September 20, 2019 - Just three days away from welcoming a new season, we thought we’d reminisce on another summer gone with some of the new establishments making a buzz in Split this year. 

If you’re a Split local, you’ll most likely find it hard to do much of anything during the summer because a) you work in tourism b) you work in hospitality or c) you only feel safe in the comfort of your air-conditioned apartment away from the crowds. 

However, unless you truly do live in a cave, you’re aware that Split is a continually evolving Dalmatian hotspot that has been milking the perks of its rebirth for almost a decade - and with each new season comes a swarm of new swanky establishments for Split citizens and tourists to enjoy. 

Thus, we present some of the conversation-starting stations new to the Split scene this season. 

MoNIKa’s Wine Bar: Located at the beginning of Varos in the Sperun area, MoNIKa’s Wine Bar opened in April to the delight of wine drinkers and charcuterie enthusiasts. Securing the number one spot on Tripadvisor more than a few times this summer, MoNIKa’s serves up Croatian wines, meat and cheese plates, seafood tapas and wine tasting evenings. 

Brutal Bar & Kitchen: If there is one new place tourists are raving about in Split this summer, it’s Brutal. Also a TripAdvisor frontrunner, Brutal is a small alleyway charm that belongs on the streets of San Francisco or New York. Praised for its open kitchen, cool countertops, and a menu that ranges from roasted tomato carpaccio to pork belly lettuce wraps, eggplant ratatouille and monkfish ‘cigars’, how could one go wrong? 

Pandora Greenbox: The sister to the already popular Split hotspot Corto Maltese, Pandora opened just in time to catch careful and clean eating tourists in Split. Priding themselves on plant-based meals, cold-pressed juices, cocktails, and gluten-free craft beer, Pandora’s nature-inspired interior design will make you feel as if you’re far away from Split - and most likely in the middle of a rainforest. With something for the vegans, vegetarians, gluten-free-ers, and clean eaters, Pandora is undoubtedly a new Split favorite.

Fig: Just around the corner from Peristyle is Fig, though you might already be familiar with the name thanks to the island of Hvar. A popular new breakfast spot in the center that boasts California toast and breakfast burritos, Fig is no stranger to the lunch and dinner crowd, either - with veggie or chicken korma, Mexican pulled pork and a BBQ and bacon house burger among your feasting choices. 

Mini Bota Oyster & Sushi Bar: Because we know you remember Bota Sare, which said goodbye to its restaurant space last year. However, sushi lovers now get to taste Mini Bota, their new, smaller alleyway spot where you can get ‘direct access to the ingredients, the chefs and the preparation process’. Offering pick up or dine in, get your rolls, sashimi, and nigiri here!

Historic Downtown Grill: New to the Stari Plac area, Downtown Grill specializes in, well, you guessed it - grill. Said to have some of the best burgers in Split, seafood options and live music, Downtown Grill is also praised for their homemade lemonades and grappas. 

Superfood Healthy Food Factory: The second Superfood location opened up just before the summer season near Prokurative. Known for their matcha lattes, raw cakes, protein platters, spelt pizza, gazpacho and seafood dishes, Superfood has something for everyone - even Split’s vegan guests. 

Funky George: A new fast food joint can be found at the top of Bosanska - meet Funky George. Good for cheap and meaty sandwiches topped with grilled peppers and pickles, homemade pretzels, American pancakes, pumpkin and sweet potato fries, smoothies and craft beer, Funky George has become a staple for Split’s bar crowd. 

Food Factory: Live and raw, that’s what you’ll find at this new Stari Plac spot. A ‘bistro takeaway concept and a retail store’, Food Factory is run by Darko Jurić who believes in bringing gourmet plant-based cuisine to Split. Things like cold brew coffee, smoothies, desserts, and a takeaway menu including wakame corn crockets or plant-based burgers are just part of the show. 

Kava 22: If you’re into coffee, and we mean really, really into coffee, you’ll fall in love with Kava at first sip. Their second Croatian location after they opened Kava 37 in Hvar town, Kava 2 is a short walk outside of the city center by the President Hotel, and has been making waves in the Split coffee-loving crowd. From a perfectly poured flat white to piccolos, cold brew tonic and beans for sale, you’ll head to Kava if you know what’s good for you. 

What are your favorite new places in Split this summer?

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It's another weekend for the books in the Dalmatian capital.

...TO!

It’s almost impossible to name a coffee winner when nearly every other storefront in Split is a cafe bar and the main promenade is practically overflowing with cafe bars. Spličani (what we like to call the people of Split) like their coffee, and I’m pretty confident that nothing will ever come between a Dalmatian and their cuppa. So how do the people of Split go about choosing where they’ll be having coffee for 3 hours every day? Good question. We’re not actually even sure if the taste of the coffee matters to them as much as the people they sit down to have their coffee with, but that aside, we know some serious coffee makers in Split that want you to have the best cup you can, and they would be the baristas at To Je To.

To Je To has been established in the Old Town of Split for close to two years now. Tucked away on Nigerova Ulica 2, you’ll always see someone having a coffee during the day sat on one of their colorful wooden tables and chairs right outside the bar. All the baristas working here are young and lively, usually singing along to the music they have coming through the speakers, and the vibe is always cheerful.

What makes To Je To so special for coffee is that they use certified organic, locally roasted beans from Cogito Coffee Roasters in Zagreb. Cogito Coffee Roasters import green beans from the world’s best boutique green coffee farms. The blend that To Je To uses from Cogito is called Tesla, and they are delivered 10-15 kilos of beans every Sunday via bus from Zagreb. This fresh roasted coffee paired with the milk texturing and latte art that the baristas here have perfected really shows, and the love the baristas pour into it makes it the sweetest cup you’ve tasted.

Another reason to love To Je To for coffee? Their extensive list of specialty coffees! They have everything from an iced coffee to a frappe, Irish coffees, and their ‘Wake the Dead’ which is a mix of espresso, tequila, and kahlua. If you’re feeling simple, you will always have latte’s, americano’s, and macchiato’s at your disposal.

We know we can’t make you switch the location of your three hour coffee break, but hopefully we can at least make you want to try something this good - we promise you’ll love it!