Zagreb Restaurants and Dining

(Zagreb, Croatia)

Zagreb has a vast array of restaurants and eateries, and it is never a problem finding somewhere good to eat, day or night. The city has the best dining in the country, with restaurants suiting most budgets. There are also many cafés and pastry joints, although there is a distinct lack of vegetarian eateries.

Unfortunately there is not a vast choice of international restaurants in Zagreb, and many now favour pricey 'haute cuisine'. The dining scene is mainly about traditional Croatian and Italian fare. Your best bet for international dining is in the Upper Town, although this area is significantly more expensive than elsewhere.

What to Eat, and Where

Lower Town Zagreb, known as Donji Grad, is a reliable choice for those dining out, as it comes with a better selection of restaurants and easier going prices than those in the Upper Town. The Kaptol district is also on par with Donji Grad for eating out, while various fast-food dining options line the busy shopping street of Ilica.

Croats are into their grilled meat and fish, as well as Italian goodies - like pastas and risottos. A noted Zagreb signature dish is 'mlinci', featuring duck (or turkey) with pasta and flatbread. Other regional dining goodies are 'srtukli' pastries - filled with cottage cheese, and 'orehnjaca' - sweet nut rolls.

Pizzerias are particularly common and the Croatian version of the pizza is both tasty and inexpensive. Zagreb is loaded with coffee shops and cafés, where bakeries do pizza by the slice, along with cheese-filled 'burek' pastries and wholesome baguette sandwiches. Cafés also sell sweets and there are many pastry shops (slasticarnicas) that are good for ice-cream.

There are a handful of traditional ethnic restaurants in Zagreb, although you would be best off sticking to assured local or Italian quality. Restaurants usually offer terrace dining from spring to autumn, and many of the more popular eateries near city squares often stay open until midnight.