Review: Dialog Cafe

Located off of Ferhadija, 100 meters east of the Eternal Flame, on the Trg Oslobođenja, Dialog Cafe spills out of a small indoor space onto wide terraces full of large umbrellas and coffee drinkers. Dialog is particularly appealing in these warm summer months, offering both a perfect vantage point for people-watching Ferhadija's passer-bys, as well as much-needed shade from those oh-too-hot Sarajevo days (and nights). The coffee, to be honest, is nothing to write home about. I usually order a long coffee with milk (or a large macchiato, to be precise) and though it is, overall, enjoyable, the froth dissipates quickly, the taste of the coffee is quite bland and the whole concoction is often served too hot. However, Dialog is not about the coffee. It is about being close enough to the action of Ferhadija to stop any acquaintances that might walk by and to invite them over for coffee. I have spent many an afternoon at Dialog with a succession of friends that I meet in this central location. Dialog is also about internet. That's right, it has one of the most reliable wireless internet connections in the centre for those moments when you just need to sit down with your laptop and a coffee and get some emailing done. Lastly (and perhaps most importantly), Dialog is a breath of fresh air because of its lack of pretention. When you are surrounded in this area by cafes, such as Vatra, that cater to Sarajevo's well-dressed, too-hot-for-everyone, high-heeled or designer-jeaned, expensive-cell-phoned, snot-nosed elites, Dialog is an oasis. It is always welcoming, laid-back and full of nice people, who just like to chat and eat ice cream. Plus, the average coffee with milk is half a convertible mark cheaper than anywhere in the nearby vicinity. All in all, these bonuses are why Dialog has kept me as a customer for such a long-time. Here's to you, Dialog!