The Twenty Two

Belgrade's Leading Rooftop Restaurant? The Twenty Two Makes a Strong Case

If you're weighing a rooftop dinner in Belgrade, the comparison that matters most is between The Twenty Two and SkyLounge. Both sit above the city, both offer views worth planning around. The difference is what you're paying for: SkyLounge leans into the bar format; The Twenty Two is a full-service international restaurant with two consecutive Michelin Plate recognitions (2024 and 2025) and a kitchen that takes its steaks seriously. If you want a proper dinner with a view rather than cocktails with a backdrop, book The Twenty Two.

What The Twenty Two Actually Is

The Twenty Two occupies the rooftop of the Metropol Palace Hotel on Bulevar kralja Aleksandra, one of Belgrade's most recognised hotel addresses. The restaurant sits at the €€ price point, which makes the Michelin Plate recognition notable — you are not paying Salon 1905 prices for this quality signal. The setting delivers direct sightlines to St. Mark's Church and the Belgrade skyline, the kitchen works an international menu anchored by steaks, supported by a wine list that spans Serbian and international labels.

Lunch vs. Dinner: Which Session Makes More Sense?

This is where the decision gets interesting for an explorer-type diner who wants both the experience and the value. Dinner at The Twenty Two is the obvious choice for the view — the city lights and the illuminated profile of St. Mark's Church read better after dark, the soft background music fits an evening pace. If the rooftop setting is the primary draw, dinner earns the premium.

Lunch, however, is worth considering if you want the Michelin Plate food quality without the atmospheric premium that comes with a full evening sitting. Rooftop lunch in Belgrade during warmer months gives you the skyline in full daylight, which reads differently but not worse, St. Mark's Church in afternoon light is its own reward. You are also likely to find the room less crowded at lunch, which affects service quality and pace. For a food-focused visit where the meal matters more than the occasion, lunch may be the smarter call. For a special evening or a date where setting carries weight, dinner wins.

Timing note: if you are visiting Belgrade between late autumn and early spring, factor in the weather before committing to a rooftop sitting. The Twenty Two's setting is an asset in good conditions and a variable in cold or wet weather, confirm with the hotel whether covered or heated options are available before booking for that period.

The Wine Argument

The availability of Serbian wines alongside international labels is a specific reason to visit if you are using Belgrade as a gateway into regional wine. Serbia's wine scene, anchored by varieties like Prokupac and Tamjanika, is covered in our full Belgrade wineries guide, and The Twenty Two's list gives you a low-commitment way to sample the category alongside a proper meal. For context on how this compares to other serious wine-focused international restaurants, see TRB - Temple Restaurant Beijing or Matthias in Berlin, both operate in the international-cuisine-with-strong-wine-program lane.

Booking: Easy, But Don't Leave It Too Late for Peak Evenings

The booking difficulty here is rated Easy, which means you are not fighting Salon 1905-style competition for tables. That said, rooftop venues in good weather operate differently from enclosed restaurants. Weekend evenings in summer will fill faster than midweek dinners in April. The practical rule: book at least a week out for a weekend evening in high season, you should have no difficulty securing a table midweek with a few days' notice. If you are building an itinerary around a specific evening, a birthday, a first night in Belgrade, an anniversary, book further in advance to get the table position you want rather than whatever is left.

Hotel context (Metropol Palace) means you can also ask the front desk to assist with reservations if you are a guest, which tends to smooth the process further.

How It Sits in Belgrade's International Dining Scene

For explorer-type diners who want to cross-reference The Twenty Two against other internationally-framed restaurants in comparable European cities: the combination of Michelin Plate recognition at a €€ price point puts it in the same functional tier as Loumi in Berlin or Sahila in Cologne, venues where the kitchen is credentialled but the spend is not prohibitive. The rooftop format and the Belgrade price environment make The Twenty Two a notably good-value proposition against those peers.

Within Serbia more broadly, if you are travelling beyond Belgrade, Fleur de Sel in Novi Slankamen is the regional comparison point for serious international cooking outside the capital. For the full picture of where The Twenty Two sits among Belgrade's restaurant options, see our full Belgrade restaurants guide.

Know Before You Go

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Twenty Two worth the price?

• Yes, at €€ pricing with two years of Michelin Plate recognition, The Twenty Two delivers above its price point. You are getting credentialled international cooking and a rooftop view at a cost that would buy you a mid-range dinner without a view elsewhere in Western Europe. The steaks are the recommended order based on the venue's own positioning. Compare this to Salon 1905 at €€€ if you want a more formal splurge, or The Square at €€ if you prefer contemporary French without the rooftop premium.

What should I wear to The Twenty Two?

• No dress code is listed in the venue data, but the Metropol Palace Hotel setting and the Michelin Plate positioning suggest smart casual is the appropriate baseline. Belgrade's dinner culture at hotel rooftop restaurants tends toward dressed-up rather than dressed-down. Avoid activewear; a collared shirt or equivalent is a safe call for evening sittings.

Can I eat at the bar at The Twenty Two?

• The venue is described as suitable for aperitifs and late-night drinks as well as full dining, which implies bar seating is available. If your goal is cocktails rather than a full meal, this is a legitimate use of the space. For a dedicated cocktail bar experience in Belgrade, check our full Belgrade bars guide for alternatives with a bar-first format.

What are alternatives to The Twenty Two in Belgrade?

• For a comparable €€ spend: The Square offers contemporary French and modern cuisine without the rooftop. For a step up in formality and price: Langouste at €€€€ is Belgrade's most serious fine dining option. For budget-conscious eating with modern technique: Iva New Balkan Cuisine at € gives you inventive cooking at low cost. The full comparison is in our Belgrade restaurants guide.

What should I order at The Twenty Two?

• The steaks are specifically called out as highly recommended in the venue's own documentation, the Michelin Plate signals the kitchen has the technique to back that up. Pair with a Serbian wine if you want to use the meal as an introduction to the region's output. Cocktails are noted as a strong point if you are visiting for drinks rather than a full sitting.