Image by Karla Lončar

Since its opening in January 2011, this unique and charming deli bistro called Lari & Penati, situated in the city center, has become the talk of the town. Named after the Roman gods of household – Lares and Penates, its carefully prepared dishes evoke feeling of contentment similar to the one you experience when you taste your favorite home-cooked meal.

However, Lari & Penati’s not-so-pricy cuisine is something out of the ordinary, at least according to Zagreb standards: curried pumpkin soup, lamb shanks in red wine with vegetables and palenta or tuna confit with grilled fennelare are just a sneak peak to the deli’s versatile daily menu, also suitable for vegetarians. Besides soups, pies, few main meals and desserts, this deli also offers delicious snacks, such as savory almonds, salted cookies with cheese and thyme, lavender and lemon cookies, to name a few, all packed in tasteful glass jars. Its interior is very light, creative and un-pretentious (some of the decorations were bought at the Hrelić market), although somewhat small.

In just a few months this deli became very popular for a reason. Whether its customers grab a few meals to-go, or simply enjoy something savory or something sweet, accompanied with a glass of wine inside the deli, it seems that all of them are pretty satisfied with everything these voracious little gods thoughtfully prepared.

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Lari & Penati | Snacks, Restaurants (Intern.) | Soup Kn 20.00
Petrinjska 42a | Lower town | +385996688101
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 20:00, Sat 11:00 – 16:30

Image by Karla Lončar

So, you are evidently in Zagreb. And you have eaten burek, ćevapi and such, but you want to taste something typically Croatian that looks like home-food? Then Vinodol is your answer.

Vinodol is a restaurant that serves great variety of Croatian cuisine – from continental parts of the land to Mediterranean. The menu is very diverse and very tasty. To prove that it is sufficient to say that this restaurant has been listed among the best Croatian restaurants since 1995, and it still isn’t too expensive. If you have been planning to spend close to 100.00 Kn per main meal, then your expectations will be pleasantly fulfilled.

It is hard to recommend anything from the menu because everything is appetizing and most of it home made. Restaurant has also a nice terrace bounded with grape vines, along with the outdoor grill. The meat is tender, vegetables just as they should be, the wine list is great and desserts are delicious. There are also several dishes for vegetarians. Portions are also fine.

I am starting to feel like I am exaggerating but I really don’t have anything negatively to say. That leaves you to check this place and see whether I am right for yourselves.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Vinodol restaurant | Restaurants (Croatian) | Main dishes from Kn 45.00
Teslina 10 | Lower town | +38514811427
10:00 – 00:00 daily

Image by Karla Lončar

Zagreb has a few Japanese restaurants but I must admit that I haven’t visited them yet, due to their budget-non-friendly price lists. Because of that, I personally welcomed the idea of opening of this relatively small sushi take away bar where you can choose from different varieties of Japanese delicacies. Besides sushi, you can order sashimi, miso soup, spring rolls and such. Everything mentioned is made by Chefs right in front of you.

MANZOKU sushi bar is situated in the city’s Centre and it won’t take you long to grab a few bites in the middle of your tour de Zagreb. It is good to know that you have a 20 % discount on sushi if you buy them between 13.00 and 14.00 hours and 30 % discount on the same goods between 19.00 and 22.00 hours. Their tastiness and lightness definitely serve the phrase „the more the merrier” – at least when it comes to indulging yourself with some food during nice city walks. After all, „manzoku” supposedly means „pleasure” in Japanese.

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MANZOKU sushi take away | Snacks, Restaurants (Japanese) | Futomaki Kn 8.00
Ljudevita Gaja 26 | Lower town | +38514851844
10:00 – 22:00 daily

Image by Krunoslav Koprivnjak

A fat chef is always a sign of a good kitchen. And the guy here is huuuuge, always in greasy, stained apron. Fits perfectly with the rest of the interior, which is minimalistic, grim, socialist looking, shabby dirty dumphole. It is impossible to find two forks/spoons/knives/chairs… that belong to the same set, which only adds to the romantic setting of the place.

A wise man taught me a long time ago that if you want to eat good at a highway stop – always choose one with many trucks parked outside. Because these guys are tough and they want their food to be tasty and plentiful. I applied the same thing to the construction workers  and bingo! – discovered Zaton. It seems, though, that I was not the only one, because, despite the plethora of fancy restaurants in the vicinity, the place is always teeming with bankers and other white collar gentlemen who work in the surrounding buildings. Good food brings people together.

The owner is a lady who reminds me a bit of a madame at some brothel – always keeping track what her waiters are doing. The dishes are simple but, by Jove!, are they tasty! The menu changes daily (with standard dishes available throughout the day) and after 13:00 only few dishes remain available. My favourites are Meatloaf Steffany with Mashed Potatoes and Mushroom Sauce on Tuesdays, Baked Beans and Sausage on Wednesdays, Sauerkraut, Blood Sausage and Potatoes on Thursday and Calamari with Tartar Sauce on Fridays.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Bistro Zaton | Restaurants (Intern.) | Meal of the day Kn 30
Budmanijeva 12 | Lower town | +38516184580
Mon – Sat 08:00 – 22:00, Sun 09:00 – 20:00

Image by Nikolina Demark

Zagreb is packed with restaurants and bakeries, supermarkets and fastfood venues, but there’s a real shortage of places where one could go to eat, as we say here, ‘something warm’ – a nice little meal just off the stove, fulfilling enough to deserve the etiquette of a lunch, and yet not that time-consuming that it would take an hour or two between ordering and paying the bill. You’re hungry for something more nutritious than a slice of pizza, but don’t have the whole afternoon for sitting in a restaurant? You’re in luck – there’s a recently opened charming place in the very heart of the city.

It’s called Cušpajz, which is a Croatian term for stewed vegetables, and they serve… well, exactly that. Their soups are made from fresh vegetables and served with homemade bread and enough various extras on the side to keep you full for the rest of the day. There’s no fixed menu in Cušpajz – the daily offer depends on what the owner found at the market that particular morning and what she decided to do with it. The two or three results of her inspiration are, as it turns out, always quite delicious.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Cušpajz | Snacks, Restaurants (Soups) | Minestrone Kn 35
Ljudevita Gaja 9 | Lower town
Mon – Sat 11:00 – 17:00