12 Best Restaurants in Central Dalmatia, Croatia

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

Based in an elegant stone building in the Old Town, this welcoming family-run restaurant (formerly called Vanjaka) serves Dalmatian specialties. Sit outside on the open-air terrace, or take a table in the intimate air-conditioned dining room. Ask your waiter for a travarica (traditional Dalmatian herbal rakija) as an aperitif. 

In a modern glass-and-wood conservatory that looks onto a courtyard garden of orange and lemon trees, Pojoda makes for a popular spot among the sailing crowd that won't disappoint a food-savvy traveler either. During the summer, it can get crowded and service may be a bit inconsistent.

The restaurant in this renovated 18th-century water mill is well-known for miles around for its Dalmatian and grill dishes, served at tables under trees in a pretty riverside garden. It lies 6 km (4 miles) from Omiš, up the Cetina River Valley. For a fee, restaurant management also organizes excursions for visitors, from rafting to ziplining. 

This restaurant in a natural stone building is a favorite among the yachting crowd, in part because of its location near the ACI Marina Skradin. It's aptly named Zlatne školjke, which means "golden shells," because of the plethora of shellfish farms nearby. A sommelier can help you choose a wine, but a glass of local Debit white wine is a wise choice to complement a visit.