As one of the richest and most attractive regions of Croatia, Istria abounds in all kinds of tourist content. Due to the constant rise of new complexes and the further expansion of tourism, our largest peninsula annually hosts a large number of workers. One of the key questions for people who come here to work, whether it is for a stay of several weeks or several months, is where they can eat during their stay in Istria.
In this text, we will deal with exactly that – where are the best brunches, or gableci in Istria, with the cheapest possible prices? We have prepared a map for you with locations and prices by restaurant, and we will also present everything through the text.
Of course, cities along the coast lead the offer. Poreč as an unforgettable tourist destination offers the most. It is followed by Pula, Umag, Labin, Pazin, Novigrad, Buzet and Rovinj, and some other places in inner Istria with plenty to offer are Žminj, Motovun, Kanfanar, Buje and others.
Therefore, let’s explore where the best brunches/gableci are in Istria. There is a separate section for each of the larger cities, and at the end one for smaller towns. If you are a worker but (currently) not working in Istria, save this text for later – you never know if you might need it.
Poreč
The city of mosaics, Poreč, is located on the west coast of the peninsula. It is one of the most famous tourist centers in the whole of Croatia due to the developed tourism and numerous hotels. Below we present ten places for those looking for a good brunch.
Let’s start from the bistro Pometo, which is located outside the city itself. The food, as one visitor writes, tastes like it was cooked by a mother from Croatia. Many are delighted with the size of the burgers and the friendly staff.
Halftime is the name of the next restaurant, located in the center of Poreč. The Euphrasian Basilica is only a five-minute walk away, and this place can be ideal for an evening before or after visiting the historical complex.
The staff of the Medusa restaurant are waiting for you in the city’s Veli Maj district. Judging by the photos, fish and seafood are mostly ordered there. Visitors are satisfied and have announced that they will be happy to return, so you cannot miss Medusa.
Kiwi Tar is a place with an exotic name near Vabriga, about 15 minutes from Poreč. They offer a variety of dishes, from lamb to pancakes, so there will be something for everyone. It is especially praised by the locals.
In the northeast, also outside the city, you will find the restaurant Nona Mina. It is located near Dvori, so you can stop here if you are traveling towards Poreč from that side or are simply passing through. Visitors are satisfied with marenda (brunch), or gablec, as well as large portions.
Meat lovers especially come to Bonaca. Especially good are the meat platters and piglets, the price of which, for example, includes a side dish, so you won’t have to pay for it separately. The staff, visitors add, is very friendly.
Another interesting restaurant in the city center is called Arman. The modern ambience boasts kebabs (ćevapi), which are at the top of the list of the most ordered dishes. Visitors also recommend dishes by the spoonful.
Next on the list is L’artigiano. This restaurant offers a wide range of dishes, and is praised for its professionalism and friendliness. Of course, in the foreground is the food, which the visitors are satisfied with. One of them writes that all Poreč restaurateurs must emulate L’artigiano.
Arlen, the last on our list for Poreč, has an almost perfect reviewer rating. It is actually a hotel with a restaurant. It offers a wide range of local and other gablecs. Arlen also has a playground for children, so it is suitable for families.
Pula
During the summer months, the center of Pula is full of people, especially tourists, and how could it not be, when the city is home to the spectacular Arena, an amphitheater dating back to the 1st century. No, good locations for brunch or gablec are not located only in the center, but in every neighborhood. We have selected eight places that you can visit in search of good food.
Bistro Sydney is located near Pula City Mall, so those who go shopping can combine the pleasant with the useful. Its biggest advantages are large portions of food and reasonable prices.
Restaurant Pirun is located near Veruda, and in addition to eating in the restaurant, it also offers catering delivery. People who ordered delivery praised it in reviews; some also write that Pirun has the best delivery in town.
And what kind of brunch would it be without a restaurant called Galeb. It is a destination that offers barbecue food, and it is clear that barbecue lovers are in for a treat here. Foreign tourists praise them because the food is fresh and authentic.
On Paduljski put, on the edge of the city, you will find the restaurant Grdelin. Oštarje, as stated in the Croatian dictionary, are inns on the way, along the road. One of the local tourists wrote that the restaurant provides a real Istrian gastronomic experience.
The destination you will find in the innermost center is a bistro called Alighieri. A short walk from the Arena will bring you to Dante Square, and the fact that the restaurant named after the famous poet Dante has more than 2,500 reviews ranks it among the most popular in the city. It offers everything, from breakfast to dinner, and the biggest advantage, according to tourists, are the high quality products.
Another attention-worthy restaurant next to Veruda is Stari grad 02, especially if you are staying in one of the numerous apartments nearby. The positive impressions of both domestic and foreign guests are a clear indication that you will not make a mistake by coming here. One foreign visitor says that Stari grad 2 is arguably the best restaurant in Pula.
On the way out of town, towards Medulin, you will come across the Kod Zvaneta tavern. Judging by the reviews, it is, first of all, a place with extremely favorable prices, but the quality of gablec does not suffer because of this – the brunches are delicious and both locals and foreigners gather.
Finally, we also set aside one fast food restaurant in Pula. Biberon is located in the K center of Šijana and is particularly suitable for those who are in a rush, so while they do their shopping, they come here for brunch. Visitors especially praise the coffee prepared by the staff, which you can try with a gablec.
Umag
The city located at the top of Istria, next to the Slovenian border, has a lot to offer due to the constant influx of people. Below, we present seven restaurants that will delight you with marende (brunches), or gablecs.
Restaurant Lape is located near the bus station and offers special benefits. For example, visitors write that every Friday pizza prices are promotional; cheaper than other days on Sunday. Ćevapi, kebabs and burgers received praise, and Lape is cited as an ideal place for a drink.
Excellent food for a good price – that’s how visitors describe the Tranzit tavern. Inexpensive daily specials will ensure that you not only leave satisfied, but also return, which happened to quite a few people who got there. Fast service is one of the main advantages of Tranzit.
If you particularly like the local flair, we suggest you head to nearby Murina. The tavern of the same name in the village exudes tradition, and prepares homemade food and large portions for its guests.
Judging by the list, Dok is primarily a grill restaurant. Among the online reviews, the meat plates stand out the most, but the place offers a variety of food, as well as desserts. Locals come to eat at this restaurant and that’s always a good sign, one tourist wrote.
Konoba Bevanda boasts not only bevanda, but also delicious cuisine. Homemade food, reasonable prices and a good atmosphere will surely satisfy your appetite – literally and figuratively.
In the center of Umag is the Super baka restaurant, which, as the name suggests, offers traditional local food. The pizza is delicious, the portions are adequate, and some decided to try the brandy as well. They didn’t regret it! What is also an advantage of the location where the restaurant is located is a large parking lot.
We end the Umag tour by visiting the Fenix restaurant. Pizza is their number one, and reasonable prices will result in sweet worries and thinking about which one to choose. You can also try soparnik, a dish that looks almost identical to pizza.
Labin
The picturesque town of Labin is not located on the coast itself, but only a few kilometers from Rabac and it faces the sea, which makes it a desirable destination. In addition to the city’s sights, the people of Labin can boast a rich offer of gablec and brunch. Here are three restaurants you can visit in Labin.
The first is, appropriately, called Labineca. And the catering facility is actually all in one – coffee bar, pizzeria and bistro. Many were delighted that you can eat here for less than 10 euros, so it is not surprising that people regularly return to the restaurant. If you only want Croatian cuisine without excess, as one tourist wrote, this is the place for you.
There is a pizzeria called Pineta in the city center, which has as many as 1,500 reviews. Of course, mostly positive. The guests are very satisfied with the pizza, and Pineta also has a delivery that one tourist described as the best delivery ever. The selection of pizza is large and there is something for everyone.
Restaurant Šterna is near Maxi Konzum. A variety of dishes, especially Italian, large portions and friendly staff have placed this restaurant among the best restaurants in the city. If you want to eat well, this is the place for you.
Pazin
Pazin is the administrative seat of Istria and, in addition to being a tourist destination, it is a stopover for many people because the Istrian Epsilon passes by the town. We have singled out three restaurants where you can have a good brunch or gablec.
What Hotel Lovac offers is more than cuisine. The view from the terrace enchants visitors, and thus the food becomes more interesting. The prices are not expensive, and another big plus is the accompanying program at the hotel, such as musical performances.
Bistro Pod lipom, our next location, can boast of extremely low prices – one visitor stated that he paid only four euros for the daily menu. From simple to more complex dishes and with a wide range of drinks, Pod lipom regularly gets five-star reviews from guests.
Pazin Zapad, located next to the highway, presents itself as a restaurant, coffee & wine bar. It regularly collects positive reviews, and not only for the food, but also for the coffee. Basically, it’s a nice place that pleasantly surprises passersby.
Novigrad
When we talk about Novigrad, another city not far from the Slovenian border, two locations stand out. The Luciana tavern is actually in the nearby village of Nova Vas, so the location, given that the restaurant is surrounded by beautiful vineyards, is a kind of advantage. I have visited many restaurants in Croatia, writes one tourist, but this one is the best – fresh food, large portions and very cheap prices.
The Vista restaurant is not in the town itself either, but in the village of Karigador. The daily offer of gablec or brunch is what visitors like, who are satisfied with the reasonable price. Of course, you can also eat a typical Istrian dish there, and the view of the sea is the sugar on top of your visit to Vista.
Buzet
Will it be difficult to find a good restaurant in Buzet since the place is far from the sea? Of course not. The choice also fell onto to two restaurants, the first of which is Sandy Buzet, which belongs to the nearby town of Sveti Ivan. It earned an almost perfect rating because of its delicious food, great prices and large space. Delighted guests announce their return.
Hotel Fontana Buzet is the best choice for those who are in the city itself. The prices are not high and here you can relax a little after work with coffee and gablec. The staff is friendly and the hotel is spacious.
Rovinj
Although Rovinj is one of the most desirable locations when we talk about tourism, our choice for gablecs or brunches in the city came down to one restaurant. Lookness Rovinj is in the very center, so you can’t miss it, and if you don’t know what you would like to eat, the friendly staff will give you a recommendation. Visually appealing dishes for a unique Mediterranean experience.
The rest
Nine more restaurants in smaller towns of Istria are placed in the other section. These are Domino in Potpićan, Konoba Žminjka and Pod Ladonjon Žminj, Cotić in Motovun, TIK TAK Kanfanar, Incontro Višnjan, Monica Žbandaj, Aristea in Buje and Bistro Baderna on the way to Poreč. All of the above have quality ratings and you won’t regret visiting them.
So, wherever you come to work in Istria, use this guide and you won’t go hungry. We wish you a pleasant stay on our largest peninsula and, of course, bon appétit!
