The 10 Best Restaurants In Rijeka, Croatia

Befittingly nestled between Rijeka’s marina and fish market, popular local restaurant Bistro Mornar has been serving its seafood focused fare since 1945 and boasts a recently renovated space brimming with rustic charm. Traditional, local recipes make up much of Bistro Mornar’s menu, such as wholesome, homemade soups to start, and dishes showcasing the catch of the day, like oven-baked octopus, mussels or squid risotto. Guests who like their meals a little more meaty can opt for dishes like gnocchi with goulash or pašticada – a classic Dalmatian beef stew served with potato croquettes.

Authentic Italian eats – think homemade pasta, carpaccio and Adriatic seafood – are the order of the day to Ristorante Spagho. Chef Edvin Žigante brings his Italian roots to the restaurant’s delicious menu with standout dishes that include risotto with Adriatic shrimp, zucchini, white wine, garlic, sour cream, olive oil and parmesan. There’s also a range of Croatian and international wines to complete your meal. Ristorante Spagho’s space is just as authentic as its cuisine – a stone-clad dining room offers a cozy setting while its street-side terrace is perfect for al fresco dining on warmer evenings.

A carnivore’s paradise, Grill Lovorka cooks up traditional Balkan and Croatian cuisine with a special focus on barbecued meats. Start with a selection of meze to share : venison prosciutto, cheese from Pag Island and spicy Slavonian salami are just a few tempting small plates. Then move on to a meaty main such as ćevapčići (grilled Balkan sausages served with flatbread) and mućkalica (a spicy Serbian stew of barbecued meat and vegetables). Poultry and seafood dishes like turkey in gorgonzola sauce and grilled squid are also served, while sides include the likes of boiled potatoes, grilled zucchini and Macedonian-style baked beans.

For nutritious, wholesome eats, head on down to Priroda i Društvo – a health-conscious cafe and juice bar. Choices of soups, salads and sandwiches are served alongside over fifty different juices and smoothies like the Iron Man (with apple, kiwi, grapes and cucumber) and La Vita e Bella (pear, pineapple and strawberry). Expect hearty broths like tomato and roasted red pepper, or kohlrabi and Jerusalem artichoke salads. There are also sandwiches with fillings like tuna, garlic, arugula, corn and tomato or cottage cheese, chives, tofu rocket and alfalfa sprouts.

Konoba Feral is located in a gorgeous, cozy building dating back to 1789. The restaurant has become a popular haunt for local cuisine and live folk music. Mediterranean and Croatian fare crafted from local, organic produce makes up the menu, with a particular focus on fresh seafood dishes like tuna and swordfish skewers, cod goulash and grilled squid – perfect washed down with a glass or two of Konoba Feral’s Croatian wines.