Banja Luka has an active and sociable cafe scene driven by a large student population — the University of Banja Luka enrols thousands of students who keep the bars busy. The pedestrian zone and the riverside promenade have the highest concentration of drinking spots, ranging from old-fashioned kafanas serving Turkish coffee and local brandy (rakija) to modern cocktail bars playing international music.
The local beer is Nektar, brewed in Banja Luka and widely drunk. Local wines from Herzegovina are also available at most places. The rakija (fruit brandy) here tends to be homemade or locally sourced and is an essential part of any social evening.
Nights out tend to start late — Balkan rhythm means dinner at 9pm and bars filling up after midnight. The riverside cafes are the right place for a slow afternoon coffee; the student bars in the backstreets are where the night gets going.