This part of the city arose during the early 19^th century, with Skadarska Street being named and the houses being numbered in 1872. Skadarlija was once home to many famous writers, actors, painters and journalists. The bohemian spirit of Skadarlija started to develop in 1901 when, following the demolition of the famous “Dardaneli” inn, its residents moved to the inns of Skadarlija. Many famous local and international names “spent their best days there – during the night”.

The famous Serbian poet and painter Đura Jakšić lived and died in Skadarlija. His house was turned into a meeting place for poets during the “Skadarlija Nights”. Contemporary Skadarlija, a noted tourist attraction of Belgrade, houses the famous restaurants “Tri šešira” (“Three Hats”), “Ima dana” (“Time Enough”), ”Dva jelena” (“Two Stags”), “Skadarlija”, “Zlatni bokal” (“Golden Flagon”), “Dva bela goluba” (“Two White Doves”) and “Putujući glumac” (“Travelling Actor”), along with galleries, antique and souvenir shops. This ambiental environment, with its revitalization initiated in 1968, was urbanistically and architecturally shaped by the renowned Belgrade architect Uglješa Bogunović.

The fraternization of the Belgrade Skadarlija and the Parisian Montmartre occurred on October 22, 1977, at the initiative of the city of Paris. A caravan arrived from France on that occasion, carrying a poet, two painters, representatives of the administration of the Free Commune of Montmartre, fifteen musicians from the parade orchestra and several members of the Society of Beer-drinkers, Second-level Knights of Barley. A large procession of Belgraders, along with the guests, paraded in honour of this event from the Monument of Gratitude to France, across the Republic Square to Skadarska Street, where a memorial plaque was placed. Six months later Skadarlija returned the visit to its fraternal commune, and the artists of Skadarlija performed their programs on the most important places in Montmartre.