Joker is the first fully fledged shopping center in Split located within a 15-minute walk from the city center. Close to the center, it provides a practical stop to run your chores when the weather doesn't allow you the meander the streets of the old told. To walk to the mall, you  head out of town along the Domovinskog rata road until you get to Atrium Hotel where you will find the mall 100m behind it.

Joker spans four floors and houses several fashion stores, including the likes of Tommy Hilfiger, Vero Moda, Tom Tailor, and Benetton as well as accessory and living stores like Samsonite, Technomax, and Home Sweet Hoe. Additionally, Joker has a Cinestar multi-screen cinema, a restaurant on the top floor, several cafes, McDonalds and McCafe,Tommy Hypermarket, a popular fitness center, and a hair studio. They also have a carwash in the car basement so you can shop while your car is being shined up. Another cool feature is the pool on the roof, supposedly a hotspot for summer parties.

The mall also has a few outdoor cafes which are great in the summer where you can grab a Rizzo sandwiches next door as you soak up some sun with your drink. The Lobby Bar in the complex has a happening nightscene as well.

Joker is also the center of action for various children's activities in the grand foyer on the ground floor.

You wonder why the place is called Joker? The name is insipired by the first few letters of the proprietor's son's first and last name.

Joker

Open daily from 9am to 9pm

Put Brodarice 6, 21000 Split

+385 (0)21 396 911

www.joker.hr

Following all the international trends, Split has also developed a couple of shopping malls, a convenient one-stop location for all your shopping needs if you are looking for global mainstream brands, international supermarkets, and multi-screen cinemas.

City Center One is Dalmatia's biggest shopping center located at the end of Vukovarska Street as you head out of town, approximately a 15-minute drive from the old town.

City Center One has more than 2500 covered parking spaces so you can stroll through the 110 outlets spanning its three floors. Other than fashion for all ages, toystores, homestores, cosmetic boutiques, electronics, restaurants, cafes and more, City Center One also has a multi-screen Cineplexx cinema, a children's play zone and a large Interspar supermarket. Some popular stores to note include H&M, DM, Peek&Cloppenberg, Hervis Sports, Humanic shoes, Villeroy&Boch, and Muller. For shop listings, visit City Centar One's website.

In between all the shopping galore, City Centar One also hosts a myriad of thrilling events for adults and children, from car prize competitions and fashion shows to festive events and mommy mornings. 

Insider tips about City Center One

They are a dog friendly mall so bring along your pooch when you shop

You can book a personal shopper to guide to the latest catwalk fashion

On Wednesdays, there are reduced prices on cinema tickets at Cineplexx

You can sign up your kid into the Kid's Jungle play zone free of charge so you can shop while they play

They have parking reserved for families close to the entrance

City Centar One is open all days of the week from 9am to 9pm. 

To reach the mall by bus, hop onto number 6 or 18 at the National Theatre of Split heading towards Kila or Brnik, respectively. 

Vukovarska 207, 21000 Split

T: +385 (0)21/510 130

www.citycenterone.hr/split

My mother always stops into this little pastry shop to stock up on mandulat, a Dalmatian turrón like concoction made of almonds, sugar, honey, and egg white, between wafers.

My mother has been going here ever since childhood and she vividly remembers that good behavior meant a stop into Tradicija for some goodies, mainly for menažerija, a marzipan duck filled with cookies and coconut flakes. Today these are the most popular items for kids as grandparents treat their grandkids with this yellow delights.

I popped into the little shop on Bosanska 2 this afternoon and asked a little about the business. The lady behind the counter, who has been working there for 5 years, told me she has been working there the shortest; most were reaching above 20 years of service. She was so proud to show and tell me about all the cakes and cookies they had in store and encouraged me to come in the mornings when the display is even more full. The same family has been running this since its opening in 1937; now onto the second generation.

Through the grapevine, I heard they make the best krempita (mille feuille with vanilla custard in the middle) in town; no packet custard, this stuff is made from scratch and after having a flavor of this fluffy sensation; I’ll have to agree. The richness of the custard was so apparent and every ingredient of this original recipe could be picked out.

Tradicija is a great place to stop if you want to get an idea of what desserts Croatians eat and make at home; and take some mandulat with you back home as a souvenir. 

Address: Bosanska 2, Split

Stocking organic products on shop shelves is becoming a going must as people become more educated about the importance of healthy foods and the negative impacts of additives, particularly hormones. 

With shops in Varaždin, Osijek, Rijeca, Pula, and Dubrovnik, a bio&bio shop can also be found in Split in the Prima 3 shopping center along the Poljička road.

The bio&bio shop supply both local and international organic and natural produce, most of which are have quality certifications. A great thing about shopping in bio&bio is that the staff are really knowledgeable about the goods and its positive effects so if you are not a pro in the organics, you will be sure to be properly guided here. Other than food and drink such as juices and even beet, dietary supplements, baby snacks, bio&bio also stock organic cosmetics and household items. And if you are not sure how to use your purchases best, they have a vast selection of cookbooks on their shelves.

A favorite thing about bio&bio is that this is also the go-to joint to stock up on your Japanese ingredients, whether it be for a sushi night with friend or some delicious miso-glazed eggplant.

Flick through www.biobio.hr for more details, and you can even order your items online. Cool eh? Or visit the shop in Prima 3, R.Boškovića bb, open Mon-Fri 8-21, Sat 8-20

Zadarska 8 and Kružićeva 6; www.thinkpink.com.hr

Globally, it’s becoming more trendy to dress in local designer clothing; an anti globalization movement presumably, or just common sense where you can with patriotic pride discreetly wear something autochthonous.

Think Pink is a women’s fashion store with only Croatian design pieces hanging on the racks, bringing the very fashion conscious ladies of Split with the most artsy and bohemian concoctions.

Think Pink aims to cater to all women and real women included, by stocking beautiful clothing upto size 50. Think Pink does not go in for mass production and many articles are one-offs so not only will you be comforted with the fact that chances of bumping into the same dress on your Saturday fashion parade on Riva is very slim, but you’ll appreciate the craftsmanship put into these handmade pieces.

With over 20 recognised designers in their two stores, keep your eyes peeled as many of them have monthly features and promotions. Some of the popular designs are by Ana Asanović, I-Gle, Mustre, and Tomislav Bahorić.

Split has hosted many world championships in its time, and in various disciplines, but an annual fixture on the September calendar each year is the World Cigar Smoking Challenges, which kicks off this evening at the Radisson Blu Hotel at 18:00.

Check out the programme below and catch some of the smoking action over the weekend, and check out the video below for some of the highlights of last year.  

What is music association with Dalmatia? Mostly klapa singing, of course, but there are so many other nice things to hear around here. Now, it's hard to expect that anyone might ever heard about Dalmatian jazz, but it is possible, and - believe me - very, very good when it's performed by a Split-Zadar band called Black Coffee. Never heard of them? You are missing quite a bit.

One of the oportunities to experience Black Coffee, and their combination of Dalmatian music traditions and jazz will be band's concert in Quasimodo Club, on November, 29. They will perform featuring US-Croatian singer Martine Thomas.

Black Coffee was founded in 1993, mostly with bass player Renato Švorinić and drummer Jadran Dučić Čićo, and recently pianist Ivan Ivić became permanent member. Their main strength are colaborations with some of the most prominent Croatian, and even international musicians. Band recorde 11 albums so far, and won three Porins, Croatian version of Grammy. In the last few years their main interest is implementation of Mediterranean heritage with jazz. However, they also play jazz, funk, and even rock standards.

Tickets are 30 kunas, available in the club, and more details - including location - available on Facebook event page. As a warm up, here is Black Coffee and Martine Thomas.

It may be on a short notice, but worth of a try. Today is Saint Jerome's day, for Dalmatia much more than ordinary Catholic holiday. Saint Jerome is a protector of Dalmatia, known as the first who translated Bible in Latin. In Split and its region, however, he is even more famous for his alleged saying "Forgive me Lord, for being a Dalmatian".

In Split, Saint Jerome is honoured in a small church on southern slopes of Marjan Hill, one of the most beautiful in a string of Marjan's spiritual circle. Those who like to hike, ride a bike or jog on Marjan, probably know that the most spectacular view can be seen from there, but trust us, it's worth of going there. This is what it looked like this morning.

Now we are coming to a short notice. Saint Jerome's church is rarely open, but today there is an opportunity to see it inside. A holly mass will be held there today, September 30, at 4 pm. There is plenty of time to reach it, here is the route, nice walk from Riva. Cars are not allowed to go to Marjan. If you prefer not to walk, bus departs in front of Saint Francis church on Riva, at 3 pm.

Split portal did it again, where nobody can't sneak in, their photographers can. One of them, our friend Goran Les just published another great photo gallery from the set of Game of Thrones in Split. To be more precise, in Diocletian's Palace basement halls. This is probably the first time we can see something that looks like a raw setting of the scene we saw in this extremely popular show, the queen Daenerys' throne hall. Check out gallery here.

Stay tuned for more news about Game of Thrones in Split.

Maybe it's on the short notice, but this Friday and Saturday bring one of the most interesting music events Central Dalmatia can offer, two-day EthnoAmbient Salona festival in Solin. This celebration of cultural diversity is 17 years old, and over that time some of the leading names of the World Music movement. Same will happen this year on the edge of the site of ancient Roman city of Salona, and no matter who performs, EthnoAmbient always bring a lot of fun, and some wild entertainment, like seen on our main picture of one of the previous performance by Kries.
Tonight, on Friday, two excellent bands will take their place on stage in Gradina, excellently preserved remains of the 14th century fortress. First comes a trio of bagpipe players Griff Trio from Belgium, with re-interpretation of old Flamish songs. As it is written on festival web site, "they found the roots they can still feed on while staying deeply present in their own current lives and expressing their own authenticity and creations".

Second performer of the night is excellent seven-member band Kíla from Ireland, one of the pioneers in rediscovering roots of the Irish music roots. Among their dedicated fans are Sinead O'Connor and U2's Bono Vox. They recorded nine albums so far, and became one of the most influental performer of the Irish folk.

Second day brings tunes more familiar to the Croatian and Mediterranean culture. Kries is the "house band" of this festival, since its leader Mojmir Novaković is the founder of EthnoAmbient Salona. This time they will present several new songs from band's third album, strongly influenced by Croatian folklore.

Finally, Greekadelia is the artistic duo from Greece, consisted of Kristi Stassinopoulou and Stathis Kalyviotis. They performer in Solin earlier, with big success. Described on the official web site: "Their work is still based on the traditional music of Greece and is influenced by Kristi and Stathis' inspirations they gathered living an urban life and on their travels".

Tickets are available at the gate, or in the Solin Tourist Board souvenir shop in the center of Solin.