Tales Like These
Photographer & Content writer
The Pearl of the Adriatic
Also known as 'The Pearl of the Adriatic', Dubrovnik is full of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque churches, monasteries, palaces and fountains. Dubrovnik is a remarkably well-preserved example of a late-medieval walled city. The city is one of the most breathtaking places that we've ever been to. Dubrovnik has had somewhat of a revival after being featured as King's Landing' in Game of Thrones, where die hard fans come to see where the epic show was filmed. We loved Dubrovnik for it's amazing bars overlooking the Adriatic Sea, the great restaurants and the walk on the Ancient City Walls.
Tips! Want to see more photos from Dubrovnik? Visit our Dubrovnik photo gallery.
➳ WHERE TO have DINner in dubrovnik
Barba: Barba is a new restaurant that opened in 2014. This place is famous for its sea food / street food and is great for a quick lunch or a very casual dinner. The interior, unlike many other places in Dubrovnik is quite modern and has a very cool feel to it. The place only seats around 10 guests so make sure to call ahead or go early. They most popular dishes on the menu are octopus burger and the tempura prawns. The only minus is that if they run out of fresh ingredients they'll simply close.
Pantarul: Situated outside of the old town, this place is a must-visit if you want to have a nice romantic dinner. The menu consists of traditional Croatian dishes with a modern twist. The quality of the food here is great and is reasonably priced.
D'vino Wine Bar: Go to D'vino if you want a light meal (think tapas) and treat yourself to some good wine. The place has a very cosy atmosphere and was one of our favourites in Dubrovnik.
Taverna Otto: This taverna used to be an old boat house. The interior is very simplistic. What we liked about this place is that the menu didn't have to many dishes to choose from, which is always a good thing. We loved the food here.
Proto: Proto is old-fashioned and romantic, and dates back to 1886. It specialises in great Dalmatian seafood, so you can indulge in fresh oysters from Ston, škampi na buzaru (shrimps in garlic, white wine and parsley) and fresh fish served filleted. Proto has a lovely leaf covered terrace on the first floor where you can dine.
Orsan: Overlooking the marina in the Orsan yacht club, this long-standing restaurant is a real treat. Thoroughly unpretentious, it serves first-rate fresh fish, along with Dalmatian favourites such octopus salad and black risotto. There's nothing better than sitting here by the water at night and drinking a good bottle of wine while looking at the marina.
➳ WHERE TO DRINK in dubrovnik
Buza: One of our favourite bars in the world. At Buza you literally sit on the cliffs outside of the old wall of Dubrovnik. The view is spectacular - just sea and sky. From the bar you can even walk down to the water and take a swim, before heading up for your next drink. In the evening this place gets lit up by candlelight, which makes it very romantic. This is a must-visit in Dubrovnik.
Buza 2/Caffe Bard: Here there’s less cliff diving than Buza (above) The beers come with glasses, not plastic cups. There are cocktails and a little more emphasis on music and atmosphere. The view is just the same, perhaps even better, leading out towards Lokrum Island and beyond. You can't go wrong here.
Hard Jazz Caffe Troubadour: The most famous bar in town, formerly run by an old jazz player. This place always has great live music and a lot of locals still come here for the atmosphere and the jazz. It's a popular place to go, so go early to get a table.
➳ WHERE TO STAY in dubrovnik
Villa Dubrovnik: is Croatian through and through: built from grey Brac stone, styled by two local designers, and boasting Adriatic views that a seagull would migrate for. Days here are idled away at the serene spa and ambitious Mediterranean restaurant that’s worthy of a Michelin star.
St. Joseph's: St. Joseph’s is situated in the heart of the Old Town in Dubrovnik. Built in the 16th century, it had fallen into disrepair in modern times but has now been lovingly restored to become one of the most elegant properties within the city walls. The hotel only has 6 rooms, so make sure to book well in advance.
➳ USE OUR GOOGLE MAP
Navigate the city with our Google Map, to which we've pinned all of the places in our guide. Simply go to the map when you're online to find your way around the city. If you don't have wifi when you're walking around the city, just make sure to load this map when you have access to wifi (at your hotel or at a café) and you'll be able to find your way around even if you're offline.
