In a city hijacked by ridiculously overpriced clubs with ostentatious names and designs (like Belgrade often is), a venue like Beogradski manijak gives everyone a much-needed respite. When I say “everyone” I mean both us, the locals, who want a few drinks in the middle of night without checking how we’re dressed and how much money we have left, as well as visitors seeking an original place to continue partying until the wee hours.

Everything about this place is without a hint of pretense — from its location in a shabby underground passage to its space, two small rooms that fill easily around 1 am when other places close down. Yet, the whole thing doesn’t seem to need anything else than the three pillars on which it bases its existence: real, cheap booze, good music (mostly B-sides rock) and patrons who expect nothing more. The atmosphere runs from regulars sipping drinks in corners at the beginning of the evening to students going mildly berserk late at night. Also, forget about only Fridays and Saturdays: you don’t need many people to fill this place up and if a good crowd arrives Mondays could be a pleasant surprise and Thursdays are typically solid.

Everyone is welcome, but – if you don’t like that Manijak is deep down and dirty – please give it a pass and let us enjoy it on our own.