Citadela
Citadela is an upscale lounge bar built into and around the citadel fortress at the southern tip of Budva's Old Town peninsula. The venue uses the historic fortification as its backdrop, with a rooftop terrace that sits atop the medieval walls and commands panoramic views of the Adriatic, the island of Sveti Nikola, and the coastline stretching toward Sveti Stefan. The space seats about 40 on the rooftop and another 30 in a stone-vaulted interior room. The cocktail menu runs premium, with prices reflecting the location rather than exceptional mixology. Citadela operates as a sunset destination from late afternoon through midnight, attracting a slightly older and better-dressed crowd than the Old Town's louder bars.
What to Expect
You climb stone steps through the citadel entrance, passing old cannons and fortress walls. The rooftop terrace opens up to one of the best views on the Montenegrin coast. The atmosphere is calm and sophisticated compared to the bars below. Lounge music plays at low volume.
Elevated, calm, and scenic. A lounge experience rather than a bar or club.
Ambient, lounge, and chill-out. Occasional acoustic sets on special evenings.
Smart casual. This is the dressiest spot in the Old Town. Collared shirts and closed shoes expected.
Couples, sunset seekers, anyone who wants quality views without club energy
Cash and cards accepted. Cards preferred.
Price Range
Cocktails EUR 10-15, wine EUR 7-10 per glass, beer EUR 5-6, champagne EUR 15-25 per glass
Cocktails ~$10.80-16.20, wine ~$7.50-10.80
Hours
16:00-00:00 daily in summer
Insider Tip
Time your arrival for 7 PM to catch the sunset from the rooftop. The west-facing terrace gets the full show. Book a table through your hotel if visiting on a weekend in July or August.
Full Review
Citadela charges a location premium, and the location earns it. The rooftop terrace on the citadel walls is Budva's most dramatic drinking spot. You're literally sitting on top of a 15th-century fortress, looking out at open sea and a coastline that's been attracting settlers since antiquity. On a clear evening with the sun dropping behind Sveti Nikola island, the setting borders on absurd.
The drinks match the setting's ambition in price if not always in execution. Cocktails are competently made but lean on standard recipes without the creativity you'd expect at these prices. The wine list is the stronger play, with a good selection of Montenegrin and Croatian bottles that benefit from the context. Drinking a glass of Vranac while overlooking the Adriatic feels right in a way that a gin and tonic doesn't quite achieve.
Service is attentive and unhurried. The pace here is slower than the Old Town bars below, and the staff match it. You won't be rushed or upsold. The crowd is noticeably older and quieter than Casper or Greco, with couples and small groups in their thirties and forties making up most of the clientele.
The midnight closing time means Citadela is a sunset-and-early-evening venue. It doesn't compete with the late-night scene. The best strategy is to arrive around 7 PM, watch the sunset over a bottle of wine, and then descend into the Old Town's alleys for the second phase of the evening.
The Neighborhood
Citadela is at the southern tip of the Old Town peninsula, inside the citadel fortress. It's the furthest point from the main gate, about a 5-minute walk through the alleys. The closest bars are Casper (3 minutes) and Greco (4 minutes back toward the center).
Getting There
Walk through the Old Town from the main gate, heading south through the alleys to the citadel entrance at the peninsula's tip. The venue is inside the fortress, up stone steps to the rooftop level.
Address
Citadela, Stari Grad, Budva
Other Venues in Budva Old Town
Casper Bar
A popular cocktail bar set into the Old Town walls with a terrace overlooking the sea. Known for creative cocktails, a young crowd, and DJs playing house music on weekends.
Top Hill
Budva's largest club sits on a hill above the Old Town with panoramic Adriatic views. International DJs headline during summer, and the open-air dance floor holds over 2,000 people.
Greco
A stone-walled bar on one of the Old Town's main squares. The terrace fills early on summer evenings. Plays a mix of pop, house, and Balkan beats depending on the night.
Bar Cuba
A long-running Old Town bar with a Latin theme and a loyal following. Mojitos, reggaeton, and an energetic crowd make this one of the liveliest spots inside the walls.
Thomas Bar
A compact stone bar with exposed walls and a relaxed atmosphere. Draws an older, more local crowd than the tourist-heavy spots on the main square.