Where to eat and drink in Dubrovnik

After visiting Dubrovnik last summer (August 2022) I thought that it would be nice to put together a post about places to eat and drink in Dubrovnik based upon what they are best for. There are of course many more bars, restaurants and cafes to visit in the city than we were able to, but if you're visiting Dubrovnik for the first time, here are locations we felt were best, and why.

Best for a morning boost: Refresh Juice Bar

Refresh Juice Bar is located at the bottom of the Jesuit Stairs that are world famous due to the Game of Thrones series. The juice bar isn't only good for juice, they offer a range of smoothies, including vegan and protein packed options. They also serve healthy breakfasts and snacks. For example, home-made oatmeal, overnight oats, granola, and smoothie bowls! We visited the cafe a few times during our stay for a drink to cool us down while walking around the city. They have outdoor seating which is a bonus in summer, when the constant heat can be exhausting.

Best for casual dining: Pizzeria Oliva

Pizzeria Oliva is located down a side street, not far from St Blaise's Church within the old town walls. We visited Pizzeria Oliva twice during our stay, as we loved the casual feel to the restaurant, as well as the best pizza in the city. Many of the restaurants in Dubrovnik are very pricey, however, we felt Pizzeria Oliva was good value for money, and not overcharging their customers. Hence why we went back for more! Their range of pizza's is great, they accommodate everyone's tastes including, spicy, meaty, vegetarian, and fish options. I had the vegetarian pizza and added olives. There is also the option to create your own pizza. If pizza isn't your thing, the restaurant also serves a few pasta dishes. If we visited Dubrovnik again, we would definitely go back.

Best for an amazing view: Panorama Restaurant

One morning we hopped on the cable car that takes you up Mt Srd to view the medieval city from above. At the top sits the Panorama Restaurant and Bar. The seating area has amazing panoramic views of the coastline, that includes Lokrum island, and of course Dubrovnik Old Town itself. We decided to get a mid morning snack, not realising how large the portions of cake would be! If we were to return to Dubrovnik we would definitely consider booking dinner at this restaurant, for amazing sunset views over the city. It is recommended to book well in advance, we were very lucky on this occasion to get seated.

Best for traditional Mediterranean cuisine: Gradska Kavana Arsenal Restaurant and Bar

The Gradska Kavana Arsenal Restaurant is hard to miss when visiting Dubrovnik. Located within the arched walls of the Old Town harbour, it offers stunning views of coastline, and the boats coming and going. If you love traditional Mediterranean cuisine, this is the place to go. Their menu is filled with vegetables, a large amount of seafood, a few meat options, as well as great wine and drinks. I chose the seafood risotto, packed with fresh mussels and prawns. We shared a side of grilled Mediterranean vegetables that were perfectly charred. This was probably my favourite restaurant in Dubrovnik, the dining experience was unmatched, with attentive service, wonderful views, and best of all, incredible food.

Best with a Michelin Star: Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal has two locations, one inside the Old Town, and the other in the up town area. We visited the Old Town restaurant one evening. The Taj Mahal is famous for their Bosnian inspired dishes. They have many options to choose from, including grilled foods for example kebabs, as well as traditional dishes such as the 'Bosnian Pot' and lamb stews. The Baclava for desert was the best I have ever tasted, sweet but not overly, crisp on to yet soft in the middle. I would come here just for desert in future! Being a pescatarian and with there being zero fish options, I opted for the vegetable kebab. The quality of the food all round was brilliant, however, this restaurant is 100% more suited to people who eat all meats. However, overall, the whole experience lived up to its Michelin Star reputation.

Best for cocktails outside of the Old Town: Victoria Restaurant and Lounge Bar

The Victoria Restaurant and Lounge Bar is located outside of the Old Town to the south. It is easy to get a taxi here, but you can also walk. In the evening the walk takes about 25 minutes. However, it is uphill so bear this in mind when choosing footwear. We loved this lounge bar for cocktails as the setting was very relaxing with comfortable sofa seating and picturesque views of the city walls in the distance. One of our favourite cocktails is a fruit flavoured mojito. Although not on the menu, the barman mixed up mango and passionfruit mojitos for us. They were so good! If you're looking to go here for drinks later in the evening, booking is recommended as the lounge area can get very busy. We recommend coming here for a drink before dinner to get a more intimate experience.

Best for something quick: Snogu Wok Bar

Snogu is an Asian inspired fast food restaurant perched on the edge of the Old Town. It is located outside of the walls, by the eastern-side city gate. Snogu allow you to assemble your own wok bowl, from a variety of carb, protein, and sauce options. Your meal is stir fried in front of you and freshly served in a cardboard box with cutlery. We found this was perfect for our first night in the city, when we were tired from travelling and just needed a quick dinner. Considering the service offering, we were a little shocked by the prices, however, we soon came to realise that everything in Dubrovnik is pretty expensive! Up to twice the price of other tourist locations in Croatia.