no alt text

Bucket list experience:

Fresh Mediterranean fishes on traditional BBQ fireplace, oiling with virgin olive oil, selective focus

Last updated: 29 May, 2023
Expert travel writer: Jane Foster

Split is part of the coastal Dalmatia region, meaning local cuisine is dominated by fish and seafood. Classic Mediterranean flavours – tomatoes, parsley, garlic and rosemary – are often paired with fish.

Dalmatian ham is as salty and delicious as prosciutto; platters of ham, local cheese and olives is a popular starter. Deep-fried fritters are a favourite sweet snack, sharp with lemon zest and Schnappes.

Traditional hearty Dalmatian dishes are served in atmospheric, family-run konobas – rustic taverns with exposed stone walls and wooden tables and benches. Croatia’s Italian heritage is seen in pizzerias and gelaterias on every street.

What to try

Local specialities include prsut (similar to Italian prosciutto), srdela na zaru (barbecued sardines), blitva (Swiss chard) and paaticada (beef stewed in sweet wine and prunes and served with gnocchi).

Order Brujet, the dish of the Croatian coast – a deliciously rich and garlicky fish stew made with a variety of white reef and rock fish, often with prawns and mussels too.

Also see our round-up of traditional Croatian foods you must try in Croatia.

Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 13+
When: All year around
Duration: -

Getting there & doing it

In Split’s car-free Old Town, there’s a plethora of eateries serving traditional Dalmatian cooking with an emphasis on seafood, as well as plenty of busy cafés and small romantic bars – most have outdoor tables.

Along the coast, you’ll find more modern restaurants with an international slant serving contemporary Mediterranean cuisine – some have impressive sea-view terraces. For noise reasons, Split’s half-dozen late-night clubs are also on the coast, outside the historic centre.

When to do it

Dinner is the main meal of the day, and usually eaten later in the evening – between 20.30-22.30. If you arrive at a restaurant before then, it will generally be tourists who are eating.

Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first

Hotel Peristil

Split, Dalmatia, Croatia

Cosy welcoming old-fashioned hotel and restaurant, located within Diocletian’s Palace, between the cathedral and open-air market.

Official star rating:

Divota Apartment Hotel

Split, Dalmatia, Croatia

Hip aparthotel in a cluster of old stone cottages with minimalist interiors, plus a garden spa offering Oriental wellness activities

Official star rating:

Hotel Marmont Heritage

Split, Dalmatia, Croatia

Slick, comfortable hotel with a popular restaurant in the heart of Split’s glorious old town. The perfect base to explore the city. Adults only.

Official star rating:

Hotel Park

Split, Dalmatia, Croatia

Graceful 1920’s hotel offering luxurious modern comforts, in a garden above Bacvice beach, near Split’s old town and ferry port.

Official star rating:

Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Split

Dalmatia, Croatia

With ancient architecture, Adriatic island-hopping and adventure sports galore, Split makes a superb seaside base.

Website >
Overview >