Oštarija Fortica in Kastav

Open. Closes at 23:00.

At Fortica, Željko Markus cooks with ingredients from Kvarner and Istria, changing the menu with the seasons. Homemade ravioli with Adriatic prawns and slow-roasted beef shank make the restaurant a reason to plan lunch or dinner in Kastav.

Markus has run Fortica since 2014. His team adds daily dishes to the regular à la carte menu, and the staff explains them before you order.

Homemade ravioli and dishes that take time

Homemade ravioli give the clearest sense of Markus’s cooking. Gault&Millau awarded Fortica 13.5/20 for 2026 and singled out the ravioli with pumpkin cream and Adriatic prawns. The cooks make the pasta themselves and change the fillings and sauces through the year.

Markus cooks the boškarin cheeks until tender and serves them with gnocchi, while he roasts beef shank for hours. If you want steak, the menu includes dry-aged ribeye, tomahawk and rump steak.

The kitchen also roasts Adriatic octopus with potatoes and prepares fillets of sea bass or sea bream. A single table can therefore cover both Kvarner seafood and meat that has been cooked for hours.

Asparagus in spring, porcini and truffles later

In spring, Markus cooks with asparagus, fresh cheese and prawns. Later in the year he uses porcini and truffles, so a dish seen in a photograph or an older review may not be available on every visit. If you are coming for one dish, confirm it when you book.

Portions are generous, especially the pasta and large cuts of meat. A tomahawk works best for several people, and the staff can recommend a bottle from Istria, Dalmatia or Slavonia.

Lunch or dinner at the entrance to old Kastav

Fortica stands on the edge of Matko Laginja Square, at the entrance to the old town. The terrace has natural shade in summer, while the dining room looks into the open kitchen during the colder months. Kastav’s viewpoint over Kvarner is beside the restaurant.

Kastav is about 80 kilometres from Bale, so plan lunch at Fortica around a visit to Kastav’s old town or a day towards Rijeka and Kvarner. Book weekend and evening tables in advance through the form on this page.

Distance from Bale: 1 hour and 9 minutes driving (80 km)

Types of food: Fish, Meat, Pasta, Grill, Cakes

Address: Trg Matka Laginje 1, 51215 Kastav, Hrvatska

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