Restoran Žal
My Heartfelt Recommendation for a Dinner You'll Remember for a Long Time – Restaurant "Žal" in Klimno
Every holiday has a few moments that stay with you long after the trip itself. Sometimes it's a hidden beach, sometimes a boat trip, and sometimes a single dinner where everything somehow falls perfectly into place – pleasant company, outstanding food, a glass of good wine, and a view no photo could ever truly capture.
When guests ask me where I'd send them for such a dinner, my answer is almost always the same – Restaurant "Žal" in Klimno.
Klimno is a small coastal village on the eastern coast of the island of Krk, just a few minutes' drive from Soline. Although it seems peaceful and unassuming at first glance, this is exactly where you'll find a restaurant that has, over the years, grown beyond the boundaries of our region. Today it draws guests from all over the island, as well as numerous sailors who plan a stop here during their cruise through the Kvarner Gulf.
Even the arrival makes a special impression. The restaurant sits literally right on the water's edge, next to the promenade and the quay. If you arrive by car, you're greeted by a view of the calm harbour and the terrace right by the sea. If you arrive by boat, the experience is even more special. It's not unusual to see speedboats and smaller yachts mooring right beside the restaurant's terrace. Guests step off, take just a few steps, and are already seated at a table almost at the water's edge. Few restaurants on the Adriatic put the sea so literally within reach.
What makes this restaurant so special to me, though, isn't just its location, but a moment that unfolds on almost every clear summer evening.
If you can, reserve a table on the terrace and try to arrive shortly before eight in the evening. That's when one of the most beautiful sights you can experience in our bay begins. The sun slowly sinks toward the horizon over the open sea, and the whole sky starts to change colour. Golden tones dominate first, then shades of orange, followed by deep reds, and just before the sun finally sets, the sky and sea take on purple and pink hues reflected on the calm surface of the water. Sitting on the terrace, you almost feel as if the entire horizon has turned into a great painted canvas.
It's one of those moments when conversation spontaneously falls quiet for a few minutes. People simply watch nature and enjoy it. That's exactly why I often tell guests they're not just coming here for dinner, but for an experience they'll remember for a long time.
Of course, a beautiful view alone wouldn't be enough without quality cooking to go with it. For years, Restaurant "Žal" has been building its reputation on fresh ingredients and dishes that honour the traditions of the island of Krk. Fish, shellfish, and crustacean dishes hold a special place, prepared in a way that lets the natural flavours of the sea shine through. Lovers of seafood specialties will find a wide selection of fresh white and blue fish, risottos, homemade pasta, and dishes made with local ingredients here.
I'd especially highlight the restaurant's dedication to island specialties. Homemade šurlice, prepared on Krk for generations, come here in various combinations, with some of the best-known dishes being šurlice with prawns, cuttlefish brudet with homemade macaroni or polenta, monkfish in a žlahtina wine sauce, and risotto with prawns and asparagus. If you prefer classic meat dishes, those are on the menu too, so there's something for every taste.
It's worth leaving a little room for dessert. If you haven't yet had the chance to try "Presnac", a traditional cake from the island of Krk made with local sheep's cheese, this is one of the best places to experience it in its original form. Paired with a glass of local "žlahtina" wine or sparkling wine, an ending like that rounds off the whole culinary experience.
What I also like is that, despite its great popularity, the restaurant manages to keep a relaxed, easygoing atmosphere. The staff are professional yet unobtrusive, and the whole space has a Mediterranean simplicity to it. The large terrace by the sea and the glassed-in indoor dining room provide a pleasant setting throughout the season, and an aquarium with Adriatic fish species adds to the atmosphere, especially for the youngest guests.
On this page, I only recommend places I'd choose myself without hesitation when I want to enjoy a lovely evening. Restaurant Žal is one of them. I don't recommend it because it's the biggest or the most famous, but because I believe it successfully brings together the very best of our island – excellent local cuisine, hospitality, the scent of the sea, and a sunset that's hard to put into words.
If, during your stay in Soline, you decide to set aside one evening for a special culinary experience, my heartfelt recommendation is to book a table right here. Bring a good mood, arrive shortly before sunset, and let nature take care of the rest of the evening. I'm convinced you'll head home with one more lovely memory, and a reason to come back to the island of Krk.
The menu at Restaurant "Žal" changes with the season and the daily catch, but there are a few dishes I always love recommending to first-time visitors. Cuttlefish brudet with corn polenta or homemade macaroni, and šurlice with prawns, are two specialties that earned the restaurant a place in the official Kvarner gastronomic guide. Alongside them, the menu also features monkfish in a Vrbnička žlahtina wine sauce and sea bass fillet with capers and tomato in a white wine sauce.
Guest reviews confirm this. On Google Maps, the restaurant has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 with over 2,100 reviews – the largest base of impressions at this location. On TripAdvisor, it's rated 4.1 out of 5 across 361 reviews, where guests almost unanimously praise the unique seafront location and the unforgettable sunset.
Seafood lovers are in for a treat here – fresh prawns, mussels, and other shellfish are prepared simply, in a way that lets the natural flavours of the sea shine through, finished with a touch of homemade olive oil and herbs from the island.
Restaurant "Žal" has also been included in the official gastronomic guide "Kvarner Gourmet & Food" published by the Kvarner Tourist Board, earning 83 out of 100 points – further confirmation that it's one of the island's best addresses for a culinary experience.
Local squid, grilled or breaded, is regularly on the menu and is one of the dishes guests order most often alongside a glass of chilled žlahtina, while enjoying the sea view from the terrace.
The seasonal risotto with prawns and asparagus is a special addition to the spring and early-summer menu, and for guests who prefer meat, the kitchen also offers steaks, grilled dishes, and homemade cured ham and cheese.
Contact
To book a table, please call: 385/51/853-142
Opening hours:
Monday – Sunday, 10:00 AM – midnight