The 38 best Dubrovnik restaurants

One of Dubrovnik’s most prestigious restaurants, Nautika offers two panoramic terraces of starched white-tablecloth formality. Chef Mario Bunda insists on fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Shellfish star in dishes from shrimp risotto to St. Jacob's scallops, and meat lovers aren't forgotten either, with hearty entrees like veal fillet in wine sauce gracing the menu too. Diners can also opt between two types of tasting menus; one with five courses and one with seven.

At this top-drawer setting overlooking the harbour, you get top-drawer cuisine - Michelin-starred at that. Under the expert gastronomic stewardship of head chef Marijo Curić, you can expect modern Mediterranean dishes and contemporary refashions of Croatian classics. The menu is meticulously sourced, painstakingly created and immaculately presented. Pro tip: beg for a booth in the gun chambers.

Seafood-oriented Proto claims a tradition dating back to 1886, and it was here that Edward VIII entertained Wallis Simpson in the 1930s. As well as lobster in simple, superbly-balanced sauces, there's fresh shellfish from Mali Ston up the coast. You can spend an enjoyable hour over the fisherman platter for two and the extensive wine list covers just about every quality wine that Croatia has to offer. An award-winning sommelier is quick to offer up smart suggestions, pairing both domestic and international wines with meat and fish specialities.

Beside Dubrovnik Cathedral with its glittering treasury, Bura Bistro & Bar is a recently opened top spot in the historic Old Town serving sensational seasonal food, innovative wines and quality cocktails. Named after an Adriatic wind, Bura is overseen and co-owned by professional sommelier Marin, who has travelled the globe inspired by good food. Bura’s concise menu changes throughout the year, underscored by the long-standing relationship Marin and his team have developed with local farmers and producers. The daily catch is just that, fresh fish and seafood arriving every morning from the Adriatic lapping close by. In summer, tapas-style dishes come into their own, most notably ceviche, here prepared with authentic expertise. The wine list is particularly well-chosen, sold by the glass whether red, white, sparkling or rosé. The speciality is orange wines, produced by leaving the grape skins and seeds in contact with the juice, resulting in a deep orange-tinted finish. Equal care is taken over the cocktails and live jazz every evening only embellishes the experience.

One of the fine-dining addresses that more than deserves its Michelin Guide-listed status, Restaurant Dubrovnik spoils you with attention right from the start, with a guest greeter at the bottom of the stairs, a maître d waiting for you at the top and a qualified sommelier available along with your waiter. Fortunately, this is more than just fancy-restaurant theatre; the food here is genuinely show-stopping. The menu is classicly-European with Adriatic leanings: signature mains stick to classic choices like sea bass, steak and duck; while an armoury of the creative invention is brought to bear on presentation and accompanying flavours.

Bowa sits in a secluded bay of crystalline waters and round, small pebbles on Šipan, the farthest and largest of the three Elafiti islands. Šipan’s fishermen deliver fresh daily catch, and the nowadays atypical dishes like the cuttlefish orzotto or the fig and ginger salad promise to indulge demanding palates. No need to announce your visit for a lunch at the terrace, but call ahead and prepare to splurge to meet the minimum spend at one of the elevated cabanas. Apart from the prices, the only thing to mind in this bay might be the few too many Instagram-pleasing floaties and the accompanying photoshoots. On the way there, take a dip at one of the wild beaches on the mainland, such as Dobra, or at Koločep island's (Kalamota's) Blue Cave, illuminated inside with an electric blue, and visit the quaint Suđurađ town afterwards, where the nobility of Dubrovnik’s glory era spent their idle summer days.

The challenge of dishing out creative cuisine in a tourist-trudged corner of the Old Town has been well-met by the team at Michelin Guide-listed Tavulin. It’s with the evening spread that Tavulin’s keep-it-local-but-be-inventive philosophy comes to the fore, with signature dishes like mussels in white sauce and a standout octopus ragout.

This superbly-located eatery sits by the Rector's Palace in the heart of Dubrovnik’s historic centre. It's also within easy reach of the sea. Tuck into reasonably priced Mediterranean-Asian fusion cuisine before bathing in the afternoon sun or enjoying a nightcap overlooking the waves.

Located in the heart of the Old Town, in the former Convent of St. Claire, this elegant restaurant offers a full range of fresh Adriatic fish, clams and crabs, along with locally-sourced vegetables. Succulent and substantial main dishes can be enjoyed casually on the courtyard terrace, while those after a quick bite can pop into the adjacent snack bar. 

Fresh Adriatic fish is the key attraction here, although the many local regulars are also drawn to prices somewhat lower than in town, and the picturesque setting of the ACI Marina. It’s all a
short drive or modest taxi journey from the Gruž side of Dubrovnik. Get here quick and the two types of daily catch should still be available, the lobster is served with homemade pasta and shrimp sauce, and two of you can share the fresh meat selection featuring steak, veal and Slavonian pork. Don’t miss the langoustine soup, or there’s a shareable appetiser of the traditional Croatian platter of Dalmatian pršut and spicy Slavonian sausage drizzled with top-quality olive oil. The wine list is decent or you can go for wine-pairing combinations.