Morića Han

Morića Han is a coffee house at Sarači 77 in the old town of Sarajevo, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, set in one of the city's surviving Ottoman-era caravanserais. A han was a commercial inn where traders stopped with their goods and animals, and this building dates from the sixteenth century, with an inner courtyard surrounded by galleries and rooms. The han is often described as one of the last working examples of its type in the city, and it has been used for craft workshops, trade and hospitality in addition to its role as a café. The specialty is Bosnian coffee, brewed in a small copper pot called a džezva and served with a cube of sugar, a glass of water and sometimes rahat lokum, the Turkish-delight-style sweet that is the traditional accompaniment. A cup of Bosnian coffee costs about BAM 3 and rahat lokum about BAM 4, so the setting costs little. Coffee here is a ritual rather than a quick drink: it is customary to sip slowly and talk, and the owners of such places expect guests to stay. The atmosphere is quiet and historic, with carpets, low seating and a shaded courtyard in summer, and it contrasts with the busier streets of the Sarači bazaar outside. Noise levels are low even when all tables are taken. There is no alcohol-focused programme; the drinks list consists of coffee, tea, soft drinks and sometimes traditional sherbet. Reservations are not needed. The han is listed as open daily from about 09:00 to 23:00. Its position on the main pedestrian street between the Sebilj fountain and the city hall makes it an easy and rewarding pause during a day of sightseeing in Baščaršija.