The gastronomic scene in Zagreb is rich, bold, and dynamic. If you happen to be an ultimate foodie, you're in the right place for memorable gastronomic adventures!
From traditional restaurants to interpretations of world cuisines and from elegant allure to places in old factories, the culinary landscape in Zagreb offers diverse experiences. Whether you seek classics that have stood the test of time or wish to explore new gastronomic spaces, the Croatian capital truly has it all! And think wider in terms of location, as culinary gems here extend beyond the city centre.
However, if you need some guidance, follow Tablein guide‘s recommendations for the most impressive restaurants in Zagreb.
Le Bistro Esplanade
Ulica Antuna Mihanovića 1, Zagreb
Nestled stylishly within the Esplanade Hotel, Le Bistro is one of Zagreb's favourite foodie spots. Known for its elegance, attention to locally sourced ingredients, and impressive French gastronomy, it also radiates Parisian charm which adds an extra layer of charm to the exceptional dining experience.
Chef Ana Grgić Tomić, responsible for the culinary art at Le Bistro Esplanade, draws inspiration from the local nature's bounty as well as sustainable practices. Thus, her creative à la carte menu changes with seasons, allowing the dynamics of colors, flavors and textures to impress even the most seasoned gourmands.
While seasonal variations grace the menu, some timeless classics remain throughout the year: steak tartare, Wiener Schnitzel with mashed potatoes, Caesar salad, French onion soup, and even oven-crisped Esplanade štrukli. The latter is a traditional Croatian countryside legend, which got the chance to shine brightly under the haute dining light! The Esplanade has been mastering Zagreb's top-notch štrukli for a hundred years, and the interest in them remains consistently strong up to this day.
MM Kantina
Ulica Ilica 424, Zagreb
MM Kantina is a restaurant welcoming guests with its exceptional cuisine, prime wines, and unique ambience. Founded by Marijo Mendek, a seasoned gastronome with over two decades of culinary passion, this place reflects his commitment to perfection in every detail.
MM Kantina consists of four areas that can be used together or separately, depending on guests' preferences. The Atrium? With its stylish decor of wine racks and an open kitchen, this area invites guests to dine and socialize around a central wooden table. The Lock In? Discreetly tucked behind a separate door, this space offers an intimate oasis for indulging in premium food and wines. The Bar? Nestled by wine shelves, bare concrete walls, and flowers, it creates an ideal setting for private dining. The Pool? MM Kantina's most romantic area, with stylish decorations and a refined cuisine repertoire on tables.
In order to establish a personal connection with gourmet enthusiasts, this restaurant offers daily business lunches, à la carte as well as 5-course dinners. Yet, to extend the experience even more, cooking workshops, based on the exchange of ideas and knowledge, are available in the open-kitchen Gastro Circus Terasa too.
Rougemarin Bistro
Ulica Frana Folnegovića 10, Zagreb
Rougemarin, situated in the old light bulb factory, is a unique bistro known for its charming industrial atmosphere. Yet, it's not only the ambience that attracts diners. The real draw is the simply prepared, high-quality food.
Rougemarin Bistro's menu reveals a fusion of global cuisines with a unique approach and the chef's impressive creativity. What catches the eye is how this diverse culinary range harmoniously comes together under a singular theme, letting you pair international traditions on one table.
Craving an Asian twist? Explore the wok selection. Pizza lover? Forget the typical styles and try the Sicilian version – it might just become your new favourite. Rougemarin Bistro is also celebrated for its meat delicacies, whether it's a juicy beefsteak, a hearty tomahawk, or a flavorful ribeye – they know the art of perfect preparation. The variety also extends to burger, pasta, and risotto selections, with one perfect choice for each. However, this is just a glimpse into the whole menu, which faces periodic changes to ensure a dynamic experience with every visit.
Maredo
Ulica Florijana Andrašeca 14, Zagreb
Maredo is a place where the exciting smells, classy vibes, and urban energy unite under one roof. Known as one of Zagreb's top restaurants, it leads the way in the modern grill scene by always pushing limits and paying extremely close attention to every little detail.
Chef Mario Mihelj runs the show here with an impressive, avant-garde style of grilling. While quality ingredients make the solid base, his personal touches give a modern spin to flavours from around the world.
The theme of smoke cannot be missed too, standing as Maredo's unique signature dash. Whether it comes directly from the lava grill or through some special smoking techniques, such a hint adds an extra layer both for dishes and cocktails.
In Maredo's menu, the focus goes on masterfully aged meats mixed with carefully picked ingredients. This results in a modern urban grill expression, celebrated even by the most seasoned diners. Yet, fish, vegan and vegetarian specialities, as well as desserts, are also created through the same attentive approach.
Maredo seeks continuous growth in terms of creativity, so this restaurant just recently expanded its gastronomic horizon with the introduction of Sushi Bar.
Chevo’s
Ulica Adamičeva 1, Zagreb
Chevo's is a restaurant in Zagreb, proudly naming itself as the go-to spot for the best barbecue on both sides of the Sava River and beyond. Most importantly, locals strongly agree by crowding it for quality gastronomic feasts.
The menu here is centred around traditional dishes from charcoal grill, yet with a distinctive approach to preparation. The enchantment begins with a precise selection of premium cuts sourced from the best farms worldwide. Varieties such as Black Angus, Rubia Gallega, Simmental, Charolais, Hereford, Belgian Blue-Limousine, Black Angus Vintage Premium, and the renowned Wagyu A5 can all be savoured here.
The culinary alchemy continues with in-house techniques. Chevo's handles everything on-site, be it ageing processes – which may even take 100 days, thanks to modern ageing chambers – or smoking, facilitated by special smokers.
Thus, the founders' passion for premium meat delicacies and their hands-on approach to every controllable process guarantee that guests can anticipate nothing short of quality in plates.
Balon
Ulica Prisavlje 2, Zagreb
For two straight decades, Balon restaurant has remained a point of interest for those searching memorable culinary art experiences. This place always leads in dining by delivering quality food options, maintaining professionalism in catering, and creating a welcoming atmosphere.
Visiting Balon is like stepping into a world where everything works harmoniously: well-balanced Croatian-European cuisine and refinement without going too far in experiments do the magic. Hence, it is common to spot people wearing suits since such a concept appeals greatly to the corporate crowd.
The menu at Balon is always carefully put together – with quality promised through curated gastronomic as well as enological choices. Food is all about meat delicacies and seafood here. And if you want to go for the maximum experience, the tasting menu is always available. The latter is especially worth trying as chef Stipan Iličić transforms traditional and international dishes into the original gourmet affair that cannot be found anywhere else. To top it all off, food may be paired with the finest wines from Balon's extensive selection.
Bota Šare
Ulica Kralja Zvonimira 124, Zagreb
Nestled in the heart of Zagreb is Bota Šare, a family restaurant steeped in four decades of tradition, also with a presence in Mali Ston, Dubrovnik, and Split.
The moment you step inside, it's as if you've entered a classic coastal tavern: overall ambience, klapa songs, and a rustic wooden bar seamlessly transport the essence of Dalmatia to the very core of Zagreb.
At Bota Šare, the menu shares a dedication to Dalmatian cuisine, precisely focusing on sea delicacies sourced directly from Split, Dubrovnik, or Zadar. There's also an impressive sushi fusion alongside the classic specialities, adding a dash of dynamics to the charm.
Seeking the chef's recommendations? Premium quality grilled fish – whether it's tuna, John Dory, or sea bream – is always in the spotlight. Yet, specially prepared squid, traditional black risotto, buzara-style mussels, and oysters shouldn't be overlooked too!
Boban
Ulica Gajeva 9, Zagreb
Located in the very heart of Zagreb and named after its founder, local football hero Zvonimir Boban, Boban is a beloved restaurant, always buzzing with a crowd. Quality, precision, and creativity – no surprise that such a concept even earned this place a feature in the Michelin guide. Also, Boban is great for ambience charm seekers, as it offers an elegant inside space and two outside terraces for summer allure.
Opened in 1995, Boban shares a tradition of Mediterranean cuisine, focusing on Italian flavours. From time-honoured recipes to modern preparation techniques, each selection promises a memorable dining experience.
At Boban, the menu offers a wide repertoire of dishes, ranging from appetizers, soups, and salads to meat and fish delicacies. Also, this place is a perfect haven for dedicated pasta enthusiasts. Sea bass agnolotti, white truffle linguine, green ricotta ravioli in shrimp & dessert wine sauce, casarecce alla zingara, lasagna alla bolognese – to name a few from the extensive list. All are homemade and prepared to perfection.
Menu items at restaurants may change, so check here for the latest offerings.