Pride of Place

In Zagreb, the hottest tables are the ones that put Croatian cooking front and center.

- By Kristin Vuković

THE CROATIAN CAPITAL'S food scene reflects the diversity of the country's historic and cultural influences, which range from Austrian and Hungarian to Italian and Turkish. But in the past few years, a handful of Zagreb-based chefs have placed greater emphasis on their national cuisine, designing innovative tasting menus around a common philosophy: looking back at one's roots is sometimes the best way forward.

At Nav (tasting menu $126), chef Tvrtko Šakota researches forgotten Croatian dishes and re-creates them using modern techniques and organic or biodynamic ingredients. The restaurant opened in 2019 in a former stable in the city center.