Pick the setting before the menu
For a first Bosnian meal, Tima-Irma is a practical choice just off the Old Town flow: order ćevapi or a mixed grill and expect a straightforward, casual stop rather than a long dinner. Šadrvan is the better choice when the courtyard and Old Town setting are part of the plan; it is more likely to feel busy at lunch and dinner in peak season. Riverfront tables cost more than places one street back, so pay for the view deliberately rather than assuming every terrace is the best-value option.
What to order, and where it makes sense
Order ćevapi with somun and onions when you want a quick, filling local staple. Choose grilled Neretva trout when you want a slower sit-down meal; ask the server what fish is available that day instead of relying on a fixed menu. Urban Grill is useful for a more contemporary grill meal, while Vrata Orijenta is a sensible option away from the most concentrated bridge traffic. For breakfast or a bus-day snack, use a pekara for burek and yoghurt. Bosnian coffee is served slowly and with grounds in the pot; it is better treated as a pause than takeaway fuel.
Dessert, wine, and timing
Baklajlija is the obvious stop for baklava, tufahije, and coffee after a walk through the bazaar. Herzegovina's Žilavka works well with fish; Blatina is the local red to ask about with grilled meat. Dinner beside the bridge is most pleasant after day visitors have thinned out, but reserve ahead if a particular terrace matters to you in July or August. Menus and opening days change outside summer, especially on quieter streets. Keep the Mostar priorities in mind when choosing a table: a long riverside lunch is easiest after the bridge and minaret, not before them.