Restaurant Kadena above Split's Zenta marina is a Mediterranean terrace looking south to the Adriatic, in the Michelin Guide every year since 2018.
Must order: The whole Adriatic dentex for two, grilled simply with Brac olive oil.
Tip: Open daily noon to 01:00; the wide terrace catches the afternoon breeze and is the best table at sunset.
Address: Ulica Ivana pl. Zajca 4, 21000 Split, Croatia
Zrno Soli at ACI Marina in Split is a sea-facing first-floor room above the boats, in the Michelin Guide for Dalmatian cooking with a modern hand.
Order: Daily Adriatic catch grilled, paired with a Posip from Korcula.
Tip: Ask for the terrace looking back to the Old Town; the daily fish board is the menu to order from each evening.
Bokeria Kitchen & Wine in Split's Old Town is a tall-ceiling stone room cooking modern Mediterranean dishes from a wood-burning grill into the night.
Order: Hand-cut tagliatelle with Adriatic prawns and aged tomato.
Tip: Open until 01:00 daily; book the upstairs balcony for the city's most photographed dining-room view.
Apetit in Split's Old Town sits on the upper floor of a 15th-century palazzo between the Riva and Pjaca, cooking Dalmatian classics under stone vaulting.
Order: Pasticada slow-braised in prosek with homemade gnocchi.
Tip: Climb the stone stairs to the second floor; the small dining room takes only around 30 covers.
Zinfandel Food & Wine on Maruliceva in Split is a 2013 wine-led bistro pouring 100-plus Croatian bottles, with 30 wines by the glass on the Pjaca route.
Order: Slow-cooked octopus with a glass of Korcula Posip.
Tip: The courtyard tables are the right seats; live music nightly in summer, with the best by-the-glass list in town.
Bistro Toc near Split's Diocletian Palace is a creative Mediterranean bistro with vegetarian options and a tight stone-walled room set just off Pjaca.
Order: The chef's tasting plates with a glass of Plavac mali.
Tip: Reserve early in summer; the tasting plates work for a relaxed two-hour sitting before a wine bar nightcap.
Trattoria Tinel in Veli Varos, Split is an Italian-leaning Dalmatian trattoria 30 metres from the Riva on Tomica Stine, open daily 08:00 to midnight.
Order: Black cuttlefish risotto and a glass of Korcula Posip.
Tip: Best for late lunch from 14:00 when the room calms after the Riva crowd; the by-the-glass list runs Croatian-only.
