i Sandwiches from €4.50
Don’t miss…
MARITIME MUSEUM
Trg Bokeljske Mornarice 391; 32 304 720; www.museummaritimum.com; open Apr 15-July 1 M-F 8am-6pm, Su 9am-1pm; July 1-Sept 1 M-F 8am-11pm, Su 10am-4pm; Sept 1-Oct 15 M-F 8am-6pm, Su 9am-1pm; Oct 15-Apr 15 M-F 9am-5pm, Su 9am-noon
This ain’t Seaworld. We’re at the Maritime Museum, that’s as real as it gets. While T-Pain might not agree with our evaluation of the museums of Kotor, this is the place to go for model ships (or model boats rather). There are old naval uniforms, trade documents from Venetian times, and maps on maps on maps. Many of the written documents seen here would commonly be housed in archives in other cities; it’s neat to look at them up close. For the landlubbers out there, the nineteenth-century rooms of a noble family may be easier to appreciate.
i Adult €4, students €1, children €1.50
FOOD
Ul. Kneza Damjana Jude; 020 454 433; open daily 11am-midnight
Should you happen to be in Dubrovnik with your girlfriend’s grandparents and want to pull off that sophisticated-man-of-the-world charm, look no further than Trattoria Capriccio. Run by a husband-and-wife team, the trattoria specializes in Italian food sourced entirely from local merchants and made fresh in the kitchen. The results do not disappoint. This place will impress your future in-laws enough for them to love you more even than your girlfriend. The prices are a bargain for the quality of food you’ll eat, but considerably more than standard backpacker fare.
i Entrées from 100 kn
DOLCE VITA ($)
Nalješkovićeva 1a; 989 449 951; open daily 9am-midnight
While you can’t live the suite life in your hostel dorms, enjoy the sweet life at this combo crêpe and ice cream parlor. The 10 kn prices are lower than the Dubrovnik average for a scoop and trust us, there was a thorough investigation (we may or may not have spent the equivalent of $100 on various ice cream retailers in the area). While we cannot not condone consumption of the crêpes (which are typical of the overly sweet varieties usually served in trendy places in eastern Europe), if you’re into that kind of thing, you can find it here, too.
i Scoops from 10 kn
RESTAURANT KOPUN ($$$)
Poljana Rudera Boskovica 7; 020 323 969; www.restaurantkopun.com; open daily 11am-midnight
We’re not joking, castrated rooster is quite literally the specialty of this place. How do we feel about it? Tastes like chicken. After a trip to Europe, you can out-gastronome all your friends with your adventurous new palate. (For major props, tell them you castrated the rooster yourself.) Travel is all about new experiences; this one is for the brave. If you need to convince a friend to come with you, they can order other milder local specialties such as risotto or various seafood options.
i Entrées from 100 kn
TAJ MAHAL ($$)
Nikole Gucetica 2; 020 323 221; www.tajmahal-dubrovnik.com; open daily 9am-1am
Forget India and instead take a culinary trip to neighboring Bosnia, the kind of cuisine that Taj Mahal actually specializes in. After all the fish options that are typical of the Croatian coast, these massive meat platters are a welcome relief for carnivorous backpackers. While the prices are average, the portion sizes are not. Bowls of fresh-out-of-the-oven bread accompany dishes with plenty of hearty sides such as kumpir, or traditional stuffed potatoes. Other options include shish kebabs and pljeskavica, which is essentially a hamburger without the bun that’s large enough to satisfy all of your homesickness for America.
i Entrées from 90 kn, soups from 45 kn, beer from 35 kn; reservation recommended
NIGHTLIFE
Od Kolorine; 914 432 826
Don’t try this at home kids: Dodo replaces bar stools with swings. Although alcohol and swings make for an unsettling combination, what really puts this place over the edge is its cliffside location above a beach. The views are drop-dead gorgeous: just don’t fall over the edge or you might actually drop dead. For those late nights, Dodo has toast sandwiches, perfect for attempting to stop a hangover before it starts. And in the Balkans, that’s probably a good idea.
i Cocktails from 60 kn, shots from 30 kn, sandwiches from 35 kn; no wheelchair accessibility
BUZZ BAR
Prijeko 21; 020 321 025; open daily 8am-2am
No bees here, the buzz at this bar is fueled by alcohol. And why not? With quotes on the wall from Ernest Hemingway convincing you to drink, there’s no reason not to imbibe (not that we really needed one in the first place). After all the tourist places on the Stradun, the lowkey vibes and soccer matches on the TV give this bar a homier feel. While no place in Dubrovnik is truly a local joint, this is about as close as it gets.
i Cocktails from 5 kn
CULTURE CLUB REVELIN
Svetog Dominika 3; 020 436 010; www.clubrevelin.com; open daily 11pm-6am
There’s nothing cultured in this club: not even its medieval tower location can make up for the stripper poles and dancing cages. That said, not too many fortifications get lit like the Revelin does. Expect giant glowing balls hanging from the ceiling, roaming photographers, and working your way through massive drunk crowds on the smoky dance floor—that is, if you can afford the hefty cover fee or sneak your way in through the glitzy VIP entrance.
i Cover 130 kn, beer from 35 kn
SKYBAR NIGHTCLUB
Ul. Marojice Kaboge 1; 914 202 094; open daily 10pm-6pm
Walking the stairs down into Skybar Nightclub is a bit like descending through Dante’s layers of hell. The levels gradually shift from semi-chill hang-out spaces to the final floor where you’ll physically feel the bass speaker five feet over your head send shock waves pulsing through your
body. Drinks are expensive, but the location outside the Pile gate is easily accessible. Best to drink before coming to this place, not just to save money, but also to forget about the night the next day.
i Cover 30 kn, prices vary nightly; no wheelchair accessibility
HVAR
Coverage by Gavin Moulton
Hvar are you doing today? Let’s be real, you’d probably be better off in Hvar. At least, that’s the mentality of the celebrities, bohemian backpackers, and jet-set elites who vacation here. All that money and energy means that Hvar has the wildest nightlife anywhere on the Adriatic coast. For those rare moments when you’re sober, there’s plenty of other