Vodnjan is a truly charming and small place that offers a lot – colourful streets, small squares, painted facades, and plenty of culture. In addition, almost every family produces their own wine and olive oil, and has a vegetable garden. However, the gastronomic offer in this small place is not so diverse, so we decided to make our subjective but approved list of restaurants worth visiting for lunch or dinner when you are in Vodnjan and the surrounding area, and when you have already tried everything Vodnjan has to offer (Stancija Buršić, Pizza & BBQ Buffalo).

VODNJANKA, Pula

This is one of the iconic places of Pula and Istrian gastronomy. Moris Civitico, the owner of the restaurant, took over the business from his parents with whom he worked in the restaurant since he was a child. His father still personally goes shopping and is always the first at the opening of the Pula fish market.

This restaurant exudes authenticity and tradition, and the type of cuisine is traditional with homemade ingredients, as we would say – the way our grandmothers used to cook. In recent years, Moris has introduced a slightly modern twist to his recipes, so this place continues to amaze us. Their wine list is extensive, and many labels are available by the glass. Moris and his staff are extremely friendly, so besides good food and wine, there is always a good atmosphere here. If you plan to eat in Pula, we definitely recommend this as an option.

P.S. Moris personally makes excellent desserts that you must try!

KONOBA ALLA BECCACCIA, Valbandon / Fažana

Located in an olive grove, this small stone tavern is the perfect place to enjoy a somewhat more traditional Istrian cuisine. Recently, the tavern was taken over by a young couple with years of hospitality experience – Annamaria and Ivor Kolić. They make homemade traditional pasta that you must try with game sauce or with homemade chicken. They specialize in meat cooked under the bell, game, and grilled steaks, and have various Istrian seasonal stews called “maneštra” on the menu that we recommend you try. This is also a place where you can taste excellent Istrian prosciutto.

RESTAURANT VIKING, Lim Bay

The Lim Bay is known for its shellfish and fish farms, so this restaurant, located right at the source of seafood, is an ideal place to taste shellfish in all variations. Whether raw with a drop of our Romano olive oil, in buzara sauce, with pasta, or in risotto, you won’t go wrong. Enjoy raw Kvarner scampi, oysters, and fish with a view of the turquoise bay. 

P.S. Don’t forget to have a glass of champagne and look around at the tables nearby because Tedi and Sandi are often here, so you might have a chance to toast with them 🙂

KONOBA VORICHI, Orihi/Barban

This small tavern has been a real surprise in the last few years. Located in the small village of Orihi, amidst vineyards, this is a place where you have the opportunity to try local homemade specialities with a slightly different, more modern approach. Tamara, the owner and driving force behind this beautiful place, does the shopping every morning, so the food offered here is strictly local and seasonal. Their wine list is very good, and Tamara is an excellent connoisseur of wine, so we recommend that you trust her in choosing if you’re not sure what to choose exactly. This is an ideal place for a peaceful and romantic gathering in a beautiful setting, far away from the hustle and bustle.

RESTAURANT LANTERNA, Pješčana uvala / Pula

This is one of the iconic seafood restaurants in the area of Pula. Recently, Žan Peruško took over the business of the restaurant from his father, and together with his team, introduced a modern approach to traditional ingredients. For decades, they have surprised many taste buds, and we believe yours will be satisfied as well. Our recommendation is definitely their widely-known pasta with lobster. In addition to daily and à la carte dishes, here you can surrender yourself to the hands of the chef who will guide you through an excellently designed tasting menu. Within the restaurant, there is also a tapas bar with burgers, tapas, spreads, and various snacks that are ideal for an evening with a glass of good wine. Speaking of wine, their wine list is truly impressive, and it is curated by one of the best Istrian sommeliers, Filip Savić.

RESTAURANT SAPORE DI MARE, Fažana

This restaurant is located on the main square of the small fishing town of Fažana, just a few steps from the sea and with a view of the Brijuni National Park. This is a very touristy place, so there are large crowds in the summer. For a more intimate and peaceful atmosphere, we definitely recommend visiting this place outside the main tourist season. Primarily focused on fish, this restaurant cooks typical dishes with Istrian and seafood ingredients, so we recommend trying the daily catch of fish or pasta and risotto with seafood.

KONOBA BOCCAPORTA, Pula

This restaurant is hidden in a pine forest near the Pula bypass and is known for its homemade Istrian cuisine. Toni Draguzet, the owner of this restaurant, is the second generation of a successful gastronomic family. If you are looking for traditional cuisine, a good piece of meat, or homemade pasta, this is the place for you. They often offer fish dishes as well, but we definitely recommend trying their veal shank and the whole range of desserts that Toni personally prepares…you won’t regret it. The restaurant has a large terrace where live music is often played during the summer.

KONOBA BATELINA, Banjole

You may have already heard of chef David Skoko, but if you haven’t, it’s time to find out why David is a true media star in this area and why all seafood lovers adore this small traditional Istrian fishing tavern. Batelina’s main idea is to present guests with everything the fishing net brings out of the sea, from premium fish to small blue fish, dried fish roe (butarga), edible fish innards, bone marrow of large predators, and small shrimp that keep our sea clean. The Skoko family believes that for sustainable fishing and preservation of the ecological system, we should appreciate the complete catch, regardless of what is caught, provided that there is no fishing ban in place for a particular species.

We hope we helped with the selection. If you need any more insider information, feel free to contact us. It will be our pleasure to assist you. We also love to travel and appreciate when locals give us their recommendations, so this is the minimum we can do to help you make a choice when you’re in our area.

The Chiavalon family