An Unforgettable Dinner at Nautika, Dubrovnik's Finest Restaurant

Nautika Restaurant lies on the very edge of the sea at Pile, alongside the western entrance to Dubrovnik’s Old City and during our time in this incredible city we were lucky enough to experience Dubrovnik’s finest and most romantic restaurant. From Nautika’s unique terraces we had an unforgettable view of the Adriatic, Lovrijenac and Bokar fortresses and the city walls. The restaurant’s chef, Mario Bunda, leads a team whose varied, delicious offerings include lobster from the Dalmatian island of Vis, delicacies from the local waters and many fish species which are pulled straight from the Adriatic ensuring they are always fresh and healthy. Nautika only uses fresh seafood and they source all their ingredients locally which is something they are renowned for. Nautika is a place that combines tradition, quality and creativity. It offers an innovative and refined style of Mediterranean cuisine. Nautika is a truly special, one of a kind restaurant in one of the most beautiful cities on Earth and it was a highlight of our time in Dubrovnik and a dining experience we will never forget.

The restaurant is housed in the former Dubrovnik School of Maritime Studies, where it welcomed famous seafarers since as far back as 1881. Today the restaurant serves to preserve the location’s rich history, while retaining the noble atmosphere of Dubrovnik’s reign as a republic. In 2008. Nautika Restaurant was recognized as the sixth most romantic restaurant in the world by the much respected Condé Nast Traveller magazine which was a very well deserved accolade.

In addition to the beautiful terraces there are also a number of elegant and beautifully decorated, nautical themed dining rooms inside where guests can dine in as well as can be booked for special functions.

From the moment we arrived until the moment we left we, along with all the other guests at Nautika were treated like royalty by the fantastic staff. The staff were professional, knowledgeable, attentive and very friendly and the excellent service we received made our night at Nautika perfect.

We love trying local wines when we travel and as we perused the very impressive wine list which boasted both local and international wines we knew it would be tough to choose the best one. We asked our waiter for his recommendation and he recommended a fantastic 2012 full bodied red which was absolutely divine. His recommendation was spot on and we were extremely glad we’d asked as we enjoyed every last drop of the bottle!

Not long after we arrived at our beautiful table and were admiring the view we were presented with freshly baked bread and a beautiful welcome of cucumber parfait with goats cheese and basil served with olive oil from nearby Korcula which was light and refreshing and got our tastebuds tingling with excitement about what was to come!

Dan chose the Beef Charolais Carpacio for his cold starter which had a big combination of flavours including cream cheese, herbs, celery, capers and a balsamic reduction which all worked together to create a flavoursome, exciting dish!

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a huge fan of mango and avocado and so when I saw the Summer Cuttlefish Salad with Mango, Avocado Cream and Beetroot Foam on the menu I was sold! It was my first time eating cuttlefish and I was very impressed, the flavours of the dish were incredible and it was a very light, delicate and beautiful dish and a perfect start to the meal!

Up next was our hot entree and Dan being a lover of shrimp chose the Creamy Shrimp Risotto with Green Asparagus and Fried Rice Vermicelli Noodles. The dish was creamy and flavoursome with fresh, delicious prawns in every bite.

I decided on the Adriatic Scallops with Black Istrian Truffle Flakes served with Potato and Kale Cakes. The dish was beautifully presented and every light and delicate bite provided wonderful flavours from the high quality ingredients and produce used to create this culinary masterpiece!

As soon as the sun began to get lower the temperature began to drop but that didn’t matter because our waiters had beautifully soft blankets ready for us along with heaters! Nautika have truly thought of everything to ensure their guests have an incredible evening that they’ll never forget.

For our main course I chose the Sea Bass Fillet served on a bed of mini tomatoes with olive oil and vanilla emulsion. It was a beautiful sized piece of sea bass which was wonderfully fresh and flaky and cooked to perfection. The bed of mini tomatoes and spinach with olive oil and vanilla emulsion was the perfect combination of flavoursome ingredients to complement the sea bass.

Dan opted for the Lobster Tail with homemade pasta served with broad beans, sundried tomatoes, onion and rosemary. The pasta was cooked to perfection and the yellow sauce paired perfectly with the lobster which was succulent, meaty and juicy. Both the lobster and sea bass were incredibly fresh, cooked perfectly and presented beautifully. It was an excellent main course and we were both incredibly happy with our choices which showcased the excellent seafood in the region as well as the knowledge and skills of the chef.

We had a little break after our main course and simply admired the breathtaking views and beautiful sunset. For dessert Dan chose the Chocolate Square which was served with creamy vanilla ice cream and a orange and ginger syrup which was very rich and a chocolate lovers dream! I chose the Lemon and Cheese Parfait which was beautifully presented, bursting with delicious tangy lemon flavours and was a very light and delicious way to end a perfect meal!

Our night at Nautika Restaurant was truly magical and unforgettable. The food and wine were exemplary, the service was flawless and the atmosphere, ambience and breathtaking views set the scene for a beautiful evening and a very romantic dining experience. Our evening was fantastic and we’d highly recommend Nautika for anyone seeking a special, unforgettable evening during their time in Dubrovnik.

If you are visiting Dubrovnik there are also aanother two fantastic restaurants owned by the Nautika Collection which include Panorama Restaurant & Bar and Dubravka 1836 Restaurant & Cafe. Panorama Restaurant & Bar is located at the top of the Dubrovnik cable car and offers enchanting views of the Old City, Lapad Bay and the nearby islands. Dubravka 1836 is situated across from Nautika and also offers stunning views of the fortresses and city walls with a menu boasting excellent Mediterranean cuisine in a relaxed dining environment.