XIO Restaurant and Apartments in Bar - the story of a standout project realized in Montenegro
Journalist and music critic
In the picturesque city of Bar (Montenegro), where the Adriatic Sea and majestic mountains harmoniously meet a calm suburban rhythm, a place has appeared that deserves the attention of those who love good food and stylish leisure. As part of our ongoing series about entrepreneur relocants, we will talk about the XIO restaurant and apart-hotel, whose complex immediately attracts attention with its design and excellent location.
We spoke with Natalia, the venue manager, and learned how the idea for such a project arose, what challenges had to be overcome on the way to implementation, and simply chatted about Montenegro as a place to live and do business.
Contents
History and key features of the project
The main mistake entrepreneurs make in Montenegro: how not to waste money and time
How to become "one of your own" in Montenegro: our adaptation secret
Learning the hard way: our first business in Montenegro
There are no places like this in Bar! Why XIO is a next-level venue
How does XIO adapt to seasonal changes?
So what's the bottom line? Is the food good? What's the average bill?
The XIO Complex
The XIO complex is located on the edge of the quiet suburb of Šušanj - you could say it "welcomes" guests at the city entrance right by the "Bar" sign on the roundabout. Of course, the main advantage of the location is its proximity to the sea: the most popular beach in the area is literally across the road. You can reach the city center in just a couple of minutes by car or in 15-20 minutes on foot. XIO itself is a modern six-story building combining premium apartments and a restaurant.
On the ground floor there is a restaurant with a main hall and a glazed terrace. That is where, over a cup of coffee, we spoke with Natalia. Floors two through six house ten spacious high-class rooms with consistently beautiful views from the windows. And the "cherry on top," the venue's true pride, is the panoramic rooftop lounge bar boasting superb views of the sea, cityscapes, and mountain peaks.
How it all began and the project's features
Any story is better when told first-hand. So let's give the floor to XIO's manager Natalia, who will tell us how it all started.
Natalia: The owners had an idea to create something between a high-class hotel and an apart-hotel at a more affordable price. A key task was to find a great location that would fit. And it so happened historically that they bought this plot of land and began construction.
The result is the project we can see today: very interesting, bright, and bold. I would especially note that all rooms are quite large, with double beds. Each can comfortably accommodate a large family of 5-6 people. Our rooms fall into two categories: some with mountain views, others with sea views.
I also want to highlight our beautiful rooftop lounge bar. In addition to the truly gorgeous view, it has another feature - we host all sorts of events, concerts, and activities there.
The ground floor is fully occupied by the restaurant. There was also a plan for a spa center. On the basement level everything for it has already been designed and planned and the pool shell is ready, but unfortunately we have not yet been able to complete the finishings.
How much time passed from the idea to implementation? It's a large-scale concept!
Natalia: Indeed. From inception to opening, the path was very long and difficult. Construction in Montenegro, as we all know, is not a simple or straightforward process. I primarily mean the nuances of obtaining permits, licenses, and so on.
The first construction works started around 2017-2018, and the launch and opening came in 2022. At first we opened not at full capacity, since part of the complex had not yet been completed. And in 2023 XIO operated fully in all areas.
Startup in Montenegro: how not to lose money and time
Since we touched on this topic, let's talk about bureaucracy and local specifics. Can you advise those who are thinking about starting a business or building something here?
Natalia: Giving advice is actually hard. I will only say that everyone who wants to do something here must understand that there is no quick money in Montenegro. Building a business and expecting quick returns - that is not about Montenegro. Restaurants and hotels are a story of their own. A tangible and relatively stable income, I think, comes roughly in 10 years.
And there is bureaucracy everywhere. The local particularity is that people who come here often do not know the language or the laws and naturally look for helpers to guide them. But not all helpers are equally useful. They all charge a lot, but whether they will bring value is a big question.
This is the first big and quite common mistake newcomers make. So you should not trust the first person you meet. It is better to approach the matter carefully: contact competent organizations that have all the permits and licenses. They will guide you completely, explain which documents are needed and where to start. It is also necessary to sign an agreement, a cooperation contract, and clearly stipulate the amount to be paid. Because, as we know, the foundation holds everything.
How to become "one of your own" in Montenegro: the main secret revealed
Do you ever feel like you are "outsiders" here? Is it hard to communicate with locals?
Natalia: We are all foreigners here, one way or another. And people will still treat you accordingly. Therefore, first of all, if you plan to do something here, you need to learn the language as quickly as possible. This helps you blend in and assimilate. And people will see that you truly want to live, work, earn, and communicate with them rather than locking yourself within a Russian-speaking community. Montenegrins are quite open and appreciate this approach.
I have lived here for almost ten years, and from experience I can say that in Montenegro everything rests on personal connections. Without them you will achieve little. Otherwise it will be like swimming against the current: you will keep paddling but never make it out. I don't mean bribes or anything like that. No, it is about human relations. People can give you sound advice or suggest which authority to go to, whom to talk to, and how to solve a problem in a completely legal way. When they see that you are trying, they will be more well-disposed toward you and will genuinely want to help.
This country - my new home
You mentioned that you have lived here for almost ten years. Tell us how and why you ended up here. Everyone has their own path.
Natalia: We came from Ukraine. Partly for family reasons, partly due to the start of the war in 2014. It also coincided that our child fell ill at that time (there was a looming diagnosis of "bronchial asthma"), and we urgently needed to change climate.
Eventually we chose Montenegro. At first my husband and I came here together, looked around, traveled a bit, and decided where to live. We loved Bar right away. And, in fact, on March 8 it will be exactly ten years since we have been here.
At first we thought it was temporary, but then it turned out that Montenegro is a wonderful place to live. Despite being so small, despite the cities here not comparing in scale with the "million-plus" cities many of us came from. Yes, services and social and cultural life are comparatively underdeveloped here. But if you find a job, preferably remote, I think it is an ideal place to live. Especially if you travel around the country.
And of course, how did you start working at XIO?
Natalia: For a long time I worked in Budva. My previous job was at Dukley. I left because I was simply tired of commuting. Those summer traffic jams on public transport, where you spend two and a half hours one way, exhausted me over six years.
At some point I saw a job posting at XIO. A major renovation had just been completed. I came to the interview with no expectations, but I really liked it. The main thing I liked was the location near my home. It was a dream job: five minutes from home, you do not waste half a day on the road, you are not stuck in traffic. Apparently thanks to my substantial hotel and restaurant experience, they called me back a couple of days later and said: "We are hiring you, please come."
Nice!
Natalia: Yes, but not everyone gets so lucky. And it had not always been that way for us either. We tried different professions, and everyone knows it is not easy for immigrants to find themselves in a new country.
Learning the hard way: our first business in Montenegro
Tell us about the first period after moving to Montenegro. What did you do?
Natalia: At first, like many who come here, we tried to run our own business. In Ukraine, we had a business selling goods and clothing for hunting and fishing. We tried to move it here. But rose-colored glasses kept us from realizing that the country is very small and the niche very specific and narrow. Yes, there are hunters and fishermen, but since we were foreigners, locals did not trust us and, accordingly, sales were low. After a year, we had to close.
But in parallel we were learning the language. Then we started looking for our direction and thinking about next steps. Since I had experience in the restaurant and hotel sector in Ukraine, I began to look that way. I then received a job offer in Budva. They hired me on the condition that I would learn Montenegrin to an acceptable level. And yes, I learned it. That was a very strong motivator. I hired a tutor, a professor, and in three months we fully completed the first level.
It was intense. It was very hard, because we had a small child, and all the funds we had set aside for the move had naturally run out. But we managed.
The XIO guest - who are they?
Your story once again proves that patience and work pay off. But let's return to today and talk about XIO again. Who is your client? Russian speakers? Montenegrins? A mix? Do visitors come from Western Europe?
Natalia: It depends heavily on the season. In summer, absolutely different audiences come in roughly equal proportions. In the off-season, of course, there are more Russian speakers. But we are working hard to attract Montenegrins. There is plenty of youth here, they like to go to restaurants and cafes. But they are hard to attract because they are creatures of habit and rarely change their leisure spots. They love the places they used to go. They already have acquaintances and even kumovi there. To lure them to a different place you really have to try. But we will manage. We already have several regular local guests, even if the share is still small.
Does the staff speak Montenegrin?
Natalia: Yes, our team is international: both Montenegrins and Russian speakers. Everyone speaks languages quite well.
There are no places like this in Bar! Why XIO is a next-level venue?
What makes XIO stand out? Tell us about the most interesting features.
Natalia: There are actually many "features" and special touches. The fact is that there are practically no serious restaurants in Bar. Our goal was to create a place where people feel great service, coziness, tasty food, and atmosphere. And I think we have achieved that, because we fight for every guest.
I will mention the rooftop lounge again. XIO is so far the only venue in the area with such a rooftop gem. Concerts and events are held there. Downstairs on the veranda there are often activities too: fairs, thoughts about launching karaoke, and possibly movie nights. In winter there is heating, smoking is allowed (unlike in the main hall), and overall it is very cozy.
And the menu? Is it a specific cuisine or…
Natalia: This is another uniqueness of our restaurant. We completely moved away from the local fast-food story and created a unique menu that is very balanced and refined.
It is European cuisine in all its variety: a bit of Italy, a bit of France, great fish and meat appetizers, and very original soups you will not find elsewhere. For example, mushroom soup with brie foam, or an amazing fish solyanka made of a salmon and tuna mix with a very original presentation, Hungarian goulash, vitello tonnato, and much more.
And, of course, we did not give up traditional Ukrainian borscht, which we have cooked here almost from the very beginning and could not remove by popular demand - we just cannot bring ourselves to do it. There are also many original salads… I could go on forever!
This approach sets us apart from what surrounds us, where deep-frying, lots of oil, and so on usually reign.
And the apartments? Tell us about them.
Natalia: I think the following fact is telling: in two years on Booking, XIO's rating has remained at 9.7. You can read sincere reviews from our guests there. This feedback shows that we are moving in the right direction and getting better every year.
You see, this kind of business always requires investment. You cannot stop. For example, when locals build something similar and launch it, they often do nothing afterward. But you cannot do that. Furniture, for instance: after the second season you already need to change something. Or take our new task - we want to completely renovate the fifth floor, make it top-tier, and put in even more comfortable and classy furniture… There are floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows with a gorgeous view of the sea and the entire promenade. We want to give people the best.
Summer-winter. No or yes?
Season and off-season: what's the difference?
Natalia: In winter the main load is on the restaurant, of course. Off-season, apartment occupancy is around 40-50% of potential capacity, but the structure changes.
If in season people come here to relax (as families for a week or two), then off-season, thanks to our location (we are on the first line), we are often chosen by those who are passing through or came for work. These are short-term reservations for a couple of nights, but very frequent.
A new spa? Easy!
It is probably the right time to talk about future plans and development of the complex.
Natalia: In the future we would really like to finish the downstairs renovation and launch the spa. There will be a pool and a sauna. This service will be a big plus for both the restaurant and the hotel. Especially since there are very few hotels with truly good spas in Montenegro. Yes, there are some large complexes that offer a similar service and may even accept non-resident guests, but in Bar the situation is not very good.
Come and see for yourself
To wrap up, we would like to hear a wish for our readers, and at the same time answer this question: why should people become your guests tomorrow?
Natalia: Because we all want to feel cozy, enjoy a great atmosphere, eat delicious food, and simply have a good time, switching off from everyday problems. I wish everyone to always find time for themselves, to know how to enjoy life, and to find places where this is possible. Perhaps we can become such a place for you, where you will feel comfortable and cozy while receiving the best service and care.
So what's the bottom line? Is the food good? What's the average bill?
The author of this article has personally visited the venue more than once: both to eat and, at times, to stay overnight. So I can say with full honesty that the food here is indeed very good and the portions are substantial. True, it is not cheap - the average price for similar items is roughly a couple of euros higher than the Montenegrin average. However, it is worth it.
I will also once again emphasize the views from the room windows and especially from the rooftop. All the compliments are absolutely justified. I highly recommend catching a summer sunset in the lounge bar with a cocktail in hand, looking at the reflection of the fading sun from a bird's-eye view…
And on that poetic note, we will probably end our story about this wonderful place. By the way, why is the place called XIO? Too bad I did not ask… Come - and find out for yourself.
Journalist and music critic