Buza Bar: Visiting Dubrovnik’s Cliff Bar

Buza Bar is one of the most memorable places to have a drink in Dubrovnik, a bar quite literally carved into the cliffs outside the old city walls. Here’s everything you need to know before you go.

Heading to Dubrovnik? You’re in for a treat. This walled city, all white marble and stone rising straight out of the deep blue of the Adriatic, is one of the most beautiful in Europe. And it turns out it knows how to enjoy itself, too. Ask anyone in the know about Croatia’s nightlife and you’ll get a knowing smile, the kind that says you’re in for a pleasant surprise.

Whether you’re after lounging with a cocktail and catching up with friends old and new, or dancing until the early hours, Dubrovnik has you covered. But of all the places I drank in the city, one stood head and shoulders above the rest. Let me introduce you to Buza.

Buza Bar Is About to Become Your Favourite Dubrovnik Hangout

Buza was, hands down, my favourite bar in Dubrovnik. What makes it so special? Three words: location, location, location.

It can be a bit of a mission to find, and when you do, the hole-in-the-wall entrance gives nothing away. In fact, that’s exactly what “buza” means in Croatian: a hole. Tucked into a small archway in the side of the ancient city walls, marked only by a modest sign reading “cold drinks” (follow the yellow signs from the Ruđera Boškovića square, near the Jesuit Stairs), there’s almost nothing to see from the lane. A glimpse of palm leaves swaying in the breeze, maybe a snatch of music if you’re lucky.

Then you step through, and Buza reveals itself: level after level of small concrete terraces clinging to the rock face, dotted with little huddles of tables and chairs, all facing outwards to the real star of the show. Ahead of you is nothing but the island of Lokrum and the endless, unwavering cerulean of the Adriatic. We spotted a couple of spare chairs a level or two down, a bit of kind shuffling from the two women beside us, and we were set for a few hours of chilled drinks and some of the most beautiful views in the city.

Cocktails and Cliff Jumping

Buza is also one of Dubrovnik’s most popular cliff-jumping spots, and those brave enough to leap from the rocks into the water below couldn’t ask for a better stage. There’s a captive, cheering audience, and a well-earned drink waiting when you resurface.

Every few minutes we’d hear a big splash (or a smooth ripple, depending on the diver’s skill) as another person took the plunge. If you fancy it yourself, do take care: the rocks are uneven, there are no railings, and alcohol and heights are a poor mix, so it’s one to attempt sober and only if you’re a confident swimmer. If you’d rather just watch, it makes for brilliant, free entertainment between rounds.

Go for Golden Hour (An Honest Note on the “Sunset”)

I’d been impressed from the moment I arrived, but as the light softened towards evening, Buza took on another life entirely. The sea turned still and glassy, broken only by the odd fluorescent-yellow kayak gliding back towards the city after a day on the water, and the whole place glowed. Music in the background, a warm breeze, a drink in hand. Magical, dare I say it.

One honest thing worth knowing, though, so you go in with the right expectations: despite Buza’s reputation as a sunset spot, it faces roughly south, out towards Lokrum, rather than due west over open sea. That means you don’t actually get the classic sun-sinking-into-the-Adriatic shot here, as the sun drops behind the land and walls to your right. What you do get is gorgeous golden-hour light on the water and the cliffs, which is arguably just as lovely and far more atmospheric than fighting the crowds elsewhere. If a proper unobstructed sunset is your top priority, take the cable car up Mount Srđ for that; if you want beautiful evening light with a drink in a genuinely unforgettable setting, Buza is hard to beat.

No, Buza isn’t the hidden secret it once was. The word is well and truly out, and it’s on many a visitor’s Dubrovnik list. But once you’re perched on that cliff with a cold drink and that view, you really won’t care.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the Service Like?

Friendly, if sometimes stretched, as they’re often rushed off their feet. Buza II has table service; at the smaller Buza I you’re generally better off heading to the bar yourself, especially when it’s busy, unless you fancy a long wait.

How Much Does Buza Bar Cost?

Reasonable, by Dubrovnik standards, and you’re paying for the setting rather than the pour. Expect to pay roughly €6 to €8 for a beer and around €12 to €15 for a cocktail, with wine and soft drinks cheaper. (Note that Croatia adopted the euro in 2023, so ignore any older guides still quoting prices in kuna.) It’s a little pricier than a back-street konoba, but nowhere near the eye-watering prices you’d pay for a cliffside view like this in most European cities.

Is It Worth It?

Honestly? Yes, with one caveat. The drinks themselves are nothing to write home about (my wine arrived distinctly on the warm side, and on a busy day the choice can be limited), and the facilities are basic at best. If you’re after a perfectly chilled, expertly mixed cocktail, this isn’t your spot.

But that’s not why you come to Buza. You come for the setting, and on that score there’s nowhere quite like it in Dubrovnik: a bar carved into the cliffs, the Adriatic stretching out below, cliff-jumpers leaping into the blue and that golden evening light on the water. The views alone are worth the price of a drink, and then some.

When Should I Go?

Aim for the early evening, at least 45 minutes before you want a seat for golden hour. I hopped off the boat from Lokrum and made a beeline for Buza at around 6pm in August. That was early enough to grab a table straight away, but when I looked around fifteen minutes later, every chair was taken and the place had filled right up. Midday, when the cruise crowds are at their peak and the terraces bake in the sun, is the time to avoid.

Where Is Buza Bar?

Buza sits on the southern side of Dubrovnik’s Old Town, accessed through the city walls. The address is Crijevićeva ul. 9, 20000 Dubrovnik. The easiest way to find it is to head to the southern edge of the Old Town and follow the yellow “cold drinks” signs through the walls.

Read more of my Croatia travel guides

• The Best Things to do in Dubrovnik
• Three Days in Dubrovnik
• The Perfect Croatia Travel Itinerary
• Game of Thrones Self Guided Tour of Dubrovnik
• Hidden Gems in Dubrovnik
• Zagreb: 24 Hours in Croatia’s Capital

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