37 Best Restaurants in Central Dalmatia, Croatia

On the tiny island of Sveti Klement, a 20-minute taxi-boat ride from Hvar Town (or dock your sailboat in nearby ACI Marina), this terrace restaurant is backed by a romantic wilderness of Mediterranean flora and offers stunning views over the open sea. Besides wonderfully fresh seafood, dishes showcase local ingredients such as sheep's cheese, olives, and beef. The owners are the Meneghello family, whose ties to the island date back to 1906. They are well-known for their love of art and culture, as well as food: the walls are decorated with contemporary Croatian art.

Serving tasty tapas, brunch, and breakfast, Soul is a sweet place to pop into when you get tired of meandering through the Old Town. A five-minute walk from the Peristil, this affordable spot is loved by locals and offers dining in a courtyard between stone buildings or in a suavely decorated interior with wood paneling and records as wall art.

This lounge-style café terrace is known for breathtaking views of the city and sea. Besides a full menu with soups and salads, as well as pasta, fish, and meat mains, they're open for coffee starting at 8 am—convenient if you need to wet your whistle after trekking up Marjan Hill.

Located in a narrow back alley, this cozy little space attracts a young fun crowd with its Dalmatian takes on Mexican and Latin American street food. It offers good food and great prices for lunch and dinner (along with brunch on the weekend), with some gluten-free options.

Stop in at Uje and sample some of the region's best olive oil, as well as a choice selection of Croatian cheese, prosciutto, and wine. This quaint back-alley tapas bar bases its menu on delicious olive oil, changes meals according to season, and sources many ingredients from local organic family farms.

This restaurant in a natural stone building is a favorite among the yachting crowd, in part because of its location near the ACI Marina Skradin. It's aptly named Zlatne školjke, which means "golden shells," because of the plethora of shellfish farms nearby. A sommelier can help you choose a wine, but a glass of local Debit white wine is a wise choice to complement a visit.

Located right on the ACI Marina in Split, Zrno Soli means "grain of salt." This sophisticated spot serves elegantly presented fare—both fish and some meat options—including tasting menus with the freshest seafood options that can (and should) be accentuated with wine.