Introduction
As I mentioned in my previous article, Dubrovnik is surprisingly expensive, especially considering that it is in Croatia.
Of course, part of this is because Dubrovnik is a major tourist destination, but personally, I felt that prices were even higher than in Graz, Austria.
Even kebabs, one of Europe’s classic budget-friendly fast-food options, can cost around €15 in Dubrovnik. So even when you just want to grab a quick and casual meal, the price can be surprisingly high.
While researching restaurants before my trip, I came across Barba, a small seafood restaurant in Dubrovnik’s Old Town.
I decided to give it a try, and here’s my honest impression.
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Eating in Dubrovnik
Since Dubrovnik is located on the Adriatic coast, seafood is naturally one of the local specialties.
However, because it is one of Europe’s most famous tourist destinations, restaurant prices can be quite high.
In and around the Old Town, it is not unusual for main dishes to cost €20–30 or more. For families, restaurant meals can quickly become a significant part of the travel budget.
Before my trip, I was therefore looking for a place that was:
“As tasty as possible, but as reasonably priced as possible.”
Barba had particularly good reviews, so I decided to give it a try.
Visiting Barba
Barba is a small restaurant tucked away in one of the narrow streets of Dubrovnik’s Old Town.
Although it has a stylish atmosphere aimed at tourists, it is known for offering seafood at relatively reasonable prices compared with many other restaurants in the Old Town.
The menu includes dishes such as:
- Seafood burgers with octopus, tuna, or shrimp
- Fried fish and seafood, including small fish, squid, and shrimp
- Fresh oysters
- Sandwiches and salads
Since we were visiting the Adriatic coast, I decided to focus mainly on the seafood dishes.
Trying the Octopus Burger
The first thing I ordered was the octopus burger meal set.
The price was €17.90.
My honest first reaction was:
“It’s tasty, but where did the octopus go?”
Haha.
From the name, I imagined a burger filled with chunks of octopus. Instead, the octopus seemed to have been processed into more of a paste or minced mixture, so there wasn’t much visual evidence that I was eating octopus.
That said, the taste itself was very good. The burger had a rich seafood flavor and was quite different from a standard beef burger.
It felt like a dish that suited a seaside city like Dubrovnik.
The Fried Small Fish Was Excellent!
The real highlight for me, however, was the fried small fish.
The price was €15.90.
And it was genuinely delicious.
The moment I tasted it, I thought:
“This somehow tastes Japanese!”
It reminded me of something you might find at a Japanese izakaya or a casual seafood restaurant by the coast.
After living abroad for a long time, I find myself unexpectedly craving simple fish dishes like this.
There isn’t anything particularly complicated about it. The small fish are simply fried until crispy and eaten as they are. But I think this kind of flavor really appeals to Japanese people.
Among all the dishes I ate in Dubrovnik, this was definitely one of my personal favorites.
The Portions Are Huge
Another thing that surprised me was the portion size.
If you’re used to Japanese portion sizes, you may find yourself thinking:
“Wow, this is much bigger than I expected.”
The fried small fish in particular came in a very generous portion.
Based on my experience, I would say:
- For two Japanese women, one portion would probably be a comfortable amount to share.
- Even for a Japanese man, it felt like roughly 1.5 servings.
It’s not impossible to finish it by yourself, but it might be a bit of a challenge.
If you’re visiting with family or friends, I would recommend ordering several dishes and sharing them.
Is That a Cutting Board?
When we asked for an extra plate so that we could share the food, what came out was not an ordinary plate.
Instead, we got a wooden plate that looked almost like a cutting board.
Surprisingly, it looked quite stylish.
It also matched the casual atmosphere of this seaside restaurant perfectly.
It’s not a fancy fine-dining restaurant, but I liked these little touches of creativity.
Fun Decorations Inside the Restaurant
Another thing that caught my attention at Barba was the interior decoration.
Customers write their names or messages on wooden forks with markers and then stick the forks into the walls, lights, and other parts of the restaurant.
At first, I wondered what they were for. But once I looked around, I noticed forks sticking out everywhere.
There are messages from visitors from all over the world, and it’s surprisingly fun just to look at them.
This handmade, personal atmosphere is something you simply don’t get at a chain restaurant.
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あなたと一緒に作る海外旅行【トラベル・スタンダード・ジャパン】
Conclusion
Dubrovnik is one of the most expensive tourist destinations in Croatia, but Barba is a restaurant where you can enjoy seafood at a relatively reasonable price compared with many other places in the Old Town.
The dish I would recommend most is definitely the fried small fish.
It had a familiar taste that reminded me of Japanese food, and after spending a long time living abroad, it really hit the spot.
Other highlights include:
- Generous portions
- Seafood dishes inspired by Dubrovnik’s seaside location
- Unique decorations made from customer-signed wooden forks
- A casual and welcoming atmosphere
If you’re looking for somewhere to eat in Dubrovnik’s Old Town, Barba is definitely worth considering.
With so many expensive tourist restaurants in Dubrovnik, Barba is one of those places where I came away thinking, “For this price, I’m really satisfied with what I got.”
For travelers looking for affordable seafood in Dubrovnik Old Town, especially if you enjoy casual food and generous portions, Barba is a place I would happily recommend.
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