Each spring, Michelin publishes their printed edition of the Main Cities of Europe Guide, and in their 2019 edition for the first time, two Croatian cities found their place!
The Guide website says that there are three cities included in the prestigious guide for the first time, and two of those three are Croatian cities: Zagreb and Dubrovnik (the third one is Reykjavik from Iceland). The site, explaining Croatia's amazing placement in this year's guide says the following:
Croatia is featured in the MICHELIN Guide Main Cities of Europe for the first time this year, gaining one star for trendy Noel in Zagreb, to go with its existing starred establishment, 360°, which is built into Dubrovnik’s historic town walls. Zagreb also gains two new Bib Gourmands: Agava and Tač. Draga di Lovrana, located in the old town of Lovran on the western coast of the Kvarner Bay, also receives a star this year. The kitchen is led by the talented young chef Deni Srdoč, who has a strong connection with the local terroir and gives a subtle Italian-French influence to his technique.
The guide is often called "The Michelin Red Guide", and it brings the readers the reviews from the select restaurants from 38 European cities in 22 countries, including Vienna, Budapest (both featured prominently in Main Cities of Europe 2019 promotional materials), Bruxelles, Athens, Stockholm, Oslo, Dublin and others.
Michelin summarizes that 382 restaurants in Europe have been awarded one star (44 of those have been newly awarded). There are fewer two-star restaurants in Europe, of course, just 92 (seven of those have been newly awarded). The highest honours, the coveted three stars, are given to 23 restaurants in Europe (just three of those have been newly awarded).
Croatia has waited patiently for our first Michelin-star-awarded restaurants, and now there are 5 one-star restaurants in Croatia. Two have been newly awarded, Noel from Zagreb and Draga di Lovrana from Lovran, while Šibenik's Pelegrini, 360° from Dubrovnik and Monte from Rovinj have maintained their stars. Noel and 360° certainly played an important role in assuring their cities found their place in the MICHELIN Guide Main Cities of Europe 2019.
8 Croatian restaurants can now be found on Michelin's Bib Gourmand list, a distinction given by the Michelin inspectors to restaurants that offer a good quality menu for less than HRK 260 (€35) for three courses. Newly added ones are Batelina in Banjole, Konoba Vinko in Šibenik, and Agava and Tač in Zagreb, joining Konoba Mate (Korčula), Dunav (Ilok), Vuglec Breg (Krapina) and Konoba Fetivi (Split) on the list.
