8 Best Restaurants in Kvarner, Croatia

Many of the yachts that line the harbor unload their human cargo at this small restaurant, which enjoys a big reputation for fresh fish dinners. Tuna carpaccio, shark on the grill, and lobster na buzaru (cooked with wine) are all great. Carnivores will be pleased with a couple of land-based courses as well. The restaurant's terrace is lively and leafy. Baracuda's size, matched with its good name, makes an early arrival or a reservation advisable.

This classic seafood restaurant has a long tradition of superior service and sophisticated dishes but lacks much of the pretense usually attached to such accolades. This is not a restaurant that rests on its past laurels, as is clear from the modern menu additions like the Tuna 2F, a fresh-fusion cold starter tuna tartare with sashimi and chips, or the duck mousse with caramelized onions on toast. The chef is clearly striving to ensure that the restaurant stays relevant by serving not just the traditional fresh fish classics that have won over diners in the past.

If you ask locals where to go on Krk for incredible seafood in a scenic setting, you'll hear this restaurant recommended over and over again. Located right on the water in the small fishing village of Klimno (the north end of the island), this family-run establishment combines delicious traditional dishes like whole brancin (sea bass), slow-roasted u soli (under salt), and šurlice with Kvarner scampi with gorgeous seaside views. Tables are right on the quay, and many diners arrive by yacht. Best to reserve a table, particularly if you want to dine during sunset (and you do).

This cheerful bistro offers a delicious lineup of Kvarner-style tapas that are best enjoyed on the pleasant outdoor terrace. Seafood lovers will have a hard time choosing between menu items—including assorted fish crudo, sardines marinated in lemon juice, octopus salad, sea-snail salad, fried olives, barley, and squid stew—and will definitely find themselves coming back for more.

Frequented by locals (especially at lunch), this excellent informal seafood restaurant lies on a side road conveniently close to the City Market. House specialties are crni rižot (cuttlefish-ink risotto), seafood tagliatelle, whole fish, and shellfish. Fish is charged by weight. Adriatic blue fish, like sardines, is delicious and very affordable.  

Located in Volosko, just above the more famed Plavi Podrum, this small seafood tavern offers fresh creative seafood dishes in a cozy interior with exposed stone walls; a tiny streetside terrace has only a few tables. Locals rave about their bonito tartare, monkfish stew, and dirty calamari (baby calamari too small to be thoroughly cleaned before cooking, thus "dirty"). Order a little of everything for the ultimate seafood feast—just ask for smaller portions.

This is an upscale, traditional fine-dining fish restaurant in Volosko. The owner has won some wine awards and has, accordingly, inflated the costs for dining here, which results in unusually high expectations from diners. All the usuals are cooked to perfection, but three-color tagliolini pasta featuring scampi, peaches, and black Istrian truffles is a house specialty. The terrace is a little more relaxed than inside.

The colorful square on the edge of Cres Town Harbor is lined with many restaurants serving seafood, pasta, and risotto, and Riva is an excellent choice. Tables edge out onto the flagstones of the square, meaning the steady stream of strollers through the town will eye your plate with appreciative glances. A good selection of shellfish is up for grabs, including the seafood spaghetti, which is wonderful. It's a good idea to reserve a table in the evening.