29 Best Restaurants in Zagreb, Zagreb and Environs

Nestled in a verdant dale in Tuškanac Park, a 15-minute walk from the center, in a low-rise building that might be mistaken for a ranch-style house, this prestigious fish restaurant specializes in creative Mediterranean fare. The dining room is light and airy, with candlelit tables, a wooden floor, potted plants, and colorful abstract art. There's also an adjoining wine bar. In warm weather outdoor seating is available on a spacious leafy terrace, and a playground just outside invites children to scamper about while parents rest on benches. Reservations are recommended.

A creation of the brilliant minds at Pod Zidom, this restaurant between the Zagreb Cathedral and Dolac Market is the city's first to serve only authentic Zagreb fare prepared in traditional ways (think pasta with cabbage, Zagreb-style meat cuts, and soups just like Croatian grandmas make them). The interior design is modern but also features old-school touches like classic masonry heater tiles. If you grab a seat on the outdoor terrace, you'll be treated to views of the Zagreb Cathedral. Some meals change seasonally, but you won't go wrong with whatever you order. 

Located in a 13th-century palace that is a protected cultural landmark, this café will make you feel as if you were sitting in an art gallery or perhaps the living room of a wealthy art-collecting uncle. Just up the hill (first right) from the Stone Gate, it is a perfect place to take a load off after the steep climb into Gornji Grad before heading on to seeing the parliament, Museum of Broken Relationships, and St. Mark's Church. If you're lucky, the weather will be fine and you'll find a seat on the charming outside terrace, perched atop the passage leading down to the Stone Gate.

Wedged between the cathedral and the Dolac Market, this jazzy good-value bistro offers a creative take on classic Croatian dishes, making the most of the fresh ingredients at its doorstep. Keeping it close to traditional values, the emphasis is on meat and fish dishes but varies according to what is in season and available. Everything is house-made here, from the bread to pickled goods. Wash it down with a bottle from the impressive array of Croatian wines (from all four wine regions) available, including vintages from the bistro's own wine label. You can sleep on-site at the ultra-exclusive Pod Zidom Rooms minihotel, with four rooms (all of which include designer decor and views of the Zagreb Cathedral inner courtyard) above the restaurant.

White walls and light wooden furniture set off cool decor like big glass jars of flour in this small airy space on the north end of Dolac Market. With a name meaning "fat" (pork lard, specifically), this café-bakery serves up delicious freshly baked pastries such as salenjaci (a type of Croatian sweet croissant) using traditional Croatian baking ingredients with a modern twist, as well as some sweet and salty light brunch options and acclaimed Cogito-brand coffee. Single portions are small and made to mix and match, so come early for the best choices: the no-reservations policy means first come, first served and goods can sell out quickly. The café is the creation of pastry master Petra Jelenić, chef Tvrtko Šakota, and Cogito Coffee founder Matija Powlison Belković.

Founded in 1977 by the Vincek family, this sweets shop regularly draws crowds lining up out the door and down Ilica Street. Dozens of ice cream flavors and sundaes are available, along with delicious cakes and desserts to be savored at the limited indoor tables in the slightly dark interior or, more often (tables fill up), taken out. Including Vis à Vis by Vincek, a spin-off offering the same quality but fully gluten-free, Vincek has eight locations in and around Zagreb. Those outside the city are less crowded and offer better sit-down experiences.

Both locals and tourists flock to this elegant spot a few blocks southwest of the main square when they hanker for excellent traditional meaty fare such as veal and lamb, pork with plum sauce, or, for starters (or dessert), melt-in-your-mouth štrukli. Enjoy all this in a spacious shaded courtyard or inside under brick-vaulted ceilings with low lighting that create the impression of a wine cellar even though you're not in a cellar at all.

Just inside the luxurious Esplanade Hotel, once a stop on the Orient Express, lies one of Zagreb’s most elegant dining destinations, known for its formal yet comfortable atmosphere. Order from the tasting menu, where a sommelier selects wines to perfectly complement each dish, or experience the best of Croatian and international cuisine à la carte, with choices from Istrian truffle pasta to American-style steak. All menu items can be made to accommodate any dietary restrictions.  Reserve a table on the Oleander Terrace for stunning views of the park and city.

For a cake and coffee experience that the French namesake of this cute little café would be proud of, pop into Amélie just down the hill from the Zagreb Cathedral. The wooden tables and cozy white interior give the place a charming, even slightly rustic feel, and the surprisingly varied selection of delectable cakes and pies will release all your caloric inhibitions. This gem among Zagreb watering holes offers sweets you won't find anywhere else, including an abundance of ice cream options.

Founded by Ricardo Luque, singer in Zagreb-based Latin-jazz group Cubismo, this is a great spot to grab a bite of authentic Venezuelan street food—just choose among filling options for these cornmeal favorites, such as chicken, beef, pork, and cheese, and various sauces. Named after the founder's birthplace, Maracay, the restaurant is a six-minute walk southwest of the main square and features a small but cheerful interior with colorful tiles and murals.

A five-minute walk from the main square, this lively restaurant is tucked into a pretty courtyard that's almost always full as local pizza lovers flock in for quality Neapolitan pies. The interior is stylish modern rustic, with wooden elements and furniture. Basta also offers tasty non-pizza options such as Croatian cheeseboards, Neapolitan sandwiches, and salads.

Carnivores, pescatarians, and vegetarians seeking tasty modern fare that draws from a range of cuisines will all find something to delight at this stylishly decorated restaurant in a peaceful courtyard tucked away from the buzzing city center. Enjoy eating outside during the summer, and remember to leave room for something from the small-but-very-sweet dessert menu. The wine list includes vintages from a number of regions in Croatia. 

Just down the street from the Hotel Dubrovnik, Boban serves food not only at its street-level bar and dining room but also in its restaurant in the large vaulted cellar space below. Specializing in pasta dishes, it is extremely popular with locals, so be prepared to line up for a table or call ahead for a reservation. The owner, Zvonimir Boban, was captain of the Croatian national football team during the 1998 World Cup.

Though it's conveniently nestled behind the Zagreb Cathedral, you'll still be able to smell the aromas of fresh-baked bread and warm pastries at this bakery from down the street. Pop in to see what's on the menu for the day, and then grab a seat on the outdoor terrace—there are heaters during the winter—and people-watch.

A two-minute walk north of St. Mark's Church, you'll find a fairly rare sight: a rustic konoba in Zagreb. Didov San (meaning Grandpa's Dream) offers fare usually more typical of the coast, such as grilled squid and pašticada, a Dalmatian beef stew. Outdoor seating is available, service is friendly, and meat and seafood lovers alike are sure to find something on the extensive menu to suit their tastes.  

Under the expert guidance of chef Mario Mihelj, El Toro serves up delicious Latin American and Asian fusion fare. Choices from a variety of steak and roasted meats to seafood and veggie dishes are served in the restaurant's romantically low-lit interior, which blends matte black decor with wooden elements. The restaurant is a bit outside the city center, about a 20-minute walk from the main square.

At one of the city's few fast-food places, you can select from a range of decent salads and bowls, prepared right in front of you, as well as other light refreshing fare such as ciabatta sandwiches and vegetarian tortillas. Of course, this minichain (three locations in Zagreb) also serves the standbys of burgers and fries, in case you're hungering for more carbs and protein. Try one of their in-house jarred desserts, such as cheesecake.

Delicious fusion street food that draws on Asian and South American influences is the name of Kai's game. With a quaint but well-decorated interior space and a menu that is short and sweet, featuring five or six dishes at any given time, this is an intimate spot to enjoy creative takes on buns, noodles, sandwiches, and more.

The masters behind the delicious dishes at Namaste are a group of chefs hailing from various regions of India. Their love for the food is reflected in an extensive varied menu with masala dosas and other vegan options, as well as meaty choices such as duck vindaloo. Several desserts are not to be missed, if you still have space after the hearty portions offered.

This restaurant with a rustic-style interior and a terrace is the love child of married dynamic duo Ana, from Slavonia, and Pasquale, from Italy. They use fresh ingredients from Italy and Croatia to make amazing pizza doughs and exciting topping combinations. This pizzeria is tucked away above the city hubbub, in the foothills of Mt. Medvednica.

If you are looking for a quick and inexpensive lunch on the go, consider Pingvin, the city's first sandwich bar and extra popular as a post-party late-night snack joint. This stand, just a few minutes' walk from Trg Bana Jelačića, offers simple fare like grilled chicken sandwiches.

Best known for excellent beers brewed on the premises, all three of the Pivnica Medvedgrad locations serve up roast meats, goulash, and beans and sausage, accompanied by a range of salads. The Ilica location and its cavernous beer hall—replete with long wooden tables, high leather-backed chairs, and wood-beamed ceilings—is about a 10-minute walk west from the main square. It’s very popular and gets busy, but there are usually enough tables to go around. Little Medo, on Tkalčićeva, has a smaller interior but a vast patio that expands across the street. Don't miss out on the craft beers on the menu—a classic is Grička Vještica, named for the legendary Zagreb Witch of Grič. Live music nights and events happen here often.

This old-fashioned restaurant with vaulted ceilings, wood-paneled walls, and crisp white table linens was the first one in Croatia to earn the certificate of Croatian Authentic Cuisine. The menu features carefully presented traditional Croatian dishes not easy to find at other restaurants—especially those native to the Zagreb region—such as Zagorska juha (Zagorje-style potato soup with ham and mushrooms), pečena teletina (roast veal), and punjene paprike (stuffed peppers). This is a place beloved by locals and tourists alike, so recommendations are recommended. The restaurant is just off Ilica, a five-minute walk from the main square on a cobblestone side street. 

Popular demand has helped this fast-growing chain expand to 11 locations around Zagreb, including this one on Frankopanska near the main square and two other more central spots on Tkalčićeva and Bogovićeva. The restaurant offers a range of all-natural burgers with locally procured toppings, including tasty vegetarian options as well. Don't miss out on the truffle fries.

The menu of this chic restaurant offers everything from sushi—both traditional Japanese rolls and American-style varieties—and teriyaki to wok dishes and specialties that merge Asian and European cuisine. Black chairs, black place mats, and cherry-tone wood floors set the scene in one of the glittery glass-walled spaces in this Lower Town hot spot. The drinks menu—including sake, of course—is extensive.

With an extensive selection of cookies, cupcakes, brownies, and cakes, this bakery and café with indoor and outdoor seating offers desserts both European-style and of the North American variety. Full-size cakes are available for sale and custom creations can be ordered as well, in case you're in town celebrating.

Sitting five minutes south of the main square by foot, this airy modern restaurant sits prettily in the atrium of Zagreb's Youth Theater. Chef Filip Horvat, who trained in Michelin-starred establishments, serves up various European cuisines with healthy ingredients, from Mediterranean seafood dishes to Austrian meat plates to pastas, all with his own creative touches. 

Superb food and friendly professional staff are hallmarks of this quaint unpretentious restaurant. The menu changes frequently, depending on the seasons and what's fresh at the morning market, but you can expect a variety of Mediterranean main courses, as well as a selection of wines that includes all of Croatia's best varieties.

If you want to strengthen the body and nourish the spirit with seasonal organic fruits and vegetables in a vegan haven, walk a few blocks west from the main square to Zrno, which offers fresh vegetables, tofu, seitan, warm sourdough bread, biodynamic coffee, tea, juice, smoothies, and shakes. All ingredients are delivered each day directly from Croatia’s first 100% organic farm of the same name.