3 Best Restaurants in Novigrad, Istria

Tucked away on a quiet side street, this superb (and pricey) little family-run establishment is a secret wonder you may want to share only with your fellow gourmands who appreciate raw-fish specialties. You can also enjoy grilled seafood and gnocchi, although you don't go here for a simple plate of pasta, but instead to indulge in a four-course meal. Indeed, it may be the one restaurant in Istria where fish—the fresh catch of the day, that is—is brought to the table this way and served with great care. The service is elegant and friendly. There's no set menu; rather, the owners tell you what's available for the day, and the owners' daughter, who is always on hand, speaks English.

The Old Mill pizzeria may look touristy—it is, after all, centrally located right by the harbor, and it is packed—but it's also good, and the raised terrace gives you the feeling of being a bit above the fray. This is the best place in town for pizza, spaghetti, salads, čevapčići (grilled Balkan sausages) and tiramisu.

On the first floor of what looks like a typical family house, this seafood restaurant has a surprisingly elegant and stylish interior. Husband-and-wife duo Marina and Davor don’t have a fixed menu; offerings are recited by the young owner. The food is delicious, fresh, and innovative, with four-, six-, and eight-course tasting menus to choose from. Don't confuse this place with a restaurant in the town's marina—Restaurant Marina is just across the street from the marina.