While staying in Istria, you need to indulge yourself in the best cuisine on this beautiful peninsula so we made a small but helpful guide for local restaurants worth a visit with a Michelin recommendation or a star.
Zigante Restaurant is a unique dining destination located in Livade, a small village in the heart of Istria. The restaurant is dedicated to creating exceptional dishes with truffles, which are sourced from the famous Motovun forest. The restaurant prides itself on creating a perfect balance between their dishes and wines, making each plate a work of art and providing customers with an extraordinary dining experience.
San Rocco restaurant is located in Brtonigla. It is considered the best Istrian restaurant according to the official guide Istria Gourmet and has been awarded as the best Croatian restaurant. It is a member of the Association des Jeunes Restaurateurs d’Europe and offers a vast gastronomic array based on typical seasonal specialties. The restaurant is located in an elegant stone building in a typical small village and has a romantic atmosphere
Damir & Ornella is a Mediterranean seafood restaurant located in Novigrad. The restaurant is a family-run business that offers unique and experimental flavours for those tired of ordinary food. They have a concise menu, and the dishes are explained verbally to returning customers. Their focus is on using fresh ingredients to make a masterpiece using only raw fish, salt, pepper, and olive oil.
Monte is a Michelin-starred restaurant located in Rovinj. The restaurant started as a traditional Istrian tavern and is now owned by chef Danijel Đekić, who transformed it into a gourmet oasis that values tradition. Danijel’s sons, Ilja and Simon, are now involved in the restaurant, with Ilja creating innovative cuisine and Simon taking over the role of Maitre d’. Monte’s philosophy of exploration and reinvention is reflected in their red, green, and blue menus which are dedicated to Rovinj and explores the full potential of every ingredient sourced from local markets and small farms.
Which restaurant have you already put on your must-visit list?
Photo source: Ziganter, San Rocco, Damir i Ornella, Monte
