Where to eat on Korcula: the best restaurants for makaruni, black risotto, and other traditional Croatian food, the best desserts to snack on during all times of day, and the most unique food available from asian food to crêpes.
If you already heard me rave about Korcula’s wine and olive oil, wait till the two are combined. While on Korcula I ate meals my grandmother had once cooked, letting the tastes take me back across the years to a purer time, a time when my fish used to be caught fresh from the sea, my vegetables hand-picked from the neighbors garden, and all made in house by nonna. In addition to some traditional foods and local meals, Pat and I experienced a few less traditional places that locals visited–think asian food and crêpes–but isn’t the whole point of traveling deeper into a destination understanding where locals go to eat, spend their time, and how they interpret alternative food in their own unique way? Regardless to say, there is no shortage of places to eat on Korcula, no matter what you’re craving.
1. Adio Mare
Location: Korcula Old Town
Hours: 12PM – 11PM
You should eat here if: You want to dine under the bell tower of St. Mark’s Cathedral. Adio Mare is the oldest family run restaurant in Korcula, from here you can watch tradition while you eat it too.
Our first night in Korcula we were looking for something low key, traditional, and easy. Adio Mare just happened to be the place I spotted as we were wandering the streets of Korcula. As I look at the pictures hung on the wall, this almost 40 year old family run restaurant still feels like it did back in the day. Located right under the bell tower of St. Mark’s Cathedral the views are impeccable from the restaurants rooftop. Pat and I were lucky and stole the last available rooftop seat with this stunning view. In line with the decor, the food exemplifies tradition over innovation. I ordered the black risotto with cuttlefish, a dalamatia staple, and Pat ordered the beef fillet. I had never had black risotto, but was actually really fond of it! It had a strong fish taste, stronger than I thought it would have, but it was perfect for me. Pat’s meat was cooked to perfection in traditional konoba style on the fire wood grill.
What is a Konoba?
When in Croatia, you will be most likely eating in a Konoba most of the time. Konoba is the Croatian word for the room where food is typically prepared and wine and brandies and stored and poured. Konoba’s are where Dalmatain cuisine was born. Today, many places have opened up their Konoba’s beyond family and friends and to the extended public. You can now eat the homemade cuisine from these Konobas with your own family and friends while listening to stories and admiring the old tools and devices to catch, cultivate, store, and prepare food typcially hung on the walls. In my opinion, no food beats a konoba. It’s like grandma’s cooking, but better.
2. Silk Street Food
Location: Korcula Old Town
Hours: 11:30AM – 11PM
You should eat here if: You’re tired of eating Croatian food and seafood and want a taste of some exotic Asian food. Additionally, if you want a quick grab-and-go meal, the high top benches make for a super casual street food-style meal.
Can’t Miss Asian Food in Croatia: Silk Street Food
Yes, you read that right: Asian food in Croatia. Can we say a big hello to Cro-Asian food? Thanks to Silk Street Food you can now take a break from traditional Croatian food and satisfy your Asian cravings while on vacation. The restaurant, which also has locations in Split, Hvar, and Verbier Switzerland, was started by a local who was tired of the limited exotic offerings on the island. He decided to fly over a chef from Asia and open up a restaurant that could satisfy his exotic cravings. Silk Street Food was born. It’s actually the only Asian restaurant to eat on Korcula! Coming from New York where we have access to some of the best Asian food ever, I have to say Silk was top notch. A can’t miss and super easy dinner eaten street food-style on high top benches on the main street surrounding the hustle and bustle of Korcula old town.
3. Mimi’s Bistro & Bar
Location: Zrnovska Banja
How to get there: 10 minutes by taxi or water taxi from Korcula old town
Hours: Apr – October; 12PM – 3PM, 6:30PM – 11PM
You should eat here if: You want to eat both traditional and modern food on a beautiful, secluded peaceful bay on the sea.
Where to Eat on Korcula: Mimi’s Bistro, Tara’s Lodge
Sure I chose Tara’s Lodge for the untainted and jaw-dropping views and unparalleled interior design, but I need to stay fueled up for my adventures. As of recently, I’ve come to uncover that hotel restaurants are getting their hands on some of the best epicurean innovators around–and Tara’s Lodge is no exception. Mimi’s Bistro takes dining way beyond fresh bread and coffee. During our stay, I ordered a fresh pesto mozzarella toast and Pat ordered the famous Mimi’s burger with their special sauce. For dessert, a lemon raspberry tart.
4. Konoba Vala
Location: Račišće
How to get there: 20 minutes by taxi or water taxi from Korcula old town
Hours: 11AM – 11PM
You should eat here if: You want a low-key meal in a local konoba away from the crowds and by the water.
Račišće isn’t the place you think of when you think of Korcula. Names like Lumbarda, Korcula old town, and Vela Luka are thrown around, but Račišće? It was one of the towns I had marked on my list during our bike ride on the North side of the island. As we biked by the small town hidden in the corner of a cove, I came across Konoba Vala attached to a local church. We take a seat just meters from the Adriatic sea and ask the waiter for a menu. It’s obvious the restaurant is only for locals and the locale is family run. We order an affordable fish plate and are brought out a meal fit for a king. It reminded me of the fresh fish my grandma would serve cut open and caught fresh from Lake Maggiore. It was laid out almost in a noble manner with such intention and adorned with sides of zucchini, vegetables, and accompanied of course by a local beer. I found the meal to be unforgettable and if there is one place people should go out of there way to eat on Korcula, it’s Konoba Vala.
5. Creperia Sempre Dritto
Location: Korcula old town
Hours: 8AM – 1AM
You should eat here if: In the mood for a late night snack, dessert, or something sweet.
Post-dinner in Korcula town, Pat and I decided to walk around the outskirts of old town. There were a ton of pastry shops, lively bars, and locals situated outside old town and it was worth the walk. Adio Mare was out of desserts the night we ate there (since everything is handmade, it’s first-come first-serve, so if you eat there late, you risk having no dessert left!). Thankfully we stumbled by this small and adorable crêpe bar hidden in a small alleyway called Creperia Sempre Dritto, which in Italian means ‘continue straight for the crêpe place.’ We looked at the board hanging above the crêpe bar and spotted it, that’s what we wanted–Bananas in Pajamas–a nutella crêpe stuffed with bananas. The guy made the crêpe fresh in front of our eyes, slathered it with nutella, threw in some chopped up bananas, folded it over, and handed us our triangle to-go container piping hot. I could not wait to dig in and my god was it good. I couldn’t stop singing the Bananas in Pajamas theme song for the rest of my time in Korcula–anyone else watch that Australian TV Show as a kid? Pat had never heard of it and couldn’t stop laughing at me. I guess they never played the TV show in America. Pat and I dreamed about that crêpe every night, should we go back? For our Bananas in Pajamas? But alas, we didn’t make it back. But be sure, next time I’m back in Korcula I’m heading straight there.
6. Kiwi
Location: Korcula old town
Hours: 8AM – 12AM
You should eat here if: You’re craving incredible ice cream and traditional Croatian cookies or pastries, such as cukarin and klasuni.
Kiwi Korcula has a super cute outdoor space where you can grab a refreshing drink, gourmet ice cream, or freshly baked pastry late at night in the corner of an alley on the outskirts of the old town city walls. They’re open basically all hours of the day making them a perfect midnight snack, which is exactly what we were in the mood for our second night there. While Kiwi’s ice cream and decadent slices of cake were beyond enticing, I wanted a taste of a local specialty you have to eat on Korcula–cukarin and klasuni cookies. We ordered a few to-go and ate them while continuing our walk. Cukarin is a strangely shaped dry cookie with a hint of orange or lemon flavor. It’s typically enjoyed alongside a glass of prošek, you can even dip the cookie in the wine! Klasuni on the other hand are simpler in shape, but more complex in flavor. This gluten free cookie is made of ground almonds and honey with a rich inside blend of walnut paste, raisins or orange peel, rose brandy, homemade fig jam and lemon zest. Both were such light yet flavorful alternatives for dessert, we were tempted to go back and by the whole cookie jar!
Have more time?
Of course, all good things come to an end, and there is just so much space I can make in my belly for delicious food. If I had more time to eat on Korcula, these were some additional places I would visit and will probably try and eat at next time I’m there.
Must Eats:
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