Our Split locals share their top vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Split, Croatia, covering everything from gourmet cuisine to the city's best down and dirty vegan burgers.
Vegan and vegetarian dishes in Croatian national cuisine
Before we reveal the best vegan restaurants in Split, let's take a quick look at Croatia's national cuisine and our favourite dishes for vegetarians and vegans to try while in Split!
While the country's cuisine does focus heavily on meat and fish, Croatia's sunny Mediterranean climate guarantees an abundance of fresh seasonal produce and fragrant herbs. Here's some delicious local specialities which are well worth trying while you're here. Just double check with your waiter before ordering to avoid any surprises, since meat or cheese may be added alongside the veggies.
Blitva is Swiss chard sautéed with garlic and olive oil, a simple yet flavorful green side dish commonly enjoyed across Croatia.
Paprika punjena sirom are sweet red peppers which are usually baked with cheese and other vegetarian fillings.
Soparnik is savory pie filled with a mixture of Swiss chard, red onions, and seasoning, encased in thin layers of dough. A local speciality from Dalmatia, Poljica, between Split and Omiš, homemade soparnik can often be found at markets like Split's Pazar or Green Market.
Pasta s Tartufima or pasta served with truffles is a classic Istrian dish from the north of Croatia.
Fritule are small, deep-fried doughnuts often flavored with citrus zest and sometimes raisins. This popular dessert can be found at fairs and festivals or sold pipping hot on the street by local vendors.
Proja is a type of cornbread often made with maize flour, water, and various additional ingredients like spinach or chard. A traditional Balkan dish, Proja is a wholesome and filling bread alternative that was originally made out of economic necessity.
Top vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Split, Croatia
Kat's Kitchen Deli is one of our favourite vegan restaurants in Split.
1. Kat's Kitchen Deli: Plant-Based Dishes & Raw Cakes
One of our favourite healthy food options in Split, Kat's Kitchen Deli uses organic seasonal ingredients to craft beautiful plant-based meals. Vegan options abound, including granola bowls, tofu brekkie wraps, spelt pancakes, and avocado or hummus-topped toast. Stop by after a walk, run or bike ride around Marjan Park for raw cakes and vegan sweet treats as well as cold-pressed juices and speciality coffee.
Up Cafe is a favourite vegan hangout for Split locals.
2. Up Cafe
Up Cafe is another local favourite, a cosy vegan restaurant in Split close to Joker Mall that focuses on seasonal and organic ingredients. There's a huge range of temptations on offer, ranging from hemp burgers and tofu burritos to millet pudding and addictive raffaello coconut squares.
Veg offers fast but healthy vegan options in Split.
3. Veg: Quick Bites, Big Vegan Flavors
A top option for vegetarian fast food in Split, the diverse menu at Veg includes falafel bowls, vegan shephed's pie, and tofu burgers. The handy location close to Old Town and fresh but speedy food makes it a great option for grabbing a quick snack while exploring Split.
Sample healthy poke bowls at Maka Maka in Split's Old Town.
4. MakaMaka: Where Mediterranean Meets Japan Via Hawaii
Situated in Split's Old Town close to the fish market, MakaMaka stands out as a healthy option offering delicious poke bowls, smoothies and acai. They also have another location that specialises in sushi, although the vegan options here are more limited.
Pandora offers a quirky interior and high-end vegetarian cuisine in Split.
5. Pandora GreenBox: Quirky Interior & High-End Plant-Based Cuisine
Behind the Fish Market is one of Split's best vegan options, Pandora Greenbox, where plants adorn both the menu and the walls. Drop in to sample their beetroot gazpacho, tofu sliders, or polenta-crusted tempeh, chased down by a chocolate brownie with cashew cream sauce.
Uje Oil Bar is set in an old building in Split's Ancient Roman palace.
6. Uje Oil Bar: Dine in Split's Ancient Roman Palace:
Dine back in time in this incredible spot hidden in an ancient building in the heart of Diocletian's Palace. Known for its extensive olive oil selection, Uje Oil Bar is a haven for vegetarians with dishes like zucchini and aubergine parmigiana, chickpea salad, and their unmissable olive oil ice cream!
7. Bokeria Kitchen & Wine Bar: Contemporary Vegetarian Excellence:
Also tucked away down the narrow streets of the Old Town, Bokeria is a great fine dining option for vegetarians in Split. The setting is chic, airy and inviting, and while not exclusively vegetarian or vegan, the diverse menu offers dishes such as burrata and peach salad, truffle risotto, homemade pastas, and roasted vegetable platters. There's also a sublime wine list featuring Croatian classics and some international gems.