Zadar & Šibenik

Just at the entrance to the town through the gate to the mainland, the restaurant's terrace has a breathtaking panoramic view of the channelled Zadar (Foša) inlet and the bay. Romantic setting for one of the city's most famous fish restaurants. It is therefore essential, as you can imagine, to book in high season. Its menu, a mix of traditional and modern Adriatic cuisine, features grilled regional fish, southern recipes with olive oil... Tasty and healthy.

Highly regarded gastronomic restaurant in Šibenik. Its location in a historical monument near the cathedral and the square courtyard where herbs are grown add to its prestige. It is an ideal setting for an exceptional meal, an inventive and refined cuisine, inspired by the Dalmatian traditions, revisited by the modernity of cooking. The head chef and his young brigade from the hotel school, the sommelier and his remarkable wine list make the difference.

One of the best fish restaurants in the area. This thirty-year-old local institution is at the forefront of the riva, next to the many pizzerias and konoba bars that have sprung up since then. It owes its longevity to its generous cuisine, with fresh products prepared on the barbecue with the catch of the day, often saint-pierre, sea bream, tuna, shrimps, langoustines, octopus and more rarely lobster, squid. There is also pasta with truffles, risotto from the sea and very good desserts as well.

On the marina, in a rustic setting, all wood and stone, the Konoba Vapor is a good restaurant. You will be served on the terrace, after the preparation of the cuisine of the generous Dalmatian fisherman. On the menu, smoked tuna as a starter, octopus salad, fresh fish, squid accompanied by southern vegetables, all grilled to perfection and drizzled with olive oil. There is also the black seafood risotto, coloured with squid ink, tagliatelle with mussels and shrimps or lobster. Service well done and smiling.

Located on the Lungomare, near the Borik marina for about fifty years, the restaurant of the Hotel Niko remains one of the best rated in Zadar. The dining room has kept its bourgeois furniture, the grand piano and the antique mirror. The large aquarium, a lobster tank, also gives it a certain cachet. Appreciated for its careful fisherman's cooking, the family house has everything of the hotel tradition. It offers classic, comfortable rooms (air-conditioning, free Wifi, minibar), some with a balcony and a panoramic view of the sea and the historic city.

As you'll have gathered, this address is aimed more at red meat lovers than vegan enthusiasts. That said, this steak house is one of the best in Vodice. Pieces of beef, seared over a wood fire, are accompanied by grilled southern vegetables, white cabbage in winter, salad and fries chips in all seasons! Simple, honest and well-stocked. You can sit out on the terrace or inside, where you'll find the traditional decor of a good Croatian tavern(konoba), with its exposed stone walls and solid wood furniture.

On the seafront promenade, sheltered by pine trees, the restaurant's terrace overlooks the marina. In this pleasant seaside setting, especially in the evening at sunset, southern dishes and fish products take pride of place. A short, well-balanced menu featuring carefully prepared seafood dishes, grilled fish or meat, accompanied by French fries or the traditional blitva (mashed potatoes/green beans in olive oil), as well as seafood risotto, pizzas, fresh pasta or homemade lasagne.

Opening in 2022, the restaurant is the talk of the town. Already, its location on the riva (next to the university) has great potential at sunset. This is no ordinary formula, since it's a true vegetarian (the first in Zadar!) with a gastronomic bent that's right up there with the times. With legumes, seeds, cereals and vegetables, there's a lot to do here. The meat substitutes, particularly in the burgers, are astonishing. Creativity is the order of the day, both in the dishes and in the cocktails, with or without alcohol. Reservations recommended.

The tavern is located in the Zaton Holiday Resort, 5 minutes from the town of Nin. Known for its relaxed atmosphere, close to the sea and the reception, the restaurant is open to all, residents and non-residents alike. Dalmatian cuisine, centred on fish and seafood, is successful. You will enjoy a musical entertainment in the evening, rather good quality. The holiday club has another restaurant, the Kruške i Jabuke, with a more elaborate land and sea cuisine. If you stay several days in the area, try both restaurants.

On the island of Smokvica, the family-oriented tavern is well known. Here, the open kitchen is located next to the entrance so that everyone can see what is cooked and how. On the menu of the day, fish, of course, from fillet to plate with a good application on the dressing, a few flower petals and lemon water to rinse your fingers. Simple and tasty dishes that can be enjoyed without moderation, accompanied by a good local wine. Finish with one of the desserts à la carte. Convivial service and friendly atmosphere.

Mare Šešelja, the sailors' protective mother, saved many a fisherman trapped by the bura, the cold northerly wind that sometimes blows here. Her house was one of the obligatory stops on the passage between Dugi Otok and the archipelago; the Šešelja family, a bit of a cult in the Kornati, still own the place. Today, at Le Mare, you can still eat grilled or boiled fish, in soup or risotto, whole shellfish, but also white meats served with blitva, French fries or southern vegetables.

With a part of its terrace on stilts and its unobstructed view of the sea, this tavern has character. Logically, the kitchen specializes in fish products. Octopus salad, rock fish soup, well-prepared fresh squid, grilled swordfish, seafood risotto but also grilled meats, all accompanied by southern vegetables and good wines from the region (regional babić or even rosé). Reservation recommended for your table on the terrace. Attentive service and friendly atmosphere. Good address.

On the bay of Vrulje, where anchoring is easy, the konoba has changed. The owners have transformed it from a fisherman's tavern into an upscale global concept. A café lounge with a terrace, deckchairs and canopies on duckboards, all facing the pontoon and private jetty for mooring boats. The bar menu features a selection of cocktails, wines and champagne, while the restaurant focuses on revisited seafood cuisine. For your stay, deluxe, double and quadruple rooms and boat rentals are available.

Between the old town and the main beach, the terrace of this konoba offers a breathtaking view of Primošten. If you prefer to sit inside, the view is still admirable. Opened in 2001, this inn is considered one of Primošten's must-try restaurants. Set to traditional music, the fisherman's kitchen offers a wide variety of fish, seafood and other house specialties, such as whole octopus with potatoes stewed under a bell over a wood fire(peka in Croatian, to be ordered in advance).

Opposite the Ilirija Marina, this good fishermen's restaurant offers, depending on the arrival, seafood platters, lobster, grilled fish, octopus salad, shellfish risotto (or a vegan variant), sausages (ćevapčići) with southern vegetables or French fries... Friendly service. The owners also rent apartments and three motor boats. Contact them by e-mail or directly at the restaurant, they will be happy to inform you about availability and rental conditions.

A family-run restaurant on the long avenue leading to the Borik seaside district. Fisherman and chef Drago Olić-Roko, the owner, gave his name to the place, and it's he who chooses the fish and seafood served here. For example, octopus salad, platters of grilled shellfish or whole fish, squid ink risotto or spaghetti with lobster, the house specialty. Grilled meat dishes are also excellent, as are pizzas and bruschettas. On the premises or to take away. Nice terrace and friendly staff.

The fisherman's cooking in this tavern is excellent. On the menu, fresh fish with grilled vegetables, seafood platter, risotto, fresh pasta and other typical Adriatic dishes. For those who are not attracted by the seafood cuisine, or to complete the meal, also cold meats and excellent cheese from Pag. Special mention for the desserts, especially the carob cake and its fig-almond ice cream balls. The relaxed atmosphere also makes the success of this good little konoba. Don't forget to make a reservation, it's often full.