Discover the food and drink of Croatia

Get a real taste for the region with these must-try dishes and places to dine

(Croatian National Tourist Board)

With freshly caught Adriatic seafood, local seasonal fruit and vegetables, and the abundant use of olive oil, when it comes to food and drink in Croatia, you’re in for a real treat.

Fish such as sea bream, sea bass and John Dory are normally simply grilled, drizzled with olive oil and served with a wedge of lemon. Some of the best places to eat fish are rustic seasonal eateries on the islands, where the owner-cook is also a fisherman, so you’re guaranteed that morning’s catch. Some of the best include Restoran More on Rab; Konoba Stončica on Vis; and Konoba Triton on Lastovo, all of which have moorings out front.

Beside grilled fish, expect plenty of risotto and pasta dishes, bearing witness to the centuries spent under Venice. Be sure to try crni rižot (black risotto made from cuttlefish ink). Another popular Venetian dish is brodet, a rich fish casserole, best made from monkfish or red scorpionfish (or if you’re really lucky, lobster), stewed in onion, tomato and white wine, and served with polenta. Try it at Macondo in Hvar Town or Kod Damira in Stari Grad, both on Hvar. Other seafood dishes include octopus salad, tuna carpaccio, and fresh oysters from Ston.

(Croatian National Tourist Board (Croatian National Tourist Board)

Meat lovers will relish pršut (similar to Italian prosciutto), normally served with Paški sir (sheep’s cheese from Pag) as an appetiser. Also look out for tasty spit-roast janjetina (lamb) on Brač, Pag and Cres and the Kornati islets, and pašticada (beef stewed in wine and prunes) served with gnocchi — try it at Konoba Mate in Pupnat on Korčula. Or, for a total gourmet feast, Croatia now has three Michelin-starred restaurants: Monte in Rovinj; Pelegrini in Šibenik (above); and 360° in Dubrovnik. All serve contemporary cuisine, prepared from fresh local seasonal produce, exquisitely presented.

As all boats have basic cooking facilities, you can also dine aboard. Shopping is part of the fun — buy summery peaches, apricots and watermelon, along with succulent tomatoes, cucumber and peppers from waterside stalls. And for extra-special sweet treats, call at Nonica on Hvar or Cukar on Vis. Also remember that Croatia produces some excellent wines, notably reds from Pelješac peninsula, whites from Korčula, and both reds and whites from Hvar. As you sail between the islands, you’ll find family run wineries open for tasting — and you can buy direct from them.

For more information go to croatia.hr

* This content was commissioned and approved by the Croatian National Tourist Board