Bistro Pjat — Restaurant in Grad Zadar

Bistro Pjat feels like one of those places you stumble upon by chance but end up remembering forever. Tucked away in Zadar’s Old Town, it has that rare mix of authenticity, warmth, and sheer culinary excellence that makes it a true hidden gem. The moment you step inside, you are welcomed into a space that feels more like a family gathering than a restaurant—cozy, unpretentious, and full of character.

The owner? A legend. The real deal. Funny, honest, and completely in his element, making you feel like an old friend rather than just another guest. There is depth to the experience here, beyond just the food—it is a place that carries a story, a soul.

And the food? Absolute perfection. Everything tastes homemade in the best way possible—inventive yet straightforward, fresh, high-quality, and carefully executed. The Bakalar Bianco was impossibly creamy, rich with flavor, and something I would not even know where to find elsewhere. Then there was the octopus čičvarda—a spectacular, deeply satisfying dish that felt as homely as it was special. The Mol (European hake) was a masterpiece—crispy on the outside, perfectly juicy on the inside, tasting the sea in the purest way. Every bite reminded me just how fresh and thoughtfully prepared everything is here.

The wine selection is excellent; the bread and olive oil are just as they should be—top-tier—and the dessert? The perfect cherry on top. It does not get better than this. And the best part? The price is more than reasonable for what you are getting.

A must-visit when in Zadar. Bistro Pjat is the kind of place you come back to, not just for the food, but for the feeling it...

The food was decent, but treatment by the servers at this restaurant was the worst I’ve had in years. I was curious about the food because it seemed authentic, but the server (tall with glasses) quickly shut down any questions. When I later politely raised my hand to ask another man who I thought was a server for a glass of of wine, HE VERY DISRESPECTFULLY IMITATED ME WITH A TWO FINGER PEACE SIGN AND THEN LAUGHED LOUDLY WITH THE OTHER SERVER AND SPOKE WITH HIM IN CROATIAN AS IF I WERE AN IDIOT AND THE BUTT OF A JOKE FOR HAVING ASKED HIM TO COME OVER. Neither ever came over; I eventually had to ask a woman server for the wine (luckily she was nice). I don’t know if the man who laughed at me was the owner or a friend of the server’s, but because he had been taking things to tables both before and after (including glasses of wine for other customers), he was obviously affiliated with the restaurant in some way. Maybe he was the owner and he just doesn’t care because he has enough business and he feels he can be as rude as he wants to the customers because there will be no repercussions. Whatever the case, I was shocked that he reacted that way; he lost my business forever and I hope he loses it from someone who reads...

This isn't the typical Croatian pizza, grill and pasta place, you will find on every second corner. This place offers very authentical, local fine dining experience without being snobbish or pretentious. They visibly love what they cook, cook what they love themselves and above all - they cook it with love! It's very visible by the choice of dishes and quality of the ingredients they choose. Their fish is always fresh and local, the meat is also always bought from the local butchers on the very same day (before noon!). Their vegetables come most often from the little gardens owned by their own friends and family. Daily menus are created based upon what was the best they found to cook on that very day. Here you can find the exclusive food for kings, as lobsters and highest quality fish, as well as simple local comfort food, as stews, intestins, beans etc, traditionally favoured by the poor peasants and fisherman from the area. Add some excellent wine and THE BEST SERVICE EVER by their always present, always smiling and extremely energetic Hospitality Superstar - Zrinka, and it's very easy to conclude why this place will forever be one of your favourite restaurants of...