Romantic Cafés in Split
Split’s old city walls exudes so much romance so we have picked out a few cafes where you can take your partner for a quiet moment in the spirit of love.
Caffe Galerija
(Dominisova 9)
This cute café down a skew passageway in the palace has such a homely ambiance with deep flower-upholstered sofas and busy bookshelves; perhaps slightly inspired by English countryside interiors. The small space has intimate corners, perfect for an afternoon reading session or a private conversation with your love. Although it’s housed right next to a myriad of bustling café bars, Galerija is tucked away enough to keep out all the noise from its neighbors...read more.
Caffe Teak
(Majstora Jurja 11)
Oozing with history and charm, this teak-toned café sits against the original wall of Diocletian's Palace. This cosy café is divided into three parts and reveals many romantic corners…for ultimate privacy; there are hidden treasures below in a Roman basement dug into the wall where you can sneak in a kiss or two...read more
Kavana Luxor
(Kraj Sv. Ivana 11)
Luxor on Peristil might be the most popular café for tourist but it doesn’t make it any less original or romantic. Luxor offers romance all year round; in summer, grab a seat on the ancient steps of the Emperor’s square and listen to acoustic tunes under the stars, or in wintertime, tuck yourself into a love seat in the back room at the very left. Glaze at the ceiling mural and listen to the pianist play his winter tunes...read more about their music nights here.
Wine & Cheese Bar Paradox
(Poljana Tina Ujevica 2)
It may be a cliché but going on a wine and cheese date is definitely one of the most romantic suggestions to come up with and Paradox will serve the best of both. The warm interiors and stone exposed walls provide just the right scene for a romantic play. Grab a spot by the window and glaze at life passing by outside... Read more
Twins Café
(The first café on Riva from the Eastern end)
A spot at a bustling Riva café might not be your idea of romance but you might not know that Twins café has a balcony on the first floor with space for only two. This romantic belvedere provides the perfect spot for privacy as you watch the Adriatic horizon and busy life on Riva. If you want to sweeten your date even more, grab a French brioche in the bakery below...read more
Žbirac Café
(Bačvice Beach)
This no-frill beach café on the sandy Bačvice beach provides a perfect vantage point to leaping Picigin players in the popular sandy bay. Absorb the sunshine with your love on the lower deck in a corner tucked away from the buzz. This cafe is really a local beach lions. Flip flops, legs up, and a coffee in hand defines the laid back vibe in Žbirac... all as you look over the sandy beach below with Picigin games animating the scene. Best is sunset, when the sky turns pink and the beach crowd starts going home.
Figa Food Bar
(Buvinina 1)
During the day, Figa’s steps are perfect for a daytime conversation with your love. Enjoy a cocktail and vegetable focaccia on the ancient steps in this charming narrow alleyway as you people watch or glaze into your lover’s eyes... read more
Viva’s Bar: For Coffee Connoisseurs
(Narodni trg 10, Pjaca)
Dalmatia has a very strong coffee culture where every chat, meeting, break, you name it, involves kava (coffee in Croatian). The Splićani take every opportunity to enjoy a cuppa for hours on Split’s Riva seafront promenade, at home, or in a hidden alley in the palace.
As a self-proclaimed coffee snob, I must admit that I have had a tough time finding an awesome cappuccino to enjoy in town and when I discuss my frustration with local friends, I just get an odd stare. Admittedly, my case of coffee snobbism is extreme; I have done a barista course, I used to roast, grind, and brew my own organic beans at home, do latté art, get excited about crema and be the proud owner of a Coffee Snobs membership card. That was the past and now I have shifted to Split where I enjoy coffee in only a few locations around Split; namely Galerija, Paradox, No Stress, and at home.
When my physiotherapist was picking my foodie brain this morning, the coffee topic arose and he told be that a must-visit café for coffee connoisseurs is Viva’s Bar on Pjaca square (Narodni trg). I popped right down to the café on the popular square, with a pit stop in Nadalina for a carob praline, for a chat with the owner and of course a cuppa.
Viva’s Bar is a family owned business from Zagreb with quite a few coffee joints in the capital and just one outlet in Split. They roast all their beans (mainly from Ethiopia and Nicaragua) in Croatia and get bi-weekly visits from barista trainers to ensure their coffee standards are up to par. Unfortunately, the barista doesn’t come to Split so often but the team behind the counter strive to brew the best, and instead of skillful latté art, they do choco-art (which my sweet tooth can live with). I must admit that now Viva’s Bar is in my top five of coffee hangouts in Split.
Upscale Bars in Split
The Splićani like to dress up and when the bells rings and the weekend starts, the city’s in bars transform into a fashion parade. See a few spots below to find out where your stilettos will feel right at home.
CLO BAR
(Domovinkog rata 104b)
A miniclub of sorts has with plush velvet interiors giving you a contemporary boudoir-type vibe a short drive out of town…read more.
CAFFE SPLIT
(Matice hrvatske 1)
Glitzy interiors, blue lighting, and white leathers make for a hip social space to show off your new moves and swirl your cocktail…read more
MEDITERANIUM
(Put Firula 6)
Gucci bags and Jimmy Choo stilettos; welcome to Mediteranium, a lounge and restaurant catering to the city’s elite…read more.
HEDONIST/EGOIST
(Put Firula b.b.)
Re-Opening Soon! Luxury SUVs take up the curb so the Hugo Boss suits and designer heels can flock to this little boutique club.
PARADOX WINE & CHEESE BAR
(Poljana Tina Ujevića 2)
If you want to try the amazing wines this country has to offer, head to the chiquest wine bar in town for a glass of the best…read more.
TWINS: The First Cafe on Riva with a Tranquil Private Balcony
Riva is the meeting hotspot in Split and on a sunny day, lines of people wait to catch a seat for a coffee with sea vistas. Although the Riva vibe is special and lively, sometimes I just want to take in the moment in peace so I can be thankful for where I live as I get to observe local life passing by.
I was so glad to discover a private cafe balcony on Riva where there is only space for two, a perfect hideout in the city providing just that serene spot I'd been searching for. The very first cafe as you step onto Riva as you exit Diocletian's basement is TWINS and above its bustling terrace seating is a miniscule balcony which the cafe caters to. I often retreat to this spot as I am still in the heart of the city action, yet away from the city stress; a perfect vantage point for some blogging extravaganza.
The best thing about it is also its proximity to my favorite, Le Maison de Sarah just below, a haven for French bakery goodies. On a blogging-crazy morning, I'll pick up a brioche and venture on to my little balcony office to type away and when a meeting is scheduled, I'll ascend the stairs to the conference room, the cafe seating on Riva.
Other than affordable coffees and a great hideout, TWINS knock out reputable cocktails, gathering quite the hip crowds after sunset.
Nightclubs in Split
Imperium Restaurant & Lounge
Gat Sv. Duje b.b.
A five minute walk along the harbourfront you’ll find this megaclub on the first floor of the ferry terminal. As a tribute to its location, the contemporary interiors are inspired by a luxury cruise liner; and with the waters edge just a few feet below and and towering ferries just a stone’s throw away, you truly feel as if you are in one. Spanning its floors is a Mediterranean restaurant, two dancefloors, two wrap-around bars, and a terrace with unobstructed bay views. A relatively quiet spot on weekends but they host popular concerts and DJ events on weekends. The event dictates the crowd but expect to be rubbing shoulders on the dancefloor with everything from girls in their teens all the way to midlifers and bikers.
Tropic Club
Bačvice b.b.
The complex on Split’s popular Bačvice beach turns into a thumping party destination after sunset. Tropic’s 180-degree views over the Adriatic just meters away is matched with contemporary interiors, VIP booths, fascinating neon light effects, and fruity cocktails. Depending on the night, house, techno, and Croatian tunes are on the DJs agenda.
Mediteranium Lounge Bar & Restaurant
Put Firula 6
Purple velvet interiors, dimmed lights, Gucci bags and stilettos; welcome to Mediteranium, a lounge and restaurant catering to the city’s elite. Its Saturday night, Sex and the City night and the money crowd have secured their VIP table with vodka and mixers ready to take you into the night as the resident DJ spins local and international hits. Away with the daytime seating and cocktail tables scatter the floor to set the scene for sporadic cliques to form and mingle. Nestled in the forest above the Ovčice beach, the panoramic vistas onto the Adriatic islands can be enjoyed from inside and on the large outdoor terrace.
Treće Poluvrijeme (known as Kuka)
Zrinko-frankopanska 17
Kuka has become a Split institution; the go-to place when all the other clubs start fading out. The last resort. A discreet door on the side of the Cankarjeva parking lot leads you into Kuka, an underground club, a black hole if you will, playing nostalgic hits from yesteryear to a mixed crowd of clubbing orphans. Kuka closes in summer.
Gundulićeva 26
Not a hangout for hunchbacks like the name suggests but for unpretentious hipster youth who like their alternative rock, indie rock, jazz and blues. This off-season mini-club is located on the first floor of a commercial complex near the center.
Put Firula bb
Luxury SUVs take up the curb so the Hugo Boss suits and designer heels can flock to this little boutique club.This black and white club with a mezzanine gallery is THE place to mingle with elite intellectuals, local sports personalities and celebrities. Its little sister, Egoist, next door attracts a similar crowd for daytime coffee chats.
Poljudsko šetalište b.b
Vanilla Club is an all-age fashion parade where crowds range from the 20s to 40s. Its location in the city’s public pool complex is a 20 minute walk out of town, or a five minute taxi drive away. The large indoors centers around a massive 360-degree bar where mixologists work their craft and countless buckets of booze travel over the counter to the VIP section. This post-midnight venue play international hits until 2AM whereafter the music takes a more local persona. In summertime, a huge pool-side terrace connects the club with the outdoors.
O’Hara Music Club
Uvala Zenta 3
To avoid the tourist frenzy at the Bačvice complex, head another two bays away from town to find this seaside local hideout playing every genre under the stars; from reggae and hip hop to Dalmatian tunes mixed with the sounds of the splashing Adriatic. O’Hara's idea to merge a pub club with the best of rock, new age tunes and international DJs results in a varied music loving crowd.
Kameleon Day & Night Club
Petra Zoranića 16, Solin
Located in Solin just a short drive from the city center, Kameleon is housed in the Guliver Energija complex and caters to gym fanatics during the day and party-goers by night. This joint really exuberates a funky club vibe with an impressive neon light show and an active event calendar throughout the year. They are particularly known for their After Work Parties on Thursdays but other popular events such as Diktatori, Deep South, Bubblegum also fill up the party calendar.
Hemingway Bar
VIII Mediteranskih igara 5
Five Hemingway Bars exist across Croatia and they have gained quite a popular following amongst highbrow society. With contrasting black boudoir-like interiors and white exteriors, this cult seaside club attract the younger elite of Split. Many must-be happenings fill the winter calendar and come summertime, the massive terrace with private VIP tents hosts filled-to-the-rim events featuring international DJs and animators in the mix.
Crème de la Crème: Cakes à la Française in Split
Ilićev prolaz 1; www.cremedelacreme.hr
A French inspired cake shop and café in a passageway by Marmontova shopping street.
Beautifully fitted with white and pastel tones you feel you stepped right into the renowned Ladurée on Champs-Elysées, Paris; especially with the compulsory colourful double-decker macarons taking its spot in the window display.
Crème de la Crème offers chocolate galore with also sorts of cake combos featuring this irresistible ingredient, as well as an awesome little cupcake selection and their famed New York style cheesecake. For morning visitors, a warm croissant and fresh orange juice is available to energize your day. Crème de la Crème is another spot in town brewing the prestigious Illy coffee brand.
If you want to indulge in your sweet procurement outdoors, they service an area in the courtyard at the end of the passage, but its wisest to notify your presence at the counter before taking your seat to avoid being forgotten.
Massimo Dutti Store Opens on Marmontova in Split
Massimo Dutti opens a fabulous two-level store on the downtown Marmontova shopping street in Split. The Spanish Inditex group who owns the brand already has some of its other brands on the same street including Bershka and Zara.
The Massimo Dutti brand is characterized by sophisticated elegance and contemporary casual designs using the latest fabrics of the highest quality. The shops provide comfort with warm interiors and promise a personalized service to customers.
I know I am hyped about this store opening. Massimo Dutti used to be my favourite store in Dubai as it provides affordable luxury so I am glad it has now followed me to Split.
Massimo Dutti Store (where Douglas used to be)
Marmontova Ulica 7, Split
Shopping in Split: 7Bofora, The Extreme Shop
The 7Bofora Extreme Shop is an awesome corner shop near the town center that stocks the best kitesurfing gear, windsurfing, and SUP gear and they also have a radical selection of high-end BMX, mountain, and fitness bikes.
7Bofora stock RRD kites, boards, and SUP boards as well as feature various brands within their windsurfing selection. If you want the hippest board shorts to go with it and the tightest wetsuit to show off your assets, they’ll hook you up here too.
7Bofora run kitesurfing and windsurfing classes near Omiš, and the shop also has a bike service. Windsurfing equipment is available on a weekly basis. Please see section on Windsurfing spots near Split.
Kavanjinova 14, Split
T: +385 (0)21 480 428
M: +385 (0)91 326 0007
Shopping in Split: Iglu Sports Supplying All You Need to Enjoy the Outdoors
If you are the outdoorsy type that likes hanging at the edge of a rock, sleeping in tents under an ant farm, or just think its cool to have a belt-load of practical gadgets around your waist, Iglu Sports is a great little store that stocks all you need for rock climbing, hiking, and camping so you can adopt that Robinson Crusoe lifestyle you’ve always dreamed of.
Matošića 3, Split
T: +385 (0)21 343 423
Open Mon-Fri 9am – 8pm; Sat 9am to 12 noon.
Shopping in Split: Klub Gurmana i Hedonista Wine Shop
Klub Gurmana i Hedonista, translated into The Gourmand and Hedonist Club, is exactly that. This shop and wine lovers hangout feels just like you are at home. Igor, the owner of this joint, welcomes you in to have a seat in his one-table venue surrounded by Croatian wine bottles wrapped in iron vines from floor to ceiling.
Klub Gurmana i Hedonista stock the finest selection of Croatian wines, most of which are quite well-known however, the best surprise is always his newest and quirkiest finds; real treasures which are worth a try. Igor's knowledge of wines doesn't intimidate you; he is glad to share his insight with a wine newbie as much as with a connoisseur. He will guide you through his selection, making you really appreciate the craft of winemaking, so you can bring the best bottle home for dinner or as a souvenir from your coastal holiday.
THE ART OF WINE TASTING
Klub Gurmana i Hedonista also host the The Art of Wine tasting where you really get an insight into Croatian wines. The tasting consists of four wines paired with seven Dalmatian specialities such as sardines, octopus, cheeses from Pag and olive oil (an sometimes a cheeky grappa on the side), presented by Igor or another oenophile for 200KN. They run these daily tastings in the summer at 13:00 and 20:00 but you can always call ahead to request another time. In the winter, tastings are available upon request.
The shop is situated in the charming Radunica neighborhood just 10 minutes from Riva, heading east on Ulica Kralja Zvonimira, passing Villa Diana and tasting the next left turn down a small alley.
Klub Gurmana i Hedonista
Kuzmaniceva 13, 21000 Split
+385 (0)95 898 9889
