Cisterna, Restaurant in Rovinj, Croatia
Cisterna is a small family-run restaurant tucked into the stone-paved center of Rovinj, not far from the old town lanes. The room has worn stone walls, wooden tables, and soft lighting, with a few outdoor seats facing the narrow street when the weather is warm.
The building was once part of the town's water storage system, and its thick stone walls recall that earlier role in the everyday infrastructure of Rovinj. Since the late 1960s it has operated as a restaurant, slowly becoming a familiar stop for both residents and visitors.
The name comes from the local word for a water cistern, and the low stone room still feels tied to that older purpose even though it now serves food. Diners tend to linger over shared plates and a glass of local wine, matching the unhurried way people eat in this part of Istria.
It sits on a quiet side street that is easy to reach on foot while walking through the old town. The entrance is flat and the space is small, so arriving outside the busiest meal times gives you more room to move and sit comfortably.
The grilled calamari served here comes with spinach, a combination that regulars often mention as a reason to return. On quiet evenings, you can hear footsteps echo off the stone walls just outside, which makes the small dining room feel like a hidden corner of old Rovinj.
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