"Karlo Kaleb's twelve-seat counter won Split its first Michelin star; nine Dalmatian courses for €130, book it for a first date."
Twelve seats around an open kitchen, nine courses, €130, and the first Michelin star Split has ever held. Krug took that star in the 2025 Croatian selection, and in the same year the Gault&Millau guide named chef Karlo Kaleb its Great Chef of Tomorrow. The restaurant sits a few steps from the Split waterfront, with diners seated at an L-shaped counter where the cooks plate each dish in front of them and explain it. The cooking is contemporary Dalmatian, almost everything sourced from the sea or the hinterland behind the city, with bread, butter, and ferments all made in-house.
The Kitchen
Karlo Kaleb runs the kitchen and sommelier-chef Jurica Delić runs the glass, and the two built Krug into the first starred restaurant in Split. The format is a counter for twelve wrapped around the stoves, so the meal is intimate and the cooks present their own plates. The food is rooted in Dalmatian tradition and pushed forward with technique: ingredients come almost entirely from the Adriatic or the surrounding hinterland, and the kitchen makes its own bread, butter, and fermented products. The signature is the opening course, marinated prawns in maraschino and a mascarpone sauce with caviar and fermented cherries, served in an airy crisp basket; later plates have included shaved ox-heart and veal wrapped in zucchini flowers with a dense reduction. The nine-course tasting is €130, with a five-course option and wine pairing by Delić at €90. Krug sits at Trumbićeva obala 17 on the waterfront, serving dinner only, Tuesday through Sunday.
The Room
Krug is small and centred on its kitchen. The open stoves sit in the middle of the room, ringed by the L-shaped counter, so every seat looks straight into the cooking and the cooks become the service. Sound stays low and conversational across the dozen seats, with no music competing for attention. Lighting is warm and focused on the counter and the pass. Dress is smart-casual rather than formal, the mood relaxed and confident. There are no hidden tables to request: the counter is the restaurant, and the seat beside the pass is the best in the house.
Best for a First Date in Split
Book the counter at Krug for a first date because the room does the hard work of a first meeting. The open kitchen gives you a constant show to react to, so silences never settle in. The cooks talking through each of the nine courses hand you ready-made conversation. And twelve seats make the space feel intimate and shared rather than exposed, with no vast dining room to perform across. Reserve two seats at the counter, take the wine pairing from Jurica Delić, and let the kitchen set the rhythm of the night. For more, see our top 10 restaurants in Split.
Not for
Skip Krug if you want a big group, a quick bite, or a quiet corner: it is a twelve-seat counter with a single nine-course tasting, no à la carte, and no private tables, so it suits couples and pairs rather than parties.
Frequently Asked
Is Krug worth it?
Yes, and it is one of the better-value Michelin meals on the Adriatic. Krug won Split its first Michelin star in 2025, and chef Karlo Kaleb cooks a contemporary Dalmatian tasting menu from a twelve-seat counter where the cooks present each dish themselves. Nine courses run €130, well below what a starred room costs in most European capitals. For a serious meal in Split, nothing else reaches this level. See more in our Split dining guide.
How hard is it to book Krug?
Hard, because there are only twelve seats. Online reservations for parties up to six open one month ahead on the day, and the counter fills quickly in peak summer, so book the moment a date releases. Parties of seven or eight must contact the restaurant directly. Spring and autumn are easier than July and August. Dinner is the only service, Tuesday through Sunday from 18:00.
What is the dress code at Krug?
Smart-casual, no jacket required. Krug is a relaxed counter rather than a formal dining room, so neat clothes are expected but not black tie. Most guests dress for a nice dinner out: a collared shirt or a dress works well. Beachwear is out of place, but you do not need to overdress. The mood is refined and easy rather than stiff.
What is the average meal price at Krug?
The nine-course tasting menu is €130 per person, with a shorter five-course option available. Wine pairing adds €90, a non-alcoholic pairing €55, and a mixed pairing €70. So a full nine-course dinner with wine lands around €220 per person. For a Michelin-starred meal that is a strong price, well under what an equivalent room charges in Paris or London.
Is Krug good for a first date?
Yes, the counter format makes it a strong first date. The open kitchen gives you a built-in show to react to, the cooks talking through each dish keep the conversation moving, and twelve seats make the room feel intimate rather than exposed. Book two seats at the counter, take the wine pairing, and let the kitchen set the pace. For more, see our best restaurants for a first date guide.
What should I order at Krug?
Krug is a set tasting menu, so the choice is the nine-course or the five-course. Take the nine-course for the full range, including the signature opener of marinated prawns in maraschino and mascarpone with caviar and fermented cherries in a crisp basket. Add the wine pairing, built by sommelier-chef Jurica Delić, which leans on Dalmatian and wider Croatian bottles you will not find easily abroad.