Monte in Rovinj, the first restaurant in Croatia to receive a Michelin star

Updated October 7, 2026.

Open. Closes at 23:00.

At Monte, choose from the seasonal Flora and Fauna menus. Have all six courses from one menu or a shorter selection from both.

Seasonal cooking across two tasting menus

Danijel Đekić and his son Ilja cook with seasonal ingredients sourced from local fishers, farmers and other producers. For the vegetarian Flora menu, they prepare vegetables in several forms, letting you taste different textures of the same ingredient. In the October 2026 menu, beetroot appears as gnocchi and carpaccio, with ginger and horseradish. They grill kale and serve it with goat’s cheese, miso and hazelnut. Flora includes eggs and dairy products, so it is not a vegan menu.

For Fauna, they prepare vegetables alongside fish, seafood and meat. Sea bass comes with Adriatic prawns and cuttlefish, artichoke and a creamy pea sauce. The meat course includes lamb with aubergine and parsnip. The dishes change with the seasons rather than remaining on a fixed menu.

The full tasting menu comprises six courses, with opening and closing bites. For a shorter dinner, you can put together three or four courses, combining dishes from both menus. This selection also includes the opening and closing bites. A wine pairing with Croatian wines is available.

The Đekić family and Michelin recognition

Danijel Đekić’s parents opened an Istrian tavern below St Euphemia’s Church in Rovinj in 1985. Danijel and his wife, sommelier Tjitske Dekic-Brusse, later took over and developed it into a fine dining restaurant. Today, Danijel works with Ilja, while their younger son Simon Đekić manages the dining room and builds his experience as a sommelier.

Michelin awarded Monte Croatia’s first star in 2017 and confirmed it in the 2026 guide. Its special service award in 2026 recognised Tjitske and the work of her team.

Monte is in the pedestrian area of Rovinj’s old town, in the courtyard of the house where Danijel was born. The final part of the walk follows the town’s lanes towards St Euphemia’s Church.

Distance from Bale: 20 minutes driving (14.3 km)

For: families, first time visitors, history lovers

Types of food: Fish, Meat, Pasta, Cakes

What to do: information, refreshments, food and drink

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