A few years ago Split wine bars didn’t even exist, as in Croatia people mostly drink beer. Fortunately the wine bar culture is getting more popular, thanks to the first wine bar in Split, Paradox Wine and Cheese bar, opened a few years ago.
Croatian Dalmatia region has a very good selection of wine and very long history, but until few years ago the best wines were the privilege of some exclusive Split restaurants.
Things have changed since Split turned from a transit city to a leading Croatia’s tourist champion. With Split turning into a popular tourist destination, local business including the wine scene accommodated too.
As a positive result new restaurants and bars have began to sprout around the old town and in other parts of the city, with excellent and selected wine list.
Top Split Wine Bars
According to the trusted TripAdvisor.com, bars that have received the most positive ratings are Wine & Cheese Bar Paradox and Zinfandel Food & Wine Bar.
Zinfandel Food & Wine Bar
The core of Zinfandel Food & Wine Bar is a good choice of wines and its central location.
Located in a small backstreet within the old Palace’s walls, just a minute long walk from the Riva seaside promenade, wine bar Zinfandel is nicely decorated. See more info on their Facebook page!
When entering you will see a long wooden bar with few hanging prosciutto. There is also a visible blackboard with daily menus.
The wine list offers a selections of more than 100 wines from Croatia and around the world. This bar is named after the wine, and not just any wine, but it has been proven that the grape variety Zinfandel have been the genetic cousins of the Plavac Mali variety.
You can order wine by bottles or by glass. Prices are quite reasonable for the quality.
Besides the rich wine selection, this wine bar also offers an innovative food menu, particularly platters for two named ‘orange’ and ‘little bit of everything’.
The platters consist of green olives, tuna pate, prosciutto, sausages, Pag cheese, salted anchovies, pepper cheese and and other delicacies. Try it!
Wine & Cheese Bar Paradox
Paradox Wine & Cheese Bar has been permanently closed.
This is my favorite Split wine bar that offers a large number of excellent cheeses, mostly from small Dalmatian producers and 70 types of wine.
Paradox, opened in 2012, is located Ul. bana Josipa Jelačića 3, 21000 Split, just a few minutes from Diocletian’s Palace and Riva (see Paradox on Google Maps, or see their Facebook page for more info). The bar size is only forty square meters but has a pleasant terrace to chill on.
What I like about Paradox is their food simplicity, focusing on wine and cheese. You have more than 15 cheese types to enjoy, such as Zeleni bodul, Crni bodul, Gligora cheese from Pag, Krasnarski cheese, and goat cheese to name a few.
They serve cheese by hardness as soft, medium hard and hard cheeses types, while the wine list is divided into light, medium strong and strong wine.
Portions of cheese cost 25-49 Kuna ($3.4 to €6.8) depending on the type of cheese, while wine is served by glasses ranging from 15 Kn (€2) and reaches 120 Kuna (€16). With each cheese portion they will serve you a bit of jam and nuts.
The wines originate from the well-known wineries of Tomic, Dubokovic, Didic, Roncevic, Tomac, Korta Katrarina and many others.
Wine and cheese tasting
The cheese plate I prefer is cheese trilogy. It consists of three types of cheese, from famous Pag island cheese (sheep cheese) and two aged cow’s cheese.
The plate is served with dried fruits and perfectly matching homemade jam, portions of strawberry, fig or apple quince. For all this you’ll pay about 80 Kuna ($12 or €11).
Everything has to be accompanied with a glass of red wine, ranging from 20 Kuna up to 70 Kuna (€2 to €10).
If you happen to be in Split and want a quick and delicious snack with high quality wine, you will find Paradox the perfect place.
More Split wine bars
- Uje Oil Bar: Facebook
- Bokeria Kitchen & Wine: Facebook
Diocletian’s Wine House: Website, FacebookClosed
Hopefully my list of Split wine bars help you find the perfect place, and be sure to let me know in case you know of any other bars or restaurants with excellent wine selections!
