Last week, we published the first 5 of the top ten best taverns on Croatian islands, selected by the Croatian newspaper Jutarnji list, which compiles a list of the best in Croatia every year (as reported by Dnevnik). This time, we are adding the remaining 5, rounding out the selection of the ten best taverns.
We must emphasize that the featured taverns and restaurants are not ranked in any specific order. This means that the one in 6th place is not necessarily better than the one in 7th or 8th. Nevertheless, and despite the fact that ratings can be highly subjective—dependent on the timing of the visit or the ‘daily form’ of the hosts—they still provide a valuable guide to where you can enjoy top-quality food and spend a lovely evening after a day of sailing.
This time, Part 2:
- Giaxa, Hvar
Experts suggest trying scallops, monkfish, lamb, gregada (a local fish stew), or Hvar-style semifreddo in the second-best-rated restaurant in Hvar. Giaxa also offers around 90 different wines, ranging in price from 20 to 200 euros. On Lonely Planet, they recommend the lobster and a visit to the exceptional garden behind the palace, built in the 15th century. In addition to a complete range of fish dishes, they also offer, unusually for the Croatian coast, about half a dozen meat-based main courses. They operate from mid-April to the end of October.
- Konoba Boba, Murter
It is said that the best dish at the top tavern in Murter is the tuna tartare. Naturally, they boast that the fish on their tables comes from the daily catch of local fishermen, served as carpaccio or sushi. To diversify, they have recently added a meat menu, featuring Black Angus beef. They have an outdoor grill and kitchen, and all the vegetables are reportedly sourced from their garden. On Thursdays, they host jazz evenings. The main courses do not exceed 20 euros, and they have a selection of 100 different wine labels—the most expensive being around 100 euros.
- Lola Konoba & Bar, Vis
Where there is room for one, there is room for another. If Pojoda is full, guests can settle for Lola, which has been operating on the island since 2012. A simple yet modern Mediterranean cuisine, where you can start with octopus carpaccio (15 euros) or sardine salad (10 euros), and for the main course, grilled fish or baked fish (25 euros), or steak (20 euros). Jutarnji praises their fish casserole, and they offer 14 different wine labels, with the most expensive bottle costing 50 euros.
- Taverna Riva, Bol on Brač
The best tavern on Brač, located by one of the most beautiful sandy beaches we presented in our first blog, offers around 100 different bottles of wine—Croatian, Italian, and French. The most expensive is around 300 euros (Dom Perignon 2000). The food is much cheaper, with the most expensive main course costing around 15 euros. However, reviewers were not entirely convinced, giving it only a two-star rating, although their understanding of local cuisine seems interesting: pumpkin gnocchi with four cheeses, gnocchi with lobster, boiled lamb, veal under the bell, and grilled lamb offal.
- Palmižana Meneghello, Pakleni Islands
Many tourists choose Hvar to take daily trips to the nearby small, Robinson-style Pakleni Islands. This is also a great opportunity for those with their own boats. The Palmižana Meneghello restaurant has its own pier, where both yachts and sailboats can be docked. The food offerings are typical. Along with all the Adriatic fish dishes, they also grill steaks (around 30 euros). Their Palmižana gregada (fish stew) is highly praised. They offer thirty different bottles of wine, with the most expensive one costing around 300 euros.
We hope that at least one of the ten recommended taverns finds its way onto your holiday itinerary along the Adriatic. Try it out, enjoy it, and finally, share your own opinion with us.
And if you haven’t chosen your boat yet, find one here!