Through song, film, and literature, the kafana has become a symbol of the Balkan mentality. Although it has changed its form as society modernised, it still enjoys the status of an institution across the territory of the former Yugoslavia.
The kafana is a stage for life, a gathering place for emotions, historical stories, music, and customs — for some an escape from home, for others a second home.
Actress Nataša Ninković and journalist Vesna Dedić tried to explain why the kafana, in the Balkans, is a phenomenon that often plays a part in both the success and the downfall of talented individuals.