Address: Distillery AurA Shop, Ul. Grisia 45, 52210, Rovinj, Croatia
Website: aura.hr
Giannino
Managed by the same family behind La Puntulina and newly-renovated bar Rio (also worth a visit for oysters and a glass of wine on the harbour), Giannino is a much-loved restaurant opened in 1972 by Corrado Pellizzer, who grew up fishing with his father, and his two sons, Giovanni and Nereo. Corrado still heads up in the kitchen and always welcomes guests with a smile. The menu here changes almost daily and is dictated by the fresh catch brought straight from the local fisherman’s boat to the kitchen’s door, but the most popular dish is brodetto alla Rovignese, Italian-inspired Rovinj fish stew.
Address: Giannino, Ul. Augusta Ferrija 38, 52210, Rovinj, Croatia
Website: restoran-giannino.com
The best hotels in RovinjSpirito Santo
This boutique hotel, a beautifully renovated 1920s townhouse on a quiet cobbled street in the old town, is ideal for those looking to be at the heart of the historic centre. Here, you’re a short walk away from St. Euphemia church, Rovinj harbour, City Museum, Batana Eco Museum, and the old town’s many excellent bars, restaurants and cafés (aforementioned Gianinno is practically on your doorstep). If you’re keen to avoid hotel chains and prefer to stay in historic buildings, Spirito Santo is the one to book. Many original features remain throughout the hotel, from exposed beams and fireplaces to stone water wells. The hotel’s small but impressive restaurant, Sapori di Spirito Santo, offers tasty local dishes and a variety of Croatian, Slovenian, French and Italian wines, while breakfast is a mix of buffet-style cold plates, fruits and juices, with eggs and coffee to order. Of the 12 double rooms, Casale, while relatively small, is delightful, with a private terrace offering views of the old town and the sea.
SGFd.o.o
Grand Park Hotel
Around a 25-minute walk from the old town, near parasol-lined Mulini Beach and Rovinj marina, you’ll find a cluster of four- and five-star hotels mostly owned by luxury Croatian hotel group Maistra Collection, most notably Rovinj’s newest and most luxurious hotel, Grand Park Hotel Rovinj. What you sacrifice in proximity to the old town and its more boutique and heritage hotel offerings, you make up for in five-star amenities, which can be difficult to find in the town centre. At Grand Park, there are spacious rooms with private terraces (some high-end rooms even come with a private pool) and wellness amenities including a stunning rooftop swimming pool, saunas, a Mediterranean relaxation garden and the award-winning Albaro Spa. You’re also a stone’s throw from Golden Cape Forest Park, Istria’s oldest protected park lined with fragrant pine and cypress trees, and home to numerous hiking and biking trails, cliffs, islets and beaches – including Lone Bay, one of Rovinj’s most popular and picturesque coves.