Bartender's Circle: Belgrade Launches a New Industry Forum

Belgrade will welcome a new addition to the global bar calendar this November with the launch of Bartender's Circle, a two-day industry gathering created by the team behind Belgrade Cocktail Fest together with celebrated Serbian bartender Vladimir Simić. Known for his work at Josephine – listed in The World's 50 Best Discovery – Simić is also the founder of Bartenders 710 School and now spearheads this latest initiative aimed at elevating the region's hospitality scene.

A New Platform for Ideas and Exchange

Opening Monday, 17 November 2025, Bartender's Circle is positioned as both a conference and a series of citywide guest shifts, bringing together local and international industry voices.

The forum will begin at Sava Centar, where a full day of talks and panel discussions will cover topics shaping the present and future of the bar world. Sessions will include conversations on women in hospitality, 2026 trends, crisis management, AI and cocktails, the rise of RTD and low-and-no serves, menu personalisation, and how to maintain quality amid cost pressures.

One of the day's keynote speakers will be Dr Irena Djordjević, a psychiatrist and certified transactional analysis psychotherapist, who will address mental health in hospitality - with insights on burnout prevention, sustainable work habits, and building a culture that nurtures professional and personal wellbeing.

A dedicated panel on women in the on-trade will be moderated by Anja Tojčić, co-owner of Q Bar and Best Bartender of Belgrade 2024. She will be joined by an international line-up: Nora Koufou of Line Athens; Raiza Carrera, Best Bartender in Spain 2023 and head of Agite Club; journalist Claudia Orlandi; gastronomy and HORECA specialist Milica Aleksić; and rising Belgrade bartender Andrijana Pjeović, winner of the Regional Bartender Competition.