This photograph was taken c.2006 in the Croatian city of Dubrovnik. Nestled in the thick city walls of the old town and hidden down an alley was this hole in the wall.
There was nothing to say where the secret bar was located so we had to know roughly where we were going. We realised we were close when we spotted a sign that said ‘cold drinks with the most beautiful view’. A simple yet effective approach given we were sweltering in the heat!
After going through this doorway, we were greeted with the most amazing sight – spectacular panoramic views across the Adriatic. Stone steps cut into the rocks took us to the Buza bar which is nuzzled in a cliff top.
Once seated at a table facing seaward, we could take in the incredible surroundings whilst we sipped an ice cold beer. Music by the likes of James Brown and Elvis was playing in the background, creating a wonderful atmosphere.
Sunbathers could be seen relaxing in the sun on nearby rocks with swimmers enjoying themselves down in the sea. On occasions locals could be seen jumping off the cliffs into the sea. Extreme fun for the thrill seekers.
There were two Buza bars positioned around 200m away from each other. Being in the better known Buza II we had a perfect view of what was an eventful Buza I. Metal steps fixed to the vertical rock face allowed swimmers to access the bar directly from the sea. Watching them scale up these steps as such a speed was quite a sight. As was seeing them hurl themselves off the rocks once they’d had a drink.
The Buza bar was without doubt the most beautiful bar in Dubrovnik. A truly unique location and the perfect place to watch the sun go down.
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Now that’s what you call drinking with a view! I’ve always heard Dubrovnik is amazing to visit but now I know where I’ll be heading if we ever make it there – a certain hole in the wall!
Dubrovnik is wonderful Kriss, it was when we were there. I’m sure it’s got more commercial since but definitely worth a visit 🙂
Oh that sounds so lovely! I love sitting looking at the sea.
It was wonderful Afra, incredible views. I would have stayed there a lot longer given the opportunity!
That sounds amazing! But the thought of wet people climbing steep steps above the sea and getting gradually more inebriated scares the life out of me!
It was fabulous Sarah. Thankfully the wet people scaling the rock face weren’t heading our way 🙂
What an amazing view and a fantastic place to have a drink!
It was wonderful Jeannette, be lovely to go back there one day. I’m sure its changed a lot since 2006 🙂
Wow, that sounds absolutely amazing. Gosh, you’ve been to some fab places!
Very kind of you Iona. Don’t you worry though the nice places will dry up before you know it! Love to know what Dubrovnik is like now 🙂
looks beautiful
It’s amazing Louise, thought the hole in the wall made for a better story than the view 🙂
Oh, a lovely tale and it looks so beautiful
Thank you Jocelyn, it’s rather nice remembering these little trips 🙂
A secret bar? I like the sound of that, especially when the bar turns out to have fantastic views! That’s what I miss and love about travelling, stumbling into a spot like this. xx
Anything secret has to be good doesn’t it! There’s something to be said about the sunshine and a beautiful sea view 🙂
ah i have been here once with my parents when my dad worked in bosnia. It is so stunning, that image make me really miss summer!
Wow that must have been amazing for your dad to work in Bosnia. It was a fantastic place, no idea what it’s like now 🙂
Great photo Charly, Fabulous description of the place too, I can totally imagine what it looks like 🙂
Thank you so much Lou. I think it was more interesting showing the entrance rather than the view. I hope so anyway 🙂
What a lovely story! I want to go to that bar 🙂 It sounds wonderful, and what a superb view, just from the taste we get of it through the hole in the wall, it must have been stunning!
Thank you very much Sara. It was a fabulous place, you really weren’t expecting what was on the other side of that opening. Just beautiful. I hope it’s still the same these days 🙂
Love your posts so much – you have been to so many exciting places and recorded it so lovely. I get excited every week when I see another photo by you #whatsthestory
That is so kind of you Cathie, lovely words thank you. Feeling slightly under pressure now though 🙂
Ooo I want to step through the door to see more!
The view was fabulous Laura lots of sea, sun and locals having fun 🙂
That really is an incredible view and what a suitable name for a bar!! I love stumbling across hidden pubs that wow when you walk in them, but have never found a Buza like that!!
Thank you Sally. We were there quite some time ago so I do hope it’s retained its not become too commercialised. That really was the beauty of it 🙂
What a fab experience…. that bar sounds brilliant. Love that you can climb out of the sea for a quick beer. Your adventures are always off the beaten track! X
Thank you Sarah. It was a fabulous place to visit. Thankfully I did no climbing, just sat and watched others. They were climbing a vertical wall – incredible!
Sounds wonderful, bet the view was worth it too.
The view was so worth it Mary. You didn’t really know what to expect either and it was just fabulous. I hope it still is and they’ve not commercialised it too much.
Sounds like such a good little find and that view looks awesome. I’d love to go there one day. I think I need a map of the world with different coloured pins in.
It was a fabulous find Tas. We really appreciated it at the time too as it was mostly somewhere the locals went. I’m not sure that’s still the case, I hope it is though!
Love that photo… It gives me an impression of freedom. xx
It’s the best place to relax, have a beer, take in the views and dream!
We went to Dubrovnik in 2007 – and spent a lot of time in Buza too – it’s so lovely there isn’t it? I seem to remember one night sitting there and ‘What a Wonderful World’ was being played at sunset, watching the fishermen heading out in their boats and drinking cold beer. Wonderful! Then a large cruiser came past.. sigh!
I really want to go back there with H – we did an October visit and it was SO warm! Lovely photo and it brought back so many memories too