9 Best Restaurants in Central Dalmatia, Croatia

This funky restaurant serves exciting food with well-selected ingredients and offers a pretty rooftop on which to enjoy it all. The name doesn't just mean "artichoke" in Croatian: it's also a literal blend of "art" and čok (a nibble) because guests can enjoy both a fabulous visual experience—whether dining inside or alfresco—and fun modern bites. The attention to detail is notable, not only in the quality of the food but also in the presentation and service.

Retreat to a quiet closed-in courtyard just a minute away from the main square and allow the Calebotta family to wow you with their first-class service and menu of fresh ingredients. The Dalmatian menu can seem long, so feel free to ask your waiter for recommendations. The bar is also a great place for an evening drink that can be enjoyed inside or on the sprawling terrace.

Decorated with a bit of the wit and themes from the beloved Italian comic strip about Corto Maltese, a seafaring adventurer, this lively restaurant offers traditional Croatian ingredients explained on a funny, irreverent menu. The chef prepares the dishes in an open kitchen, and both the kitchen staff and waitstaff are engaging and eager to offer recommendations.

Located in a quiet area a few miles out of town, Dvor offers up a superior rendition of Croatian seafood and professional service. Alfesco tables have outstanding views, and there's an outdoor grill as well as parking, which is a luxury in Split.

The cool atmosphere, bohemian furniture and decor, and original jewelry sold on-site all add up to a funky little place to go for a burger and a drink. The owners—a brother and sister team—are well-known Croatian singer Luka Nižetić (who won Croatian Master Chef in 2014) and fashion blogger Petra Nižetić Mastelić.

Tucked in a pretty stone alleyway, this restaurant just a three-minute walk east of the Hvar Town harbor regularly draws lines of people (reservations aren't possible, so be prepared for a wait). There's a small dimly lit interior, but the dark wooden tables outside are the best place to enjoy the affordable and healthy breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner options, catered to international tastes with less focus on local flavors.

When you're ready for a change from traditional Croatian food, this upbeat fun restaurant-bar adjacent to Hvar Town's harbor serves meals from various global cuisines as well as delicious cocktails. Make a reservation ahead of time if you're arriving for dinner, as the music turns up and the crowds roll in when the sun goes down; Lola stays open late.

This morning-to-night restaurant is the perfect place to sit over coffee or a glass of local wine and absorb the 2,000 years of magnificent architecture surrounding you in the Old Town. Pop in for an omelet in the morning to fuel up for the day, enjoying your surroundings before the streets fill up with crowds.

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.