The best restaurants in Croatia Dubrovnik & Area

In Dubrovnik, you can also escape the crowded streets of the historic city and find some good addresses. To do so, you have to go where the locals live, in the Gruž market district, among other places. Here, at Amfora, the cuisine is rather refined. The chef is just as keen on fish as he is on meat: tuna steak or tartare, black risotto, octopus, lamb, as well as soups and a few vegetarian options. For dessert: rozata, panna cotta or a plate of Croatian cheeses. Impeccable service. A lovely terrace on the other side of the restaurant.

Recommended by Anne Femica, our expert guide who knows her city well, the konoba is one of Dubrovnik's well-kept secrets. Far from the hustle and bustle of the central squares and streets, the courtyard terrace is well shaded under its pergola. The friendly waiters explain the menu to you. Tagliatelle or black risotto with squid ink, as soft as you like, tasting tray with assorted fish, seafood and grilled vegetables, interesting vegetarian dishes (soy wok, grilled vegetables, vegan risotto or tagliatelle), local wine by the glass. Good address!

Once you've passed all the harbor restaurants, you come to the tavern at the end of the quay, close to the Franciscan monastery. The quiet, elevated terrace enjoys the generous shade of the pine trees and the view of the sea. Here, wood-fired cooking (outdoor barbecue) perfectly captures the flavors of southern meats, fish, seafood and vegetables. On the menu: tuna or swordfish steak, grilled calamari, seafood platter, as well as tuna tartare, spit-roasted suckling pig, pork ribs, sautéed potatoes and breaded eggplant with mozzarella.

At the end of a sloping path, a family restaurant serves excellent grilled meat, fish and seafood, octopus, squid, scampi, as well as seasonal vegetables. There are also dishes cooked under the peka, such as hare a la Žrnovo, often served on a common platter where each table helps itself, just like in a family meal or with friends. The products are local, as is the wine. The menu is in French and the friendly welcome is in English. The owners also rent houses and rooms in the village.

19 km from Cavtat, near Gruda, in the middle of the forest and yet so close to the coast, this traditional restaurant is installed in an old mill. The Konavoski Dvori is a good place to eat by the river in good weather and taste the local products of Konavle. On the menu, Dalmatian ham and goat cheese, grilled lamb and veal, kebabs, freshwater trout and local wines. All served on a plate simply presented but brought by waitresses wearing the folk costume.

Next to the Benedictine monastery, this former barracks, recently renovated in modern wood, now serves as a restaurant. With its two openings, you can enjoy the sun on one of the south-facing terraces. The restaurant has already made its reputation on the Dubrovnik side. It offers a menu of tasty fish, beef with a local wine sauce (Dingac) and seasonal salads. The presentation is neat, as is the service. Lacroma is the more "gastro" version of the snack bar located just at the arrival on the island, near the port.

This small seaside restaurant is located on the road leading to the beaches south of Žuljana. There's nothing special on offer, but the staff are friendly and the dishes quite hearty. You can choose from the classics of Dalmatian cuisine (spaghetti with seafood, tuna steak, squid, pasticada, pork tenderloin...) or go for a pizza. On the way back from the beach, or for a break between swims, the Konoba Riva could be an ideal spot. Choose a table near the entrance for more shade.

The Pučić Palace is first and foremost a beautiful luxury hotel in the old town, but on the ground floor it also houses a brasserie that goes by the name of Café Royal (while on the first floor, on the terrace, there is the restaurant La Cappella, open only in summer). In an almost Parisian atmosphere, this café offers traditional Dalmatian dishes and breakfast formulas. Nothing to report about the dishes, which remain correct but not very greedy. The prices are rather high but not more than elsewhere in town.