3 Best Restaurants in Slavonia, Croatia

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.

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.

The small settlement of Suza, just over 15 miles from the Hungarian border, is considered the best place in the world to try fiš paprikaš; there are a couple of restaurants where you can try it, and Hungarian-owned Kovač Čarda is as good a place as any. There isn't much else to see in the village and English isn't really spoken, so just come to the restaurant, grab a seat and a bib, and dig in. Be forewarned: they make it hot, so if spicy isn't your thing, ask them to go light on the paprika.