In partnership with the Croatian National Tourist Board
From high-in-the-sky haute cuisine to rustic menus with a side of bucolic beauty, these culinary hotspots are a feast for the eyes
Croatia is extremely photogenic. From pinch-me panoramas across the Adriatic Sea to rolling countryside vistas and terracotta-hued townscapes, there is always something to catch your gaze. Many of the country’s finest restaurants make the most of these scene-stealing backdrops, with floor-to-ceiling windows, sprawling outdoor terraces and rooftops offering bird’s-eye vantage points. These eight Croatian foodie destinations all have views to dine for.
Dvor, Split
@dvor.split
‘Dvor’ is Croatian for a traditional courtyard garden, which gives a hint of what’s to come at this cliffside restaurant above Firule Beach in Split. The leafy terrace is where you want to be on a balmy evening, ideally at one of the candlelit tables closest to the edge, overlooking the small, sandy cove and the Adriatic beyond. As the sun sets, it’s impossibly romantic. Drag your gaze away for a moment, however, to peruse celebrated chef Hrvoje Zirojević’s masterful menu, a showcase of Dalmatian flavours and flair. A sommelier will recommend wines for each dish, many made locally on the islands off the coast.
Vapor, Dubrovnik
@adriaticluxuryhotels
Hotel Bellevue Dubrovnik sits majestically atop a cliff just outside the walled city, overlooking the glinting green-blue waters of Miramare Bay. The hotel’s restaurant Vapor is undoubtedly the jewel in the crown. Recently refurbished, its laid-back luxe-meets-seaside charm vibe extends onto the terrace, where the all-glass balustrade frames the dramatic coastline. Here, designer sunglasses are de rigueur, as diners soak up the rays whilst feasting on lobster tail and lamb rump steak as waves crash below. The beach is so close, you can almost taste the sea. They do breakfast, too – for coffee with a view, look no further.
Stara Loza, Dubrovnik
@stara_loza_restaurant
There’s much about Stara Loza, the restaurant in hotel Prijeko Palace, that makes it stand out from the crowd. There are three distinct dining areas: the ground-floor terrace on Prijeko Street is for people-watching, while the salon is a grander affair, all high ceilings and Gothic windows. For a stop-in-your-tracks scenario, head to the top-floor terrace where you’ll be rewarded with vistas of the terracotta rooftops, domes and campaniles of Dubrovnik’s old quarter, outlined against the cerulean sky. Play spot the church/monastery/palace, while waiters bring out dish after delicious Mediterranean dish – ask for the local cheese board, you won’t want to miss it.
Vuglec Breg, Škarićevo
@vuglecbreg
Fairytales do come true, if Vuglec Breg is anything to go by. The award-winning restaurant sits atop a hill in the green heart of Zagorje, a region that’s a picture of thick forests, romantic castles and traditional villages. There are tables inside, on the summer terrace or in the outdoor gazebo, and all offer vantage points of the patchwork pastoral landscape. Recipes have been passed down from Grandma Roza and ingredients are sourced from local farms, with specialities including baked snails with butter and herbs, Zagorska soup (made with meat and potatoes) and strudel. The wine comes from the family vineyard – and after a bottle or two you’ll be singing along to popevke (traditional folk songs) before you know it.
Villa Ariston, Opatija
@villa_ariston
Opatija, on the Kvarner Riviera, has long enchanted visitors, who come to the seaside resort to stay in its glamorous villas and swim in the sea. Villa Ariston, a 19th century home-turned-small hotel, is just out of town on a stretch of craggy shoreline. It’s a magical spot, ideal for languorous al fresco lunches, with tables spilling out onto bougainvillaea-covered terraces and endless views across the Adriatic. The menu leans towards seafood, the likes of spiny lobster salad, scampi-filled ravioli and mussel bisque. Walk it off along the coastal promenade, or descend the 100-or-so steps from Ariston for a dip in the cool, clear water.
Korak, Jastrebarsko
@korakwinery
This award-winning restaurant is located on a family-run winery in Plešivica, a region in the verdant foothills of the Žumberak mountain, where the tradition of wine-making goes back years. Weather permitting, you'll want to dine al fresco in the sun-dappled shade of the linden trees, appreciating the tidy rows of vines that extend in every direction. Self-taught chef Bernard Korak oversees the micro-local menu, where sustainability and seasonality are the order of the day. Wild herbs, flowers and plants are foraged from the estate, trout caught in the stream, and cheese made in the neighbouring dairy. The very good wine pairing is practically mandatory.
Cap Auero, Rovinj
@cap_aureo_rovinj_
It’ll be love at first sight at Cap Auero. The restaurant is on the fifth floor of the Grand Park Hotel in Rovinj, where huge windows and a glass-enclosed terrace offer a unique perspective of the historic old town and the fishermen’s boats bobbing up and down in the harbour. That said, you’ll likely have one eye on the open kitchen, where chef Jeffrey Vella and his team send out modern-Mediterranean dishes, the local ingredients giving a terroir to the food. For push-the-boat-out extravagance, order the 20-course tasting menu. As dusk falls, sit back with a digestif and admire the baroque church of Saint Euphemia silhouetted against the ombre sky.
Restaurant Morgan, Istria
@morganrestaurantandvilla
The Morgans have been running their eponymous restaurant-hotel for years and it’s as popular as ever. Not least because it boasts one of the prettiest views in Istria, sitting snugly at the top of a hill in deep countryside, with rows of olive trees and vineyards drawing the eye to the sea. Make the most of this outlook by booking a table on the large, covered terrace – it’s particularly charming in summer. The restaurant promises spectacular local game, with specials including locally caught rabbit with black polenta and quails in bacon, though the homemade pasta is a source of family pride. This is a place to eat, drink in the bucolic beauty and be merry.
Discover more fantastic hotels, restaurants and bars with 50 Best Discovery, and start planning your next adventure.
