Split restaurants: where to eat in Split

Split restaurants are exciting. Anytime we travel south, we make a detour to Split just to try out another restaurant in Split. However, you need to know one thing about restaurant’s offer in Split (and elsewhere in Croatia): 90% of the Split restaurants serve the same menu. It is a grill, pizza, pasta or risotto. Full stop. For this reason, if you like to eat differently and well during your visit to Split (and Croatia in general), do your research beforehand.

Locals favorite Split restaurants

Locals favorite Split restaurants

Every town has restaurants that are trying harder than others to stay true to themselves and their heritage, using local produce, serving traditional and regional dishes either in a fine dining manner or in a casual setting. Below is our list of Split restaurants not to miss on your next visit to Split.

Split restaurants: upscale & fine dining

Zrno soli

Zrno soli is a fine dining restaurant located in town’s marina. Restaurant has a beautiful terrace overlooking the sea, boats in the marina and the town. The view over the lighted town is especially nice at nighttime. The food is fresh, well cooked, innovative, but it is not spectacular. However, it is a very good restaurant with beautiful views and friendly and efficient service. This is an upscale restaurant and the prices are high (as expected for such a place). This is one of the fine dining Split restaurants.

Contacts | a: Uvala baluni 8, Split | t: +385 21 399 333 | e: [email protected]

Restaurant Dvor

Restaurant Dvot is located 20 minutes walk from the old town. Dvor has a beautiful outdoor garden seating with views over the sea. Make a reservation in advance to get one of their best tables. The restaurant has a stunning location, good food and attentive staff. Their meat and fish dishes are excellent, many are prepared on a charcoal grill, and they have very good desserts. The place is not cheap, but it is a good value for money.

Contacts | a: Put Firula 14 | t: +385 21 571 513 | e: [email protected] | Facebook Page

Restaurant Kadena

Restaurant Kadena is located in Zenta neighborghood. This is an upscale restaurant, serving Croatian classic dishes in an elegant way. From the outdoor terrace, Kadena offers wonderful views over the sea, and nearby islands of Brac and Solta. While we can only say the best things about Kadena’s food and service, we find that the restaurant is rather too large for our taste.

Contacts | a:Ivana pl. Zajca 4, Split | t: +385 21 389 400 | Website

Konoba Nikola Stobrec

This family-run tavern is one of the most popular places to have seafood in and around Split. The seafood here is fresh, local, and simply as good as it gets. Food here is prepared in a simple way, so fish remains flavorful, and tender. A bit hard to find, and out of Split, in neighboring Stobrec, but well worth the trip.

Contacts | a: Ivankova 42, Stobrec, | t: +385 91 1110 113 | Tripadvisor

 Split restaurants: mid-scale local taverns

Tavern Fetivi (ex. Matejuska)

Split Restaurants | Tavern Matejuska

Split Restaurants | Tavern Matejuska

Tavern Fetivi (ex. Matejuska) is located close to the harbor. It’s a small, family-run restaurant with great atmosphere and excellent food. The restaurant can accommodate approximately 30 people, half inside, and half at their outdoor terrace. Reservations are needed, especially during the summer. Tavern offers traditional regional dishes mostly based on a seafood, but they have meat dishes as well. Offer changes with the season. Food is prepared in a simple way. Everything served here is very fresh and tasty. Service is friendly and prices are affordable. House wine is cheap and of a good quality. It is one of the highly recommended Split restaurants.

Contacts | a: Tomića Stine 3 | t: +385 21 355 152 | Facebook Page

Villa Spiza

Split Restaurants | Villa Spiza in Split

Split Restaurants | Villa Spiza in Split

Villa Spiza is a tiny, charming restaurant located in a small alley in the old town. This little hole in the wall place could be a bit difficult to find, but don’t just give up. If you get lost, just ask locals. There are only two tables for two outside and a counter seating for 7-8 inside. Counter seating inside has a direct views over the kitchen. The food is fresh and locally sourced. There is a daily menu based on what’s available and fresh. If you are looking for a fine dining and intimate atmosphere, this is not a place for you. But if you like authentic, fresh and unpretentious food, prepared in a simple way, this is a place to choose. Prices are reasonable. Portions are a bit moderate, but it is still great value for money. This is one of the must visit Split restaurants.

Contacts | Kružićeva 3 | m: +385 91 152 1249 | Facebook Page

Tavern Kod Hvaranina

Split Restaurants | Tavern Kod Hvaranina

Split Restaurants | Tavern Hvaranin

Tavern Kod Hvaranina is a shabby looking restaurant, just out of the Palace walls. Restaurant has a really weary look, but the food is very good. Besides, I like places with such an interior as they make me feel nostalgic, reminding me of some other times. It is a small, family-run restaurant, and you feel it. The service is really warm and welcoming. The food is homely, fresh and tasty. They serve a very good traditional baby beef stew with gnocchi (Cro. pasticada). Seafood served here comes from local fishermen. Prices are reasonable. Cash only.

Contacts | a: Ban Mladenova 9, Split | m: +385 91 767 5891

Uje Oil Bar

Split Restaurants | Uje Oil Bar

Split Restaurants | Uje Oil Bar

Uje Oil Bar is a tapas style restaurant, located at the heart of Split old town. It opened recently, in May 2013. The place has a very good vibe, friendly staff, tasty food, excellent choice of olive oils and wines. The food is served on wooden boards, and in a tinware. The warm dishes’ menu is updated daily, while cold cuts, marinated fish, and a choice of olive oils are available daily. Prices are reasonable.

Contacts | a: Dominisova 3, Split | m: +385 95 200 8008 | Facebook Page

Tavern Buffet Fife

Split Restaurants - Buffet Fife Split

Split Restaurants – Buffet Fife Split

Tavern Buffet Fife is located just outside the town walls and a 3-minute walk from the seafront promenade. This place is an institution for people of Split. It’s been there for ages and locals love eating here. The restaurant is as authentic as it gets, and the prices are very affordable. It has a lively vibe, and sometimes grumpy staff, but it is all the part of the folklore. It is an excellent place to try local cuisine. Ingredients are fresh, locally sourced, and the portions are massive. This is one of Split restaurants where locals and tourists mingle together.

Contacts | a: Trumbiceva obala 11, Split | t: +385 21 345 223

Tavern Stare Grede

Tavern Stare Grede is located 1 km from the old town. It is rustically decorated tavern, with rustic wooden benches and tables, and stone walls. This restaurant is very popular with locals. The place is family-run and the food is homemade. During the winter they often have game on menu, as the owner is a hunter. Everything is made from scratch and the produce is locally sourced.

Contacts | a: Domovinskog Rata 46, Split | t: +385 21 485 501 | Facebook Page

Konoba Matoni

This lovely tavern with vaulted ceilings is located near Bacvice beach. It’s offers a typical Dalmatian (Mediterranean) dishes, made of fresh, locally sourced ingredients. It’s a real gem, and one of the rare places in Split where vegetarians (and even vegans) can indulge in more succulent and elaborate food (instead of eating side dishes in fish / meat focused restaurants). Menu changes seasonally.

Contacts | a: Prilaz brace Kaliterna, Split, | t: +385 21 278 457 | Website

Corto Maltese

Opened in April 2015, Corto Maltese quickly gained regular patrons for its cozy interior, laid-back atmosphere, friendly stuff, great food, big portions, and affordable prices. Food is fresh and made on spot. Corto Maltese is more of a hang out place than your typical restaurant. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but you can also just pop up here for a coffee, or a local beer. Good value for money.

Contacts | a: Obrov ul. 7, Split, | t: +385 21 587 201 | Tripadvisor

Food & Wine Bars

Wine & Cheese Bar Paradox

Split Restaurants | Wine Bar Paradox

Split Restaurants | Photo credit: Wine & Cheese Bar Paradox

Wine & Cheese Bar Paradox is the the most popular Split restaurant on Tripadvisor. This is not a full-service restaurant. It is a wine & cheese bar, offering over 100 wine labels (many of them served by glass) and choice of small bites (cheese, prosciutto, olives, etc.). It is well located, just few minutes walk from the Palace. Staff is very knowledgeable and eager to help you to choose food and pairing wines. This is very helpful, especially if you are not familiar with Croatian wines. It can be crowded on summer evenings, especially over the weekend.

Contacts | a: Poljana Tina Ujevica 2, Split | t: 021 395 854 | e: [email protected] | Facebook Page

Food & Wine Bar Zinfandel

Split Restaurants | Wine Bar Zinfandel

Split Restaurants | Wine & Food Bar Zinfandel

Food & Wine Bar Zinfandel is located in the old part of Split. The place is modern and chic. Design is contemporary with brick walls and big floor to ceiling windows that can open completely. Zinfandel has over 100 international and Croatian wines on offer, as well as wide choice of seasonal tapas and cold platters. Look for their lunch time specials when you get a free glass of house wine with food, or sometimes they just put all the items on the menu at the half price.

Contacts | a: Ulica Marka Marulica 2, Split | t: 385 21 355 135 | Facebook Page

Bokeria Kitchen & Wine

Split Restaurants | Bokeria Kitchen & WIne

Split Restaurants | Bokeria Kitchen & Wine

Bokeria is a new star on Split’s restaurants sky. Open in 2015, the owners of this place were inspired by Barcelona’s famed market – La Boqueira. This is the exact vibe they created in their restaurant in Split. Two-story interior is beautifully decorated, modern and airy. The menu includes a selection of Croatian tapas-style dishes, but also full meals. Menu changes seasonally. Excellent choice of Croatian wines!

Contacts | a: Domaldova 8, Split | t: +385 21 355 577 | Facebook

Fast food & cheap eateries in Split

Rizzo Sandwiches

Rizzo has been serving sandwiches in Split since 1992, and today it has four locations in Split. They have a great homemade bread (secret of a good sandwich is in a good bread), and a variety of subway style sandwiches, as well as bruschettas. Sandwiches come in two sizes: big, and small. Prices vary from 12 to 20 kn depending on stuffing. You can also choose extra ingredients for additional 2 kn per ingredient.

Contacts | a: Tonciceva 4, Split, | Tripadvisor

Kod None

A no-frill grab-and-go kind of place serving good old greasy full-of-carb food, like fried calamari, pizza, cevapi (sausage-shaped grilled minced meat), pljeskavica (Balkan-style patties), soparnik (Swiss chard pie), and alike. Great place if you feel like having a bite on the go, getting full quickly for very little money.

Contacts | a: Bosanska 4, Split,

Tavern Tri Volta

Tavern Tri Volta (Zalogajnica Dioklecijan) is a truly special place for people of Split. This restaurant has been here for 40 years. There is no fancy signs, and very few tourist come in. The place is not decorated in a fashionable way. Crowd is mixed, young and old, many people know each other, and the atmosphere is convivial. Food is honest, homemade, it is an excellent place to taste a working class Dalmatian plates. I love this place and the story about it. For those of you who understand Croatian, there is an excellent interview with the owner of the restaurant in Slobodna Dalmacija.

Contacts | a: Dosud 9, Split | t: +385 21 346 683

Restaurant Makrovega

Restaurant Makrovega is the only fully vegetarian restaurant in Split. Since there are plenty of vegetarians visiting Split, I think it is important to list it here. Although it wouldn’t be my first choice. They offer snacks and sandwiches, as well as daily buffet.

Contacts | a: Leština 2, Split | t: +385 21 394 440 | Website

Kantun Paulina

Kantun Paulina, located in Varos neighborhood, is a take-away joint, serving the best cevapi in Split for over 37 years. They also serve other fast food like beef patties, and grilled chicken breasts. It’s cheap. There is always a queue (should be a good sign!).

Contacts | a: Matosica 1, Split

Split restaurants: Location on the map

Have you eaten in any of Split restaurants? What kind of restaurants do you choose when visiting a new place? Let us know in the comments below.

Further reading

  • Learn all Split essentials with our Split Travel Guide.
  • Plan your activities in Split with our detailed guide to things to do in Split.
  • If you plan to stay in Split, check a list of recommended accommodation in Split Croatia.
  • Find out where to eat in Split with our post on best restaurants in Split.
  • Detailed info on Split beaches you’ll find here.
  • A list of Split bars and clubs.