Split is probably the food capital of Croatia. There are so many different types of food here that it’s hard to name the best Split restaurants without eating out every day of the year! From native Croatian food cooked in the back by baka (granny) to international dishes like burgers and sushi, you can really have it all here.
Through my 6 summers of tour guiding in Croatia, I have tried many, MANY places and have finally listed them for you here. Pick which ones fit your palate the best!
What to Know Before Traveling to Split
Traveling to Split? Don’t forget to check out the rest of my Split travel tips here, my Split nightlife guide here, and get planning some Split Day Trips as well! If you are just starting, make sure to learn about Planning a Trip to Croatia and also about the best destinations to visit in Croatia too!
Best Authentic Split Restaurants to get Croatian Food
These are the places you’ll find the most authentic Croatian food. I have listed some hole-in-the-wall budget spots and also some fancier ‘boujee’ Croatian specialty restaurants, depending on what kind of night you’re having.
Fife
Fife has been around for ages and has become an iconic Split restaurant institution. They have established a reputation for themselves with their massive portions of family-style classic Croatian food, a casual vibe, and efficient, fast service.
I don’t think they have changed their prices for years either – it’s the cheapest place around! It’s a great place to try Croatian classic dishes like pasticada, risottos, and fried squid. Maybe make a booking, though, because when it gets late, there’s often a line out the door.
Bokeria
If you are looking for a very upscale sit-down restaurant, Bokeria may be for you. They have lots of creatively concocted dishes with a Croatian twist. It would be great for a date night or a fancy dinner before an evening out.
They also have amazing cocktails, an extensive wine list, and amazing presentation in all things. I highly recommend this place for a nice dinner!
Apetit
Apetit is a gem smack dab in the city center – although I have no idea how they fit such a large restaurant in the old town! It has quite a upscale feel while still pulling off quite a casual vibe.
They have lots of classic Croatian dishes like black risotto and pašticada (which I HIGHLY recommend trying at least once in Croatia if you eat meat – it’s slow cooked beef in a plum gravy-like sauce with gnocchi). One of the specialties here, however, is the truffle pasta in a few different ways!
Uje Restaurant + Oil Bar
Uje Oil Bar has little olive oil stores scattered throughout old town, and their own restaurant in the middle. You can order many different things, but they have fantastic cheese + meat + veg + etc platters to pair with their local oil and wine. YUM!
Villa Spiza
Villa Spiza is another authentic and affordable authentic Croatian restaurant in Split. They have some of the freshest food (and seafood) and some delectable meat and cheese platters that you can actually sort-of build yourself from different options on the menu.
They really reserve all their effort for the fresh food – you’ll find a hand-written menu and an atmosphere inside almost like that of your nana’s kitchen. There’s also amazing truffle pasta here.
Zinfandel Wine Bar
Zinfandel is a wine bar in the old town – but so much more than that also. They have a MASSIVE selection of every possible kind of wine, and a great menu too. Pop in here for some wine flights or tasting. It might look small, but there are plenty of rooms and space inside!
However, this might unexpectedly be my favorite breakfast restaurant in Split, also! Get there before 11am for a scrumptious egg or french toast dish and to possible duck into the back room with air conditioning in the heat of the day.
Dvor
Dvor is a Michelin-starred restaurant overlooking a tiny beach bay about 10 minutes outside of town. And no, it’s not a sterile white-table-cloth fancy spot indoors – it’s set on a lovely patio covered by trees! This would be a great restaurant to watch the sunset over some delicious seafood.
The menu is a mix between local/Croatian and simply Mediterranean. You’ll find many different styles of meat and seafood along with some pastas that are common in the area… but extra scrumptious!
Best Split Restaurants Along the Riva
There are dozens of patio-style restaurants along the main beachfront boardwalk of Split, which is called the Riva. These may be a bit more expensive due to their location, but there are some fantastic ones where you’ll truly feel among the hustle and bustle of Split while enjoying great food.
Brasserie on 7
I became obsessed with this place after trying it for the first time. Brasserie on 7 has amazing, upscale dinner options, crafted cocktails, and delightful presentation.
Not only that, but they serve equally amazing food in the mornings too. I had one of the most memorable breakfasts I have ever had here – a ‘half and half’ breakfast that comes with a savory sundried tomato and asparagus omlette AND a sweet cinnamon french toast. It is perfect for those like me who can never decide between sweet and savory! Oh, and their iced coffee is to die for.
Olive Tree
Olive Tree is a super stylish restaurant on the Riva, with an outdoor patio and also an indoor space designed as amazingly as their food. This is more of an experimental kitchen where you can try all kinds of tastes you didn’t even know went well together.
Best International or Fusion Split Restaurants
These Split restaurants have cuisines that are either totally international or have some menu items that aren’t quite Croatian mixed in with some that are. Either way, they’re all great!
Pandora Greenbox – Vegetarian Restaurant
Can you say “cutest restaurant in Split?” Pandora Greenbox is a vegetarian restaurant in Split with the inside decorated with branches and leaves to feel like you’re in the forest.
The presentation of all the dishes is exquisite, and they go the whole nine yards to make the veggie dishes taste and look amazing. Check it out whether you are a vegetarian, or not!
Mama Burger
This is a little order-at-the-counter place in one of the main squares of town that serves yummy burgers and ‘tortillas,’ or what I would consider a wrap. They have a chicken avo wrap which is quite rare out here and amazing to get your avo fix.
Bepa
Two words – Avocado toast. Bepa is tied for my favorite breakfast in Split for sure – they have a yummy chia pudding and great egg dishes. It’s also right in one of the main squares of Diocletian’s Palace!
Bepa has a classic Mediterranean menu with a lot of Croatian dishes and western-inspired ones too. If you can get a table here at any time of day, go for it! You won’t be disappointed.
Good Food (formerly Toto’s Burger Bar)
This is quite near Fife and is an order-at-the-counter burger spot with some indoor seating too. The burgers are fantastic, and they have quite a few different kinds, from a classic burger to one involving brie and rocket. They have sweet potato fries as well!
My favorite thing to do here is to grab the burger and then sit in the park near the Riva or on the side of the port and eat with a view.
Other Burger Restaurants in Split to Try
Split has become a bit of a burger hotspot in the last fwe years. Here are some more burger places to try that people rave about:
- YUMYUM: Think diner style
- Split Burger: just a little window with incredible burgers
- Sexy Cow: Incredible wraps and fries – not burgers but close
- Eat, Split, Repeat: Burger and Wrap Bar
Adriatic Sushi + Oyster Bar
The Adriatic Sushi + Oyster Bar is tucked into a little courtyard in old town, with tables outside and inside. This place actually has very good sushi, which is quite rare in Croatia (and the only place I know in Split). If you need a sushi fix while here, this is a great place to try.
That should be enough Split restaurants to keep you going, no matter how long you will be in town – unless you are moving here! Let me know in the comments below which restaurant(s) you chose and what you thought!
Don’t forget to keep reading about Split!
- Things to do in Split Croatia
- Split Nightlife Guide
- Must-See Day Trips from Split
- Planning a trip to Croatia
- Places to Go in Croatia
Passionate, full-time travel blogger with over 230k on social media and 150kMPV blog. Extraordinary photographer with two DSLR's + a drone with a love for capturing candid moments, epic drone shots, and magical compositions. I'm a natural-born content creator originally from California, but I've been on the road for 9 years living, working, traveling, blogging, and photographing my way around the world. I recommend the most amazingly adventurous and unique + boutique travel experiences/stays and helpful products to my audience and write comprehensive guides on my website that have helped millions of travelers so far. I love to inspire people to plan their dream trips, and many readers have given feedback as such. The reach on my platforms continues to soar, especially when combining cutting-edge social content with optimized articles on my high-authority website.