Where to eat in Zagreb: what to order and where
Zagreb eats continental: štrukli, grilled meats, soups and good wine, with fish brought up from the coast. The Dolac market is the start of any food visit. Book dinner at the Michelin-listed places and look for plain taverns on the side streets of the Upper Town.
The short answer
- Best area to eat
- The Lower Town and the streets around Dolac market and Tkalčićeva.
- Order this
- Štrukli, a baked cheese pastry, and grilled meats.
- When to eat
- Lunch from 12:00, dinner from 19:00. Kitchens close by 22:00 in small places.
- Book or walk in
- Book the Michelin-listed places. Cafes and market stalls take walk-ins.
- Tipping
- Round up or leave about 10 percent if service was good.
What to eat in Zagreb
- ŠtrukliA dough pastry filled with fresh cheese, baked or boiled. Zagreb's best-known dish, found in taverns and at the market.
- Zagrebački odrezakA veal or pork cutlet stuffed with ham and cheese, breaded and fried. Heavy and filling.
- Purica s mlincimaRoast turkey with baked flatbread, a Zagorje classic served in traditional taverns.
- ČobanacA meat stew with paprika, cooked slowly and served in a bowl with bread.
- KremšnitaA custard cream cake with a flaky pastry top, found in cafes and bakeries.
- ĆevapiSmall grilled minced-meat sausages with onion and flatbread, a cheap quick meal.
- Kajmak and fresh cheeseSoft cream cheese sold at Dolac, eaten with bread.
Where to eat in Zagreb, by neighborhood
Tkalčićeva and Dolac
The best-known food street, with traditional restaurants, wine bars and the market a few steps away. Book dinner.
Lower Town
Bistros and modern restaurants around Masarykova and the parks. Good for a lunch menu.
Upper Town
A few traditional taverns and cafes on the hill, quieter in the evening.
Outer districts and hill suburbs
Family-run restaurants on Vrhovec and Tuškanac that locals drive to for Sunday lunch.
Places worth a booking or a queue
-
Vinodol
€€Traditional restaurant · Tkalčićeva
OrderŠtrukli or a plate of grilled meat
A long-running restaurant near Tkalčićeva serving Croatian and Dalmatian classics, with a terrace in warm weather.
- Book
- Online, or phone
Confirmed open: vinodol-zg.hr
-
Dubravkin Put
€€€Fine dining · Tuškanac park
OrderThe seasonal tasting menu or the raw fish
A Michelin-listed restaurant on a green terrace in a park, with a large wine list.
- Book
- Book by phone
Confirmed open: guide.michelin.com
-
Tač
€€Family restaurant · Vrhovec
OrderGrilled meat and the offal dishes
A family-run place on a hill outside the center with generous traditional cooking. A taxi ride out, and worth it for a long lunch.
- Book
- Book by phone
Confirmed open: guide.michelin.com
-
Beštija
€€Bistro · Lower Town
OrderThe seasonal plates
A bistro in a courtyard off Masarykova, listed by Michelin, with local ingredients and a young crowd.
- Book
- Book for dinner
- Closed
- Monday
Confirmed open: guide.michelin.com
Food markets in Zagreb
- DolacThe city's main produce market, with fruit, vegetables, cheese, honey, flowers and fresh pasta. Fish and meat are on the lower levels. Go in the morning, before 13:00.Daily; longer hours Monday to Saturday, shorter on SundaySource: visitzagreb.hr
How Zagreb eats
- Meal timesLunch is the main meal, from about 12:00. Dinner is around 19:00 and ends early in small places.
- TippingLeave about 10 percent if service was good, or round up.
- ReservationsBook dinner at Michelin-listed places and on weekends. Cafes take walk-ins.
- Coffee cultureA coffee in Zagreb is a long sit, not a takeaway. Order one and stay as long as you like.
Signs of a place to walk past
Menus with photos of the dishes outside the door.
Staff on Tkalčićeva calling you in from the pavement.
Štrukli sold as a frozen or pre-made dish with no baking time.
Eating in Zagreb: questions people ask
What food is Zagreb known for?
Štrukli, a baked cheese pastry, is the signature dish. Otherwise it is continental cooking: grilled meats, soups and the Zagreb cutlet.
Where is the best place to eat in Zagreb?
For tradition, Vinodol. For fine dining, Dubravkin Put. For a family lunch out of town, Tač.
Do you need to book restaurants in Zagreb?
For the Michelin-listed places at dinner, yes, especially at weekends. Cafes and market stalls take walk-ins.
How much do you tip in Zagreb?
About 10 percent for good service, or round up the bill.
Is Zagreb cheap for food?
It costs less than the coast. A lunch menu in the Lower Town is the best value.