I like to look at the food scene as the pulse of social life. That moment when someone tells you they have discovered a great restaurant and you rush over to learn the lesson right away. In the meantime, you can no longer even get a table there without a reservation. Or, say, when the most famous food guide in the world decides who deserves stars and who is worth recommending, instantly giving that restaurant a whole new life. All in all, the best get-togethers happen over good food and a good liquid pairing, whether you are advising it yourself or putting yourself in the hands of professionals. Those are also the moments when the most interesting conversations happen.
The year 2025 brought a series of exciting gastronomic experiences that entertained local audiences and drew the attention of food lovers across the region. From innovative fusion concepts to the authentic flavors of traditional dishes, the restaurants that defined this year became focal points of culinary conversation and destinations every gourmand should visit. Whether they are new places or reminders of how much we love certain restaurants that, even after years of existence, still shine.
Below is an overview of the food addresses most talked about in 2025, places in the region where people were always looking for one more table and the reservations line was often busy.
Croatia
Bekal, Zagreb
Address: Badalićeva 19, Zagreb
Marko Turković and his creative Bekal, which uses fire as its strongest culinary asset, have been confidently cruising through all the food lists again this year. Michelin recommended it in this year’s guide, but we have one piece of bad news and one piece of good news. As we write this, the Bekal we knew no longer exists because it has since moved to a new address (still in Trešnjevka) and taken over the space of Ivan Salopek’s restaurant Gola. There is no open fire there, so it remains to be seen how Marko will reinvent himself. Whatever it is, we do not doubt him, and until then we nostalgically remember oyster mushrooms roasted in smoked butter with meat broth.
Related: Chef Off Duty: Marko Turković on fire, pressure and a new restaurant – from a tattoo studio
Photo@Marko Domgjoni
Kiyomi
Address: Gajeva 10, Zagreb
Ever since opening in 2024, Kiyomi has set new boundaries for what a truly pleasant, high-level Asian restaurant should look like. From a kitchen perspective, it is known for outstanding dim sum, tempura, sushi, robata grill dishes, and other pan-Asian delicacies, such as the sticky rice with mango dessert. From an interior and design perspective, it has reached new heights as the ideal restaurant for lunch as well as dinner. The lighting here has been perfected, which instantly elevates the sense of comfort and atmosphere. Soft enough to relax, strong enough to see what is on your plate. Plus the cocktails, which now have a home of their own in the Yakuza bar in the basement below the restaurant.
Photo@kiyomizagreb
Ficlek
Address: Pod zidom 5, Zagreb
A Zagreb gem has been quietly and consistently drawing all lovers of traditional home cooking for years. Nowhere else will you find breaded “picek” with a rizi-bizi side like you do here; the buttered green beans are so simple and so good; you will not find krpice sa zeljem just anywhere, while meatballs with mashed potatoes are a classic that never gets old. A traditional food story expertly dressed in modern style and ambience, yet with a very relaxed, urban vibe. Ficlek is an ace on this list that is not new, to be clear, but we keep coming back to it.
Photo@gostionica_ficlek
Biomania
Address: Ul. Ivana Tkalčića 65, Zagreb
A true discovery this year! Although BioMania has been delighting people on Brač for years, it recently arrived in Zagreb too, and at just the right time, because the selection of organic and vegan dishes in our city often lags behind larger metropolises. The restaurant impresses with creative dishes, imaginative flavor combinations, excellent service, and a pleasant interior. All of that makes this plant-based experience one to remember. You are welcome here for brunch, lunch, and dinner, and the menu changes and is expanded seasonally.
Photo@biomanijahr
Tač
Address: Vrhovec 140, Zagreb
A traditional family restaurant on a hill, a little outside the center, but always worth the drive. Tač has long been a leader of local cuisine in Zagreb, which makes it yet another ace up the sleeve in this year’s restaurant lineup. It regularly appears on lists of the best, and we agree. The atmosphere is homey and warm, just like the food, which is always top-notch, and every single time you find yourself thinking about the wonders that can be made with quality local ingredients.
Zinfandel’s Restaurant & Bistro Esplanade
Address: Mihanovićeva ulica 1, Zagreb
Like an elegant lady of a certain age, Hotel Esplanade has been consistently leading Zagreb’s food story for years when it comes to seasonal local ingredients and their creative execution. Ana Grgić leaves nothing to chance in her kitchen, and her Zinfandel’s Restaurant impresses with Michelin’s recommendation and a Green Star, offering delicacies such as fresh shellfish, carefully aged meat, and innovative desserts, alongside professional wine pairings. Le Bistro Esplanade wins with simple but impeccably executed classics, like Esplanade’s štrukli and other local specialties, often with small seasonal creative touches. The entire experience is rounded out by an elegant, almost cinematic interior.
Ho Chu Dumplings
Address: Frankopanska 1, Zagreb
Opened a few months ago, Ho Chu Dumplings is the youngest member of this list, a modern, lively, and innovative restaurant for Zagreb’s street food scene. Yes, people talked about it, as well as the mastery when it comes to fried or steamed, what else, dumplings. They come in bamboo steamers, as this Asian specialty should, and you can watch it all because the open kitchen concept rules here too. Affordable prices and a focus on flavor make Ho Chu Dumplings an ideal address for a relaxed lunch or dinner with friends.
Photo@hochu_dumplings
Noel
Address: Popa Dukljanina 1, Zagreb
The only Zagreb restaurant with a Michelin star, Noel ended the year with a major change and brought Bruno Vokal back home, which was widely talked about. Energetic, ambitious, innovative, Bruno Vokal has already once changed the character of Noel’s kitchen. His signature six years ago had a recognizable identity that many critics still talk about today. Focusing on exploring different culinary traditions and combining their elements to create unique and delicious dishes, it is certain that Restaurant Noel has stepped into a new chapter.
Pelegrini, Šibenik
Address: Jurja Dalmatinca 1, Šibenik
Pelegrini celebrated its Michelin star long ago (2018), and it has successfully maintained it through new editions of the guide, confirming its status as one of Croatia’s most important food destinations. Last summer we were reminded just how excellent and consistent Rudolf Štefan’s kitchen is, offering a modern reinterpretation of traditional Dalmatian flavors based on local ingredients from the sea and the land. Another recommendation, or perhaps better said, another reminder, has landed on your summer to-do list: this top-tier fine dining restaurant (set in the historic Villa Pelegrini-Tambača, right next to St. James’s Cathedral, which is also an exceptional experience).
Photo@pelegrini_sibenik
Krug
Address: Trumbićeva obala 17, Split
For several years now, Krug has been quietly building its fine dining story, led by young chef Karlo Kaleb. This year it received its first Michelin star, putting a seal on everything and proving that hard work pays off. Today, it is one of Split’s key restaurants, interestingly combining tradition with a modern approach in the kitchen. Everything here revolves around the open kitchen concept, with the kitchen placed at the center of the dining room and surrounded by an L-shaped counter. If you love direct contact with the magic, this is the place for you. Expect multi-course tasting menus, and the restaurant also makes its own bread, butter, and fermented accompaniments, while dishes change depending on the availability of local ingredients and the season.
Photo@Krug
Korak
Address: Plešivica 34, Jastrebarsko
When I still lived in Jastrebarsko, Restaurant Korak was within easy reach, I was close to it. Now that I no longer live there, and Korak is still spoken about just as loudly, it is clear that it is one of Croatia’s best restaurants. It has held onto its Michelin star for three years, has meanwhile received a Green Star, and this year also won the Michelin Service Award (thanks to owner Vera Korak). Chef Bernard Korak has created a kitchen deeply tied to terroir and seasonality. After experience with three-Michelin-star chefs, he decided to enrich the traditions of Plešivica, a region of vineyards and hills. We thank him for that.
Photo@korakwinery
Forchetta 1902
Address: Kanal 30, Motovun
Forchetta 1902 is a restaurant located within the Roxanich winery and boutique hotel, known for a modern interpretation of Istria’s gastronomic heritage based on local and organic ingredients and a contemporary bistronomic style. Since we visited it this summer as the Vogue Adria team, I can confirm that tradition and local flavors here combine with innovative approaches in the most delicious ways. Carefully paired Roxanich wines help ensure you leave truly impressed. The location is a bonus too, because nothing can quite replace the view of Istria’s rolling hills.
Ludo More, Cavtat
Address: Put Tihe 22, Cavtat
A well-kept secret of Cavtat and definitely a food address ready to go straight onto your summer to-do list (they are closed over the winter) is Ludo More, a praised restaurant with a wild name. Set in the gentle Tiha bay, the restaurant is unpretentious, and the atmosphere very relaxed, helped along by the view of the sea. Most importantly, it is devoted to the sea and all the delicacies pulled from it on a daily basis. Yes, the catch dictates the menu and the offer, and that is why we trust them. From starters like eggplant pâté or salad with smoked burrata to creative fish mains, everything is good, and their homemade bread and focaccia also deserve a mention.
Photo@ludo.more.restaurant
Serbia
Thyme Indian Street Food
Address: Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 212, Belgrade
The newest restaurant in the Thyme family brought fresh excitement to Belgrade’s food scene, with plenty of spicy seasonings. Thyme Indian Street Food is a restaurant people talked about, and the aromas of cardamom, cumin, and ginger drifting from the kitchen lure you in before you even reach the table. The menu is full of classics such as Butter Chicken and Chicken Masala, along with biryani rice, crispy bites, and tandoori bread, without unnecessary complication. Vegetarian options are thoughtfully developed with the same care. The atmosphere? Relaxed, informal, and ideal for a daytime visit.
Pretop
Address: Masarikov trg 17, Zemunska pijaca, Belgrade
Opened back in 2021 as an interesting concept restaurant dedicated to meat and sparkling wine, Pretop is still one of the most popular places in Belgrade. Bojana, our copy editor, tells me: “You should come on weekend mornings, especially on Sundays, but keep in mind the battle for a spot is pretty intense.” The meat here is prepared extremely well, and if you do not want a standard “kafana” setting, visit Pretop. Alongside the meat comes sourdough bread, fermented for days before baking, which is a very active part of the experience. And the best part of it all? A ritual we can all relate to in our region: bread experiences its juiciest juices through what is left behind after the meat, and in Serbia they call that pretop.
Cveće Zla
Address: Čika‐Ljubina 9, Belgrade
Another ace up Belgrade’s sleeve, reopened at a new location a couple of years ago, still beloved. The success of word-of-mouth marketing proves that good things get talked about. Cveće zla offers the classic combination of well-prepared dishes, an interesting ambience, and a carefully curated wine list. The interior is elegant and sophisticated, with a pleasant space for summer get-togethers on the terrace or an intimate dinner inside.
Photo@cvecezla_cikaljubina
Istok
Address: Gospodar Jevremova 50, Belgrade
Another Asian gem that found its place on Michelin’s list of recommendations this year. The Vietnamese-Asian food story unfolds here in very interesting ways, in a warm and welcoming setting. The food is excellent, prices are reasonable, and it is a great choice for lovers of Asian cuisine.
Photo@istokrestoran
Vid New Balkan Cuisine
Address: Svetog Save 14, Belgrade
Vid New Balkan Cuisine is a new, fresh spot by a hero of the new Balkan cuisine, Vanja Puškar, opened at the beginning of December. A new reason to congratulate Vanja, who keeps pushing boundaries with his restaurant concepts. His gastro family now includes Iva, Dragoljub, and the new Vid. “This will be our most sensual format so far, more flexible in form and pace, creating an experience that changes, develops, and grows together with our concept. The atmosphere is relaxed, light, and alive, exactly the kind we personally love most,” Vanja said about Vid.
Photo@vidnewbalkancuisine
Koordinata
Address: Nemanjina 5, Belgrade
The first Koordinata Street opened in 2020 at the Zemun market, a small bistro with four tables and a focus on creative seasonal gastro fusion. This year, another Koordinata opened, this time in the famous Belgrade Hotel Beograd, now in the city center with a fine dining approach. Seasonality as the guiding principle of the menu has remained in focus, and the farm-to-table idea is more pronounced than ever.
Photo: Luka Milanović
Faro
Address: Vojvode Dragomira 4, Belgrade
Opened two years ago, Faro is a food gem we return to. An excellent balance of local cuisine with a contemporary approach makes it a go-to place for an elegant dinner. The fact that it is housed in a charming 1924 villa with an elegant interior and a garden helps you feel exactly that way. The wine list deserves your attention.
Photo@faro_beograd
Fresca
Address: Dobračina 29a, Belgrade
Another new star of the Belgrade scene, an Italian star at that. Fresca is a new restaurant dedicated to modern Italian cuisine and good wines. The restaurant is developing as part of a broader gastro concept and includes Fresca Cellar, a wine cellar with more than 50 wine labels, and Fresca Deli, a daytime format with lighter dishes, sandwiches, and a wine selection for a break or lunch. It did not take long for it to become a popular spot in the city. Scrambled eggs with a creamy bisque soup, topped with grilled shrimp, lightly sautéed spinach, hot oil, and olive powder, is something we want to repeat again and again.
Langouste
Address: Kosančićev Venac 29, Belgrade
Every city center deserves a top-tier fine dining restaurant, and Langouste defended its Michelin star again this year. The talented Marko Derić, who returned to Belgrade after honing his craft in several European restaurants, now leads a creative and highly dedicated team. Serbian tradition, supported by local ingredients, comes with a modern twist here, while the chef’s inspiration also draws on French and Italian cuisine. Guests choose between different menus: fish, meat, or a more complex eight-course menu that includes both fish and meat. The special lobster option is a small spectacle.
Suvenir
Address: Novi Beograd Blok 44, Gandijeva BB, Belgrade
A house on the Sava River as a lovely restaurant, with a view of the river and the surrounding greenery, that is Restaurant Suvenir, which has kept its audience busy and loyal for years. Michelin liked it this year, so it included it on its list of recommendations, and it particularly highlights the spacious interior with a warm feel where you will feel as if you have come to someone’s home. A rich selection of traditional dishes, the meat is high quality and deliciously prepared, and there are also good seafood options and freshwater fish. All in all, it is a well-rounded story.
Photo@splavsuvenir
Slovenija
OAK Ljubljana
Address: Smlednik 200, Slovenija
A few minutes’ drive from central Ljubljana, in the green surroundings of a golf course, OAK opened last autumn: a new restaurant, cocktail bar, and steakhouse. Located in Smlednik, as part of CUBO Golf Ljubljana, it has already attracted its gastro audience that loves a combination of nature and good food. The restaurant is dedicated to an open kitchen concept with a wood fire, where quality cuts of meat and Mediterranean-inspired dishes are prepared, alongside a broad selection. If you have not been, stop by to see what it is all about.
Georgie bistro
Address: Čufarjeva ulica 5, Ljubljana
Georgie Bistro is a contemporary fine dining bistro in the center of Ljubljana, and one of the more exciting food spots. It is led by chef Gregor Jelnikar, known for an inventive approach that blends Slovenian culinary heritage with global influences. Seasonal, local, and exciting is how we would describe Georgie’s concept. This year Michelin recommended it.
Photo@georgiebistro
Sushimama
Address: Wolfova ulica 12, Ljubljana
The popular Japanese restaurant Sushimama has been confidently leading its food story for several years and is one of the city’s favorite places for lovers of Asia, more precisely Japan, of course. Sushi, sashimi, and other Japanese gems are served here with special care, and the offer also includes specialties such as wagyu (Kobe-style) steak on a hot stone. The open kitchen concept leads the story here too, exactly as it should.
Photo@_sushimama
Ondori Street Food
Address: Gallusovo nabrežje 25, Ljubljana
SA charming street food bistro in central Ljubljana that we often visit when the craving for Asian ramen intensifies. They mainly serve ramen and poke bowls, which are excellent, and many find it hard to pick just one. One detail does stand out on the menu, though: their trio of appetizers, Ondori 3 in 1, with spicy tuna, kimchi, and marinated salmon, which is divine. You will thank us later.
Photo@Ondori Street Food Ljubljana Facebook
AFTR
Address: Nazorjeva ulica 2, Ljubljana
Another place we regularly return to in Ljubljana, and have for a couple of years now since Jorg Zupan opened it. It is a modern bistro with a great atmosphere that will tempt you to have one more glass of organic wine or a cocktail. The kitchen includes Mediterranean dishes like taramasalata, or, for instance, pork roast with kiwi and fennel, a Central European dish with a modern twist. The food is delicious and skillfully combines delicate ingredients with more intense flavors.
Smash burger
Address: Slovenska cesta 25, Ljubljana
When the well-known Zagreb burger crew finally opened a permanent address in Ljubljana after success at festivals like Open Kitchen, and that was a couple of years ago now, it was clear the city had gained a place for lovers of burgers. Using the “smash” technique, their burgers come with crispy crusts, and they are served alongside cocktails or sparkling wine.
Photo@smash_ljubljana
