Cap Aureo Signature Restaurant

A restaurant that’s had its Michelin star for just five days and they managed to serve me a flawless 7-course vegan menu — completely blew me away. Everything runs like clockwork, the staff is friendly, and the food? So good you’ll want to wipe the plate clean with fingers. Michelin got it right. This time, for real. Must visit!

Dinner at Cap Aureo was a real treat.They just earned a Michelin star! Great atmosphere, delicious food, and a fun night with friends. Definitely worth a visit.

Unforgettable Fine Dining in Rovinj – Cap Aureo Deserves a Michelin Star! Celebrating our 34th wedding anniversary, we wanted something truly special. After looking into gourmet restaurants in Rovinj, Cap Aureo caught my eye – even though the same hotel, the Grand Park Hotel, is also home to a two-star Michelin restaurant. But for our evening, we chose Cap Aureo. And what a choice it was. We knew the evening would come at a price – but early in the experience, we realized it would be worth every penny. In fact, this turned out to be one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had. Perhaps the best. Cap Aureo does not (yet) hold a Michelin star – though it absolutely deserves one. From what I’ve heard, this may be due to formal criteria, perhaps related to Chef Jeffrey Vella’s involvement in other culinary ventures. But when it comes to quality? Without a doubt. This restaurant thinks, creates, and delivers with the same excellence and artistry you expect from the finest Michelin-starred venues. We went for the 7-course tasting menu, though you can have up to 20. We left the selection of dishes to our main waiter, and what followed was a masterfully composed meal. It began with delicate snacks – small, flavour-packed bites that set the tone – and continued with perfectly executed highlights like lobster, squab, and lamb. Each plate was a thoughtful composition of texture, temperature, and taste. Beautifully presented, deeply satisfying, and clearly crafted by a kitchen with exceptional precision and care. There’s no pretence here – just honest, joyful cooking at the highest level. The wine pairing was spot-on. The sommelier delivered detailed and passionate presentations – and although, as someone working in the wine industry, I could have done with slightly shorter descriptions, I appreciated her depth of knowledge and thoughtful pairings. Each wine elevated its dish. Service was flawless throughout: present, attentive, warm, and well-paced. We felt cared for from beginning to end, yet always allowed to just enjoy the moment. I’m sharing a few photos from the evening – but only a few. Some things are better experienced without spoilers. And this is definitely one of them. My husband and I fell in love with Cap Aureo. As we stepped out into the warm Rovinj night, we were already talking about coming back. Huge thanks to the entire team – in the kitchen, on the floor, and behind the wine list. For us, this evening was truly perfect. We recently returned to Cap Aureo in Rovinj – just a few weeks after our last visit – and it was no surprise to us that they’ve now been awarded a Michelin star. Based on our previous experience with the food, wine selection, and outstanding service, we expected it. New visit after they got one star! This time, we once again chose the 7-course tasting menu. Some dishes had changed slightly with the season, bringing in new elements and fresh inspiration. From the very first bite, every plate delivered layers of flavor that lifted the whole experience. Some combinations were so beautifully balanced and unexpected, I found myself wanting to lick the plate – especially one sauce that was simply unforgettable. We started the evening with a local sparkling wine from Istria, made using the traditional method – just like in Champagne. A perfect, elegant beginning to what became a memorable meal. Chef Jeffrey Vella came by early in the evening to greet us, which added a personal and warm touch. The sommelier, just as skilled and passionate as last time, paired each course with wines that brought out the best in every dish. His access to the finest wines from top vineyards truly showed in every glass. If you're looking for refined cuisine that delights your taste buds, surprises your senses, and leaves you smiling long after the last bite – Cap Aureo is a must. You’ll be taken care of from start to finish.

@grandparkhotelrovinj and the amazing team at @cap_aureo_rovinj_ took excellent care of @carolinegilby and me last night. it was exquisite, and - in the true meaning of that word - challenging. Many flavours concentrated and pushed to (and slightly beyond) the limit anyone else would dare. Special shout out for the apple desert, suckling pig, wild asparagus, and the “green jelly cube”. Wines pairings that were definitely “out there”, and one which resulted in fierce whispered debate among the experts at the table. Others that provoked delight and drew out smiles and shared stories. All absolutely at the limit of what I am qualified to have opinions on. Did I learn? Yes. Was it “the simple pleasure of eating”? No. Was everything “nice”? Also no (because “nice” isn’t the objective of anywhere at this quality level). Did I enjoy it? Absolutely yes. We missed the sunset. Not that we needed any excuse to return another day. Recommended, memorable. Last tip: use GPS to find the toilets. The hotel is huge. And don’t close the door without checking how to open it… (Huge thanks also to Sandra and @markokrstacic (of Medea Vina) who generously hosted, entertained, and educated us.)

This restaurant undeniably stands as one of Croatia’s best and most beautiful restaurants. My husband and I visited it for the second time and were just as delighted as we were two years ago. We had a 10-course menu with a wine pairing and the food, wine selection, service, ambiance... everything was great. We’re looking forward to come back.

The restaurant will surely be earning its first star soon. Based on all of the 1, 2 and 3 Michelin star restaurants we have eaten at, we have no doubt this one will receive the recognition it deserves. The menu allows a choice of 20 tasting courses. We opted for 10 with the wine flight. We allowed the chef to choose for us, based on some information provided on what we like food wise. The front of house is well rehearsed, acting as one. They maintained a friendly, professional, informative and efficient approach throughout the evening, with nothing being too much trouble. They even prepared a pasta dish for our son with nonalcoholic wine to make sure he was included. Thank you. The sommelier was outstanding. His love and knowledge of Croatian wines was clear. And despite the 10 course wine flight our heads were ok the next day (attributed to the biodynamic approach used across Croatian). The courses were all presented well with an excellent commentary, including suggestions as to the best way to eat them.. personal favourites for us were the corn and lobster courses. Finally, the location of the restaurant, being set within the beautiful grand park hotel, has breath taking views of the town and marina. We will be back on our next trip to the beautiful Rovinj when I expect a star will have made it to the door.

A treat for all the senses, perfect setting, superb service, a sommelier (Andreas) with such an extensive knowledge of local and regional wines took us on a wine journey around Croatia and we just loved it. We were at awe. The menu is somewhat puzzling, a lot of options and you do not know how to approach it. The food was creative, different, few times overcreative - in certain dishes they overplayed their hand- some of the dishes made no sense (e.g. raw Brussels sprouts in a caccio and pepe sauce really to die for - it would make more sense with a local pasta (e.g. pljukanci reinvented)). To sum up, a dinning experience not to be missed if you are a foody and willing to go overboard in terms of cash:-).

Extraordinary and Unforgettable!!! Incredible food, service and setting. Stunning. We had the 7 course tasting menu with wine pairing and loved taking a journey through Istiran cuisine with each course and learning something about the heritage and provenance from the really genuinely passionate staff. A night we’ll never forget.