This area is steeped in history and culture, with a remarkable number of castles scattered across its picturesque terrain—boasting the largest collection of castles in Europe after France’s Loire Valley. Central Croatia is a place where tradition thrives, offering visitors a unique opportunity to explore its historic sites, savor its local gastronomy, and experience its vibrant rural life.
The central part of Croatia is renowned for its local producers and farmers, with Zagreb County alone boasting around 13,000 family farms. This region is a testament to the deep connection between the land and its people, where nearly everything produced comes from local farms. The rolling hills of the area provide ideal conditions for wine production, with several wine routes weaving through the picturesque countryside. Here, winemakers craft exceptional wines, including biodynamic wines, sparkling wines, and distinctive amber wines that reflect the authenticity and uniqueness of this region. Visitors can explore these remarkable offerings while immersing themselves in the traditions, rural charm, and flavors of the local cuisine.
The region’s cuisine is renowned for its authentic ingredients and traditional dishes, such as cow’s cheese from Podravina, cured hams, buckwheat porridge, kukuruzna zlevka maize cake, and turkey with mlinci—typical of the Zagorje area. Among the standout specialties of Zagreb County is the Plešivički copanjek, a savory delicacy made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients that embodies the culinary heritage of this region.The culinary traditions of Central Croatia are deeply rooted in the use of seasonal and freshly available produce, such as homemade butter, milk, and cheese, which remain the cornerstone of local gastronomy. Simple yet authentic dishes like polenta, slow-cooked for hours and seasoned with sour milk or fresh cheese, reflect the region’s dedication to preserving its culinary roots.
These dishes, prepared with care and respect for tradition, showcase the unique flavors and authenticity of the destination.This commitment to using fresh, locally sourced ingredients continues to be the key to the distinctive taste of Zagreb County’s cuisine, ensuring that its culinary heritage remains vibrant and integral to the region's identity. From the hearty meals of rural kitchens to refined traditional fare, Central Croatia offers a taste of authenticity that connects visitors to its rich cultural and gastronomic history.
The town of Legrad is home to the Fakin restaurant, a new Bib Gourmand address listed in the Michelin Guide. Here, we are on the border with Hungary, in a town which was the second largest city in Croatia during the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Although nowadays decidedly smaller, Legrad has maintained many of its cultural and local traditions, as showcased at one of its most popular restaurants (housed within an 11-roomed guesthouse).
The restaurant is just a stone’s throw from Veliki Pažut, an ornithological reserve within the Mura-Drava regional park, where the stunning, unique natural landscapes are ideal for leisure pursuits such as walking, cycling and boat trips. This picturesque, unspoilt scenery provides the perfect backdrop for a stay in Legard and a meal at Fakin, a restaurant which combines local Croatian and Austro-Hungarian cuisine with a modern vision that nonetheless succeeds in preserving a connection with the area’s historic past. Dishes such as pasta, pastries and desserts are made by hand on a daily basis, with a careful focus on local ingredients such as cheese, fish, vegetables, fruit and meat that has been raised nearby.
Here, you can sample potato and mushroom soup, caramelised sheep’s cheese, boiled beef, and smoked trout with horseradish mousse, barley popcorn and pumpkin oil, Croatian chicken with home-made dumplings, and venison stew. The menu follows the seasons and is served with a selection of good local wines. The restaurant also boasts a large outdoor space where guests can enjoy views of the historic church and the park.
Situated in the most picturesque part of Zagreb County, the stunning region of Plešivica, just a 30-minute drive from the heart of the Croatian capital, Korak Restaurant is named after its chef Bernard Korak.After gaining experience with Priska Thuring, Massimo Bottura and Ana Roš, this Croatian chef decided to return home to open his own restaurant amid the hundred-year-old lime trees and vineyards owned by his family. It is here in the region of Plešivica, where the mountains meet hillsides planted with vines, that this restaurant with its strong links to local, seasonal produce has flourished, supported by a family winery now run by the fifth generation. Thanks to the restaurant’s focus on sustainability and local ingredients, it has been awarded a Michelin Green Star (as well as a “traditional” Michelin Star), which recognises restaurants that successfully combine environmental awareness with fine dining. Here, the restaurant’s “farm to table” philosophy can be seen both in the cuisine that is served and in the work carried out by the Korak family in their fields and vineyards.
The restaurant, whose name means “ a step” in Croatian, is housed within the family winery in the Plešivica wine-producing region, often described as the “Champagne of Croatia”. In addition to wine, the family also grows vegetables and aromatic herbs in organic gardens cultivated in line with sustainable agricultural methods, as well as many fruit and nut trees. In addition, Korak works with the local community, maintaining connections with a network of farmers, plant and mushroom pickers, and milk and dairy producers. He also sources trout from a fish farm at the source of a stream with crystal-clear water, and pikeperch from Crna Mlaka. All of these are healthy ingredients which reflect the chef’s culinary philosophy in which nothing out of season is brought to the table.
Beautiful presentation and clean, precise flavours take centre stage in dishes showcased on tasting menus which include specialities such as black ravioli with snails, artichokes with almond cream, and green beans wrapped in bacon. The bread is home-baked and the butter served in beeswax – details which contribute to making this elegant, minimalist-style restaurant even more welcoming, while the fine cuisine can be paired with some of the estate’s own wines, such as its renowned Chardonnay sur Lie or its Sauvignon.
We are certain that visitors will be drawn to Korak Restaurant for the breathtaking sights of the stunning Plešivica region, but they will undoubtedly stay for the exceptional tastes. Paired with the estate’s renowned wines, such as Chardonnay sur Lie or Sauvignon, the experience at Korak seamlessly blends sights and tastes, leaving a lasting impression that delights both the eyes and the palate.
