Located at the foot of Marjan Hill, Adriatic Graso features a magnificent view of the city lights and sea. The wine list is entirely Croat and Slovenian, and the cuisine is modernized Dalmatian — don’t miss the popular version of “falkusa," which is oven-baked sea bass, zucchini and carrot noodles, homemade tomato sauce and mozzarella.

A surprising find in the rustic hills outside of Sibenik, Bibich is a refined winery producing a number of excellent Croatian wines. The open-air courtyard is a lovely setting for dinner, with twinkling lights above and whitewashed gravel underfoot. Wines are expertly paired with an impressive and whimsical tasting menu (that ranges from five to 15 courses). Be sure to make a reservation for dinner—Bibich has been well-known since Anthony Bourdain's famous visit and rave review on his show No Reservations.

A large and vibrant space inspired by Spain's Boqueria market, this lively spot has a large bar and high top tables for gathering. Enjoy seafood, salads, burgers, risottos and shareable small plates, but be sure to book ahead.

A sleek and elegant restaurant with a spacious terrace overlooking the sea and surrounding islands, Kadena serves the freshest seafood and vegetables. Try the sea bass cooked in olive oil.

Konoba means “tavern,” and this no-frills restaurant sticks to the basics when it comes to good service and even better food. The menu is simple, consisting mainly of fresh seafood and local vegetables. Located on one of the buzzy back streets of the city center, the restaurant is equally popular with locals and visitors, so be sure to reserve a table in advance on the enclosed patio.

Nostromo is a simple spot located a stone's throw from the Split fish market. Popular with both locals and visitors, the eatery is known for refined and impeccable fish dishes.

This unique bar draws a lively crowd looking to sample local cheese platters and Croatian wines by the glass. The small interior space fills up quickly, but many prefer the hightop tables outside on the bustling patio. Highly recommended is the Pag platter, featuring Croatia's renowned goat cheese from the north.

Nikola has the casual atmosphere of a typical Dalmatian tavern, so don't be alarmed when you step down into a basement rather than upstairs to a space with sea views. The restaurant is renowned for its fresh fish and shellfish specialties, and the seasonal menu changes on a daily basis.

Uje Oil Bar is a popular restaurant showcasing Croatia’s rich and varied olive oils; the eponymous shop next door sells more than 50 varieties from around the country. The daily dinner menu draws crowds who sidle up to rustic wooden tables for elegant fare like feta with shrimp and roasted peppers and tuna steaks with new potatoes – all doused in golden tones of the namesake elixir. The wine list is brief but carefully chosen, and the desserts are excellent.

Dalmatian cuisine relies on impeccably fresh ingredients, but sometimes the menus can be repetitive. Not so at Zrno Soli, a sea-view terrace restaurant that offers an imaginative menu of updated Croatian staples like carpaccio of prawns and monkfish, apples stuffed with angler fish and a number of homemade pastas.