The best restaurants Dubrovnik

A local sandwich shop that everyone here knows, one of the first to introduce the fast-food formula to the old town. Plates are served inside on small wooden tables or in the alleyway. Sandwiches are baked in a brick oven and filled with Dalmatian ham, olive oil cheese and tomato slices. Škola, which means "school" in Croatian, has long been a haven for schoolchildren, who gather in this family atmosphere. Reasonable prices.

This restaurant, on the road that runs alongside the port, close to the Lapad hotel, is not easy to find if you arrive by land. But it's a real haven of peace, well worth the detour. It has the good fortune to be able to move forward onto a pontoon, setting its tables on the water's edge, with a panoramic view of the moored boats. Visitors come for the seafood platters, lobster, tuna carpaccio and squid ink risotto (although meat dishes are also available). In spring, when cherries are in season, try their cherry strüdel.

This now very touristy establishment offers fried fish and seafood dishes. On the menu: octopus salad, fried fish, black risotto, spaghetti with shellfish... Oysters (sometimes frozen) are also on the menu - after all, kamenice means oyster in Croatian! With its magnificent location on the square, this restaurant is often overcrowded, and the quality of the food suffers (as does the friendliness of the waiters), with prices that don't match the dishes served. You often have to wait (in the sun) to get a table.

A spacious terrace and tables set between the arches of the ramparts, enjoying a privileged view of the old port and the arrival of tourist boats. Varied cuisine, seafood, pizzas, new Asian menu. Friendly and smiling staff. Go in the evening for the live acoustic music and the peace and quiet in town once the cruise ships have left. A curiosity: in the days of the Ragusa Republic, the term poklisar referred to the patrician employed as an ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.

At the entrance to the old town, near the Porte Pile, this restaurant-bar remains a landmark in the city. The food served here lives up to the restaurant's reputation, with its meticulous attention to detail and gourmet quality under the leadership of chef Mario Bunda. The view from the terrace, overlooking the bay on the Porte de Pile side, and the professional service are also assets that give the Michelin-starred restaurant a head start. But the bill is high for both land and sea menus, unless you opt for the more affordable à la carte dishes.

Just a stone's throw from Gundulić Square and the famous "Scalinata", the Baroque staircase leading to St. Ignatius Church (popular with tourists as the setting for Game of Thrones), Pizzeria Castro is a favorite address for Ragusans. Open all year round, Castro offers a good choice of pizzas at reasonable prices. Out of season, the menu is a little shorter, but the pizzeria (almost) never stops working. Relaxed, family atmosphere, tables outside only. Very pleasant service. Long waits sometimes in summer.

The self-proclaimed best pasta restaurant in town is the oldest Italian restaurant, having opened about 20 years ago. That may be a bit of a boast! What is certain is that all the different pasta and gnocchi dishes at Toni's are good and quickly served. Other specialties include bruschetta and hearty seasonal salads drizzled with olive oil. Also worth trying: the fisherman's cuisine, tagliatelle, parpadelle, tuna and seafood tortellini or the sea/pesto risotto.

Opened in 2023, Soul Kitchen is one of Dubrovnik's few vegetarian restaurants (also offering meat and vegan dishes). Located in a hidden alleyway in the old town (not far from the M'arden wine bar), this new address boasts a large, spacious outdoor terrace and a large, cool indoor space. The menu offers an original selection of dishes, from salads combining melon, feta and mint pesto, to tacos and burgers, curries and pastas. Brunch highly recommended.

A new fusion type kitchen but without presentation. Affordable price for a dinner in mind, behind your second half, the Adriatic Sea. The Cigar bar and lounge bar Agora are two original attractions for VIP or simply intimate guests.

The restaurant offers fresh fish daily, crustaceans, shells, black risotto, meat dishes, hors d'oeuvres, snacks… but also a cosy lunch menu and breakfasts. Large semi-covered terrace slightly on the heights at the entrance to the old town, side "Ploce" with private parking. A dominant view of the old town. Correct service and normal price.

Taverna Otto used to be a popular restaurant in Dubrovnik with a fine cuisine. Due to the pandemic, it had closed permanently. In September 2021, the owners returned with a tighter fast food concept, in the Boninovo neighborhood, where restaurants are scarcer. On the menu, we note an assertive coup de jeune with a proposal of fast food, on the spot and especially to go. Smoked BBQ ribs, hamburgers (pork, chicken or veggie), fries, salads, cold drinks, beers: it is basic, good and honest.

Traditional, unpretentious restaurant nestled on a pleasant rooftop terrace overlooking the port of Gruž. Conveniently located, between Lapad beach and the train and bus stations, easily accessible from the old town by road or bus. Guests come here especially for the pizzas, which are cooked over a wood fire, grilled meat and fish, sausage and French fries, fresh pasta and black risotto. The house also prepares complete dishes cooked under the peka bell (to be ordered at least two hours in advance).

If you're a vegetarian or vegan, this is the restaurant for lunch or dinner. Located in the Gruž district, near the market, it doesn't have a terrace overlooking the port, but a large courtyard, where more and more people come to eat healthily on vacation. On the menu: vegetable soups, beet hummus, vegetarian burgers, falafel wraps, walnut salad, wholemeal pasta with tomato sauce or basil cream. You must try the raw chocolate cake.

Zuzori is modern and sophisticated. This creative address seeks to distinguish itself from other establishments in the old town. The prices are high, but the dishes are beautifully presented and the cuisine refined. You'll find classic Dalmatian dishes, as well as Italian (paccheri, risotto...), Spanish (iberico tapilla) and Argentinian (black angus) products. The dishes are elegantly laid out on the plates, without overdoing it, in the manner of an upscale bistro. A fine wine list and professional service.

A historic address (first opened in 1920), just a stone's throw from the port. Fresh fish, meat dishes, pizzas, salads and desserts such as chocolate soufflé are offered at more reasonable prices than those in the old town. At lunchtime, takeaway sandwiches are also available. Finally, don't forget that Porat is also a café, so don't hesitate to drop in for a coffee or a drink accompanied by tapas. In the morning, several breakfast formulas are available at reduced prices.

After the Porte du Pile, in the direction of the Hilton Hotel, then slightly to the left, you'll find this address partially hidden by vegetation. Here, there are no tables lined up in an alleyway, and no view of the sea, but a beautiful^19th-century building, classic bourgeois furnishings and a terrace under the trees. You'll come for a drink or for Dalmatian food (sea and local), as well as burgers and vegetarian options. In the morning, breakfast formulas with different types of omelettes and toast. Good choice of Croatian wines.

This restaurant has gone from a simple, hearty menu at reasonable prices to more sophisticated (and more expensive) offerings based around fisherman's cuisine. But it remains a safe bet in Dubrovnik. On the menu, healthy food, Greek or Parmesan salads, seafood platters with whole grilled fish, mussels and rice with dried ink, seafood tagliatelle, but also burgers, beef or fried sausages, among others. Fast service all day long. For dessert, try the delicious chocolate cake with ice cream.

From the Pile Gate, in the second narrow street on the left side of Stradun, you arrive at the Stari Grad. Whether you are a guest or not, you can go up to the^5th floor to discover the roof terrace and the spectacular view of the old town. The semi-gastronomic restaurant serves Dalmatian specialties, carefully prepared dishes based on fresh local market products, meat, fish and seafood. The desserts are also excellent. Reservations are recommended.

In the old town, it's sometimes hard to choose between the touristy signs side by side. But you won't be disappointed at Pupo. It serves breakfast (in the Pasticceria Pupica corner) and, for lunch and dinner, quality fisherman's cuisine: fish steak, risotto from the sea, shellfish and brudet, all at good value for money. For dessert, traditional cakes and pastries with citrus fruits, carrots and almonds, served with chocolate cream. Very pleasant atmosphere and friendly service.

Original terrace on wide steps at the foot of the cable car, close to the Ploče gate, and with a beautiful view of the sea and the old port. The Gusta Me menu features shellfish and fish ( buzara mussels, catch of the day, langoustines...), as well as seafood risotto and fresh pasta. For those with a more moderate appetite, lighter, less expensive dishes such as burgers and club sandwiches are available at lunchtime. In the evening, dine to the sound of acoustic music. The restaurant also serves delicious breakfasts.

Hidden behind a door on Rue Miha Pracata, this hard-to-find konoba in the old town is well worth the trip up the stairs! Here, local produce takes pride of place, with a modern twist and a taste for Asian-Dalmatian fusion (wok, sashimi...). From homemade pasta to fish dishes for two, as well as beef, duck and chicken specialties, the choice is vast. A big plus: an amazing wine list selected by the owner, a native of Pelješac.

Just a few meters from the main bus station, Bistro 49 is the perfect place to take a relaxing break with your luggage while waiting for the bus to arrive! If you have to leave early, the establishment serves excellent breakfasts and at lunch and dinner, quick formulas well adapted for travelers (bruschettas, burgers) or sausage and French fries, fresh pasta with sauce and vegan plates. Smiling service and reasonable prices. On game nights, we meet in a good mood around craft beers.

Croatia's first Hard Rock Café opened its doors in April 2023 in Dubrovnik's former cloister of the Poor Clares. The 850^m2 space can accommodate over 400 people. You can sit inside, in the beautiful courtyard, or in another outdoor area overlooking the large Onofrio fountain. On the menu are burgers and snacks typical of the British chain, as well as cocktails and live music in the evenings. A small boutique sells T-shirts, hats, badges, glasses and other accessories.

Opening in 2022, Kiosk (literally "kiosk") is the brainchild of the team behind the famous Azur in the old town. As in its first restaurant, the gastronomic offering here too blends local tradition with flavours from elsewhere. The Kiosk menu features ramen, pork tostada, sushi and four versions of the popular Hawaiian dish poke (vegan, tuna, salmon and chicken). The atmosphere is relaxed and the quality/price ratio quite good. Ideal for a gourmet break in the Gruž district!

We can only applaud this address, opened in 2015 opposite the peaceful Lapad marina. The original structure of this stone-built Ragusan villa is enhanced by a sober, trendy design. Plates include fish, excellent salads and Cajun chicken wraps. Several tasty vegetarian options. World cuisine and freshly grilled dishes to share with friends (several tapas formulas). Take a look at the cocktail menu, which hides a few surprises. Great atmosphere.

This small bakery, 300 m from the port of Gruž and 200 m from the bus station, makes very good bureks. These puff pastry cakes filled with meat and cream cheese are a little oily, but delicious. For dessert, a small bottle of water, doughnuts and various cakes. Let yourself be tempted by what its window displays and point out what you want... The bakery is open all the time, so you can get your supplies quickly before jumping on your bus or ferry! Smiley service.

The restaurant at Prijeko Palace, one of Ragusa's oldest private mansions, with its tables carefully arranged on Prijeko alley (where the old vine, or stara loza, climbs), is a real draw. The à la carte menu includes tuna tartare, octopus, homemade gnocchi and several vegetarian options... To dine on the terrace and enjoy the view of the old town, advance reservations are essential (4 people maximum). For breakfast, the Stara Loza restaurant offers a range of interesting savory and sweet options.

The name "Gil" is no longer on the stove, but the name has been kept as well as the gastronomic line. The menu, resolutely inspired by France, uses the region's leading ingredients to accommodate meat and fish. It will therefore come as no surprise to see the gratin dauphinois cohabit with grilled vegetables. For those who are in need of French cuisine but open to the mix of cultures. Pleasant atmosphere and diverse population. Attentive service and elegantly presented plates. Good wine list as well.

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.

The stone terrace overlooks the sea, which is the main attraction of this restaurant, itself located on the prettiest pedestrian promenade in the Lapad district. A well-stocked fish and seafood menu (lobster, langoustines, salt-crusted fish...), as well as several meat dishes and a vegetarian plate. Other house specialties include stuffed and baked mozzarella, or truffle risotto with Dalmatian pršut (prosciutto). A fine list of local wines. Very pleasant service.

Founded in 1886, Proto is one of the oldest establishments in the old town. Renovated a few years ago, it has retained its historic patina. On the walls, engravings show the plans of the Republic of Ragusa. You can also sit in the alleyway or on the roof terrace. Dalmatian classics and refined recipes are served here. For example: whole lobster with fresh pasta, white fish court-bouillon, lamb and braised vegetables. All under the direction of Croatian chef Boško Lonac.

This large fish and shellfish restaurant remains one of Dubrovnik's most popular tourist spots, not least because of its location. The atmosphere is friendly and the setting beautiful, just behind the Rector's Palace, with a view of the small boats coming and going in the old port. As for the quality of the food, you'll surely find better in town. Fried or grilled calamari, marinated mussels, tuna pâté and octopus salad... you'll find all the region's great classics here.