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With the growing number of tourists, the gastronomic scene is booming, and more Zagreb restaurants are making their mark on the European and global culinary maps. In 2024 alone, Croatia’s capital saw a 9% increase in tourists compared to the previous year, recording 1.5 million arrivals, which is almost a third of the nation's total visits.
In such an environment, it’s no wonder that the best restaurants in Zagreb offer a wide selection of dishes and cuisines. The Croatian capital also hosts numerous food festivals. Beyond traditional local and Croatian dishes, Zagreb's top restaurants offer a range of specialized selections, including burgers, pizza, barbecue, as well as Chinese, Japanese, and more exotic cuisines, such as Lebanese.
On the Table Joe platform, you can quickly find and book the best restaurant in Zagreb by type of cuisine, price, location, as well as additional features such as a terrace, pet-friendly environment, parking, or other similar criteria.
Yes, in Zagreb, you can find traditional Croatian dishes such as turkey with mlinci, "krpice sa zeljem" (pasta with cabbage), or "špek fileki" (tripe stew). Old Zagreb residents swear by the healing powers of "ajngemahtec," a chicken soup whose name translates to "all together."
Do the top restaurants in Zagreb serve "ajngemahtec," or will you have to visit a Zagreb family for a Sunday lunch to try this local specialty? The answer is yes, you can find even specific dishes like "ajngemahtec" on menus alongside other authentic Croatian dishes. You'll also find seafood specialties with a Dalmatian touch, enjoy authentic "pašticada," or local favorites like spit-roasted lamb, pork, or grill classics like "ćevapi," "pljeskavica," and their variations.
Like most world capitals, Zagreb's top restaurants serve international cuisine, including Chinese, Indian, Thai, Italian, and more exotic options such as Lebanese or Macedonian. Among the best, you'll also find fusion cuisine and a growing offering of vegetarian and vegan options and restaurants.
Zagreb is recognized as an increasingly popular tourist destination in Central Europe, and alongside its new museums, bars, and festivals, the city's selection of dining spots continues to expand.
In the city beneath Medvednica Mountain, you’ll find fine dining spots, including 21 restaurants boasting a Michelin star. Luckily for visitors and locals alike, Zagreb's restaurants offer a truly diverse range of menus, encompassing not only fine dining and high-end venues but also a variety of domestic and international gastronomic options.
Some of Zagreb's leading restaurants participate in specialized food festivals throughout the year. Here's an overview of the recurring and most popular festivals.
One of the city’s premier foodie events is held every October at Dr. Franjo Tuđman Square. While the location and number of stalls varied over the years, the festival typically features between 10 and 15 restaurants. You can try different burgers created by top Croatian chefs, such as multi-time winner Mate Janković or Ivan Pažanin. Visitors can sample classic, exotic, and creative burgers in one place.
Another long-standing festival, Fuliranje, is now based at Strossmayer Square. Combining local and regional chefs' cuisine, street food, and themed music programs, Fuliranje features restaurants offering a diverse range of dishes, from burgers to Asian and local cuisine.
In addition to Burger Festival, Dr. Franjo Tuđman Square also hosts Pizza Festival in May, drawing dozens of top pizza makers from Croatia and abroad. In ten days, you'll find all pizza styles, from classic Neapolitan to Croatian spins with local ingredients. There's also lots of accompanying entertainment.
Although food trucks aren't traditionally Croatian, every June, the Food Truck Festival at Britanski trg attracts interesting restaurants on wheels. For six days, you can try burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, Asian dishes, and vegetarian meals. The event also features a rich craft beer and wine zone.
While many locals flee Zagreb in the summer, tourist traffic remains steady. For those who stay or visit, the July festival Mali Piknik at Rokov perivoj is a treat, with local producers offering pies, "bučnica", strudel, cakes, and local pastries—plus craft beer and summer cocktails.
Year after year, Advent in Zagreb is among the most visited and famous Christmas markets in Europe, demonstrated by over 18,000 monthly searches for "Zagreb Advent." In addition to festive happenings and a city decked in lights, about thirty locations feature stalls serving traditional foods. Sausages, fritule, and germknedle are common offerings, as are "sarma", pork with cabbage, "pašticada", and more. Mulled wine is nearly everywhere, with additional concerts, Christmas scenes, and entertainment completing the spirit.
Traditional restaurants in Zagreb offer authentic local dishes such as štrukli, turkey with mlinci, pašticada, as well as desserts like makovnjača, apples in batter, or Zagreb cream slices ("kremšnite"). Here are the most popular:
Classic pastry from northern Croatia, filled with cottage cheese and eggs, cooked or baked, and topped with cream, and served as a starter or dessert.
It is another traditional festive dish from the northern part of Croatia that is served as a Sunday lunch in many local families. A roasted turkey is served with baked flatbread soaked in pan drippings. Homemade mlinci and turkey from the Hrvatsko Zagorje region are especially popular.
This is a rich, hearty chicken broth with various vegetables such as carrots, parsley, and celery. This traditional dish from Zagreb often includes peas, chicken liver, or small dumplings, and its name hints at the fact that the recipe can vary—because it tolerates (almost) anything.
This is another traditional Croatian dish made from tripe, specifically beef stomach. The preparation is time-consuming and includes vegetables, onions, smoked bacon (špek), and other additions depending on the cook’s recipe. Originally a working-class meal, it has evolved into a true delicacy and remains one of the most beloved hearty spoon dishes.
A simple yet satisfying dish combining homemade square-shaped pasta with braised fresh cabbage. For added flavor, bacon is often included. Like many traditional Croatian meals, every household may add its twist for a unique taste.
Zagreb Schnitzel is a thin veal cutlet stuffed with ham and cheese, similar in preparation to the Viennese schnitzel. It’s breaded and fried, typically served with potatoes and a green salad.
These traditional Croatian cookies are made from flour, honey, walnuts or hazelnuts, cloves, cinnamon, and black pepper. Crumbly and aromatic, they’ve been a festive favorite for decades.
This local sweet treat consists of apple rings dipped in a batter similar to pancake batter, then fried and dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon.
Zagreb’s take on the popular custard slice is made with puff pastry and a rich vanilla cream filling. Unlike the nearby Samobor version, Zagreb kremšnite are topped with a thin layer of whipped cream and chocolate glaze.
This essential Croatian dessert has deep roots throughout the country. It’s a rolled pastry made from leavened dough and filled with a rich mixture of ground poppy seeds, sugar, and milk.
Gračanska tanka gibanica is a savory pie made with very thin dough and filled with a simple yet rich filling. Unlike classic gibanicas, which are layered and closed, this version is open-faced (without a top crust) and contains very little dough, with the focus placed on the filling.
Zagreb restaurants offer dishes like pizza, grilled specialties, Chinese cuisine, and other specialized offerings. Here’s a look at what you can expect to find on menus across the city.
Grill restaurants are especially popular in Zagreb, and nearly every neighborhood has its favorite spot for dishes like ćevapi, pljeskavice, meat fritters, skewers, mixed grills, and other meat-based specialties. These often come labeled with regional styles like Leskovac, Sarajevo, Banja Luka, or other names indicating the method of preparation.
Chinese restaurants have a long-standing tradition in Zagreb, and the capital is home to several exceptional spots offering authentic Chinese cuisine. Over the past decade, the city’s Asian dining scene has expanded significantly with a growing number of Japanese restaurants, especially sushi places. In addition to Chinese and Japanese cuisine, you can also find Thai and Indian restaurants across the city. Many establishments focus on wok-based cooking without being tied to one specific national cuisine.
Zagreb has had some of its pizzerias since the 1980s. Since pizza remains one of the most popular dishes, especially for deliveries, it’s no surprise that many restaurants either offer it on their menus or specialize exclusively in it. Pizza lovers regularly return to their favorite spots, and competition is fierce, with the best pizzerias constantly striving to top the city’s rankings.
In and around Zagreb, many restaurants cater to workers during the week with affordable lunch menus (gableci) and transform on weekends into venues for family celebrations like christenings, confirmations, birthdays, and other special occasions. Their menus often feature classic Croatian home-style dishes, while special-event offerings usually focus on grilled meat. These restaurants typically have extensive menus, including pasta, pizza, seafood dishes, and à la carte options.
Wineries in Slavonia and northern Croatia are mostly known for their white wines, particularly varieties like Graševina (Welschriesling), Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay, Silvaner, and Traminer.
These wines are known for their freshness, fruity character, and floral aromas. In addition to enjoying a glass of premium wine, locals and visitors in Zagreb often drink gemišt—a refreshing mix of white wine (usually Graševina) and sparkling mineral water.
Zagreb’s restaurants also offer Dalmatian red wines such as Plavac, Plavac Mali, and Babić, as well as Istrian wines like Teran and Merlot. While continental Croatia produces reds like Frankovka (Blaufränkisch) and Cabernet Sauvignon, southern regions offer notable whites like Pošip, Vugava, Grk, and Istrian Malvazija.
Wine lovers will find exceptional wine pairings for any meal or occasion in Zagreb’s restaurants. But in recent years, Zagreb and Croatia have also become hotspots for craft beer. The city is home to both small and large breweries, offering a wide range of styles-from classic lagers and wheat beers to pilsners, stouts, pale ales, and many more.
If you are planning to visit a restaurant in Zagreb, you can make a reservation online via the Table Joe platform. In one place, you can check available time slots and choose the option that suits you. Simply select a restaurant, number of guests, and preferred time, then send a reservation request. Once the restaurant confirms it, your table is secured without the need for additional calls.
