The Michelin Guide Croatia 2025, the most prestigious benchmark in the culinary world, has just been released marking a historic moment for the culinary history of Split. Because, for the first time ever, a local restaurant has earned a coveted Michelin star. The honor goes to Krug, a contemporary fine dining destination that has made a name for itself with its elegant, ingredient-driven cuisine and deep commitment to seasonality and local sourcing.
A Star for Krug—and for Split
In our review of Krug, we have previously mentioned it as a best candidate for the first Michelin star calling it “perhaps the most ambitious restaurant in Split,” noting that many online reviewers too have coveted it as “a potential first Michelin star restaurant.”
But Krug’s excellence was slow to be recognized. The restaurant was entirely absent from last year’s Michelin Guide, not even listed under the more inclusive ‘Recommended’ or ‘Bib Gourmand’ categories. It fared better in the 2025 Gault&Millau Guide, where it earned a strong 16/20 rating and recognition for chef Karlo Kaleb as ‘Great Chef of Tomorrow’.
Despite the high rating, it was still ranked behind more established local names like Zrno Soli, Zoi, and Dvor, and placed on par with Triton—a restaurant that, at the time of guide’s release, had only just been open for a single month (!).
The awarding of a Michelin star in 2025 now corrects that oversight and establishes Krug as a new leader in Split’s otherwise slow-rising fine dining scene. This long-awaited recognition also finally puts Split on Croatia’s Michelin-starred map alongside other top culinary destinations like Rovinj, Zagreb, and Dubrovnik.
A Rich Michelin Landscape in Croatia
The 2025 guide also brought big news for Cap Aureo in Rovinj, helmed by chef Jeffrey Vella, which was also awarded its first Michelin star—a long-anticipated recognition for one of Croatia’s most refined and creative kitchens.
With the latest update, Croatia’s Michelin-starred landscape now includes one two-star restaurant: Agli Amici (Rovinj), still the only two-star establishment in the country; an eleven one-star restaurants, including the newly awarded Krug (Split) and Cap Aureo (Rovinj)
One two-star restaurant:
- Agli Amici, Rovinj
Twelve one-star restaurants:
- 360, Dubrovnik
- Korak, Jastrebarsko
- Dubravkin put, Zagreb
- LD, Korčula
- Alfred Keller, Mali Lošinj
- Boškinac, Novalja
- Nebo, Rijeka
- Monte, Rovinj
- Pelegrini, Šibenik
- Noel, Zagreb
- Krug, Split
- Cap Aureo, Rovinj
More than 80 restaurants listed as Recommended (74), Bib Gourmand (12), reflecting a thriving and maturing culinary scene across the country. Making up a total of 99 restaurants in the 2025 Croatian edition of the Michelin Guide.
The full list for Split includes:
One-star restaurant:
Bib Gourmand:
Recommended: