Enjoying yourself Dubrovnik
Timetable Dubrovnik
At the height of the tourist season, it's a bit crowded, the service isn't always the best and, above all, the queues are long, sometimes very long (an hour's wait) in front of the best restaurants in the old town (which don't take reservations). This is especially true in the evening. To avoid them, there's only one solution: dine early (7pm) or late (10pm). Lunchtime is simpler, also because restaurants often work around the clock, without a break.
Budget & Tips Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik has many pizzerias and at least as many fish and seafood restaurants. A word of caution about the restaurant menus: salads are usually served as side dishes, and rarely are mixed salads served as a meal in their own right. Like everywhere else in the Dubrovnik region, risotto (black and seafood) is offered as a starter and as a main course. Formulas or menus are very rare - except in two or three establishments in the old town at lunchtime - everything is à la carte. The city's restaurants all have a terrace, sometimes overlooking the sea.
The meals are far from cheap and every year the prices increase (the prize goes to the restaurants in the old town and those in the immediate vicinity), count on a minimum of 25 € per person. They go very well with wines from the region. The house wine(domaće vino) can be a good as well as a bad pick! A cover of about 15 kn is sometimes charged and results in a fish pie served as an appetizer.
What costs extra Dubrovnik
In restaurants, you often have to pay for food and drink, as well as water and bread (if you eat it). Tipping (10% of the bill) is not compulsory, but it's appreciated!
Tourist traps Dubrovnik
As you stroll through the old town, you'll notice the presence of touts at the entrance to some restaurants. The addresses they suggest are usually very touristy and of average quality. It's not impossible to eat well in the old town (on the contrary!), but it's best to avoid the main streets. A good restaurant doesn't need a tout! What's more, once you've received your bill, if your card isn't accepted, don't ask to pay in euros, as you'll often be charged a higher exchange rate.
Take a break Dubrovnik
Timetable Dubrovnik
In season, cafés are open every day from dawn to dusk. In winter, they close earlier in the evening and sometimes only open at weekends (especially if they are concert bars).
Budget & Tips Dubrovnik
The cafés in the old town, especially those along the Stradun, are very expensive. The situation changes as you move away from the city walls, but in general, consider that Dubrovnik is much more expensive than the rest of Croatia (even in the neighboring regions of Pelješac and Konavle). A coffee can cost between €1 and €3, depending on the location of the bar, while a pint of beer can reach €8 in the most popular places. Please note: credit cards are not accepted everywhere.
Age restrictions Dubrovnik
Under-18s are not allowed to consume alcohol. You may be asked to show proof of identity at the bar.
What's very local Dubrovnik
Ragusans are great coffee drinkers. Good Mediterranean people, they like to make the most of the terraces that can be found in every corner of the city and dozens of them within the city walls. You can enjoy an espresso (or any other kind of coffee, such as the well-known bijela kava, or café crème) at the foot of the cathedral, opposite the Rector's palace, on the Stradun, facing the old port - and there, the magic of Dubrovnik inevitably takes place! Some cafés, such as Gradska Kavana, were founded during the Austro-Hungarian Empire. You'll also want to stop off at the Café Festival and the Cafés Buža, which are located on the rocks south of the city walls, facing the sea. Some bars also offer live music.
Smokers Dubrovnik
Practically all bars in Croatia are smoke-free. So expect smoky atmospheres in cafés and nightclubs, except in the open air!