Istria Restaurants
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Istria - browse our top choices for Restaurants during your stay.
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We’ve compiled the best of the best in Istria - browse our top choices for Restaurants during your stay.
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 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 the 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.
Dinner here promises upscale, out-of-this-world, creatively presented Italian-Istrian dishes served in a special garden terrace setting just below famous St. Euphemia’s Church. Crisp white linen tablecloths on modern white wrought-iron patio tables dot the shady terrace. 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. Reservations are essential as this restaurant received Croatia's first Michelin star in 2017
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 Carrera ulica, Rovinj’s main street, turn right—opposite where all the crowds will be heading.
You won’t find a bad seat at this outdoor seafront restaurant with fantastic views of the Old Town. An extensive menu, the 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.
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, 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 as well as the daily grilled meat plate.
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.
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