36 Best Restaurants in Istria, Croatia

Chef Emanuele Scarello of Udine, Italy, opened his second restaurant in Rovinj in 2021 during the pandemic, and three months later was awarded a Michelin star for its gastronomic excellence. There's no à la carte menu—only three tasting menus, each featuring thoughtful blends of Istrian, Godia (the Rovinj area), and Friuli flavors. All this incredible food is served in an approachable and elegant waterfront location overlooking the marina, Old Town Rovinj, and the trendy Promenade Plaza in front of the Grand Park Hotel Rovinj.

Don’t let this restaurant’s location in a campsite outside of town fool you: this fine-dining seafood restaurant is by far the best restaurant in Rovinj, and possibly in all of Istria. Forget the standard starter-main-dessert kind of meal and instead indulge in a variety of innovative cold and warm appetizers made with the freshest local ingredients. Desserts are as imaginative and fabulous as the rest. The friendly owners are clearly proud of their food.

Inventive Mediterranean food is served in an eye-catching, whimsically decorated garden dropped right on the stone square. You may not be seated on the sea but you'll feel the vibrant holiday vibe flowing from the minute you arrive. Grab some pancakes and pancetta for breakfast; at lunch order one of the popular burgers, from veggie to fish to beef tartufi (black truffle), all paired with a San Servolo pale ale. For dinner, try any of their fresh fish or seafood specialties, like the shared seafood platter with grilled tuna steaks, whole oven-roasted branzino, and pan-fried squid.

Tucked away on a quiet side street, this superb (and pricey) little family-run establishment is a secret wonder you may want to share only with your fellow gourmands who appreciate raw-fish specialties. You can also enjoy grilled seafood and gnocchi, although you don't go here for a simple plate of pasta, but instead to indulge in a four-course meal. Indeed, it may be the one restaurant in Istria where fish—the fresh catch of the day, that is—is brought to the table this way and served with great care. The service is elegant and friendly. There's no set menu; rather, the owners tell you what's available for the day, and the owners' daughter, who is always on hand, speaks English.

This quirky innovative restaurant is considered by many locals—and foodies around the world—to be the best seafood restaurant in Croatia. Run by a family of fishermen, Batelina is popular for its fresh-caught but totally delicious appetizers; specialties include fish tripe brodetto, scampi risotto, shark-liver pâté, bonito tartare, cuttlefish stew, and tuna carpaccio. The best way to experience Batelina's creative cuisine is to sample many of its unique tapas-style dishes. Don't go by the menu: just ask for a little bit of everything and let the chef be creative.

This rustic tavern with exposed stone walls, wooden beams, and a large open fireplace offers traditional hearty Istrian meat dishes. Located off the beaten path well past Oprtalj, the outdoor terrace has scenic views over the rolling hills, valley, and mountains in the background. Lots of regular guests, locals, and culinary professionals, as well as the friendly owners, make you feel welcome in this family-run tavern, where you can try their homemade ravioli with black truffles or gnocchi with rooster stew. It's open weekends only.

Dinner here promises upscale, out-of-this-world, creatively presented Italian-Istrian dishes served on a special garden terrace just below the famous St. Euphemia’s Church. The menu changes often but usually includes mare crudo, an eye-popping feast of super-fresh seafood carpaccio, or try a bit of everything with a five- or seven-course tasting menu. Crisp white linen tablecloths on modern white wrought-iron patio tables dot the shady terrace. Reservations are essential as this restaurant received Croatia's first Michelin star in 2017.

At this popular and highly lauded pizzeria, Neapolitan-style pizzas are made in a gold-glazed brick oven made by Stefano Ferrara Forni in Naples. High-quality ingredients and strict adherence to Napolitana dough preparation—using only Maestro Santucci flour and letting the dough rest for 30 hours before baking—ensure you walk away ready to tell everyone you know about this pizza. There are six traditional Neapolitan pizzas and six gourmet pizzas that contain traditional Istrian ingredients such as truffles or prosciutto. If pizza is not your thing, try the burgers or salads or skip right to cannoli and cappuccinos. The terrace offers outstanding views of Rabac and Kvarner Bay.  

This fast food shack offers some of the most mouthwatering food in Pula, from modern takes on Istrian favorites to vegan plates of international flavors not easily found in the city. The small menu changes often, but you may enjoy a vegan poke bowl, chicken burritos, shrimp risotto, gluten-free panko tofu, and endless delicious sandwiches, pasta, stews, and smoothies. There are only four tables outside and four tiny tables inside so seats fill up fast, and they regularly sell out of items on the high-class street food menu. It's open until 10 pm in summer, but it's best to come for an early lunch to get a table. Takeaway also works well, and you can order by phone.

Those with a discriminating palate and a not-so-discriminating pocketbook should try this sparkling air-conditioned restaurant very close to the harbor. The menu offers such delicacies as grilled octopus, fish filet in scampi and scallops sauce, cream soup with local mushrooms, and beefsteak with tartufi sauce, but the elegant seafront terrace makes this the top fine-dining spot in Poreč. You can set forth on this culinary adventure with a plate of raw octopus and oysters from Istria's west coast or Istrian prosciutto and local sheep's cheese. Or sample many dishes with one of their tasting menus. 

Do not be deterred by the cannon facing you as you enter the 15th-century stone tower that now houses the Torre Rotonda café and bar. Climb up the spiral staircase to a second floor with several intimate nooks, or go one more flight to the roof for an unbeatable outstanding view of Poreč and its harbor. From there, feel free to order any of their tasty cocktails and just enjoy.

The Old Mill pizzeria may look touristy—it is, after all, centrally located right by the harbor, and it is packed—but it's also good, and the raised terrace gives you the feeling of being a bit above the fray. This is the best place in town for pizza, spaghetti, salads, čevapčići (grilled Balkan sausages) and tiramisu.

Located in the village of Valbandon, close to Fažana, Alla Becaccia offers hearty meat dishes with an emphasis on game—the owner is a hunter. A huge fireplace dominates the dining room in the simple but tasteful interior, and the kitchen door is always open. There is a covered terrace for dining alfresco and a nice garden and play area for kids. Venison, snipe, woodcock, and wild boar are often on the menu, and regulars rave about the housemade pasta and sausages. Other dishes include T-bone steak from Istrian ox (Boškarin), various risottos, and excellent Istrian prosciutto.

This casual upbeat eatery in Old Town Plomin, just 12 km (8 miles) north of Labin, is worth stopping at for a decadent burger, Asian stir-fry, spicy wings, steaming plate of pasta, or cheesy pizza. Order one of the many craft beers or sample a delicious homemade dessert (or three). Before or after your meal, you can wander through this sleepy ruin of a town and marvel at its stunning views of Plomin Fjord below.

Stop at the chic but unpretentious Café Galerija Cvajner for morning coffee or an evening aperitif. Inside, contemporary art and minimalist boho-style furniture play off frescoes uncovered during restoration, and outdoor tables offer great views of the Forum square. Sip kuhano vino (mulled wine) from front-row seats to Advent concerts, light shows, and a holiday skating rink.

When this family is not catching fish, they are preparing it at their well-regarded folksy restaurant with a cool, grapevine-shaded, family-friendly terrace. The menu offers fresh delicious seafood specialties like grilled squid, mussels alla buzara, and a good selection of grilled steaks and poultry dishes. Getting to this restaurant is easy if you're driving; keep your eyes peeled along the winding road downhill from Labin to Rabac for the restaurant's little sign to the left as the road curves right. If you're on foot, the walk is a bit of a haul on a dangerous road. Live music on summer Saturdays offers the chance to sing along and dance the night way.

In residential Pula, far from tourist attractions, Farabuto has a short menu of fresh and tasty seafood and just a few meat and vegetarian dishes, all based on what's available from Pula’s green and fish markets. The modern and innovative cuisine is well presented in Farabuto's small cozy interior or on the terrace. Service is friendly but can be slow when the restaurant gets crowded in summer. Regulars rave about the selection of cold seafood crudo. Other selections include homemade ravioli with Adriatic scampi, seafood risotto, and local fish like monkfish, branzino, tuna, and shark.

Tucked away on a small square in a residential area of the Old Town, Giannino is equally popular among locals and tourists for its fresh and delicious Mediterranean fare such as pan-fried squid with polenta, spicy boiled Adriatic shrimp, branzino al forno (baked slowly in the oven), cuttlefish ravioli, grilled rib eye with roasted potatoes, and tagliatelle with lobster. Starched white and blue checkered tablecloths make the place look classy, but the atmosphere is convivial and relaxed with friendly staff. Established in 1972, the large restaurant is modern, except for a gallery-seating area rustically decorated with a vaulted brick ceiling, but most opt for a spot outdoors on the large patio. To find it, at the beginning of Carera Ulica, Rovinj’s main street, turn right—opposite where all the crowds will be heading.

Located on a quiet street a couple of blocks from the Forum, this is Pula's premier place for casual budget-friendly Italian fare. Try any of its more than 20 types of wood-fired pizza, grilled meats like ćevapi (small minced-meat sausages), or a plate of homestyle pasta as you sip a glass of house red wine at one of the rustic wooden tables on the rear terrace. It's ideal for families and large groups, with ample indoor and outdoor space.

In the village of Veleniki, just a few miles from Poreč, this rustic family-run tavern has exposed stone walls, wooden beams, and an outdoor terrace in an enclosed courtyard. With its simple and honest food, friendly staff, and huge portions, Konoba Daniela offers excellent value for money. It's a locals' favorite in and around Poreč but also very popular among tourists, especially Italians. And if steak tartare made tableside is your cup of tea, visit here for the best in Istria. They also have a great selection of seafood like grilled sole, mussels, or calamari; homemade pasta; and succulent meat dishes. It's great for large groups and special occasions.

You won’t find a bad seat at this outdoor seafront restaurant with fantastic views of the Old Town, particularly at sunset. An extensive menu, friendly staff, a laid-back vibe, and affordable prices draw crowds here all day. Favorites include the fisherman’s pie, a thin-crust pie filled with anchovies, tomatoes, and onions, and juicy squid stew served with the creamiest polenta. The restaurant is always packed, especially at dinner, but tables turn quickly.

On a narrow cobblestone street just a few yards from the town's gate, this tavern is perhaps the best place to eat in town, with a truffle-centric menu and a breezy terrace perfect for alfresco dining. The menu screams truffles—almost every dish features them: homemade pasta, steaks, and even panna cotta desserts come with shaved black truffles on top. Regulars also rave about their olive and truffle tapenade amuse-bouche. The pleasant rustic interior has roughly plastered stone walls. Being featured in the New York Times raised Mondo's profile among visitors to Motovun, but locals loved it even before.

Local, fresh, traditional food makes this restaurant on the outskirts of town a favorite among locals. Its location on the main road may not draw visitors in at first, but the food is excellent and a great value. This large restaurant with an open fireplace and outdoor terrace is open year-round serving typical Istrian meat, fish, and pasta. Locals rave about their tagliatelle with scampi and mushrooms and the daily grilled meat plate.

A 15th-century pentagonal tower in the heart of the Old Town now holds a sophisticated restaurant on a series of floors and terraces, including the roof. House specialties include beautifully plated seafood crudo, sea urchin with cauliflower foam, homemade pljukanci pasta with skampi, and Istrian steak with tartufi. Finish your meal with a glass of šlivovica (plum rakija) or another glass of the best of Istrian wines. Make sure you reserve a table on the rooftop for romantic sunset views.  

With 50-plus varieties of delicious thin-crust pizzas, there's plenty to choose from at this conveniently located venue along the narrow road leading up to the main cathedral. Pizzas are all baked in a wood-burning oven and are so good locals come from all over Istria to get them. Inside it's pleasantly cool, even on a hot day. The interior spreads out over two floors, but try to get a table downstairs, where wooden tables and benches give it the feel of an old Italian tavern and the atmosphere is more vibrant.

Right across the street from the main tourist office, the Nono is teeming with locals and tourists who go crazy over the scrumptious comfort-food fare. You'll find everything from wood-fired pizzas and fresh green salads to grilled squid and french fries, burgers, and ćevapi (regional sausages).

On the first floor of what looks like a typical family house, this seafood restaurant has a surprisingly elegant and stylish interior. Husband-and-wife duo Marina and Davor don’t have a fixed menu; offerings are recited by the young owner. The food is delicious, fresh, and innovative, with four-, six-, and eight-course tasting menus to choose from. Don't confuse this place with a restaurant in the town's marina—Restaurant Marina is just across the street from the marina.

This family-run restaurant/truffle shop is 3 km (2 miles) from Motovun and is not simply a gift shop filled with truffles, truffle products, olive oil, and wine (as with other branches in Motovun and Buzet). Here in their renovated villa, you can sit down for a delicious meal of gilthead carpaccio with white truffles (gilthead being a type of sea bream) or thin palačinke (crepes) filled with white-chocolate mousse and finely shaved black truffles. This place is warm, elegant, and modern, with wrought-iron streetlamp-style lights, stone walls, and wooden beams overhead. They even have cozy rooms to rent. 

It’s always time for a cold one in this tavern and steak house tucked in the rolling hills between Buje and Grožnjan. The menu includes a tasty selection of six unfiltered and unpasteurized Istrian craft beers alongside an expansive menu of grilled meats and other hearty Istrian dishes. Located above the distillery and across from the boutique hotel of the same name, this beer-lover's hot spot has breathtaking panoramic views of the countryside, Adriatic Sea, and the hilltop town of Buje.

This salvaged school is now a stylish multilevel restaurant offering guests a welcoming delicious experience. Whether you enjoy a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres on the rooftop terrace, gather at the community table in the lounge, or sit with friends for a multicourse tasting menu in the main dining room, you'll see the culinary staff puts great importance on sourcing ingredients from local farms and producers, even if that means picking the beets before they come to work. Decor, tabletop china, service ware, linens, and some staff come from Copenhagen.