Dubrovnik is a walled city on Croatia's southern Adriatic coast, home to about 41,500 people. Its car-free Old Town (Stari Grad), a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, is ringed by nearly 2 km of medieval walls and sits beside clear swimming coves, Lokrum island and the Elafiti islands.
Dubrovnik cooking is Dalmatian and Ragusan: Adriatic fish and shellfish, black cuttlefish risotto, octopus, lamb and veal baked under the iron bell (peka), and desserts such as rozata, the local caramel custard. Mali Ston Bay oysters and mussels, grown about 55 km north-west, are the regional signature. Old Town restaurants are the most expensive in the region; konobas in Gruz, Lapad, on Mount Srd and in Ston cost less. Bosnian grills are a popular low-cost alternative.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Dubrovnik.
Ston oysters
Flat oysters from the farms of Mali Ston Bay, served raw or baked
Where to try: Bota Sare (Mali Ston bb); Proto (Siroka 1); Kopun (Poljana Rudjera Boskovica 7)
Price: Meals at these places cost about EUR 25-80 (approx USD 29-92) per person
Crni rizot (black cuttlefish risotto)
Rice cooked with cuttlefish ink, a standard on Dalmatian menus
Where to try: Lokanda Peskarija (Na Ponti bb); Orsan (Ivana pl. Zajca 2)
Price: Meals at these places cost about EUR 20-55 (approx USD 23-63) per person
Kopun (roast capon)
A Ragusan dish of capon served with orange, available year-round at one Old Town restaurant
Where to try: Kopun (Poljana Rudjera Boskovica 7)
Price: About EUR 25-50 (approx USD 29-58) per person
Peka
Meat or octopus with potatoes baked under an iron bell; must be pre-ordered
Where to try: Konoba Dubrava (Bosanka bb, Mount Srd)
Price: Meal about EUR 35-60 (approx USD 40-69) per person
Dubrovacka rozata
Caramel custard, the city's signature dessert
Where to try: Kopun (Poljana Rudjera Boskovica 7)
Price: Part of a meal at about EUR 25-50 (approx USD 29-58)
Zrnovski makaruli
Hand-rolled tubular pasta from Korcula served with beef, shrimp or truffles
Where to try: Dalmatino (Prijeko 15)
Price: Part of a meal at about EUR 35-60 (approx USD 40-69)
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Seafood
Mediterranean
Dalmatian Grills And Peka
European
Homestyle Dalmatian
Italian
Sandwiches
Food tours & tastings in Dubrovnik
Eat your way through Dubrovnik with a guide.
Browse food experiences in DubrovnikWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Octopus burger and fried seafood
Octopus, shrimp and tuna burgers and fried anchovies eaten at a counter
Find it at: Barba, Boskoviceva 5
Burek and bakery snacks
Pastry filled with cheese or meat, pizza slices and sandwiches from a pekara (bakery)
Find it at: Bakeries in the Old Town and Gruz
Local cold-cut sandwiches
Prsut, marinated cheese and sardines on home-baked bread
Find it at: Buffet Skola, Antuninska 1
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Gundulic Square Market
Morning produce, honey, dried figs, candied orange peel and local liqueurs on the Old Town's market square
Hours: Mornings from about 7AM until midday or early afternoon (listings differ)
Gruz Market
Larger and cheaper produce and fish market on the Gruz waterfront; fresh fish arrives early and sells out by about 10AM
Hours: From about 6AM; fish is best before 10AM; reduced hours on Sunday (listings differ)
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Restaurant 360, Nautika and Pjerin take bookings by phone or on their own sites; visitors should book at least a week ahead in summer.
Lady Pi-Pi accepts no reservations; visitors should arrive before the evening rush and expect a short queue.
Peka dishes at Konoba Dubrava cook for three hours or more and must be ordered in advance.
Several restaurants close one day a week: Restaurant 360, Pantarul and Konoba Dubrava on Monday, Bistro Glorijet on Sunday. Lucin Kantun closes in January and February and Lady Pi-Pi in winter.
Restaurants outside the walls in Gruz and Lapad usually cost less than tables on Stradun and Prijeko.
Prices are in euros; cards are widely accepted but Gruz market stalls are mostly cash. Tap water is safe to drink.
- Vegetarian
- Pizzas at Mea Culpa, pasta and risotto dishes and the spinach and cheese pastries at Taj Mahal are meat-free options. Visitors can say 'bez mesa' (without meat).
- Vegan
- Choices are limited on traditional menus. Visitors can look for vegan places through the HappyCow app and should mention dietary needs when booking tasting-menu restaurants.
- Gluten free
- Visitors can say 'bez glutena' (gluten free) and ask staff to check the dish; pasta, burek and sandwiches contain gluten.
- Halal
- No halal-certified restaurant was verified for this guide; Taj Mahal serves Bosnian grills and visitors should ask staff directly.
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | EUR 8-15 per meal (approx USD 9-17) | Burek or a sandwich from a bakery (EUR 3-7), Barba, Buffet Skola, pizza at Mea Culpa and grills at Taj Mahal |
| Mid-range | EUR 35-60 per person (approx USD 40-69) | Two courses and a glass of wine at a konoba or bistro such as Kopun, Pantarul, Dalmatino or Lokanda Peskarija |
| Upscale | EUR 100-200 per person (approx USD 115-230) | Tasting menus at Nautika, Restaurant 360 and Pjerin |