Must-see restaurants in Croatia

  • black truffle mushroom on a wooden table with space for your text.Top view

    Kukuriku

    Kvarner

    At slow-food pioneer Nenad Kukurin's wonderful hotel-restaurant there's no menu, so you need to be prepared to place your trust in the staff. Tell them…

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    Konoba Matejuška

    Split

    This cosy, rustic tavern, in an alleyway minutes from the seafront, specialises in well-prepared seafood – as epitomised in its perfectly cooked fish…

  • Bugenvila terrace

    Bugenvila

    Cavtat

    Not just the best place on Cavtat's seafront strip, Bugenvila is one of the culinary trendsetters of the Dalmatian coast. Local ingredients are showcased…

  • The main entrance to the restaurant 360° from Sv. Dominika street

    Restaurant 360°

    Dubrovnik

    Dubrovnik's glitziest restaurant offers fine dining at its best, with flavoursome, beautifully presented, creative cuisine, an impressive wine list and…

  • Pantarul sits at the busy Lapad crossroads

    Pantarul

    Dubrovnik

    This breezy bistro aligns its menu with the seasons and has a reputation for exceptional homemade bread, pasta and risotto, alongside the likes of steaks,…

  • Mali Bar

    Zagreb

    This earthy-toned spot by star chef Ana Ugarkoviċ is all about small plates, with influences cherry-picked from across the Mediterranean, the Middle East…

  • Nautika

    Dubrovnik

    Nautika bills itself as 'Dubrovnik's finest restaurant' and it comes pretty close. The setting is sublime, overlooking the sea and the city walls, and the…

  • Konoba Nono

    Krk Island

    Just outside the old town, this rustic place is renowned for its Krk cooking and produces its own olive oil, as evidenced by the large traditional press…

  • Restaurant Zigante

    Central & Eastern Istria

    Foodies from afar come to this destination restaurant belonging to Istria's top truffle company, located a few kilometres below Motovun in the village of…

  • Konoba Marjan

    Split

    Offering great-quality Dalmatian fare, this friendly little Veli Varoš tavern features daily specials such as cuttlefish brujet (a flavour-packed seafood…

  • Trapula Wine & Cheese Bar

    Pag Island

    Eateries on the main square of a town are usually best avoided: they don't have to work as hard to bring in diners as places elsewhere. But this fine bar…

  • Konoba Koraćeva Kuća

    Southern Dalmatia

    There's no better place to soak up the scenery than the terrace of this exceptional family-run restaurant, specialising in modern takes on Dalmatian…

  • Lička Kuća

    Plitvice Lakes National Park

    Built in 1972 and fully rebuilt in traditional stone-walled style in 2015 after burning to the ground three years earlier, Lička Kuća is touristy and…

  • Bistro Apetit

    Zagreb

    High up on villa-lined Jurjevska steet, this restaurant run by chef Marin Rendić, who previously worked at Copenhagen's Noma, serves up Zagreb's suavest…

  • Zoi

    Split

    Accessed by a discreet door on the waterfront promenade, this upstairs restaurant serves sophisticated modern Mediterranean dishes that look as divine as…

  • Bevanda

    Opatija

    A marble pathway leads to this striking restaurant, which enjoys a huge ocean-facing terrace complete with Grecian columns and hip monochrome seating. The…

  • Konoba Nebuloza

    Rijeka

    Straddling the line between modern and traditional Croatian fare, this slightly upmarket riverside restaurant serves lots of seafood, along with selected…

  • Mediteran

    Northern Dalmatia

    Mediteran centres on a lovely old stone building, although in summer the action moves into the courtyard and up to the little 1st-floor terrace. Chef Pero…

  • Konoba Vela Vrata

    Central & Eastern Istria

    Located 5km northwest of Pazin in the hilltop village of Beram, this rural tavern serves some of the best handmade pasta, gnocchi and truffle dishes you…

  • Corte Vino & More

    Zadar

    One of the classiest dining experiences in Zadar, Corte Vino & More in the Al Mayer Heritage Hotel has a gorgeous setting, wonderfully attentive service…

  • Kaštel

    Zadar

    Hotel Bastion's fine-dining restaurant offers contemporary takes on classic Croatian cuisine (octopus stew, stuffed squid, Pag cheese). France and Italy…

  • Konoba Bukaleta

    Cres Island

    Cres lamb gets top billing at this down-to-earth village restaurant, which has been run by the same family for well over three decades. Try the lamb…

  • Restaurant Nada

    Krk Island

    Nada is a great place to sample local favourites such as Krk lamb or šurlice (noodles) topped with meat goulash. There are two attractive dining terraces …

  • Konoba Fetivi

    Split

    Informal and family-run, with a TV screening sports in the corner, Fetivi feels more like a tavern than most that bear the konoba name. However, that…

  • Marina

    Istria's West Coast

    Both situated by and helmed by a Marina (hot-shot chef Marina Gaši), this inventive restaurant serves seafood dishes that manage to be both playful and…

  • Konoba Batelina

    Pula

    This family-run tavern is well worth a trek to Banjole, 6km south of central Pula. It only serves seafood, and it's some of the best, most creative and…

  • Gospoja – Konoba Žlahtina

    Krk Island

    Part of the Gospoja wine empire, this elegant place does the usual range of grilled fish and meat dishes, as well as an excellent seafood risotto. But it…

  • Vinotoka

    Brač Island

    Sit by the open fire in Vinotoka's stone-walled dining room or, when it warms up, grab a table on the street or in the large, glassed-in terrace across…

  • Pojoda

    Vis Island

    Locals in the know rave about this seafood restaurant, its leafy courtyard dotted with bamboo, orange and lemon trees. For a winter warm-up, try the…

  • Pelegrini

    Šibenik

    Responsible for upping the culinary ante in Šibenik, this wonderful restaurant raids the globe for flavours, with influences from Japan and France, but…

  • Konoba Mondo

    Motovun

    Just before the outer town gate, this little tavern with a small side terrace serves imaginatively conceived and poshly presented Istrian mainstays, many…

  • Konoba Daniela

    Poreč

    In the sweet little village of Veleniki, 5km east of Poreč, this rustic, family-run tavern is known for its steak tartare, huge beefsteaks, ravioli…

  • Portofino

    Split

    Spilling onto a surprisingly quiet square at the heart of Diocletian's Palace, Portofino will charm the pants off you with its friendly service, elegant…

  • Pet Bunara

    Zadar

    With exposed stone walls inside and a pretty terrace lined with olive trees, this is an atmospheric place to tuck into Dalmatian soups and stews, homemade…

  • Mornar

    Rijeka

    Amid the unappealing industrial surrounds of Rijeka's port, this lovely little white-wood bistro serves up excellent fish dishes, as well as a few grilled…

  • Kaneta

    Opatija

    This unassuming family-run restaurant specialises in big flavours and generous portions: feast on roast veal shanks, roast octopus, game stew, turkey,…

  • Bistro Francesca

    Krk Island

    Quality seafood dishes are on offer here – the black seafood risotto is something of a local institution. Try the scallops with cauliflower cream and the…

  • Klet Kozjak

    Zagorje

    Klet Kozjak in Sveti Križ Začretje, 11km southeast of Krapina, is an adorable little cottage that serves traditional food from the region – such as…

  • Mala Hiža

    Inland Croatia

    Foodies from Zagreb travel to Mala Hiža in the village of Mačkovec, 4km north of Čakovec, for its lauded and awarded seasonal cuisine done up with flair…

  • Bistro Bukarica

    Krk Island

    Tucked away up the hill in an unlikely residential street, this inventive restaurant is well worth seeking out. Asian flavours make their way onto a…

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