Art Restaurant Renaissance — Restaurant in Dubrovnik

Second day in Dubrovnik and craving something special, we stumbled upon a little slice of Italy hidden in a small side street – Art Restaurant Renaissance, right in the heart of the Old Town.

Arriving at lunchtime, we found free tables both outside and inside. At first, the availability made me wonder if it was the right choice, but I was in the mood for a great burrata, so we decided to sit down and give it a try.

Food:

Burrata: An absolute hit as a starter. The balance between tomatoes, olives, and pesto was spot-on. Fresh, light, and bursting with flavor – the best choice I could have made. 10/10.

Mains:

Carbonara: Topped with perfectly cooked bacon that transported me straight back to Rome. The seasoning, flavor, and pasta texture were all on point. 10/10.

Napoletana: Istrian fuži pasta with homemade tomato salsa and burrata. The flavor was pleasant, though the sauce was a bit watery for my taste. Still, the burrata added a nice touch. 8/10.

Drinks: A wide selection, from beer and wine to non-alcoholic drinks and coffee. Based on our waiter’s recommendation, we went for a bottle of local white wine, which was excellent. Bonus points for the fact that he didn’t push the most expensive option – in fact, he suggested the opposite.

Service: Friendly, polite, and efficient. Food arrived quickly, and recommendations were well thought out.

Overall: If you’re searching for a little Italy in Dubrovnik, this is the place. From seafood to vegetarian dishes, the variety is impressive, and the pasta is right on point. Even if you’re not hungry, it’s a perfect spot to relax with a glass of wine and watch the world go by on a charming Old...

What a fantastic experience. The service was impeccable and our waiter Mario was friendly and knowledgeable about the food and drinks (he knows his wines!). He also sat and chatted with us after our meal, and was a joy to speak with :)

The food came very quickly and was delicious, at first I thought the portion was too small when it arrived, but I left with a full stomach, I had calamari which was the freshest seafood I think I've ever had, and my partner had the seafood linguini, also highly recommended. For desert we had crepe which was lovely, though I wish I had tried the tiramisu.

The selection of beers was not that plentiful, but had the two popular croation beers (nothing on tap) which were great, and we received complimentary wine at the end of our meal which was locally sourced from the waiters family vineyard, it was the best wine I have ever tasted, and I am not a wine kinda man!

The ambience was great, and location was also good, a short walk from the main Street and step free which is good to know. We felt secluded enough for it to be intimate, but still part of the vibrancy of the city at night, with no people walking through our dinner, but plenty of sound from the hustle and bustle. Perfect.

Despite the negative reviews seen elsewhere, the restaurant has recently hired new chefs and staff, and our experience was first class, best night we've had in Dubrovnik.

Highly...

Here’s a revised version that focuses more on the food:

Totally Inaccurate Ratings – Overpriced and Disappointing! ⭐☆☆☆☆ (1 star)

We had a terrible experience at this restaurant, and the high ratings are misleading. It’s not inexpensive—it’s actually quite pricey, and for the amount we spent, the food was nowhere near worth it. Each of us had a dish, plus one extra and some chips, and the quality was shockingly bad.

The steak, supposedly medium, was tough and chewy, almost like it had been frozen. The carbonara was overcooked, watery, and lacked any flavor—it wasn’t al dente at all, and we had to add salt and pepper just to make it halfway decent. Even the chips were undercooked and disappointing.

The worst part? They wouldn’t even serve tap water, which is ridiculous in Croatia, where clean water is a national pride. We had to buy drinks, which felt like a money grab on top of an already overpriced meal.

For what we paid, we could have had a far better experience at the Michelin-star restaurant nearby. The only things we enjoyed were the Coke Zero and the live singer. The service was slow and inattentive, making the entire experience feel like a waste of time and money.

Don’t be fooled by the 4.7-star rating—this place is overhyped and absolutely not worth the price, you’re only paying for...