When hunger strikes after a day spent exploring Split’s labyrinthine streets, palaces and natural landscapes, you need a quality place to refuel. The ancient streets of this Croatian city still thrum with local life, and, in the city’s blossoming restaurant scene, chefs, sommeliers and culture-makers create a variety of traditional and international cuisine. Read on to discover some of Split’s best restaurants.
Owned and run by regional winemaker and sommelier Monika, this city-centre bolthole is a true local icon. Serving over 50 different wines, many of which are cultivated on Monika’s own family estate, MoNIKa’s offers a great introduction to the region’s flavours through wine tasting sessions and tapas pairings. With a modern Provençal-style interior, this wine-and-tapas bar feels equal parts cosy and effortless.
Bokamorra’s funky Art Deco interior, backed with a towering stained-glass bar serving over 150 spirits, is superseded only by the epic views over the Adriatic Sea through its floor-to-ceiling glass frontage. Pizza is the only thing on the menu here, but with premium ingredients, top-end cocktails and a dough that’s been aged for over 48 hours, at Bokamorra, no other cuisine will compare.
The sister restaurant of Croatian icon Zinfandel, Brasserie on 7 has become a star in its own right sitting in one of the most picturesque spots on the Riva waterfront promenade. Using French gastronomic principles to highlight Croatian cuisine, the food here is a sensation. Particular specialities include a chilled seafood platter for two and French-Croatian fusion desserts and cakes made on the premises.
After a day spent lounging on Bačvice Beach, head east up the winding coastal path for dinner at Dvor. Enjoy stunning views over their romantic lantern-lit courtyard and beyond to the islands of Šolta and Brač on the horizon as you peruse the traditional Dalmatian menu. Specialities include fresh fish, steaks and poultry expertly cooked in view on the open grill in the garden, with a hearty selection of Croatian wines to complete the local offering.
It’s not always easy to find vegan and vegetarian options in a country that prides itself on seafood and hearty meat stews. But Marta’s Veggie Fusion offers a colourful array of excellent options from beetroot burgers to smoked tofu and chia puddings. Stop here for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with gluten-free options also available. Marta’s is superbly located just off Split’s famous Peristil Square, so it can get busy during peak hours.
Located in a 19th-century Dalmatian House just beyond the palace walls, Konoba Matejuska elevates home-cooked classics with a menu that celebrates local produce from the Dalmatian countryside, Croatian vineyards and the glittering Adriatic Sea. The black risotto is a must-try here, among with many of the restaurant’s daily specials. Dinner at family-run, rustic Matejuska feels like eating at your own grandmother’s house, but with limited seating that spills out onto the street, you’ll need to book ahead to ensure your place at this table.