215 Best Restaurants in Croatia

Quite possibly the most romantic restaurant in Rab Town, this spot has a garden terrace located right next to the ancient city walls. Soft intimate lighting and linen-topped tables accompany traditional Mediterranean cuisine served in a modern style. The wine list showcases the region's award-winners and the staff is eager to help guests select the best option. 

Chef Emanuele Scarello of Udine, Italy, opened his second restaurant in Rovinj in 2021 during the pandemic, and three months later was awarded a Michelin star for its gastronomic excellence. There's no à la carte menu—only three tasting menus, each featuring thoughtful blends of Istrian, Godia (the Rovinj area), and Friuli flavors. All this incredible food is served in an approachable and elegant waterfront location overlooking the marina, Old Town Rovinj, and the trendy Promenade Plaza in front of the Grand Park Hotel Rovinj.

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).

Located on the breezy seaside terrace at PineTree Boutique Apartments (and run by the same family), the food at Ante's Place is so good you'll likely eat all of your meals there while on Mljet. It's the best place to try traditional Dalmatian dishes, from lamb or octopus cooked peka-style to plentiful seafood platters and divine lobster spaghetti. The humble hosts will tell you that the food they cook is just the typical stuff they eat at home; if they really eat this well at home every night, you'll consider moving in.

One of the perennial top choices in Dubrovnik, Azur has a fun fresh vibe and an outstanding menu of Asian-inspired dishes that burst with flavor; favorites include pork belly tacos and Szechuan chili-garlic prawns. With its two shady terraces high up in the Old Town, just beneath the city walls, Azur provides a welcome retreat from the heat and crowds. Azur has a hip soundtrack, friendly staff, and dishes that you won't find elsewhere in Dubrovnik; you'll be happy you found it.

Many of the yachts that line the harbor unload their human cargo at this small restaurant, which enjoys a big reputation for fresh fish dinners. Tuna carpaccio, shark on the grill, and lobster na buzaru (cooked with wine) are all great. Carnivores will be pleased with a couple of land-based courses as well. The restaurant's terrace is lively and leafy. Baracuda's size, matched with its good name, makes an early arrival or a reservation advisable.

Family-run Baranjska Kuća, located in the village of Karanac, is not only one of Slavonia's best restaurants, but it's also one of the region's must-see sights for its traditional music and decor, lively atmosphere, and interesting ethnographic museum out back. Locals and visitors fill up large wooden tables around the garden, the air fragrant with smoke from outdoor firepits where cooks make čvarci, digging into big bowls of catfish perkelt, bean stew, and hearty čobanac with homemade noodles. Leave time after lunch to wander around the impressive Street of Forgotten Times, an outdoor ethnographic museum that brings to life the bygone era with full-sized reconstructions of barber shops, woodworking sheds, and even pubs. There are also 20 well-appointed rooms in the inn around the corner, which include a fantastic homemade breakfast.

Don’t let this restaurant’s location in a campsite outside of town fool you: this fine-dining seafood restaurant is by far the best restaurant in Rovinj, and possibly in all of Istria. Forget the standard starter-main-dessert kind of meal and instead indulge in a variety of innovative cold and warm appetizers made with the freshest local ingredients. Desserts are as imaginative and fabulous as the rest. The friendly owners are clearly proud of their food.

Climb the stone stairs onto the spacious terrace or dine inside the softly lit 13th-century manor, one of the most impressive examples of feudal architecture in Croatia. Kastel's offerings reflect its geographic location, representing both the Adriatic Sea and the continental plains with delicious detail.

For Zadar dining at its most convivial—and fish so fresh it practically dances off the plate—make a stop at Bistro Pjat. The menu changes daily depending on the catch, and the service here is tremendous.

Inventive Mediterranean food is served in an eye-catching, whimsically decorated garden dropped right on the stone square. You may not be seated on the sea but you'll feel the vibrant holiday vibe flowing from the minute you arrive. Grab some pancakes and pancetta for breakfast; at lunch order one of the popular burgers, from veggie to fish to beef tartufi (black truffle), all paired with a San Servolo pale ale. For dinner, try any of their fresh fish or seafood specialties, like the shared seafood platter with grilled tuna steaks, whole oven-roasted branzino, and pan-fried squid.

For the ultimate exclusive island dining experience, head to BOWA ("best of what's around"), nestled on its own secluded beach on Šipan with chic cabanas right over the water and a shady dining terrace right beside the beach. Choose between a three- or four-course menu (€90 or €120) or splurge on the seven-course tasting menu with wine pairing (€290); the seafood-centric dishes change regularly but favorites include bluefish tuna tartare, swordfish sashimi, oysters from Ston, and perfectly grilled white fish. The same family of fishermen that owns BOWA also owns the Bota Šare restaurants in Mali Ston, Dubrovnik, Split, and Zagreb; needless to say, seafood lovers are in for a treat. Be aware that if you want to relax on the beach after lunch there isn't much shade, but you can reserve a shady cabana right over the water for the afternoon; the package costs €850 for groups of 1–4 people and includes the three-course menu and a welcome drink. The best way to get there is by chartering a speedboat in Dubrovnik or one of the Elafiti Islands. You can also catch a luxury shuttle boat that picks up and drops off from the harbor at Brsečine, 22 km (13 miles) up the coast from Dubrovnik; reserve your spot ahead of time. If you're coming by car, there is a parking lot at the top of the road leading down to the harbor.

One of the brightest culinary stars in the region, Bugenvila is vibrant in every sense, from the flowers climbing the sides of the terrace to the happy patrons tucking into fresh meals that burst with flavor. The menu changes regularly but you can expect surprising and delightful dishes made with fine local ingredients: think green apple dumplings, raw king scallop in strawberry consommé, or lobster bisque paired with grilled wild boar cheeks and parsnip purée. It's hard to imagine a better value than the excellent three-course lunch menu (€29) or the seven-course dinner menu (€125).

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.

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.

Head to the hills around Žrnovo to this tiny stone konoba, rustically strung with lavender and bouquets of elderflower, and feast on whatever the Marović family has dreamed up for lunch. No matter what the dish of the day, you can be sure it'll be seasonal, local, homemade, and delicious. Call ahead to book lunch, which might include platters of grilled vegetables pulled from their garden, traditional Korčula macaroni, and homemade ice cream.

This modern Alpine-style restaurant is a breath of fresh air, thanks to its contemporary versions of traditional favorites including goulash, bear stew, grilled venison steaks, and hunter's dumplings. All are served in an elegant contemporary setting in a lush green forest environment. If you can, try the fried frog legs, venison risotto, or trout crumble, and finish with whatever flavor of homemade strudel they're baking that day. 

Boasting an appealing outdoor terrace overlooking a quiet little harbor, Foša combines age-old Dalmatian style with modern architectural design and gastronomy trends. Its old-world tastes give the kitchen foundation to create modern dishes with magnificent results.

This casual fine-dining experience is as relaxed and intimate as it is an enjoyable gourmet meal. When choosing the tasting menu, it is not hard to detect the passion for quality that has been invested into the selection of the produce and the selection of wines. The precision with which the food is prepared, such as marinated shrimp tails on a slice of Učka skut (ricotta-like cheese) served on a stone plate with dehydrated olives, reminds us of why we go out to eat. It is not just to eat, but in order to enjoy excellent food that has been prepared by experienced and masterful chefs.

When the former pastry chef at Restaurant 360 opens his own artisanal ice cream and cake shop in Dubrovnik, you know it's going to be good; Gianni serves up the best scratch-made gelato in town, incorporating natural ingredients and some unusual flavors such as curry and chili alongside traditional favorites like pistachio and chocolate. Don't let the high-caliber credentials intimidate you—this little hole in the wall in the Old Town, located behind the Old Port, is as casual as it gets, with a few outdoor tables where you can hang out and make friends over ice cream, exquisite cakes, and great coffee.

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. 

Visiting this rustic tavern is like stepping into a friend's home, although your friend's home is unlikely to have a stuffed fawn and a pair of kuna, the former national currency's namesake, on the wall. Local farmers supply all produce used here, and the menu features typical Zagorje dishes such as purica s mlincima (turkey with savory pastries). As a side note, the use of the kuna (Croatia's currency before it switched to the euro in 2023) dates back from when the fur of this large, weasel-like creature was in fact a currency. 

Located across the river in Bilje on the outskirts of Kopački Rit, Čingi Lingi is one of Osijek's hottest new restaurants in one of its most historical buildings. Built on the site of a century-old tavern that was the most popular spot in town until it was destroyed during the Homeland War, it has been rebuilt in a rustic-chic style, with a sprawling terrace right on the water, and is once again buzzing with locals. The menu puts a modern twist on all the local favorites like pork knuckle, river fish, and game meat, and it's a great place to try black pig (with 24-hour notice). Don't miss the plum cake for dessert.

At one of the best fine-dining restaurants on the Makarska Riviera, it's clear that time and care have gone into creating the two tasting and wine-pairing menus. The expert food preparation—blending seafood and meat with locally grown and forage flavors like olives and broad beans—can match many of Croatia's most awarded restaurants. Located 3 km (2 miles) above Makarska in Tučepi on the road to Biokovo, Jeny has an elegant ambience and a terrace with a beautiful view overlooking the Makarska Riviera.  The management is happy to call a taxi to bring you to the restaurant.

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.

On the bank of the Drava, just across the river from the Osijek Zoo, family-owned Kompa is a long-standing institution beloved for their traditional dishes. Their homemade sausages are perfectly spicy, the koljenica (pig's knuckle) is a firm favorite, and if you are around on a Sunday or holiday, join the locals for a big feast of teleće pečenje (roast veal). The service is friendly and attentive, and the ambience is peaceful. It's a shame about the mosquitoes but it's to be expected from a riverside restaurant, and they have bug spray on hand if needed.

A funky garden restaurant, this tavern offers something refreshingly different on the island of Vis, whether you dine in the bar area or alfresco in the main restaurant. The atmosphere is relaxed, the food is fresh, and most of the vegetables come from Lola's own garden on the mainland. The innovative dishes are sure to hit the spot, and they also have great cocktails.

This quirky innovative restaurant is considered by many locals—and foodies around the world—to be the best seafood restaurant in Croatia. Run by a family of fishermen, Batelina is popular for its fresh-caught but totally delicious appetizers; specialties include fish tripe brodetto, scampi risotto, shark-liver pâté, bonito tartare, cuttlefish stew, and tuna carpaccio. The best way to experience Batelina's creative cuisine is to sample many of its unique tapas-style dishes. Don't go by the menu: just ask for a little bit of everything and let the chef be creative.

Cres is famous for its lamb, and although the majority of restaurants have it on the menu, Bukaleta is the place for the best on the island. Located in the small village of Loznati, just 10 km (6 miles) south of Cres Town, Bukaleta has been run by the same family for more than 30 years. The cozy interior is rustic with a large open fireplace, a collection of old tools and pots and its namesake bukaleta, a traditional jug made of clay from which wine is normally shared around the table. The large outdoor terrace can accommodate 100 people.

Situated under the green Aleppo pines of Čikat Bay is this intimate waterfront restaurant offering a variety of fresh seafood dishes. The buzara—a tomato-based seafood stew, cooked the traditional Croatian way with Adriatic škampi, mussels, and linguine—is a flavorful and hearty meal for two. Dine on the tiled outdoor terrace, where you can watch the lapping waters of the bay. The hotels and villas of Čikat Bay are just a short, leisurely stroll away.