4 Best Restaurants in Kvarner, Croatia

Many locals consider Nada's outdoor terrace the best place to enjoy a glass of crisp Žlahtina wine, island cheeses, seafood crudo, and homemade bread on a late summer afternoon. The sweeping views from its cliffside perch are magnificent and the homemade wines are refreshing. Just across the street, the main restaurant offers a sophisticated indoor seating area and a front terrace lined with traditional wooden tables. But skip those and head to the top-tiered terraces, where views over the sea under billowing white sailcloth add an unbeatable level of romance. Don't skip the seafood risotto, tuna tartare, and šurlice with mussels. 

This classic seafood restaurant has a long tradition of superior service and sophisticated dishes but lacks much of the pretense usually attached to such accolades. This is not a restaurant that rests on its past laurels, as is clear from the modern menu additions like the Tuna 2F, a fresh-fusion cold starter tuna tartare with sashimi and chips, or the duck mousse with caramelized onions on toast. The chef is clearly striving to ensure that the restaurant stays relevant by serving not just the traditional fresh fish classics that have won over diners in the past.

If you ask locals where to go on Krk for incredible seafood in a scenic setting, you'll hear this restaurant recommended over and over again. Located right on the water in the small fishing village of Klimno (the north end of the island), this family-run establishment combines delicious traditional dishes like whole brancin (sea bass), slow-roasted u soli (under salt), and šurlice with Kvarner scampi with gorgeous seaside views. Tables are right on the quay, and many diners arrive by yacht. Best to reserve a table, particularly if you want to dine during sunset (and you do).

A small family-run tavern in the village of Milohnići, Pod Prevolt is a bit off the beaten path, but it's a place where you can get a real feel for the island's peaceful beauty and delicious traditional food. The traditional homemade Krk dishes include octopus with veggies baked in a wood-burning oven, dried octopus macaroni, homemade prosciutto and cheese, grilled and marinated fish, and the like. Desserts—like sponge cake with whipped cream, yogurt, and cherries—are simple but delicious. Find a seat on one of the large wooden tables under the fig trees and soak up the silence. The name ("under the vaulted porch") is inspired by the entrance to the traditional house. The tiny interior has just six tables and exposed stone walls.