Villa Spiza, Seafood restaurant in the old town of Split, Croatia
Villa Spiza is a small seafood restaurant inside Diocletian's Palace in the old town of Split, Croatia, on Petra Kružića Street. The interior is compact, with seating for around 35 people, centered around an open kitchen where cooks prepare dishes in full view of diners.
The restaurant is run by Ivana Gamulin, the daughter of a well-known Split chef, which gives it deep roots in the local cooking tradition. Her sister Nada handles desserts, keeping the place a family affair to this day.
The name "Spiza" means food in the Dalmatian dialect, which sums up what this place is about. The open kitchen lets guests watch the cooks at work, giving the meal a sense of closeness to the cooking itself.
The restaurant does not take reservations, so arriving early in the afternoon or at the start of the evening helps avoid a long wait. Payment is by cash only, and the place sits in a car-free zone, so it is best reached on foot from the old town.
Villa Spiza is listed in the Gault and Millau guide, which is unusual for a place this small and informal. The daily menu is written by hand on a clipboard and reflects exactly what the kitchen found at the market that morning.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
