Most cafes bring you a menu. This one brings you a curious, fluffy-necked neighbour who may wander over to inspect your table.

In the flat farmland of northern Serbia, a village retreat has added an unusual crew to its staff: six alpacas, each with their own colouring, size and temperament. They stroll between the tables, accept visitors with polite interest, and have turned a rural stop north of Belgrade into one of the region's most charming new animal encounters.

An idea born across the border

The Alpaca Cafe opened just a week ago at Tiganjica Ethno Village, near the village of Stajicevo. It remains a rarity in Europe, and its origins lie in a holiday. Owner Zoran Ostojin and his wife visited a similar cafe in Slovakia and left completely smitten. They came home determined to let Serbian visitors meet the animals and experience their calming presence for themselves.

Meet the herd

Alpacas are cousins of llamas and camels, though far smaller and much softer-looking. They are prized for their dense fleece and are known for a gentle, easygoing nature. They also communicate with soft humming sounds, which may be the most soothing background noise a cafe could offer.

According to carer Simona Frangi, the six animals are far from interchangeable. Ljubica, a black alpaca, has a reputation for being grumpy. Snezana is the smallest of the group yet commands the herd as its leader.

Frangi says the animals read human intentions well: they drift away from anyone who seems unfriendly and approach those who come with kindness.

Manners matter

A board at the entrance sets out a few house rules, and they are sensible ones:

  • Do not walk up behind an alpaca.
  • Do not feed them snacks you have brought yourself.
  • Use the small buckets of carrots, lettuce and apples provided instead.

Planning your visit

Visits must be booked in advance, and groups on organised tours are common. The price is about 10 euros, which covers a drink and a bucket of alpaca treats. For a cuddly encounter with a hot drink thrown in, that is hard to argue with.

More than a cafe

The alpacas are only one part of the day out. Tiganjica is built as an ethno village, a living showcase of traditional life in the Banat region. The complex was constructed in the old Banat or Lalinske style and shows faithful replicas of a Banat house and the way of life a century ago. The walls of the house are built from sand, hay and mud, and some of the beams inside are said to be up to 500 years old.

Hungry visitors have the on-site Trofej restaurant to look forward to. It is a hunting restaurant serving national cuisine and venison, with dishes cooked under the traditional bell, barbecue, fish, stew and homemade bread. There are also stables with thoroughbred horses and ponies, riding trails, a children's playground and a beach volleyball court.

The setting adds to the appeal. The complex sits close to the Zrenjanin to Belgrade motorway, near the Stari Begej and Carska Bara nature reserve. The Begej river runs beside the village, the castle at Ecka is close by, and you can try a quad ride on the Pannonian Safari. The area suits a relaxed day trip or a slower weekend.

A childhood passion grown up

For Ostojin, this is personal. He explains that he and his brother have been taking in injured animals since they were boys, and that habit eventually grew into the small zoo that now sits alongside the family's restaurant and garden.

The first alpaca arrived eight years ago as a gift from Belgrade Zoo. Ostojin says he was immediately drawn to the animal's aura and the warmth it seemed to give off, and he describes it as something close to a healing quality. Judging by the reaction of visitors wandering among the herd, he is not the only one who feels it.

Worth the detour?

If you enjoy slow travel, quirky experiences or simply the idea of sipping a coffee while an alpaca investigates your bucket of carrots, Tiganjica deserves a spot on your Serbian itinerary. Book ahead, mind the house rules, and do not take it personally if Ljubica keeps her distance.