As far as cities go, Dubrovnik was neither amazing nor terribly difficult for a vegetarian. Plenty of restaurants had English menus and most had at least one or two suitable options, largely pasta, pizza or salads (there is a distinctly Italian influence). However, there is one shining star: Nishta.
Nishta, taken from the Sanskrit word meaning ‘devotion,’ is tucked away on a small alley up and away from the main street of the Old Town Stradun. Like the majority of restaurants in this part of Croatia, the majority of seating is outside with indoor seating limited. We booked ahead for the evening by popping in during the day and were glad we had – it filled out quickly both indoors and out even on a rainy evening.
The menu here offers vegetarian, vegan and raw food options, as well as gluten-free dishes. The only challenge faced here was actually choosing from all the delicious-sounding dishes. I was very tempted by the raw gnocchi but in the end selected the ‘No Sushi.’ These were nori salad rolls fill with avocado and vegetables, but the real twist was that instead of rice, they were made with quinoa. This variation worked a treat with the nutty flavour of the quinoa coming though. The ‘no sushi’ was served with horseradish and ginger. Yum!
My boyfriend opted for the ‘Temperitos’ burritos. These had a rich smoky sauce and the tempeh added that bit of extra texture which was ideal for him as a non-veggie (and if you are!) Both dishes were around £7.50-£8 (70-72HRK) which isn’t too bad given that Dubrovnik’s Old Town is more expensive than most parts of the country and that it is rather specialist as the only vegetarian restaurant in the Old Town.
To finish, I had the ‘Rawnie,’ a raw brownie with a chewy texture and, though sugar free, a heavenly dark fruity taste. Nishta’s also has a cake of the day and on this occasion we were served a chocolate orange slice – moist, tangy and chocolate-y. It was also we could do not to order a second round of desserts.
Verdict: Imaginative menu, well-presented and expertly cooked. If you’re looking for vegetarian food in Dubrovnik, this is an absolute treat.
Returning: If only! If we’d had it my way, every breakfast/lunch/dinner would have been here… sadly I only got to visit once.
Nishta’s are currently closed for the off-season (Dec-Feb) but you can check out their full menu and location here.
Have you visited any vegetarian restaurants lately? Let me know below if you have any recommendations!
That sushi looks amazing!! If I ever saw that in a restaurant, I would order it in a heartbeat.
Definitely do! I’ve thought about making it myself but it seems like it would be so messy… worth a try though ;)
The rawnie looks interesting, but would love to try it.
It really was delicious… wish I could have eaten more of them ;)
Oh wow!! I L-O-V-E the quinoa sushi rolls! my hands are itching to replicate them! :) soon…
I’ve been craving them ever since! Let me know if you do ever make them… and share the recipe!
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