Food to Try in Dubrovnik 2026: Šporki Makaruli, Peka & Seafood

Dubrovnik’s food is Dalmatian in character but with one locally distinctive dish: šporki makaruli — a pasta with spiced meat sauce found only in the city. Beyond that local speciality, the menu is built on fresh Adriatic seafood, slow-cooked meats, and Dalmatian ingredients. Prices are higher than elsewhere in Croatia due to the city’s tourism premium. All prices in euros (€).

Must-try dishes

Šporki makaruli — Dubrovnik’s signature pasta

Macaroni with a slow-cooked meat sauce flavoured with cinnamon, cloves, and orange peel. The dish originates from the Ragusa Republic era and reflects the spice trade routes the city once controlled. Found only in Dubrovnik and nowhere else in Croatia.

• Typical price: €10–15
• Where: Most traditional Old Town restaurants; ask specifically for it

Crni rižot (black risotto)

The Dalmatian coast standard: squid-ink risotto with cuttlefish or squid, garlic, and white wine. Available throughout the Old Town. One of the most consistently good dishes across price points.

• Typical price: €14–22

Peka (meat or octopus under the bell)

Slow-cooked under a bell-shaped lid on embers — octopus, veal, lamb, or vegetables. The result is tender and deeply flavoured. Must be ordered in advance (usually one day ahead).

• Typical price: €15–25 per person as a sharing plate

Pašticada

Dalmatian slow-braised beef in a wine, vinegar, and prune sauce, served with gnocchi. The signature meat dish of the coast.

• Typical price: €12–18

Buzara (mussels or shrimp in white wine)

Shellfish cooked in white wine, garlic, parsley, and breadcrumbs. A reliable starter or lighter main at most konobas and seafood restaurants.

• Typical price: €10–18

Fresh Adriatic fish (riba na žaru)

Grilled sea bass, sea bream, or the daily catch. Priced by weight — a whole fish for two typically runs €30–50.

• Typical price: €18–30 per portion (weight-priced fish varies)

Lamb from Pelješac

Lamb from the Pelješac Peninsula nearby, often roasted on a spit or slow-cooked. The local lamb is well regarded.

• Typical price: €18–28

Where to eat in Dubrovnik

Old Town restaurants

Nautika — one of Dubrovnik’s most prestigious restaurants, just outside the Pile Gate with terrace views across the walls. Fine dining; Adriatic seafood and tasting menus.

• Price: €25–40 per main

Restaurant 360 — on the Old Town walls with views over the harbour. Modern Dalmatian cooking at an elevated price point.

• Price: €25–40 per main

Proto — a long-established seafood restaurant in the Old Town, consistently well reviewed for fresh fish and reliable cooking.

• Price: €20–32

Gradska Kavana Arsenal — on the main harbour square, with a terrace overlooking the water. More accessible pricing than the top restaurants, good for people-watching.

• Price: €16–26

Gruž neighbourhood

The Gruž area (ferry terminal, 4km from Old Town) has Dubrovnik’s better value restaurants and is where locals tend to eat.

Price overview

Dish	Price
Šporki makaruli	€10–15
Black risotto	€14–22
Peka (per person)	€15–25
Pašticada	€12–18
Buzara mussels	€10–18
Grilled whole fish	€30–50 for two
Espresso	€2–3

Practical notes

• Prices are high in the Old Town — add 30–40% compared to the same dishes in Split or Zadar
• Pre-booking peka: If you want peka, tell the restaurant on the morning of your dinner visit
• Konobas outside the walls: The best value is at restaurants a short walk outside Pile Gate or in Gruž