A beer and macchiato for 12 kuna – only in Gorski Kotar.
Gorski Kotar has always been a paradise of sorts for coffee and brandy lovers. Currently, its restaurants and cafes are readily awaiting some nicer spring weather and the summer season in order to earn a bit more money than they are making in the winter months. Meanwhile, if you want to spend the least possible amount of money in this region, the best choice is the Čabar area, where a cup of coffee ranges from 5 to 6 kuna, and the absolute record holder is the famous “Klarić” cafe in the little town of Plešce, where a cup of coffee is three kuna, same as that of any domestic brandy, while a bottle of beer costs eight kuna. The locals and other guests of “Klarić” are thrilled, while the anecdotes about the customers from outside of area who are shocked with the prices are numerous, reports Novi List on May 17, 2016.
Miro Klarić, the owner, tells a story of a Slovenian couple who came to his coffee shop. “They ordered a beer and macchiato. I told them the bill was 12 kuna, and the gentleman kept pointing at his beer telling me that I should include the beer as well. They did not believe me until I brought the bill, and they said that they will definitely come again.”
Klarić said that the prices were low for two reasons. “First, I will retire in a little while, and I do not want to achieve anything special right now; I just want to work in peace during the next few months. Also, there is a small number of employees and they get 2,000 to 3,000 kuna per month, and if I were to introduce higher prices I do not know how many guests I would have.” It was April 1998 when he changed prices the last time. “After that, I have only raised the price of beer by one kuna, and I was not happy about that“, he said.
The other cafes and restaurants in Čabar area are also keeping their prices pretty low. Mirica Kovač, the owner of “Medo” cafe, located at the crossroads between Parg, Čabar and Prezid, is not complaining. “It is not great, but it is not bad either. We have been in this business since 1993, our location is good and many travellers stop to refresh and relax.” However, while visitors do not need to pay much to take a coffee-break in the western and northern parts of Gorski Kotar, the prices get higher as they get closer to the south and to the areas where tourism is more developed.
