Where to eat in Dubrovnik: what to order and where
Dubrovnik eats from the sea: black risotto, mussels, grilled fish and oysters from nearby Ston. The old town is expensive and busy, so book dinner and eat lunch somewhere simple. For the best value, look away from the Stradun, at the market and in the side streets.
The short answer
- Best area to eat
- The old town side streets for seafood, and Pile or Lapad for lower prices.
- Order this
- Black risotto, grilled fish by weight, and oysters from Ston.
- When to eat
- Lunch from 12:00, dinner from 19:00. Kitchens run late in summer.
- Book or walk in
- Book the Michelin-listed restaurants. Grill houses and harbor places take walk-ins.
- Tipping
- Round up or leave about 10 percent if service was good.
What to eat in Dubrovnik
- Black risottoRice cooked with cuttlefish ink and seafood. Rich, salty and the dish most places do best.
- Grilled fishWhole fish, priced by weight, grilled over coals and served with chard and potatoes. Ask to see the fish first.
- Oysters from StonFarmed in the bay near Ston and served raw with lemon. Best in the cooler months.
- BuzaraMussels or shrimp cooked in white wine, garlic and breadcrumbs. Eat it with bread.
- PašticadaBeef stewed slowly in wine, usually served with gnocchi. A heavier winter dish.
- RozataDubrovnik's custard dessert with a caramel top, close to a crème caramel.
- AranciniStrips of candied bitter orange peel, a Dubrovnik sweet sold at the market.
Where to eat in Dubrovnik, by neighborhood
Old town
Seafood restaurants, grill houses and wine bars. Prices are highest on the Stradun and fall in the side lanes and on the steps.
Ploče and the old port
Terraces facing the harbor and the sea, good for a long lunch. Book if you want a table at sunset.
Pile and Boninovo
A short walk from Pile Gate, with simpler restaurants and a few places that locals use.
Lapad
Seafront restaurants and cafes along the promenade, with lower prices than the old town.
Places worth a booking or a queue
-
Restaurant 360
€€€€Fine dining · Old town
OrderThe tasting menu
A Michelin-starred restaurant on the old town's fortifications, with views over the harbor. A once-in-a-trip meal.
- Book
- Book by phone or email, well ahead in summer
- Closed
- Monday
Confirmed open: 360dubrovnik.com
-
Lokanda Peskarija
€€Seafood restaurant · Old port
OrderBlack risotto or mussels
On the old harbor, serving mussels and seafood in metal bowls. The setting is the draw, and the food is straightforward.
- Book
- Online, or walk in off-peak
Confirmed open: lokandapeskarija.com
-
Taj Mahal
€Grill house · Old town
OrderGrilled meats and the plum baklava
A Bib Gourmand listing serving Balkan grills at moderate prices. It opens for lunch, so go midday.
- Book
- Walk in
Confirmed open: guide.michelin.com
-
Restaurant Sesame
€€Mediterranean restaurant · Near Pile Gate
OrderHandmade ravioli or the Dalmatian fish stew
A family-run place near Pile Gate, open from morning to midnight, useful when you want a proper meal at any hour.
- Book
- Walk in, or book for dinner
Confirmed open: absolute-croatia.com
Food markets in Dubrovnik
- Gundulić Square marketFruit, vegetables, honey, dried figs, lavender and candied orange peel under the statue in the old town. Go early for the produce.Monday to Saturday, morning to early afternoonSource: absolute-croatia.com
How Dubrovnik eats
- Meal timesLunch is a long meal from about 12:00. Dinner starts around 19:00 and runs late in summer.
- TippingLeave about 10 percent if service was good, or round the bill up. Say the total when you pay.
- ReservationsBook dinner at the well-known restaurants in summer. Simple places take walk-ins.
- Fish by weightWhole fish is priced per kilo. Ask the weight and price before you order.
Signs of a place to walk past
Menus with photos of the dishes by the door.
Staff on the Stradun calling you in from the pavement.
A fish priced with no weight or price per kilo on the menu.
Eating in Dubrovnik: questions people ask
What food is Dubrovnik known for?
Seafood, above all: black risotto, grilled fish, mussels and oysters from Ston. The local dessert is rozata, a custard with a caramel top.
Where is the best place to eat in Dubrovnik?
For a special meal, Restaurant 360. For a harbor lunch, Lokanda Peskarija. For a cheaper grill, Taj Mahal.
Do you need to book restaurants in Dubrovnik?
For the well-known restaurants at dinner in summer, yes. For grill houses and cafes, you can usually walk in.
How much do you tip in Dubrovnik?
About 10 percent for good service, or round up the bill. A service charge is not always added.
Is Dubrovnik expensive for food?
The old town costs more than the rest of Croatia. Lunch, the market and the grill houses are better value than dinner on the main street.