45 Best Restaurants in Central Dalmatia, Croatia

At one of the best fine-dining restaurants on the Makarska Riviera, it's clear that time and care have gone into creating the two tasting and wine-pairing menus. The expert food preparation—blending seafood and meat with locally grown and forage flavors like olives and broad beans—can match many of Croatia's most awarded restaurants. Located 3 km (2 miles) above Makarska in Tučepi on the road to Biokovo, Jeny has an elegant ambience and a terrace with a beautiful view overlooking the Makarska Riviera.  The management is happy to call a taxi to bring you to the restaurant.

A funky garden restaurant, this tavern offers something refreshingly different on the island of Vis, whether you dine in the bar area or alfresco in the main restaurant. The atmosphere is relaxed, the food is fresh, and most of the vegetables come from Lola's own garden on the mainland. The innovative dishes are sure to hit the spot, and they also have great cocktails.

Candlelit tables and pršut (prosciutto) hanging from the raftered ceiling add to the atmosphere of this authentic stone-walled tavern on the steps between the main square and the fortress. Come here to share platters of locally produced, cold Dalmatian specialties such as kožji sir (goat cheese), salata od hobotnice (octopus salad), and masline (olives) or feast on wild boar and traditional pašticada (beef stew). Before leaving, round off your meal with pijane smokve (literally "drunken figs," figs marinated in brandy) and be sure to check out the world atlas, where guests sign on the pages of their hometowns.

On the waterfront of Prvić Harbor, Maslina ("Olive") is an authentic konoba with a pretty tree-covered stone patio that is surrounded by fairy lights and looks out onto the sea. You can try all of the classics here, from fresh-caught shellfish to hearty Dalmatian stews.

A carefully restored 14th-century palazzo opposite the historic Cathedral of St. James is home to this magnificent award-winning restaurant. The seasonal six-course prix-fixe tasting menu (there is no à la carte option) features traditional Dalmatian cuisine that is innovatively prepared and beautifully presented, with exquisite flavor being the restaurant's guiding principle. Service is impeccable, the atmosphere unique, and the wine list is a thorough presentation of local and international labels. Guests can also request a unique on-sea dining experience with a personal chef aboard the Pelegrini boat.

Two of the area's most beloved chefs, married couple Sandra and Dane Tahirović, spearhead the restaurant. Their haute edgy takes on classic Adriatic cuisine can be enjoyed with a sea view on the outdoor terrace. 

Some of the mainstays on this restaurant's menu come directly from the Adriatic Sea, and many of the ingredients are sourced from across the Croatian mainland. Located within the palace walls, this relaxed spot requires turning a few corners to find it but the food and setting are worth the hunt. The carefully researched wine menu pairs well with sushi.

Small and low-key, this modern clean-lined restaurant is tucked away on the second floor of a 15th-century palazzo just off the main square. It's known for traditional Adriatic dishes made with fresh, locally sourced, and high-quality ingredients.

This funky restaurant serves exciting food with well-selected ingredients and offers a pretty rooftop on which to enjoy it all. The name doesn't just mean "artichoke" in Croatian: it's also a literal blend of "art" and čok (a nibble) because guests can enjoy both a fabulous visual experience—whether dining inside or alfresco—and fun modern bites. The attention to detail is notable, not only in the quality of the food but also in the presentation and service.

Residents of Split favor this spot for its tasty barbecue, live rock and blues concerts, and—not least—its distance from the busy Old Town. If you need a break from seafood and crowds, stroll 15 minutes from the Diocletian's Palace complex to Baraka ("barracks") and sway to the music as you wash down delightfully smoky eats with regional craft beer. Gritty decor—including a chopper motorcycle in the middle of the restaurant, a U.S. flag made out of chains, and exposed brick walls—completes the coolly Americana-flavored experience.

For a fun atmosphere where you can let loose (often to a live DJ's tunes) as you watch your pizza being made in the open kitchen, head here. This pizzeria offers a menu covering the classics as well as unique options, and staff can recommend one (or a few) of the restaurant's signature cocktails to accompany your pizza of choice.

Retreat to a quiet closed-in courtyard just a minute away from the main square and allow the Calebotta family to wow you with their first-class service and menu of fresh ingredients. The Dalmatian menu can seem long, so feel free to ask your waiter for recommendations. The bar is also a great place for an evening drink that can be enjoyed inside or on the sprawling terrace.

Hidden away in Skradin Bay, in a quiet location where the fresh waters from Krka National Park flow into the sea, Cantinetta is recognized among local residents as one of Skradin's best places to eat. Having grown from a humble family konoba to a serious culinary destination, this restaurant takes great pride in its well-preserved old recipes, passed on from generation to generation. Dishes like the renowned veal risotto, which must be slowly cooked for at least six hours and whose recipe is a family secret, must be ordered well in advance. Fresh seafood and great meat dishes at reasonable prices for a national park make this an easy choice after a long day sightseeing.

Decorated with a bit of the wit and themes from the beloved Italian comic strip about Corto Maltese, a seafaring adventurer, this lively restaurant offers traditional Croatian ingredients explained on a funny, irreverent menu. The chef prepares the dishes in an open kitchen, and both the kitchen staff and waitstaff are engaging and eager to offer recommendations.

Located in a quiet area a few miles out of town, Dvor offers up a superior rendition of Croatian seafood and professional service. Alfesco tables have outstanding views, and there's an outdoor grill as well as parking, which is a luxury in Split.

The cool atmosphere, bohemian furniture and decor, and original jewelry sold on-site all add up to a funky little place to go for a burger and a drink. The owners—a brother and sister team—are well-known Croatian singer Luka Nižetić (who won Croatian Master Chef in 2014) and fashion blogger Petra Nižetić Mastelić.

Tucked in a pretty stone alleyway, this restaurant just a three-minute walk east of the Hvar Town harbor regularly draws lines of people (reservations aren't possible, so be prepared for a wait). There's a small dimly lit interior, but the dark wooden tables outside are the best place to enjoy the affordable and healthy breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner options, catered to international tastes with less focus on local flavors.

Located right on a beach on the Makarska Riviera, this casual restaurant is a great spot to fuel up on fresh seafood after a long day of swimming and sunbathing. If you time your dinner right, you can take in a sunset above the sea as you relax; you can make a reservation by phone and also check the seasonal closing, which depends on the number of customers.

Conceptualized in 1883 and opened in 1902 as a lobster house, this cleverly converted restaurant has platforms with tables built out above the water, and guests arriving via sailboat can berth here for free. The house specialty is—as you may have guessed—lobster, which guests can choose from live cages in the sea.

A seven-minute drive from the Old Town, Kadena serves Mediterranean seafood and meat dishes with a contemporary twist in a modern space. Don't miss Dalmatia's trademark salata od hobotnice (octopus salad) as an appetizer, and enjoy pairings with the rich wine list, full of local and global liquid treasures.

Sitting above the village of Dol, this family-run agritourism estate offers amazing vistas of the steep valley all the way to the sea. Inside, guests can step back in time with a tour through the 19th-century building before sitting down to a farm-fresh home-cooked meal. Order a grilled fish if you pop in unannounced and can't wait for the peka-cooked meals, or just take in the views over a slice of the local sweet cake, hrapaćuša. This stunning property is also an underrated wedding venue.

Relaxed and romantic, this typical Dalmatian restaurant has exposed stone walls and heavy wooden furniture. With fewer frills than some of Split's more modern eateries, it stays true to tradition, offering the classic fare expected from an authentic spot. Located just outside the palace walls, a five-minute walk from the Golden Gate, it is slightly hidden and easy to miss.

Traditional home-cooked Dalmatian fare is served at this family-run eatery in an old stone building in Lastovo Town. Barbecued seafood predominates, and you'll also have the chance to try homegrown vegetables and local wine as part of a refreshing island escape.

It is hard to spend more than a day on the island of Brač without giving in to the succulent aromas of roasted lamb, and many people claim this is the best place to enjoy the island delicacy. Farms on Brač take care to have their sheep feed only on their mother's milk and wild herbs, like the rosemary and sage that thrive on the rocky terrain. There is also a good selection of local wines from which you can trust your waiter to provide perfect pairings.

This excellent spot gives traditional Dalmatian meals a modern and creative twist atypical for a konoba in Dalmatia. Nostalgija (meaning "nostalgia") also provides a drink menu with local wines and craft beer, as well as cocktails based on Croatian classics such as rakija. Knowledgeable hospitable staff create a homey atmosphere for guests who, weather permitting, can dine alfresco on the cobblestone terrace flanked by Mediterranean plants.

Surrounded on all four sides by the shade of an olive grove, this restaurant is the perfect place to wind down after a day of sun and sightseeing. It's known for steak, lamb cooked peka-style, and fish prepared traditionally na gradele (on the grill).

Family-owned Toni, in a typical Dalmatian house with a stone exterior and green window shutters, reflects the local vibe including the menu's ingredients and the staff's warm hospitality. Grilled fish, spit-roasted lamb and peka-cooked meals await diners, to be enjoyed on wooden tables in a stone interior or outside on a lovely terrace covered with grapevines.

Widely acknowledged to be the best restaurant on the island, Triton is particularly popular with those traveling by sailboat, who can moor up on a small quay out front (at a cost) and feast on dishes like freshly caught fish with locally produced wine and olive oil; it opens at 3 pm. You'll find it in Zaklopatica, a north-facing bay 3 km (2 miles) west of Lastovo Town. There are several apartments to rent upstairs, too, which are also considered among the island's best.

With a tremendous sense of style, family-owned TRS combines traditional food with modern ingredients that are freshly sourced from the owner's family farm in a nearby village. The unusual combinations are a welcome change and still subtle enough to allow the strength of the traditional Dalmatian food to dominate. Reserve a seat outside to enjoy the sight of trs—grapevines—twining around the courtyard as you sip your wine.

This konoba south of Supetar offers meals local to Brač and the wider Dalmatia region, along with a stunning outdoor terrace that looks out onto the sea. As a family-run business tucked away in a rural olive-grove-enveloped area, Žiža is a good choice for travelers seeking an authentic island experience.