Fun and entertainment Croatia

Both a pub-style bar and a small concert venue, Spunk is located opposite the university library. So, as you might have guessed, the place is very popular with students, but fans of indie rock pop music are also very welcome. They know that the DJ's playlist is really excellent. For the concert schedule, check out the regularly updated Facebook page. Open from morning to night, except Sundays.

Close to Opatovina Park, this neighborhood café is quiet by day, with chairs and high tables inside and terrace service. The place wakes up in the evening with a resident DJ mixing in a vaulted basement room. Immediately, you feel the good musical atmosphere (electro, house, funk, dub, dancefloor), a little underground in this small old-fashioned club. The crowd is more local than touristy, of all ages, and drinks are reasonably priced for the neighborhood. To find out what's on, visit the club's Facebook page.

A bar and discotheque overlooking the port, it has quickly established itself in the region as a meeting place for clubbers who love rap, r'n'b and EDM, with local DJs, gogo dancers and a summertime peak in attendance. You'll find everything you need to relax in the café lounge, dine in the restaurant before hitting the dancefloor late into the night. Low tables, big armchairs and a great cocktail list. The management also owns other beach bars in Poreč, Umag and Rovinj.

This Zagreb-based chain has taken over a ^16th-century mansion just off the Stradun and St. Blaise church. This Bodega has become a rallying point for ragamuffin revellers and, more recently, sushi lovers (particularly good here). With its wine bar, cocktails and other alcoholic beverages, the place quickly becomes festive and noisy in the evening (without moderation!). With the music on, the atmosphere gets livelier and we stay here until late into the night. Very high prices, but couldn't be better placed in the old town.

In this club, which opens the season with the Zrce Spring Break in May, it'sa bit like La Croisière s'amuse! With its dancefloor, pool on stilts and duckboards, you really feel like you're on a boat. Some people dive off the edge or go bungee jumping. Tourists and young Croatians and Bosnians come here to dance to the sound of local DJs or live concerts. A friendly, festive atmosphere. The Zagreb-based company has inaugurated the Noa Glamping Resort, a luxury hotel complex near Novalja.

The first to open on the beach, this club is also the closest to the pine forest. In the afternoon, the atmosphere is relaxed under the straw huts. Guests enjoy the small pool to the sound of calm music and indulge in a massage. You can come here to relax on the deckchairs without the risk of being sprayed by the sea foam! In the evening, DJs liven up the open-air dancefloor. Drinks and cocktails are quite expensive, so you come for happy hours, then stay to dance and meet new faces and regulars.

"THE place to be at Zrče! ", the professional clubber would tell you. We can go there in the afternoon for after beach parties and switch to electro parties in the evening. In this huge club, the alcoholic cocktails are flowing, young people in bathing suits are having fun in the pool, a giant crane above the club allows you to jump with a rubber band... The electro DJs modulate and give rhythm to the clubbing atmosphere. In the evening, dress code required at the entrance. The Papaya Club is only open in the summer. Go to the website to find out the programming.

The municipality has made a disused military barracks available to artists so that contemporary creation can be expressed in all its forms. Since 1999, the cultural wasteland is officially self-managed. Open to the public, the place works rather well today. On a dozen floors, hundreds of square meters of interior and exterior spaces where talents, new or confirmed, have settled. Several workshops, where there is often an exhibition, photo workshops, but also musical evenings, a festival, a radio channel.

Unmissable on the seafront promenade, just past the amphitheatre and the ferry landing stage for Venice and Rabac (east coast of Istria). The establishment has a wide range of openings. In the early morning, on the terrace, you are served your first coffee, breakfast or brunch. All day long, hot and cold drinks, cocktails, salads, hot dishes, sandwiches, pizzas and ice cream. When evening falls, the sunset over the sea is beautiful. Then, the music rises to liven up the club's dance floor.

4 km from Poreč, on the Pazin road just after the hamlet of Parenzo, a sign on the left points to Veleniki and its famous konoba. In this wine cellar, which also includes a tavern for tastings, you can sample local spirits and liqueurs (wine, grappa) free of charge and in moderation, buy your own bottles or enjoy a plate of local charcuterie/cheese. Also on sale: olive oil, condiments, honeys, jams, etc.

Very busy bar that opens from morning to evening and sometimes closes late at night. It's the place to be for soccer fans but also for young people who like rock and beer! Here, we like the colorful decoration, the innumerable souvenirs accumulated on the walls and on the ceiling (superhero figurines, mugs, flags, coasters, photo mosaics, etc.), the very reasonable price of the drinks, the concerts and the bartenders who know how to remain zen in a sometimes overexcited atmosphere.

At first glance, the café-bar and restaurant seems to occupy the entire alley. Overflowing cheerfully on the outside, gratings run along the walls to accommodate the tables, stools, benches and sofas. It is in a very comfortable contemporary atmosphere, in the shade of secular oleanders, that one discovers the cocktail menu and that of the restaurant. For dinner only, international cuisine is served. The management rents a luxury apartment with a terrace that offers a beautiful view of the cathedral, the fortress and the ramparts.

From the neighborhood of Veli Varoš, you can reach the first platform of Mount Marjan. This is where you will find this café-restaurant, which makes you want to stop and enjoy the most beautiful panoramic view of the city and the sea. So, if there is room, don't miss it! You can take a break here, watch the incessant ballet of the ferries in rotation in the port, sip a cold or hot drink (tea, coffee, chocolate), with or without alcohol, a glass of wine, a beer or a cocktail, in moderation. Small restoration less amazing than the sight!

You can't miss it, it's the only café-brewery on which the famous Zadar Bridge (Most) leads. Terrace with a breathtaking view of the inlet between the historical city and the active city. Good spot to watch the activity of the old port and incidentally the people walking around. The place is very popular at the end of the day - the aperitif, therefore - with the last rays of sunshine. As far as fast food is concerned, enthusiasm is more limited!

With its ivy-covered facade, the courtyard of the Academia Ghetto Club invites you to head towards this place that intrigues at first sight. With psychedelic red on the walls and ceilings, it immediately announces the color, arty andgayfriendly tendency of the managers. Here, the watchwords are peace, love and art, they are displayed with suggestive frescos. Upstairs, a gallery for temporary exhibitions, performances while the dancefloor regularly hosts musical evenings (electro, indus, rock, reggae...).

With its panoramic terrace overlooking the square, and its design space inside, this wine bar has nothing in common with a small neighborhood bodega. It's more like a trendy bar-restaurant-club. And that's exactly what it is! Open from dawn to dusk, it focuses on regional wines and simple yet hearty cuisine: charcuterie plancha and local cheese, grilled meats and skewers, little Bosnian sausages(ćevapčići), hamburgers, with fries. A la carte menus for special evenings, with DJ mixes and a festive atmosphere.

"Sabbia" means sandin Italian and, in fact, you can sit on the ground floor, opposite the beach, at a coffee table and on benches placed on gratings. A pleasant relaxing break for a cool drink, with or without alcohol. Good cocktails menu. Upstairs, two atmospheres, pizzeria-bar-lounge or more chic lounge café with breathtaking views of the coast. In the evening, it comes alive with the DJs. In short, beach club, restaurant and music evenings.

On the harbour, you can't miss it, it's one of the first establishments at the exit of the pier, right next to the art gallery. People come here all day for a coffee, sitting on the terrace watching the bustle of the docks. In the morning and evening, they serve cold drinks, cocktails, pastries and especially ice creams, which are excellent and generous here. To be consumed on the spot or to take away. The customers are quite mixed between locals and tourists, it varies according to the day and the ferry rotations. Good atmosphere.

Situated in the ancient fortress of Batari, Frutarja wins the prize for the most beautiful terrace in Vis! Widely open on the ancient cobblestones of the seaside, the place enjoys a central location, with its tables overlooking the bay. As early as breakfast, you can choose from fresh fruit juices, smoothies and other milkshakes. In the snack formula, hummus club sandwiches are accompanied by a homemade cocktail, an iced beer or a glass of local wine. Friendly welcome, jazzy music and a flowerbed of aromatic plants.

In downtown, this basement club opened in 2019. This historic setting has kept its exposed stone walls and a very contemporary decor with colorful neon and geometric mirrors. The name of the nightclub refers to the year of grace 305, when the emperor Diocletian abdicated and retired to his Splitois palace. A comfortable place but rather small. You have to arrive early to have a chance to enter. You have to pay an entrance fee, but it's cheaper than elsewhere! Without surprise, the DJ mixes EDM music.

You can't miss it, it's the first café you see on the quays when you get off the ferry. It is also the most lively! With its strategic position, the Caffè Bar Maritimo attracts tourists who are walking around but also boaters, regulars and islanders. In the morning, in the afternoon, it's rather quiet but in the evening, with the musical entertainment provided by the DJ, the atmosphere can quickly become very festive. A place that one frequents throughout the day and which changes face as the hours pass.

Set back from the port, this small, old-fashioned bar, which has been open for many years, spills out into the alleyway. The clientele, both regular locals and holidaymakers, gather here in the early evening to party. This mix of populations attracts a lot of night owls, and in summer evenings, the alleyway is often packed with people! People mostly drink beers or alcoholic beverages, in a festive pub-club atmosphere, from 10pm onwards. So you won't have to wait too long for the DJs to take over the controls and everyone to have a good time.

A 15-minute walk from the port, the club is located in a residential area, close to hotels and holiday villas. Different spaces extend over a portion of the privatized coast. Its terrace overlooks the beach and the rocks. As soon as the DJ turns up the sound, techno house pushes everyone onto the dance floor with the dancing gogos. On the beach-bar side, it's quieter, lounge atmosphere on the deckchairs with sea view. For brunch or lunch, look for a sofa on the duckboards or a table in the shade under the luxury straw huts.

The Café Jägerhorn is a point of interest in itself and is frequented by hotel residents, Zagreb residents and tourists alike. With its vaulted ceilings and exposed brick walls (19th century), its tables and armchairs in the English club style, the lounge is very cosy. The decor provides an eclectic mix of chic design and classic comfort. Offers excellent hot drinks (espresso 1862 Premium from Julius Meinl, organic teas, Italian chocolate) or cold drinks (local craft beers, superior wines from Croatia). Beautiful terrace surrounded by greenery

The number of beach bars and restaurants has exploded on this side of the port, along the Vela luka. The Roso was one of the first to invest the waterfront. It's open from morning to night. For breakfast, it's mostly espresso, fresh fruit juices, pastries. Then when lunchtime comes, it's time for pizza, grilled meats and salads. In the afternoon, the preference goes to ice creams and cold drinks, and in the evening, one appreciates the cocktails (a little expensive all the same!) as well as the DJs who liven up the clubbing atmosphere.

Just before the Covid-19 pandemic paralyzes the world in May 2019, a discotheque opens in Rovinj. A problem of timing, yet a real need in a region that's so quiet at night! Outside the summer season, clubbers have to go to Pula to find a real dancefloor. So, in a refurbished commercial space, Steel reopened in July 2021, to the delight of fans of electro, techno, Balkan beats, hip-hop and trap music. With resident national and international DJs, themed evenings, dress-code parties, fashion shows and more, the Steel is the place to be.

The Colosseum Lounge is a huge club, with a bar-restaurant on the first floor, a café lounge during the day, the sea just a stone's throw away and a lively atmosphere in the evening. The Colosseum also has the advantage of being located in the city centre. If you're staying in Opatija, there's no problem getting there by car! From the beginning of the season, there are cocktail-bar "before" parties, beach parties and a nightlife that is always very disco house, animated by resident DJs and international guests.

L'Ankora used to be a small wine bar on the harbor, which was always full, with locals and tourists alike enjoying the place and the warm welcome. The place has changed its formula to become a restaurant with a more elaborate à la carte menu, carefully prepared dishes, brunches, light lunches, vegan dishes... A fine wine and cocktail list. Professional service. Nice view of the harbor when night falls, reasonable prices and tasty food/drinks.

Situated in the bay of Uvala Lapad, 2.5 km from the old town, this seaside resort, with its various facilities, attracts many visitors. The resort boasts no fewer than 2 restaurants (Blanco and Trattoria), a lounge club and a beach bar with deckchairs and cabanas where you can relax your toes sipping a cocktail in front of a magnificent sunset! Ideal for children, the swimming area is safe and there are play areas. In the evening, the area comes alive with concerts and entertainment, especially in summer!

The history of the Byblos began in 1968. At the time, it was known as the International Club, the largest in Europe (22,500 m²) with a huge open terrace and live music, restaurant, night bar, casino and basement discotheque. Italian designer Marco Lucchi revamped it in 2007 to become the current Byblos, the most famous in Istria. From disco to feverish mixes of house-techno, rock-pop and eurodance, with international DJs.

A very wild atmosphere reminiscent of pirate adventures…

It is a very nice and modern cafe located in the city centre.

L'Hacienda was one of the first open-air discos to open on the Adriatic coast in the 1980s (but not on the beach!). Evenings are hosted by Croatian DJs, with regional artists regularly appearing. It's a summer club with a good sound and atmosphere, where Balkan beats and techno dance are the order of the day. Young locals and tourists mingle to have fun to the rhythm of the sounds, sipping cocktails and beers or soft drinks. For wild nights full of good humor.

Located in the hills of Primošten, around 2 km from the town center, the discotheque celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2021. After the difficult period of the Covid pandemic, Aurora remains one of the most famous clubs on the coast. On two levels, the club features two dancefloors, bars, a swimming pool, a VIP area and organizes concerts. On the first floor, you'll find the lounge, cocktail bar, restaurant and pool table. Upstairs, there are two dance floors, one of which is open-air. DJs alternate between all styles of contemporary music.

The Factory has a real American bar look! You'd think you were in New York. Nothing is missing to make the resemblance, brick walls, urban neon lights, sophisticated cocktails. The place has quickly established itself as a day and night bar, where the youth of Zadar and tourists meet. The atmosphere goes up a notch during DJ nights or football matches. It is the lively spot par excellence where you can drink hot or cold drinks during the day, spirits, cocktails or shooters in the evening and even come and dance during the DJ nights.

The first of a chain of establishments that can be found in every major city in Croatia, this bar-restaurant was named among the best party organizers in the Kvarner region, and not without reason. Close to Angiolina Park and the sea, Bar Hemingway is known for its wide range of cocktails, which are best enjoyed in the evening with lively music and a view of the bay and the lights of Rijeka in the distance. A good place, therefore, to relax and go out with friends in Opatija

On the small peninsula, at the end of the old Arbasani district, you can still find fishermen's houses that blend in with the modern buildings. This modest beach bar, with its old-fashioned tables and chairs, has been set up in one of them and enjoys a superb terrace overlooking the sea, a staircase leading down to the sea, a young atmosphere with cool music, cool drinks, with or without alcohol, cocktails, sunsets.

The relaxed atmosphere, the thatched roof, the view over Mihajla Bay and the sunset over the sea: Mihajla's little bar is a magical place. In August, during the Lastovo Otok Glazbe festival, the bar often comes alive late into the night. On other summer days, bar customers play cards, chat, have a coffee or sip a gemišt (white wine and sparkling water) or a beer between two dips in the sea. Sometimes, hot croissants are also available in the morning. Ideal for breakfast by the sea.

Halfway between the center of Lapad and the center of Gruž, this small neighborhood bar becomes an evening reference point for locals, who come here for a few drinks, dancing, and even singing on karaoke nights. Don't expect much in the way of programming: the DJs who liven up the evenings in season are well known locally, but if you want to get in touch with Gruž's youth, l'Amor remains a friendly address. Beware, as with most bars in Croatia, there's a lot of smoking inside.

This is the café-bar of the Backpakers hostel, near the sea promenade (riva). A must for those who love a festive aperitif. You can meet up with friends or travellers, and there's always a good deal to be found in the mass of flyers delivered to the place. The bar offers Internet connection, a locker for backpacks, hence the name, and second-hand books. During the day, it is also a snack bar, where you can have breakfast, order a pizza with a beer, an iced tea or a small Pipi, that sweet soda megapopular in Split.

Overlooking the waterfront, with a view of the large quay (Veliki Mol), hence its name in Italian, a café with a very pleasant terrace. It is frequented from morning to evening, with a peak of popularity at aperitivo time, when you can enjoy the sunset by ordering cocktails and granitas. This is the specialty of the house. Some with fruits (pineapple, citrus fruits, cherries) and herbs (basil, mint, lavender, rosemary) are excellent! You can also choose a glass of wine, cold drinks with or without alcohol, hot drinks

Much less concreted than the east coast (around Bačvice beach), the Sustipan district is after the ACI marina. The beach bar at the Jadran Hotel is open to all. While consuming here, you can enjoy the sunbeds (for a fee). Located next to a swimming area, it presents itself as a comfortable place to sunbathe, swim and relax with a drink. The atmosphere is pleasant. Good cakes, cocktails but no food. The place is very popular in the early evening, at sunset. Good selection of music.