Monte

Where to Stay in Istria—And What to Do While You're There | Condé Nast Traveler

"Croatia’s first Michelin-starred restaurant, it lives up to the billing with sun-drenched, multi-course tastings that feel both refined and celebratory in Rovinj’s fashionable fishing town." - Jonnie Bayfield

"Situated next to St Euphemia church in the house where chef Danijel Đekić was born, this family-run restaurant dating back to 1985, originally a traditional tavern, has been transformed into one of the most acclaimed fine-dining restaurants in Croatia. The innovative, regional cuisine is often inspired by old recipes which are then reinterpreted with creative flair. The three menus are named after the colour of their key ingredient: Red for lobster, Green for vegetables and Blue for fish and seafood (but not exclusively). Special mention must be made of the lobster bisque, which features lobster tartare with trout caviar accompanied by a fennel-flavoured fumet and baked squid in black batter. The wine options are also excellent, both for the extensive choice and for the enthusiasm with which the sommelier provides recommendations." - Michelin Inspector

Croatia continues to shine with its growing number of MICHELIN Stars

"A family-run trailblazer in Rovinj’s historic center, this original, personalized dining room showcases top-quality Mediterranean and Istrian cooking through three color-themed tasting menus: Red revels in lobster (from salad with avocado and strawberries to bisque, dumplings with asparagus and hollandaise, medallion with carrots and saffron, and tail with artichokes and sauce vierge), Blue balances meat and fish with dishes like premium Oscietra caviar with 64°C egg yolk and potato foam, marinated tuna with sea urchin and aubergine emulsion, veal tartare, duck supreme with foie gras and cherries, and veal sweetbreads with mushrooms, while Green spotlights vegetables from aubergine caviar with 64°C egg yolk and potato foam to tomato with white tomato juice, goat’s cheese strudel with spinach and pumpkin, and grilled mushrooms with broccoli purée and walnuts; the superb local cheese selection (including Istrian ricotta sometimes paired with figs in balsamic and caramelised almond ice cream) and elegant desserts like apple and rose ice cream round out the experience, and the extensive wine list is elevated by sommelier Simon’s poetic pairings, all overseen by chef Danijel Đekić and sommelier Tjitske with their children Ilja and Simon on the team." - Annalisa Leopolda Cavaleri

"Chef and owner Danijel Dekić opened Monte right below St. Euphemia Church, in the courtyard of his parents’ house, back in 1985. Today, it’s a Michelin-star restaurant, where a grape tree grows inside the stone-walled interior and engagements often happen at the “Romeo and Juliet” table in the alfresco alcove. The food here is Mediterranean with a molecular twist, but the tasting menus are constantly changing. One night you may eat tuna tartare with baby clams, crème fraiche, and panko egg; the next, slow-roasted suckling pig with lentils, pork rind, onion marmalade, and geranium."

MICHELIN Guide Croatia 2020: LD Terrace and Boškinac earn one Star

"Retaining its star this year, this restaurant demonstrates the consistency of its chef, who shares a unique creative cuisine with guests." - Le Guide MICHELIN