Decadent truffles. Native beef. Juicy langoustines. World-renowned olive oils. Unbeatable wines. Croatia’s northern region is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to authentic cuisine. And its restaurants boast some of the top chefs in the entire country.
These marvels in the kitchen have proven their worth through delectable dishes that have helped their restaurants earn Michelin stars. Some in this region were even the first in the country to have the honor of wearing the prestigious culinary badge!
From the pearls of Kvarner to the gems of Istria, it’s easy to dive into Michelin masterpieces no matter where your yacht charter stops along the northern Adriatic Coast. And we’re here to give you the best Michelin-foodie stops to eat your way through the culinary mastery of these northern Croatian regions.
Alfred Keller - Lošinj Island
Housed in a renovated Austro-Hungarian villa on Lošinj Island that is now home to the luxury Boutique Hotel Alhambra, Alfred Keller is the flagship restaurant of this 5-star gem. With a vision led by award-winning chef Christian Kuchler and executed by chef Michael Gollenz, Alfred Keller fuses local ingredients, masterful French cooking techniques, and creativity in the kitchen to craft menus that have earned this locale a Michelin star. The setting is hard to beat in the breathtaking Čikat Bay, a lavish enclave in the town of Mali Lošinj where deluxe villas built long ago line its coast. The terrace presents an unbeatable setting on the sea, where two tasting menus feature fresh Adriatic fish, unique dishes like oxtail ravioli with Istrian truffle foam and foie gras, wild herbs, cultivated vegetables, and exotic spices, bringing signature and innovative dishes to guests full of color and harmony, perfectly paired with an extensive selection of handpicked wines.
Monte - Rovinj
With the rise of Maistra’s new luxury hotels in the Istria region came unparalleled culinary quality, like Monte. Tucked into the heart of one of Croatia’s most romantic towns, Rovinj. Sitting at the foot of St. Euphemia Church, Monte is an imaginative Michelin-star gem that focuses on the region's finest ingredients. Even though the family story began in 1985, Monte began to write Croatia’s gastronomic history in 2017 when it was awarded a Michelin star. It was the first-ever Michelin star in Croatia and the only restaurant in Croatia to earn a Michelin star then. At the core of its business, Monte extracts clean and pleasant flavors in exciting and visually stunning plates, with perfectly structured red, blue, and green tasting menus that take guests on an exploratory adventure through tastes, textures, cooking techniques, and aromas.
Agli Amici - Rovinj
Not long after the opening of the Grand Park Hotel, Rovinj got its second Michelin-star restaurant - Agli Amici. With a menu designed by Italian Chef Emanuele Scarello, Agli Amici follows the gastronomic philosophy of sustainability, passion, and research. The kitchen team focuses on uniting perfect techniques, a deep understanding of ingredients, and complex, multi-layered flavors and textures within two tasting menus. Some of its standout dishes include langoustines, grilled beef with almonds, and spaghetti with sea herbs, with all dishes fusing Italian tradition and Istrian aromas. Set on the stylish seafront promenade in the heart of the marina, its expansive terrace looks onto the Adriatic and its islands. This is one unforgettable dining experience to have on your next yacht charter.
Draga di Lovrana - Lovran
Another one of the first restaurants in Croatia to receive a prestigious Michelin star, Draga di Lovrana is tucked into the town of Lovran in the Kvarner region. Located inside the Učka Nature Park, about 400 meters above the sea, Draga di Lovrana sits on a secluded cliff before the village of Lovranska draga, which owes to its name. Equally impressive is the creativity and knowledge of the young Chef Luka Goleš, who leads the kitchen with fantastic flavors and top-quality, fresh, and local ingredients. With minimal intervention and maximum preservation of the original fare, the flavors bring out the best in each dish. Multi-course menus feature items like foie gras, Kvarner ceviche, duck, and scallops, all creatively wrapped into dishes that keep the sea and mountain ambiance maintained in an equally authentic form.
Nebo - Rijeka
And then there is Nebo in Rijeka, led by Chef Deni Srdoč, the only Croatian chef to have won Michelin stars at two Croatian restaurants. Located on the top floor of the Hilton Costabella Hotel, Nebo is not only known for its attractive interior design, perfect service, and one of the most profound and most competent wine lists in the country. It is a restaurant with an ambitious culinary concept. Chef Deni Srdoč presents local ingredients and modern versions of traditional dishes from all over Croatia. Most of the dishes are tasty, charming, and technically flawless. Srdoč expands the concept of local and seasonal cooking to the whole of Croatia, with all Croatian regions represented either with typical ingredients or modern, fine-dining versions of traditional dishes. Coupled with the best restaurant atmosphere in Kvarner, Nebo is the crown to your yacht charter exploring the Northern Adriatic.
If you don’t feel like eating star-studded dishes in Croatia, don’t worry - there is an excellent selection of Michelin-recommended restaurants along the Dalmatian coast, too! No matter where you sail around the Northern Adriatic, check out what’s around you for Michelin-worthy cuisine!
Indulge in Croatia's northern Adriatic Coast, a Michelin-star haven. From Alfred Keller's seaside elegance to Monte's imaginative dishes, each restaurant is a culinary masterpiece. Discover Agli Amici's sustainability ethos and Draga di Lovrana's cliffside creations. Reach gastronomic heights at Nebo in Rijeka. Don't miss Dalmatia's Michelin gems. Elevate your yacht charter – contact us to savor Croatia's finest cuisine. Your Michelin-star journey begins here!