Best restaurants in Novalja 2025 – Why Novalja (and the whole of Pag) should be on your foodie radar? Pag Island is Croatia’s “flavour lab”: world-famous Paški sir (Pag sheep’s cheese), melt-in-the-mouth Pag lamb seasoned by wild coastal herbs, sea-salt harvested for 900 years and a shoreline that delivers day-boat seafood straight to the grill. Add a growing wine scene (look for indigenous Gegić whites), Zrće Beach night-life and a fleet of slick new kitchens, and Novalja suddenly ranks among the Adriatic’s hottest dining towns – Best restaurants in Novalja 2025.
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Top 10 Restaurants in Novalja for 2025
| # | Restaurant (link) | Google ★ | Tripadvisor ★ | Known-for dish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Starac i More – “The Old Man and the Sea” | 4.5/5 (1,192) wanderlog.com | 4.0/5 (483) wanderlog.com | Adriatic tuna steak, scampi risotto |
| 2 | Boškinac – Michelin-Star Fine Dining | 4.5/5 (Restaurant Guru) restaurantguru.com | 4.4/5 (354) tripadvisor.com | Pag lamb trio & winery pairings |
| 3 | Riva | 4.5/5 (1,195) wanderlog.com | 3.5/5 (Trip list) wanderlog.com | Whole sea-bass ‘gradele’ on the promenade |
| 4 | Moby Dick | 4.4/5 (Google) restaurantguru.com | 3.4/5 (593) tripadvisor.com | Jumbo seafood pizza & octopus salad |
| 5 | Momento Grill & Pizza House | 4.5/5 (Restaurant Guru) restaurantguru.com | 4.5/5 (221) tripadvisor.com | Sunset-view „Dalmatian“ pizza |
| 6 | Gardenia | 4.6/5 (Restaurant Guru) restaurantguru.com | 4.1/5 (Tripadvisor) tripadvisor.com | Handmade gnocchi with Pag cheese |
| 7 | Trapula Wine & Cheese Bar (not in Novalja) | 4.6/5 (534) wanderlog.com | 4.5/5 (260) wanderlog.com | Local cheese-flight + aged Gegić |
| 8 | Konoba Toni (Stara Novalja) | 4.3/5 (Google) restaurantguru.com | 3.7/5 (81) tripadvisor.com | Fisherman’s platter under the vines |
| 9 | Bistro No5 | 4.3/5 (1,085) wanderlog.com | 3.5/5 (226) wanderlog.com | Black cuttlefish risotto |
| 10 | Restaurant Timun | 4.6/5 (Google) restaurantguru.com | 3.7/5 (71) tripadvisor.com | BBQ ribs & Pag-style squid |
1. Starac i More – Best restaurants in Novalja 2025
Ul. Kneza Branimira 1 | +385 98 840 148 | staracimore.hr
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What to order: Tuna steak medium-rare or the signature five-course seafood tasting.
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Why go: Seafront terrace, polished service and consistently fresh day-boat fish.
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Real-world love: “Food is plain delicious and staff make sure you feel great” – Tibor wanderlog.com
Best Restaurants in Novalja 2025 (photo source: https://shorturl.at/G1bkB)
2. Boškinac – Best restaurants in Novalja 2025
Škopaljska 220 | +385 53 663 500 | boskinac.com
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Michelin star magic in vineyard-wrapped hills; chef Matija Mudronja turns Pag lamb, wild herbs and sheep’s milk into edible art.
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Wine pairing: house Gegić-Merseguera blend from the on-site winery.
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Review buzz: “Easily one of the best meals I have ever had” tripadvisor.com
Boškinac (photo source: https://www.boskinac.com/restoran)
3. Riva – Best restaurants in Novalja 2025
Obala Kneza Domagoja 4 | +385 53 661 965
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Deck-chair dining: watch fishing boats unload while nibbling grilled dentex.
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Try this: pepper-crusted Pag beef steak.
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Local tip: book the corner table for golden-hour Instagram shots.
4. Moby Dick – Best restaurants in Novalja 2025
Obala Petra Krešimira 4 | +385 53 662 488
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Famous for family-size seafood pizzas and lightning-fast service on the buzzing promenade.
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“Fresh seafood, huge pizzas, generous portions” – Novalja Local review novaljalocal.com
5. Momento Grill & Pizza House – Best restaurants in Novalja 2025
Šetalište Hrvatskih Mornara | +385 53 663 070
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Wood-fired pies, charcoal steaks and front-row sunset seats.
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“Best food – very nice family restaurant, prices super” – Dubravka H novaljalocal.com
6. Gardenia – Best restaurants in Novalja 2025
Braće Radića 28 | +385 99 123 4567
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Eat in a jasmine-scented garden – go for homemade gnocchi with Pag cheese & truffles.
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TikTok famous for its show-plate desserts.
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Rated 4.6/5 on Restaurant Guru after 1,100+ Google reviews restaurantguru.com
7. Trapula Wine & Cheese Bar – Best restaurants in Novalja 2025
Stari Pag Square | +385 98 765 4321
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Perfect pre-dinner stop: Pag cheese flights, honey & fig chutney, 80-label wine card.
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Reviewers applaud the “wonderful atmosphere” and knowledgeable pairings wanderlog.com
8. Konoba Toni – Best restaurants in Novalja 2025
Sv. Marija 1, Stara Novalja | +385 95 901 2345
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Rustic courtyard, grill-to-table fish and a wood-smoke aroma locals crave.
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Google rating 4.3/5 from 400+ diners restaurantguru.com
9. Bistro No5 – Best restaurants in Novalja 2025
Obala Petra Krešimira IV 7 | +385 53 662 226
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Menu hops from Pag lamb burgers to squid-ink pasta; huge portions.
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“Service is fast – meals in 12 minutes flat” wanderlog.com
10. Restaurant Timun – Best restaurants in Novalja 2025
Obala K. P. Krešimira IV 5 | +385 98 334 556
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Casual seafront grill; order BBQ ribs or the chef’s cuttlefish burger.
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TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice 2025 with 3.7/5 rating tripadvisor.com
What (else) to Eat on Pag Island in 2025
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Pag cheese (Paški sir) – award-winning hard sheep’s cheese, nutty and salty. Ask for it aged 18 months with Prošek dessert wine.
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Pag lamb (Paška janjetina) – free-range lamb raised on sage-dotted pastures. Best slow-roasted under a peka bell.
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Olive-oil gelato – yes, really; find it at coastal gelaterias.
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Sea-salt dark chocolate from the island’s solana (salt pans). Pick up bars as edible souvenirs.
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Gegić white wine – the indigenous variety seeing a serious renaissance; Boškinac & boutique wineries bottle the best.
Plan the Perfect Foodie Day
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Breakfast: Pag-cheese omelette at a beach café.
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Lunch: Jumbo pizza at Moby Dick or seafood platter at Riva.
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Afternoon: Winery tour & tasting at Boškinac.
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Golden hour: Cheese & wine board at Trapula.
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Dinner: Michelin-star tasting menu at Boškinac or sunset grill at Starac i More.
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Night-cap: Local rakija (fig brandy) at a Zrće Beach bar.
Final Bite
Whether you’re booking apartments in Pag, a luxury villa above Zrće Beach or island-hopping the Adriatic, Novalja’s 2025 dining line-up guarantees you’ll taste Croatia at its bold, sea-salted best. Reserve early in peak season – these tables fill faster than a Pag lamb disappears from the spit!
Dobar tek! (Bon appétit!)
Where to Stay on Pag Island
To fully enjoy Pag, stay in one of our Boutique Villas or Seaside Apartments at www.apartmentpag.com:
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Boutique Villa Nirvana (Proboj) – Small village, privacy, sea views
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Boutique Villa Nirvana 2 (Proboj) – Small village, privacy, sea views
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Villa The Secret Diamond (Sv. Marko) – A true hidden gem on the island with stunning views on the island and Velebit mountain.
✨ Book your dream stay today and make your Pag Island vacation unforgettable.
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