Šuma Belgrade – Nature-inspired sweet getaway

When you head up Simina street from Skadarlija, you will recognize this confectionery by its green garden, both outside, on the cobblestone, and on the inside, on the shelves. The owners, two architects, built Šuma as a small oasis around their love and home-based knowledge of cake-making; they also know exactly the origin of all the ingredients. They mostly come from local and small households and workshops). The two of them made sure that even the wooden chairs and the carefully chosen porcelain are both hand-made and pleasing to the eye. 

But of course, the main reason to come here are their cakes, and they are a mix of inherited grandma's recipes and elegantly invented combinations. However, nothing is too sweet and some cakes are even sugar-free! Beetroot and elderflower juices are very refreshing, and I recommend trying each one of the tiny, unique pieces of chocolate pieces made exclusively here, designed and baked by the owners. There is also a new, healthier take on the traditional Reforma cake, still a classic.

Šuma will draw you into a silent slow-paced and chocolate-based break from the city center crowd. There is usually laughter and the scent of warm cake crust coming from the kitchen, where some of the recipes are written on the tiles. Being in Šuma at winter will make you feel like you’re in someone’s living room, whereas during the summer heat you can escape into the little garden’s shade. What’s more, they even work long hours.