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Food tours in Zadar: what to eat and which tour to book
Zadar eats Dalmatian food: grilled fish and squid, black risotto, slow-cooked brudet (fish stew), Dalmatian pršut (dry-cured ham) and meat or octopus cooked under a peka bell. Two things are particular to this corner of the coast: Maraschino, the cherry liqueur made in Zadar since the 18th century from the local marasca cherry, and Pag cheese and lamb from the island of Pag, about an hour away. Daily food shopping happens at the green market and fish market inside the old town, and the best konobas are often in the residential districts and seaside suburbs rather than on the main street.
Use this page to know what to order and where. The dishes and areas below say what each part of town does well. The tours are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; prices and times change, so confirm on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Zadar
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pag cheese paški sir | Hard, salty sheep's-milk cheese from the island of Pag, where the sheep graze on salty, herb-covered pasture. Served as a starter with pršut and olives. | Restaurants as a starter; buy it at the green market, delis and cheese shops in town or directly on Pag. | roughly €9–14 for a starter plate; around €30–45 per kilo to buy |
| Dalmatian dry-cured ham dalmatinski pršut | Air-dried, lightly smoked ham, sliced thin and served with Pag cheese and bread. | Konobas and restaurants; delis and the market for buying. | roughly €10–16 for a plate |
| Black risotto crni rižot | Risotto coloured and flavoured with cuttlefish or squid ink, cooked with the cuttlefish itself. Standard on Dalmatian menus. | Konobas and fish restaurants across town. | roughly €14–20 |
| Fish stew brudet / brujet | Several kinds of fish slowly stewed with tomato, onion, wine and vinegar, served with polenta. Often for two people and ordered ahead in some places. | Traditional konobas; ask whether it needs to be ordered in advance. | roughly €20–30 per person |
| Grilled fish and squid riba i lignje na žaru | Fresh fish grilled whole with olive oil, garlic and parsley, served with blitva (chard and potato). Squid (lignje) grilled or fried is a cheaper option. | Fish restaurants in the old town and the seaside suburbs; the fish market shows what is in season. | grilled squid roughly €14–20; whole fish often €50–80 per kilo |
| Peka | Lamb, veal or octopus cooked slowly with potatoes under a metal bell covered in embers. Usually needs ordering a few hours or a day ahead and is served for two or more. | Konobas, often outside the centre; call ahead. | roughly €25–35 per person |
| Maraschino maraskino | Clear cherry liqueur distilled from marasca cherries, made in Zadar since the 18th century. Today it is produced by the Maraska company, in the city where the old distilleries stood. | Bars and restaurants as a digestif; bottles in shops and supermarkets. | about €3–5 a glass; bottles roughly €12–25 |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Green market and fish market (old town)
Zadar's open-air produce market and the fish market beside it, inside the old town near the city walls. Fruit, vegetables, Pag cheese, olive oil, honey and the day's catch.
Kalelarga (Široka ulica)
The main street of the old town, with cafés, ice-cream shops and bakeries. Good for coffee and a walk; restaurants on and right next to it are aimed at visitors.
Riva and the Sea Organ
The waterfront promenade on the old-town peninsula, ending at the Sea Organ and the Greeting to the Sun installation. Cafés and bars rather than serious food; the place to be at sunset.
Varoš and the residential streets
The older quarter at the south-west of the old town and the streets beyond the peninsula hold smaller konobas and bars where locals eat and drink.
Borik and Puntamika
Seaside suburbs a short drive or bus ride north-west of the centre, with konobas and fish restaurants by the water, often cheaper than the old town.
Food tours in Zadar compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zadar: Private Cooking Class | 2.5 hours | from €120 per person | private | Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients. | Check dates |
| Zadar: Guided Speedboat Tour with Food, Oil & Wine Tasting | 4 hours | from €35 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Zadar: Discover the Old Town Through Food, Wine & History | 2 hours | from €55 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Zadar Food Tour: Local Dishes & City Stories | 3 hours | from €89 per person | max 12 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Zadar: Old Town Walking Tour with Maraschino Tasting | 1.5 hours | from €21 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Zadar City Market Food Tour | 2 hours | from €55 per person | — | Morning people who want to see where locals shop and taste produce at the source. | Check dates |
Zadar: Private Cooking Class
On GetYourGuide · run by TERRA TRAVEL D.O.O.
- Length
- 2.5 hours
- Price
- from €120 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 18 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- private
- Included
- Welcome drink Fresh ingredients for the meal Chef's assistance in the kitchen Water Wine Meal you prepare yourself with the assistance of the chef
- Suits
- Travellers who want to cook the dishes again at home; easiest option for dietary needs, since you control the ingredients.
- Starts
- *
Zadar: Guided Speedboat Tour with Food, Oil & Wine Tasting
On GetYourGuide · run by ApartmentsZadar-com
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- from €35 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 618 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Depends on the selected option
Zadar: Discover the Old Town Through Food, Wine & History
On GetYourGuide · run by Šušur - Tours of Zadar
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €55 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 212 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Novi caffe
Zadar Food Tour: Local Dishes & City Stories
On GetYourGuide · run by Free Spirit Tours
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €89 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 66 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 12
- Included
- Tour guide Food tastings at 5 different spots Glass of wine Water Additional food and drink Tips
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Roman Forum
Zadar: Old Town Walking Tour with Maraschino Tasting
On GetYourGuide · run by ZADAR WALKS & TALKS
- Length
- 1.5 hours
- Price
- from €21 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 13 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- POZDRAV SUNCU ZADAR CROATIA
Zadar City Market Food Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Cultourist
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €55 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 9 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Expert licensed local guide All five food tastings Coffee at the first stop A glass of local wine at the final stop Stories and context behind each producer and product Small group experience (max 10 people) Additiona…
- Suits
- Morning people who want to see where locals shop and taste produce at the source.
- Starts
- Look out for our Zadar Food Tours sign!
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Street food in Zadar is mostly bakery food: burek, pizza slices and sandwiches, plus fried fish or squid from casual seaside kiosks in summer. It is cheap and quick but not the highlight.
Sit-down meals
The main event is sit-down eating in konobas (traditional taverns) and fish restaurants. Start with Pag cheese and pršut, then grilled fish, black risotto or a stew, with local wine. Places in the old town are busy and pricier in July and August; book ahead for dinner at popular spots.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes in and around Zadar usually teach Dalmatian dishes such as fish, peka or pasta, often with a market visit and wine. Some take place in the countryside or on islands, so check transport and timing.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | €25–35 (bakery breakfast, market picnic, a pizza or pasta dinner) |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | €50–70 (two sit-down meals with local wine) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | €110+ (a fish dinner with good wine or a tasting menu) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Workable: most menus have vegetable risotto, pasta, salads and blitva (chard and potato), and Pag cheese is vegetarian-friendly for those who eat dairy. Vegans will find fewer options in traditional konobas; newer cafés and pizzerias are easier.
Halal: Halal-certified food is limited. Fish and seafood are the easy option. Pork appears in pršut, sausages and some stews.
Gluten-free: Grilled fish and meat, salads, blitva and many risottos are naturally gluten-free. Watch for bread served with everything, fried squid in flour and pasta dishes. Awareness is reasonable in tourist areas; say 'bez glutena'.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Fresh fish priced per kilo, then a large fish served without telling you the total. Ask to see the fish weighed and confirm the total price before it is cooked.
- Cover charge (kuvert) for bread and table settings added to the bill. It is legal if listed on the menu; check the menu and ask for bread to be taken away if you don't want it.
- Tourist restaurants on and right next to Kalelarga with picture menus and touts outside. Walk a few streets toward Varoš or out to Borik and Puntamika, and look for menus in Croatian.
- 'Pag cheese' at souvenir stalls that is not from Pag. Buy from a deli, the market or a known producer, and check the label for 'Paški sir' and the producer's name.
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
When is Zadar's market open?
The green market and the fish market in the old town are morning markets, roughly from 7:00 until early afternoon, with the best choice before 10:00. They are busiest on Saturday mornings. Hours can be shorter on Sundays and holidays, and the fish market depends on the day's catch, so check current hours locally.
What is Maraschino, and is it really from Zadar?
Maraschino is a clear liqueur distilled from marasca cherries, which grow along the Dalmatian coast. Industrial production began in Zadar in 1759, and by the 19th century several distilleries in the city were exporting it widely. After the Second World War, production was merged into the Maraska company, which still makes it in Zadar. Try a glass as a digestif or buy a bottle to take home.
Do I need to tip in Zadar?
Service is not usually added to the bill. Leaving about 10% for good service in restaurants is normal, and rounding up in cafés and bars. Tips added to a card payment don't always reach staff, so cash is better. On food tours, roughly €5–10 per person for a good guide is appreciated.
Is it worth going to Pag for cheese?
If you have a car and a free day, yes: the island of Pag is about an hour's drive north of Zadar, across a bridge, and several cheese makers have shops and tastings. Check opening hours and whether you need to book. If you can't go, you can buy Pag cheese from delis and the market in Zadar.
What does peka mean, and how do I order it?
Peka is a way of cooking meat or octopus slowly with potatoes under a metal bell covered in embers. It takes hours, so most konobas need you to order a few hours or a day in advance, and it is usually served for two or more people. Call the restaurant ahead and confirm the price per person.
Is Zadar expensive for eating out?
Croatia's coast is no longer cheap, especially in July and August. In the old town, a main course is roughly €15–25, and fresh fish sold by the kilo can push a bill up quickly. Eat a bigger lunch, try konobas outside the centre, and use the market and bakeries for breakfast and snacks to keep costs down.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.