Poreč Emerges as Croatia’s Next Culinary Hotspot with Valamar’s Michelin-Starred Talent

Wednesday 17th Sep 2025 |

Poreč Emerges as Croatia’s Next Culinary Hotspot

The sun-soaked Istrian coast is set to become Europe’s newest gourmet getaway — with Poreč as its beating culinary heart — as Valamar unveils a network of 11 exceptional restaurants across the city, united by its new Dine Around programme. At the centre of it all is Pical Resort, Valamar Collection – the brand’s largest investment to date. Opening early 2026 as the flagship hub for world-class dining, luxury stays, and Michelin-starred collaborations, it will position Poreč among Europe’s most exciting culinary destinations.

This is not just one resort’s offering — it’s a city-wide table. Pical guests can explore an entire portfolio of venues, from fine dining on-site to celebrated restaurants in nearby Valamar properties, including JAZ by Ana Roš at the Jadran Heritage Hotel and Miramare by Fratelli Cerea at Isabella Island Resort, Valamar Collection. With Valamar’s Dine Around option, every evening can bring a different interpretation of the Adriatic’s shared culinary heritage — from casual beachfront plates to formal multi-course tasting menus crafted by some of Europe’s most acclaimed chefs.

Inspired by the historic Parenzana trail, which once linked 33 towns from Trieste in Italy, through Slovenia, to Poreč in Croatia, the resort’s culinary philosophy celebrates the region’s cross-border heritage. 80% of ingredients are locally sourced from Istria’s farms, fisheries, and artisanal producers. The result is a vibrant blend of cultures, flavours, and textures.

Guests can expect a culinary showcase of the region’s most celebrated flavours, brought to life with refined techniques and premium local ingredients. Highlights from Istrian cuisine include:

  • Handmade Istrian pasta like fuži and pljukanci with shaved truffles
  • Freshly shucked oysters from Lim Bay
  • Adriatic fish carpaccio and grilled sardines na gradele
  • Boškarin beef specialities and artisanal cheeses from sheep, goat, and cow’s milk
  • Award-winning Istrian olive oils and premium wines such as Malvasia and Teran

Valamar’s Dine Around programme offers guests staying the freedom to turn their holiday into a true culinary journey. Half-board and full-board guests can swap their standard buffet dinner for a three-course meal or lunch at select themed restaurants or use a generous meal credit at partner fine dining venues across Poreč – including Michelin-starred collaborations. With 11 restaurants to choose from across Valamar’s local portfolio, every evening can bring a different interpretation of the Adriatic’s shared culinary heritage, from casual beachside bites to formal multi-course tasting menus.

Announcing: Harry’s Piccolo Poreč at Pical – An Exclusive New Collaboration

For the first time in Croatia, guests will experience the culinary mastery of Matteo Metullio and Davide De Pra, the creative duo behind Harry’s Piccolo in Trieste – a restaurant awarded two Michelin stars and celebrated for its modern, artful take on regional cuisine.

At Harry’s Piccolo Poreč, the chefs will present:

  • Seasonal tasting menus inspired by the Adriatic and the historic Parenzana railway, once linking Trieste and Poreč
  • Meticulous wine pairings curated from a 200-label cellar spanning Istria, Friuli Venezia Giulia, and western Slovenia
  • A refined blend of traditional flavours and contemporary techniques in dishes that celebrate the shared culinary DNA of Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia
  • An intimate fine dining setting with an extensive selection of premium champagnes, signature cocktails, and rare spirits

This collaboration brings the bold creativity of Harry’s Piccolo to Croatia for the first time, further enriching Valamar’s growing network of world-class culinary partnerships.

A Line-Up of World-Class Culinary Experiences

From sunlit terraces serving freshly caught seafood to intimate dining rooms led by Michelin-starred chefs, Pical Resort offers a gastronomic spectrum rarely found in one destination.

At Pical Resort, the culinary philosophy is inspired by the historic Parenzana trail, weaving together flavours from Croatia, Italy, and Slovenia. Here, restaurants showcase seasonal ingredients through tasting menus, themed buffets, and relaxed grill and beachside concepts, all linked by this cross-border heritage.

Beyond Pical, signature partner venues across Poreč and nearby islands bring their own distinct narratives: JAZ by Ana Roš with its inventive, shareable Mediterranean cuisine, Miramare by Fratelli Cerea with refined Italian-Mediterranean flair, and Spinnaker as a contemporary ode to Istrian gastronomy. Together, the 11 restaurants and 10 bars form a diverse dining journey that blends local identity with international talent.

Signature Restaurants:

  • JAZ by Ana Roš – From Slovenia’s three-Michelin-starred Hiša Franko, Ana Roš offers an inventive, ingredient-led menu in a relaxed, shareable style
    • Jadran Heritage Hotel, Valamar Collection
  • Miramare by Fratelli Cerea – The Italian culinary dynasty behind Da Vittorio (3 Michelin stars) brings refined Italian-Mediterranean dishes and Adriatic seafood
    • Isabella Island Resort, Valamar Collection
  • Spinnaker – An ode to Istrian gastronomy, transforming local traditions into modern fine dining narratives
    • Valamar Riviera Hotel & Residence
  • Fogo by Bekal – Fire is the philosophy at this chef-led beachside venue, where Tvrtko Šakota and Marko Turković craft bold, smoke-infused dishes that celebrate Istrian ingredients with Mediterranean ease
    • Pical Resort, Valamar Collection

Pical Resort Premium Board Restaurants:

  • More– Showcasing daily catches, live grill stations, and an Istrian cheese and olive oil corner
  • Quattro Terre – Themed stations representing Istria’s four landscapes, from dairy-rich Terra Bianca to truffle-laden Terra Rossa
  • Parenzana– crafted by Michelin-starred chefs, with live oyster shucking and artisanal patisserie. Only available to V-Level guests

Pical Resort Themed Restaurants

  • Beach Club & Restarant – Mediterranean-Asian fusion on the seafront
  • Olivia Grill – Parenzana-inspired summer dishes
  • Mezzino Beach Bites – Gourmet Street food and Boškarin beef burgers

Once known primarily for its beaches and Roman history, Poreč is now positioning itself as the Adriatic’s newest culinary capital. The opening of Pical Resort not only brings Michelin-starred talent to the city but also celebrates Istria’s deep-rooted food culture – from truffle hunting in Motovun to fishing villages along the coast.

“With Pical Resort, we’re uniting the best of Istrian tradition and the innovation of world-class chefs,” says Dario Kinkela, corporate food & beverage director at Valamar “Every venue has its own personality, yet together they form a dining journey unlike anything else on the Adriatic.”

This breadth of choice ensures that whether guests are seeking a leisurely lunch, an evening of culinary theatre, or a quick indulgent bite, Pical delivers an experience to match the moment.


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