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Best Local Foods to Try and Top Restaurant Recommendations in Croatia

Croatia is a food lover’s paradise. The country’s food is influenced by its coastal location as well as neighboring countries like Italy, Hungary, and Turkey. From seafood to hearty stews, you’ll find plenty of delicious local food that will make your trip even more special. Here are the top traditional dishes you should try in Croatia, along with recommendations on where to find the best local restaurants.

Peka: A Slow-Cooked Delight

Peka is a traditional Croatian dish cooked under a bell-like dome. It’s usually made with meat or seafood and vegetables, slow-cooked over hot coals. The smoke and flavors blend to perfection, creating tender, juicy meat that’s full of flavor.

Where to Try Peka

If you’re in the Split region, head to Konavoski Dvori or Konoba Roki’s on Vis island. Both places offer authentic peka that’s cooked the traditional way. Make sure you reserve in advance because peka takes a few hours to prepare.

Black Risotto: A Seafood Lover’s Dream

Black risotto (locally known as crni rižot) is made with cuttlefish ink, giving it a deep black color. This risotto is brimming with seafood flavors because it’s also cooked with fresh cuttlefish and shrimp. It’s rich, salty, and perfect for seafood lovers.

Where to Find the Best Black Risotto

Check out Konoba Matejuska in Split or Proto in Dubrovnik. Both of these restaurants have perfected black risotto. Don’t be shy about getting seconds!

Pasticada: A Hearty Dalmatian Dish

Pasticada is a beef dish from the Dalmatian region. The meat is marinated for hours in vinegar, wine, and herbs, then slow-cooked with vegetables. It’s served with gnocchi or homemade pasta and is incredibly flavorful and rich.

Where to Have Pasticada

In Split, head to Konoba Hvaranin. This restaurant specializes in Dalmatian cuisine and their pasticada is one of the best in town. You’ll love the melt-in-your-mouth beef!

Buzara: A Garlicky Seafood Mariner

Buzara is a simple, yet delicious, seafood dish with mussels or shrimp. It’s cooked in white wine, garlic, and parsley, making the seafood plump and juicy. Some restaurants even add breadcrumbs for an extra texture.

Top Spots for Buzara

For buzara, try Fife in Split or Gverović-Orsan in Dubrovnik. Both restaurants serve delicious seafood and their buzara is always fresh and packed with flavor.

Soparnik: A Croatian Vegetarian Classic

Soparnik is a type of savory pie filled with Swiss chard and onions. It originated from Dalmatia and is one of Croatia’s oldest traditional dishes. The pie is simple but packed with fresh flavors and makes for a great vegetarian option.

Where to Find Soparnik

If you are in the Omiš region, head to Konoba Kaštel Slanica. This family-run restaurant bakes soparnik the way it’s been done for centuries. You won’t want to miss this flaky, delicious pie!

Strukli: A Cheesy Croatian Favorite

Strukli is a pastry dish from the Zagreb region. It’s often filled with cottage cheese and can be either boiled or baked. You’ll find both savory and sweet versions, but the savory version is the most common.

Where to Enjoy Strukli

If you’re in Zagreb, try La Štruk. It’s a restaurant dedicated entirely to making different kinds of štrukli. You won’t regret trying their classic cheese version.

Cevapi: Grilled Meat Sausages

Cevapi are small grilled sausages made of minced beef or a mix of meats, often served on flatbread with raw onions, sour cream, and ajvar (a red pepper spread). It’s simple, flavorful, and one of the most beloved street food options in Croatia.

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Where to Find Great Cevapi

In Zagreb, hit up Plac or Vinodol. Both places serve mouth-watering cevapi. In Dubrovnik, visit Pantarul for a more elevated version of this street food favorite.

Pag Cheese: A Salty Gem from Pag Island

Produced on Pag Island, Pag cheese is one of the best hard cheeses in the world. It’s made from sheep’s milk and known for its sharp, salty flavor. Pair it with prosciutto and a glass of Dalmatian wine for the ultimate Croatian snack.

Where to Experience Pag Cheese

If you’re on Pag Island, check out Sirana Gligora, where this famous cheese is made. You can do a cheese tasting tour at their dairy, which is a fun and delicious way to learn about Croatia’s cheese-making tradition.

Paprenjak: Croatia’s Spicy Honey Cookie

This old-school Croatian cookie is made with honey, black pepper, walnuts, and spices. It’s one of the most unique cookies you’ll try and goes perfectly with a cup of coffee or tea.

Where to Find Paprenjak

For the best paprenjak, try Galerija Paprenjak in Zagreb. This small shop makes them fresh daily and offers plenty of free samples!

Blitva: A Staple Side Dish

Blitva is a traditional Croatian side dish made with Swiss chard, potatoes, garlic, and olive oil. It’s simple but full of flavor, and it’s a common side dish in many coastal areas.

Where to Try Blitva

You’ll find good blitva at almost any seafood restaurant along the coast, but for a standout version, visit Konoba Marjan in Split. They serve an amazing grilled fish with a side of blitva that’s simply amazing.

Fritule: Mini Donut Holes

Fritule are small fried dough balls that Croatians usually enjoy around Christmas. But if you’re lucky, some bakeries and stalls sell these little treats all year long. They’re usually dusted with powdered sugar and served hot.

Where to Find Fritule

In Zagreb, check out the daily markets like Dolac Market for vendors selling fresh fritule. In Split, head to one of the food stalls near the Riva where you’ll find vendors frying them up on the spot.

Top Local Drinks to Try

After eating all of Croatia’s amazing food, don’t forget to wash it down with some local drinks. Rakija is Croatia’s popular fruit brandy and comes in flavors like plum, fig, and walnut. For a lighter option, try Croatian wines such as Plavac Mali or Malvazija.

Best Places for Drinks

If you’re in Zagreb, check out Vinoteka Bornstein, a wine bar that has a great selection of locally made rakija and wines. In Split, visit Zinfandel Wine Bar for a glass of local wine paired with some cheese.

Croatian food is diverse and absolutely delicious. From hearty dishes like pasticada and peka to sweet treats like fritule and paprenjak, you’re sure to find something that delights your taste buds in Croatia. Make sure you save some room for dessert and don’t skip out on trying some local drinks after your meal!

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