16 Best Restaurants in Kvarner, Croatia

Quite possibly the most romantic restaurant in Rab Town, this spot has a garden terrace located right next to the ancient city walls. Soft intimate lighting and linen-topped tables accompany traditional Mediterranean cuisine served in a modern style. The wine list showcases the region's award-winners and the staff is eager to help guests select the best option. 

Cres is famous for its lamb, and although the majority of restaurants have it on the menu, Bukaleta is the place for the best on the island. Located in the small village of Loznati, just 10 km (6 miles) south of Cres Town, Bukaleta has been run by the same family for more than 30 years. The cozy interior is rustic with a large open fireplace, a collection of old tools and pots and its namesake bukaleta, a traditional jug made of clay from which wine is normally shared around the table. The large outdoor terrace can accommodate 100 people.

Tucked away in an alley right next to Rijeka's fish market, quaint Fiume fills with locals at lunchtime but closes early (by 6 pm). Unpretentious and friendly with a small streetside terrace, the tavern serves mostly seafood but also meat and pasta dishes. Prices are pleasantly affordable, and it's an atmospheric spot for the family to enjoy.

Tucked away in a narrow side street between Srednja and Gornja in Rab Town, this konoba is warm and inviting, with exposed-stone walls, traditional decor, and rustic furniture. Grilled fish and meat are the house specialties, and the menu offers a good choice of pastas and risotto.

In the neighborly village of Volosko, where old stone houses are fixed precariously close to one another and give shape to the one road, this restaurant justifies spending an afternoon or evening in a setting that is not to be missed. The intimate artistic atmosphere tells you everything you need to know about the owners and how sincere they are about sharing good food, much of which is produced on their family farm in Istria. Don't forget to take home a pint or two of their homemade pistachio or hazelnut gelato.

Many locals consider Nada's outdoor terrace the best place to enjoy a glass of crisp Žlahtina wine, island cheeses, seafood crudo, and homemade bread on a late summer afternoon. The sweeping views from its cliffside perch are magnificent and the homemade wines are refreshing. Just across the street, the main restaurant offers a sophisticated indoor seating area and a front terrace lined with traditional wooden tables. But skip those and head to the top-tiered terraces, where views over the sea under billowing white sailcloth add an unbeatable level of romance. Don't skip the seafood risotto, tuna tartare, and šurlice with mussels. 

This family-owned restaurant offers regional and local Rab specialties, such as seafood risotto, homemade pasta with mussels and shrimp, seafood crudo, grilled meats, and locally caught fish. All are served with a friendly welcoming attitude in a cool modern environment.

Ten km (6 miles) north of Mali Lošinj, in the small village of Artatore, you'll find a restaurant of the same name, which locals also call Kod Janje (Chez Janje) and consider the best on the entire island. The seafood here is à l'ordre du jour; order the scampi in white wine with polenta, grilled fish, or lobster tagliatelle. For meat-eaters, the house specialty is lamb from the wood-burning oven with fried crepes filled with fresh cheese and asparagus.

Creative Italian dishes like tuna carpaccio with celery root and truffles are what you'll find at this friendly restaurant in Rovenska Bay. The dynamic owners—part Croatian, part expat—bring a joie de vivre and an eclectic style to the place that attracts curious foodies to their tables. Great attention is paid to the homemade pasta and local herbs, which are picked nearby and masterly infused in dishes by the Italian chef-owner.

The subtitle on the road signs reads nonina kuhinja (granny's cooking), and you were a spoiled child indeed if your grandma turned out dishes of this standard for you. The shady garden in the heart of ancient Osor is a perfect setting in which to enjoy the typical plates of the konoba: meat, seafood, pasta, and salads.

A nice little terrace right by the bell tower in the heart of the stone hilltop village of Lubenice is the perfect location for a light lunch of pršut (prosciutto), cheese, olives, and a glass of local wine. For a more hearty meal, order lamb-stew gnocchi or lamb liver with polenta, since lamb is a specialty on Cres.

Although the medieval palace setting may feel a bit dramatic for some, others love sitting in this character-filled historic restaurant. You are perched in front of and upon massive wooden furniture in an old stone building in the heart of Old Town Rab. In the evening, the torch illuminations allow the background to take a backseat. Come for excellent grilled meat and fresh seafood dishes like shrimp risotto and mussels buzara. 

This restaurant is quaintly situated in the heart of the old city of Kastav, which sits on a hill that overlooks the entire Kvarner Bay. In the same family for over a century, it has walked off with many an award for select offerings from the inland cuisine of Croatia. This restaurant is known for being one of the first gourmet eateries to offer a slow-food dining experience with wine pairings and a creative menu that takes great pride in heritage food. It is attached to the Kukuriku Boutique Hotel and has a quiet terrace tucked into the back side of the historical hilltop village. 

A small family-run tavern in the village of Milohnići, Pod Prevolt is a bit off the beaten path, but it's a place where you can get a real feel for the island's peaceful beauty and delicious traditional food. The traditional homemade Krk dishes include octopus with veggies baked in a wood-burning oven, dried octopus macaroni, homemade prosciutto and cheese, grilled and marinated fish, and the like. Desserts—like sponge cake with whipped cream, yogurt, and cherries—are simple but delicious. Find a seat on one of the large wooden tables under the fig trees and soak up the silence. The name ("under the vaulted porch") is inspired by the entrance to the traditional house. The tiny interior has just six tables and exposed stone walls.

This family-owned restaurant has an amazing location with seating right on the quay, especially attractive for those arriving by boat. The fish served here is caught by the owner, so the phrase "catch of the day" really means something. The upstairs terrace is more formal, and the slightly old-fashioned setting showcases the fantastic sea views and seafood specialties like lobster with pasta and truffles or fresh tuna carpaccio. The location and the superiority of the fish make this a romantic spot for a sunset meal.