Bohemian Belgrade cuts an uncommon dash

Belgrade offers the executive traveller the ideal business destination mixed in with a little bohemian culture.

The Moscow Hotel located on Terazije Square in Belgrade’s downtown area.

The Serbian capital of Belgrade has all the conveniences for the travelling businessperson while still maintaining a dash of the bohemian.

Executives buying souvenirs to take home for their loved ones should consider the traditional handmade embroidered linens, available at incredibly attractive prices. They come in different shapes to accommodate tables and armoire and in varying hues — the blues and reds are the most popular with red, also adorning most Serbian traditional clothing, symbolising the blood lost at the Battle of Kosovo in 1389.

Where to stay: The Hyatt Regency Belgrade is a reliable business hotel with large leasable space that regularly hosts conferences. Wi-Fi internet is available in the lobby and the rooms and most staff speak a fair amount of English.

Eating out: Toro is not at all Serbian, but the location overlooking the Danube river is, making the venue an ideal spot to close a deal. The restaurant, which offers Latin American favourites, is a casual spin-off of Dubai's Toro Toro at Dubai Marina's Grosvenor House Hotel. The Latin gastropub was opened in Belgrade because one of the partners in the restaurant venture hails from Serbia.

Off hours: If you want to experience a little of Belgrade's old world culture, head to the Moscow Hotel located on Terazije Square in the downtown area. The hotel was built and opened by Serbia's King Peter Karadordevic. Later, during the Second World War, the Nazi Gestapo moved into the hotel and transformed it into their headquarters. Today, the hotel is popular among Serbia's high society for its cake offerings at the hotel's piano bar. Interestingly, the hotel's equity shares are publicly traded on the Belgrade Stock Exchange. If you have time, Bohemian Square is definitely not be missed. The district is known for its narrow streets lined with restaurants on either side. What's more, every restaurant has two or three musical bands, with accordions and guitars and base violins, singing Serbian folklore. The Three Cats restaurant was by far the most attended.