8 Best Restaurants in Central Dalmatia, Croatia

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.

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.

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.

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.

Above the ACI Marina and at the foot of Marjan Hill, this mostly seafood restaurant has a light and airy, minimalist interior, as well as a summer terrace. In the spirit of slow food, the kitchen gives great care to fresh seasonal ingredients and presentation. The former owner, Zoran Grašo, is a retired basketball player, and his son Petar is a famous singer, so you may still spot some local celebrities from time to time among the diners.

On the tiny island of Sveti Klement, a 20-minute taxi-boat ride from Hvar Town (or dock your sailboat in nearby ACI Marina), this terrace restaurant is backed by a romantic wilderness of Mediterranean flora and offers stunning views over the open sea. Besides wonderfully fresh seafood, dishes showcase local ingredients such as sheep's cheese, olives, and beef. The owners are the Meneghello family, whose ties to the island date back to 1906. They are well-known for their love of art and culture, as well as food: the walls are decorated with contemporary Croatian art.

This cozy restaurant has become popular because of its reasonably priced menu and quaint atmosphere. The Italo-Dalmatian menu features pasta dishes, seafood risottos, and old-fashioned local fish specialties such as škampi na buzaru (scampi in red sauce) and pečene srdele s blitvom (grilled sardines with chard).

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.