Summer is still far away, we used up the year a long time ago, but who says you can’t escape to the coast for the weekend? One of the ideal locations for a weekend vacation is Rovinj, which is teeming with tourists in every season. The season here is far from over. Guided by this, we have put together a small guide of places that are worth visiting even if you are going on a short trip to Rovinj.
Read more: See what are the best things to do in Poreč
Villa Magnifica – beautiful house for rent
Surrounded by nature? Away from the crowds? Luxurious? Cosy? Villa Magnifica checks all the boxes! This brand new villa, located in a peaceful village in the heart of Istria, can comfortably accommodate persons in a way that everyone can still enjoy their privacy while spending their vacation together at the villa. Enjoy the sun on the sun loungers and cool down in the private pool with a view of the nature. Treat yourself to a very special holiday in luxury that Villa Magnifica offers – and enjoy endlessly!
Rovinj – a city of romance and quality gastronomic offers
The small town, which looks like a small Italy, and above all the Cinque Terre, conquers at first glance. Whether you climb the small streets towards the top where the church of St. Eufemije, or stroll along the “lungo mare” along the harbor with boats – Rovinj simply has a soul. What Istrians are widely known for is local wine, olive oil and the smell of truffles, so a visit to Rovinj is ideal if you are a true gourmet. The advantage of Istria is that by car you can quickly get to see the other coastal cities in the vicinity – Pula, Poreč, Novigrad and Umag. In addition, you can enrich your gastronomic stay with trips to the heart of Istria, where there are famous wineries (Kabola, Meneghetti, Kozlović…), oil mills (Ipša, Brist…) and picturesque towns such as Grožnjan, Motovun, Oprtalj…
If you have already arrived in Rovinj, or are just planning your arrival, you are certainly interested in where to drink good coffee and eat breakfast, go for a swim, go out for a nice dinner, a cocktail and have a good time. That’s why we take you on a tour of Rovinj and discover the best gastronomic places.
Nothing without good coffee for a good morning
You can start your day at Augusto Coffee Shop. In addition to coffee, you can satisfy your morning dose of caffeine with the excellent matcha they have in their offer. In addition, they also make homemade iced teas and coffee-based cocktails. At Augusto, you can wax your mustache and eat a croissant filled with vanilla, a focaccia sandwich or a princess donut with matcha. It will be hard for you to choose just one thing.
Another must-visit address is Sorei Coffee Shop & Art Gallery. In this adorable place, in addition to specialty coffee, you can also look at pictures, given that it is a small gallery. We go to another place in the heart of Rovinj – Piazzetta bar. A place that has charm and where we would love to sit down for coffee and breakfast. If the condition of choosing a place for your morning coffee is not that the coffee is a specialty, then we have no doubt that you will enjoy this place. Piazzetta is a good choice for the rest of the day as they offer snacks, wines and cocktails.
Enter your daily dose of vitamins
LAB salad bar is a bar that offers cleaned fresh fruit, so you can get your daily dose of vitamins in LAB. Acai bowl, cold-pressed juices and celery and ginger shots are a good choice to start the day, and a light and healthy salad for a later meal. Adriatic Bresserie is the full package of location, ambiance and rich breakfast. Eggs in a hundred ways, warm croissants, fruit, spreads – you can try it all at this place. An additional tip is to come here on Sundays when there is live music with breakfast.
Enjoying the beach
You must be eager for some sea and enjoyment on the beach. Walk south from the Grand Park Hotel and you’ll surely find your place under the sun. Mulini Beach bar is an unmissable location, but there are also Tamaris Beach Bar, Paradiso, De Castelan Beach bar, Valdaliso beach and Balota beach. Take the boat line from the pier in the central town square and go to the beach of the island of Sveta Katarina, which is located right in front of Rovinj itself. In the end, it is important that you choose the place that is the most beautiful for you!
Try the best ice cream
In the afternoon, our “life falls”, and it is best to pick it up with a little sugar. It is widely known that the best is the one at Gelateria Italia, but we bring you a few more ice cream shops that make excellent gelato. Minotaure, b 052 and the newest name of the gelato scene – Nonni. Gelateria i Nonni is located right on the waterfront, and apart from the extraordinary flavors, they also make vegan gelato.
If you are looking for homemade sweets in a not-so-icy version, don’t miss the old Rovinj pastry shop Breški. Almond cake, fruit crostata or apple pie, everything in this patisserie is like from mom’s kitchen.
Enjoy the gastronomic offer
Pizzeria Da Sergio has great pizza that you won’t go wrong with, so if you’re in the mood for it, this is the address you have to visit. You can have a quick, unpretentious but tasty meal at Tunaholic Fish Bar. Squid, sea urchins, prawns in tempura and tuna burgers are just part of the offer of this place. The good news is that, apart from Rovinj, they are also found in Poreč, Trogir and even Ljubljana. Another place that offers fish street food is Fish House.
Potez along the Riva offers several good restaurants where you can eat well. The most famous and recommended by Gault & Millau is Snack Bar Rio. The offer is based on fresh fish and seafood, so you can enjoy seafood specialties in Rio. Also look for the MARINA and Sidro restaurants and Kantinon tavern. San Tommaso Gourmet & Wine, in addition to the excellent klopa that it offers right by the sea on the waterfront, also makes its own wine because it is actually an Istrian winery.
Outside the strict center of Rovinj, you can also eat well so for your dinner you can go to the Jure tavern or the Tutto Bene restaurant. Konoba Jure is known for its large portions, and the dish that immediately makes us hungry is the ravioli in porcini mushroom and truffle sauce. It can’t be more domestic than it is. If you go to the northern part of Rovinj along the coast you will find the restaurant Locanda Blu, while in the south along the coast there is Trattoria Feral.
Rovinj offers exclusive cuisine
We always like to have local taverns and places where you eat great and plentiful food on our list, but Istria is the right place to treat yourself to a fine dining dinner. The first on that list is Monte – a world-class restaurant, as confirmed by its Michelin star. You don’t go to places like this every day, so if you already go, take one of the tasting menus (green, red or blue) that can be ordered in three, four or six courses.
Hotel Grand Park is the most exclusive hotel in Rovinj, and within it there are even two restaurants – Cap Aureo and Agli Amici. A beautiful view and excellent cuisine will not leave you indifferent, and these restaurants have a Michelin recommendation. Restaurant La Puntulina has a location right next to the sea, excellent food and true romance at sunset. You must not miss this place.
Greet wonderful day at bar
We are slowly approaching the end for which we have left a list of bars. Not toasting a day like this in Rovinj would be a sin. That’s why we want a refreshing cocktail that we will drink first at the Valentino bar, after which we would have a second drink at the famous Mediterraneo bar. Both are located by the sea, so they have a similar flair. Excellent cocktails are drunk at the Adriatic Hotel, but also at the Havana Bar.
If you prefer a glass of good wine, the Dobrovac winery with a view of Rovinj will be a great choice. In addition, they also have their own small shop where they sell groceries from their OPG.
