authentic cultural experience. The food is the main attraction, and the quality of the traditional Serbian dishes is what sets it apart. The Mixed Grill and the Gibanica (Cheese Pie) are consistently praised and are excellent choices for a satisfying and flavorful meal. The generous portions and the rich, comforting flavors of the food make it a great value and a truly satisfying dining experience.
Beyond the food, the atmosphere and service are what make the visit truly special. The staff is described as lovely, personable, and fun, creating a welcoming and warm environment. The inclusion of live music and the overall cozy vibe make it a great place to linger and enjoy your time. For New Yorkers who have a sense of culinary adventure, Kafana offers a great opportunity to "switch up and try new things," as one review put it. For its killer food, great vibes, and unique authenticity, Kafana is a must-visit spot in the East Village and a fantastic choice for a memorable meal.
Kafana Menu
Appetizers
- Gibanica - Cheese Pie $12.95
Traditional phyllo pastry with feta cheese.
- Zeljanica - Spinach Pie $12.95
Traditional phyllo pastry with spinach and feta cheese.
- Lepinja - Traditional Bread $8.95
Traditional bread served warm with creamy cheese spread. Add smoked meat for an additional charge.
- Fried Smelts $17.95
Girice - Fried spearing with urnebes sauce.
- Smoked Trout $20.95
Dimljena Pastrmka - Served Cold
- Cheese Meze $16.95
Assorted cheeses with olives and fig spread.
- Meat Meze $21.95
Assorted air dried and smoked meats.
- Tomato Soup $10.95
With feta cheese.
- Veal Soup $10.95
Clear Broth with vegetables and meat.
Salads
- Sopska Salad $16.95
Tomato, cucumber and onion with feta cheese in olive oil and vinegar dressing.
- Serbian Salad $14.95
Tomato, cucumber, onion and hot peppers in olive oil and vinegar dressing.
- Cabbage Salad $11.95
Kupus - Chopped cabbage with olive oil and vinegar dressing.
- Roasted Peppers Salad $12.95
Pecena Paprika - Roasted red peppers, with garlic and parsley, in balsamic and olive oil dressing.
- Celery And Beet Salad $15.95
Celer & Cvekla - Celery root and beet salad, with apples, walnuts and yoghurt dressing.
- Green Salad $10.95
Romaine hearts and scallions in olive oil and vinegar dressing.
From the Grill
- Cevapi $18.95
Traditional grilled minced meat, served with chopped onions.
- Kobasice - Sausages $20.95
Served with cabbage salad.
- Vesalica - Smoked Pork Neck $20.95
Dimljena Vesalica - Thin sliced smoked pork neck, served with cabbage salad.
- Prunes And Liver $19.95
Rolovane Suve Sljive I Dzigerica - Prunes stuffed with walnuts and cheese, rolled in bacon with chicken liver rolled in bacon, served with cabbage salad.
- Pork Chop $26.95
Krmenadla - Pork chop, served with Green Salad.
- Mixed Grill $55.95
Mesano Meso - Mixed grill for two, includes Pork Chop, Smoked Pork Neck, Prunes and Liver (4pcs), Cevapi (4pcs) and Sausage, served with Green Salad.
- Traditional Serbian Burger $20.95
Traditional Serbian burger with kajmak (cheese spread), served with cabbage salad.
- Stuffed Burger $27.95
Punjena Pleskavica - Traditional Serbian burger stuffed with ham and cheese, served with salad and fries.
- Chicken Kebabs $20.95
Pileci Raznjici - Chicken kebabs, served with cabbage salad.
- Branzino $34.95
Whole Mediterranean sea-bass, served with Swiss-Chard and Boiled Potatoes
Main Dishes
- Karadjordjeva Schnitzel $25.95
Pork schnitzel stuffed with ham and cheese (kajmak), served with cabbage salad and fries.
- Lamb Stew $20.95
Jagnjeca Kapama - Lamb and spinach stew.
- Baked Beans - Prebranac $14.95
Traditional baked beans.
- Beans Stew - Pasulj $16.95
Corbast Pasulj sa Dimljenim Rebarcima - Beans stew with smoked baby back ribs.
- Beans With Sausage $20.95
Prebranac sa Kobasicom - Traditional baked beans with sausage.
- Lamb Shank $27.95
Jagnjeca Potkolenica - Braised lamb shank served with mashed potato and salad.
- Pork Shoulder $26.95
Svinjska Plecka - Braised pork shoulder served with mashed potato and salad.
- Stuffed Pepper $20.95
Stuffed yellow bell pepper with minced meat and rice, in tomato sauce served with mash potatoes
Sides
- Fries - Pomfrit $9.95
Fries.
- Grilled Vegetables $9.95
Grilovano Povrce - Zucchini, onions and red peppers.
- Mashed Potatoes $9.95
Pire Krompir.
- Swiss Chard $9.95
Blitva - Swiss chard with boiled potato and garlic.
Desserts
- Zito $9.95
Traditional Serbian dessert. Boiled wheat mixed with sugar, nutmeg and walnuts.
- Sour Cherry Pie $9.95
Pita sa Visnjama - Sour cherry pie.
- Crepes $9.95
Palacinke - Crepes with jam or nutella.
- Chesnut Puree $9.95
Kesten Pire - Chesnut puree
- Baklava $9.95
Soft Drinks
- Cockta $7.00
Slovenian Coke: No caffeine, made with eleven herbs, rose hip and pomegranate, which gives it a special aroma. Its overwhelming freshness comes from lemon and orange flavors. Enjoy a beverage of the times passed! (If the owner knew we wrote this description, we'd be in trouble!)
- Fructal $7.00
Fruit Juice
Kafana Details
Service options
- Outdoor seating
- Curbside pickup
- No-contact delivery
- Delivery
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Highlights
- Fast service
- Great cocktails
- Great wine list
- Live music
- Serves local specialty
- Sports
Popular for
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Cocktails
- Coffee
- Comfort food
- Late-night food
- Small plates
- Vegan options
- Wine
Dining options
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Catering
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
Amenities
- Bar onsite
- Restroom
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Cozy
- Romantic
- Trendy
Crowd
- Groups
- Tourists
Planning
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
Children
- Good for kids
- High chairs
- Kids' menu
Parking
- Paid street parking
Kafana Photos










Kafana Location
Kafana Reviews
cashcevapikajmakrakijabalkan cuisineajvarmixed grillshopska saladkarađorđeva šniclacheese pie
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1(4.5/5) - CASH ONLY Balkan restaurant with a great vibe! By far the best seating is indoors. Try to call / reserve. The meat platter is the best thing to get. Grilled veg is great. Bread appetizer that comes free with the red pepper spread (Ajvar ) is fantastic.As someone who grew up around this food, some of it is good, not all of it wowed me, but it’s pretty solid.Great to switch up and try new things! Lovely staff. I liked the salads, cheese mezze and the meat mains.
September 14 · Isabella GrandicThis place is killer. Authentic Balkan food and vibes. The food was incredible: the mixed grill was delicate, smoky, and rich. The fries and salad were great sides. And the desserts and coffee were also incredible.Servers were a highlight, super personable and fun! A great place to introduce your friends to Balkan culture.
August 28 · Peter KotchevWe came here for the Serbian food and we weren’t disappointed! The lamb shank was outstanding, so what’s the spinach pie, cabbage salad and the pork stew. Small place, but lots of charm.
June 22 · Marc BaumannIf you’re looking for hearty Balkan comfort food and a warm, laid-back vibe, Kafana delivers a memorable experience steeped in Serbian tradition. Nestled in Manhattan’s East Village, this rustic gem feels more like a friend’s home than a restaurant — the kind of place where meals are shared slowly and stories flow just as easily as the rakija.Atmosphere:Kafana embraces its identity with wooden furniture, vintage Eastern European decor, and handwritten chalkboard menus. The ambiance is casual but full of character, making it perfect for a relaxed dinner with friends or a cozy date night. It’s not a large space, so reservations are a good idea, especially on weekends.Food:The menu is rich with traditional Serbian dishes. Start with the mezze platter — a flavorful spread of kajmak, ajvar, and cured meats. The ćevapi (grilled sausages) are a standout: juicy, perfectly seasoned, and served with pillowy lepinja bread. For something heartier, the sarma (stuffed cabbage rolls) and veal goulash are deeply comforting.Vegetarians won’t be left out — dishes like grilled vegetables, cheese-filled pastries, and baked beans are all flavorful and satisfying.Drinks:A robust selection of Balkan wines and house-made rakija (fruit brandy) rounds out the experience. The staff is happy to recommend pairings if you’re new to the region’s offerings.Service:Friendly and low-key, the service feels genuine and unrushed. The staff clearly takes pride in sharing their culture, and that warmth comes through in every interaction.Overall:Kafana isn’t just a meal — it’s a cultural journey. Whether you're Serbian or simply curious about Balkan cuisine, it’s a soulful, unpretentious spot that gets the details right. Come hungry, leave happy (and maybe just a little buzzed from the rakija).
July 28 · Sasho Kralj4/5 (complimentary) Bread with Ajvar4/5 Sopska Salad4/5 Lepinja with Kajmak4.5/5 Fried Spearing4/5 Mixed Grill -- a very large amount of meats, I would say easily suitable for 3-4 if you are ordering apps. Everything on the platter leans a bit on the salty side, smoked flavor is however excellent. The sausage variety on the platter was probably my favorite!
May 19 · Tiffany V
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