Kopun

Kopun is a terrace restaurant on Poljana Rudjera Boskovica in Dubrovnik's Old Town, the square at the foot of the Jesuit Stairs and beside the Church of St Ignatius, in Croatia's Dubrovnik-Neretva region. The restaurant takes its name from the capon, a dish with deep roots in Ragusan cooking, and the kitchen builds its identity on updated versions of old Dubrovnik recipes. The emblematic plate is kopun, roast capon served with orange, which gives the venue its name and is the dish most often recommended to first-time visitors. Other signature dishes include goulash-style pasta, Ston oysters from the nearby Mali Ston Bay and Dubrovacka rozata, the city's caramel custard dessert. Together they form a compact tour of local flavours that is easy to follow even for visitors unfamiliar with Dalmatian cuisine. The dining room is essentially the terrace itself, set on a sloping baroque square lined with stone steps, which gives the meal a theatrical backdrop. The atmosphere is relaxed and sociable rather than formal, with a smart casual dress expectation and moderate noise from the square, which can be busy at midday. The restaurant opens early, around 9AM, and runs through to about 11PM, so it works for coffee, lunch or dinner. The wine list leans on Croatian bottles, including Peljesac reds and Dalmatian whites, and desserts are paired with local liqueurs. Prices are moderate by Old Town standards, at about EUR 25-50 per person. Reservations are advised for terrace tables, particularly at dinner and during the busy summer months, when booking a day ahead is sensible; call +385 20 323 969. Cruise-ship days push demand to lunchtime, so an early or late sitting is easier to secure. The location also makes Kopun a natural stop after climbing the Jesuit Stairs.