Colourful Zagreb – Dolac market and restaurants in the historic centre

"Fresh local ingredients and organic wines drive this bistro‑cum‑wine bar in the heart of the old town, with an attractive outdoor space and a relaxing room of exposed brickwork far from the city’s frenetic pace; as the chef puts it, “We describe our cuisine as ‘market fresh’ because we source our ingredients on a daily basis from the wonderful Dolac market, which always has something to surprise us.” We also appreciate the nod to history in a name that recalls the old Kaptol wall once running along the Medvešćak river, since demolished to make way for the market. Menus change with the seasons and the day’s market finds, spotlighting small artisanal producers in dishes like home‑made pasta with rabbit ragu, radicchio cream and wild garlic oil; steak with oyster mushrooms, celeriac and black truffle; slow‑cooked oxtail with Carnaroli rice, parsley root, chives and radicchio; pork with grilled cabbage, cauliflower and parsley purée; delicate Adriatic white fish with cauliflower purée and parsley or with burrata, beetroot, radicchio, walnuts and reduced grape must; and meat‑free plates such as glazed aubergines with white bean hummus, herbs, toasted seeds, walnuts and kefir. The wine list showcases Croatia’s diverse terroirs and philosophies, with mostly organic and natural labels selected through tireless research." - Annalisa Leopolda Cavaleri