It’s funny here because I’ve not been to a bar yet where the bar staff haven’t been drinking as well. I would too if I worked 12 hour shifts 6 days a week for very little money. The super-friendly hostel staff invited me out on my first day here and the first bar we went to we actually got drunk with the waiter, which was alright because when your waiter is drunk some of the tabs miraculously disappear! Because it’s the quiet time here, a lot of the clubs are closed, so we found ourselves in a tiny bar up the street, where they locked the doors and we partied to the early hours.
It’s normal in Croatia and the other ex-Yugoslavian countries to drink Rakija on a night out. It’s typically taken in a large shot glass and made from distilled fruit and sugar. The alcohol content can range from 30 to 60 percent or more if it is homemade (which is common) so depending on what flavour you have (there are about 30) and what strength you can either sip it or shot it. I’ve been trying a few. If you ever do, don’t try mistletoe or olive flavour, they are disgusting. The best bar for Rakija in Zagreb is Cica (which literally means ‘boob’ in Croatian), it has a lot of home-made Rakija there. It’s my new favourite drink.
