Tag Archives: Dubrovnik

Eating Out: Nishta, Dubrovnik

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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!

A Snapshot of Dubrovnik: The Little Things

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Yesterday I shared some thoughts and photos of Dubrovnik. Today I’d like to give you a closer look at the little things I saw, the things that give a place its character.

After checking in to my guesthouse (I stayed in a lovely apartment with lovely owners a short walk uphill from the Old Town), the first thing I did was walk down to the Old Town and onto Stradun, the main street running through the centre of it. As luck would have it, that day the 10th anniversary celebrations of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Convention were being held. The square at the top of Stradun was filled with Linđo dancers affording me an instant immersion in Croatian culture.

What little things catch your eye?

A Snapshot of Dubrovnik: The Big Picture(s)

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Jutting out into the Adriatic, Dubrovnik’s Old Town is likely the first glimpse anyone en route to the city from the airport will get. And what a sight it is – high walls full to the brim with orange-roofed buildings and church towers, hooked around a protected harbour, white wash from the sea foaming around the supporting rocks. The city was built with defences against invaders from the sea as is evident from its fortress-like appearance. Nearer the sheer number of visitors it receives is also evident, with sightseers cluttered atop the city walls.

There’s definitely more to Dubrovnik than the Old Town but it is just so photogenic. I’ve seen plenty of photos with bright blues seas but unfortunately my visit was in October and I had no such luck. According to the locals, last October was much wetter than any October they could remember too but the milder temperatures still made a welcome break from the encroaching winter back in the UK.

One of my favourite things to do in this part of town was to simply wander in and around the tiny alleys that snake through the buildings and skirt around the city walls. Some are lined with cafés, restuarants and shops; others give a small glimpse of life for those resident within the Old Town. I decided not to walk on the actual city walls – partly due to the rain, partly due to the £10 entrance fee, and partly down to how busy they were even at this time of year (much the same reasons I also decided against taking the cable car). There were also some lovely views from walking out in either direction along the coastal road or footpaths without any of the cost or crowds.

Another thing I did in the Old Town was visit the War Photo Ltd exhibition which houses images taken during the 1993 seige of Mostar, over in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I’d fully recommend this to anyone planning to take a day trip over to Mostar (even more recommended!) for a glimpse of what life was like in the city for residents confined to the ghetto and the scale of damage the city experienced – thankfully in contrast to the stunning old town of Mostar of today. More information on the exhbition can be found here.

Back to Dubrovnik, here’s a selection of those views I’ve been talking about:

Tomorrow I’ll share a closer look around the city, and keep a look out for a review of Dubrovnik’s very own veggie restaurant to follow.