Every week The Dubrovnik Times goes to new levels for your pleasure. This time it’s all about culinary pleasure. We have scoured the menus of Dubrovnik to bring you our favourites. And not only did we just research the menus we have gone that extra step and tasted the food in advance for you...its hard work but someone has to do it. This week I visited a relatively new restaurant in a rather unique location – Konoba BoGo.

Through the height of the summer season the cobbled streets of Dubrovnik are loaded down with the slap of flip-flops. You just want to get away from the maddening crowds and have some peace and tranquillity. Konoba BoGo is a fresh break from the normal hustle and bustle of eateries in the city.

Located on the waterfront and with the cool Ombla River meandering by BoGo is truly a breath of fresh air. “It’s like nature’s own air-conditioning,” I commented to the owner when I arrived. This is good honest, traditional cuisine served with style and care. “We like to call the menu rustic,” smiled the owner. Adding that respect is paid to the home-grown produce and time-honoured recipes. For a starter we would heavily recommend the smoked ham (or prsut) from Drnis. This is really what prsut should taste like and Drnis is the premier location for the best smoked ham in the country. This dish really sums up the restaurant – tasty, rustic and fresh. If you fancy a warm starter as well then the selection of risottos is stunning – I went for the veal risotto and is was perfect.

For the main course why not try something from the grill. There is a wide selection of fresh fish as well as four types of steak. I went to see the grill area and it is probably one of the largest and best equipped in the city, although more than a little warm so stay close to the river. Also the lamb and veal under the bell (although you will have to order 12 hours in advance) is delicious. Quite clearly the relaxing river setting has an influence on the staff. In the Old City the waiters can be snappy and short as the heat rises, at Konoba BoGo there is none of that, it is laid back yet smart and quick. Oh and by the way, if you were wondering what Konoba meant it’s a Croatian word for tavern – and yes BoGo feels just like a tavern.

For dessert (some would say the most important course) I plumped for the semifreddo and I wasn’t disappointed. With live music on Thursdays and Sundays and an interesting wine and beer list Konoba BoGo should be on your radar whilst in Dubrovnik. There is plenty of parking, or grab a taxi and really enjoy the wine list. I would also recommend the red wine liquor. It is made from an old recipe from the times of the Dubrovnik Republic, yes we told you that BoGo respected traditions.

Contact
Gorava ul. 41, 20236, Nova Mokošica
+385 (0)95 333 5335
Open from 17.30 to midnight (weekdays)
Weekends – 7.30 to midnight

PROMO

A group of young backpacker tourists caught the eye this evening as they sat in a group on the cobbled streets of the historic Old City of Dubrovnik.

On the busiest entrance into the city the young tourists started a street style picnic as thousands of people walked by. But it wasn’t the al fresco eating on the pavement that caught the eye of passersby it was the cardboard sign that one of them was holding offering “Free Sex.”

This photo appeared on social media and soon brought a reaction with comments asking where the police or city inspectors were and why they hadn’t reacted. Ironically the small group were sitting directly under a sign installed last year explaining the regulations for behaviour inside the city walls.

Croatia’s tourism industry is turning its attention to further flung countries according to the Minister of Tourism, Gari Cappelli. In an interview for a Croatian newspaper the Minister stated that he is looking to secure more long distance flights to the country. Cappelli is reportedly in talks with a number of air carriers about establishing links from the Far East, Middle East and America.

"The Ministry's strategic goal is to develop Croatia as a destination which is accessible to various airlines, particularly before and after the height of the summer season. We are directing a part of our funds towards closer cooperation with carriers, which will result in more flights to all of our airports. We are turning towards the Far East and the Middle East. Since January, we have been in talks with a number of large global and European airlines, as well as tour operators. I am certain that the result of these talks will be visible next year with a strong increase in visitors from non-traditional markets," commented Capelli for Globus magazine.

South Korea, Japan, China and Taiwan are all considered key markets by the Minister and strengthening ties with these destinations is seen as a route to solve Croatia’s weaker winter period. South Korean tourists have increased drastically in Croatia over the past few years and generally travel in the low season.

And it isn’t only Asia that has caught the attention of the Minister, according to reports the Ministry of Tourism is pushing hard to attract air carriers from the USA. “The Ministry is also in talks over potential seasonal services from Zagreb and Dubrovnik to the United States, which could launch next year,” stated Capelli.

Cavtat is proving a hit with nautical tourists this year with more and more yachts mooring along the picturesque quayside. Just this weekend eight luxury yachts were anchored along the Cavat waterfront and caught the attention of locals and tourists.

Cavtat is one of the safest harbours along the Croatian Adriatic coast, protected by the natural geography, and with numerous bars and restaurants on the main promenade it is also ideal for making the most of al fresco dining.

One of the main reasons that Cavtat is popular with yacht owners is its close proximity to the Dubrovnik Airport in Cilipi only a few kilometres away. Millionaire yacht owners jet into Dubrovnik Airport and can be onboard their mega yachts in a few minutes.

This weekend saw the aptly named “Lucky Me” at 43 metres long, “Jo” and “Wheels” both 50 metres long, “Souraya” at 38 metres long, “Vaao” 37 metres, “Alligator” 32 metres, “Bojoux” 32 metres and “Mistre Z” owned by the Belgium businessman Matty Zadnikar all moored in Cavtat.

Photos - Niksa Duper 

According to data just released by the Zupa Tourist Board the region was visited by 25, 953 tourists in July and achieved 123, 801 overnight stays, which is an increase of 4 percent compared to the same month from 2016.

The most numerous guests in the Zupa region, which is some 10 kilometres south of Dubrovnik, were British. In fact in July there were 3, 756 British guests in Zupa and they achieved 25, 435 overnight stays, a massive 27 percent increase over July 2016. After British guests the second most numerous were French, and in third place were Germans.

Since the beginning of the year 69, 018 tourists have visited Zupa and achieved 250, 067 overnight stays, again an increase over 2016 this time by 16 percent.

When you add Dubrovnik to any photo you enhance it, the city of art can also be art itself. This latest photo shoot taken by the Dubrovnik based photographer Dario Bandur features the New York based model Evyenia Karapolous.

High above the historic Old City of Dubrovnik with the sun setting in the background the photo featured the text “Sunset above King’s Landing,” when published on Bandur’s social media accounts. It is certainly a photo that caught our eyes.

Rough overnight and early morning seas brought a rude awakening for the staff of the Banje Beach in Dubrovnik today.

Once again man lost another battle against the sea, as the Adriatic picked up dozens of sunbeds and washed them out towards the island of Lokrum. Some sunbeds were left scattered across the beach whilst others were floating in the turquoise sea.

Weather forecasters had predicted a change from the recent baking hot sunshine and overnight the wind direction changed, clouds rolled in and the sea crashed over the beaches. It is rather ironic that this should happen on the Banje Beach as this very beach was the scene of a protest by locals on the number of sunbeds covering the shoreline.

No those aren't kayaks 

Scattered sunbeds 

The warm summer evenings in Dubrovnik are often the nicest time of the day to wander the cobbled streets of the Old City. But last night, in the height of the tourist season, the crowds of tourists trying to enter, and exit, the city centre proved too much.

Police attempted to control the traffic of people on the Pile Gate entrance to the city, however according to eyewitness accounts they were more of a hindrance than a help. “I can’t believe that the police are stopping me from entering my own city, I have never seen this in my life,” explained a resident of the city to The Dubrovnik Times.

These scenes of human traffic jams aren’t uncommon through the day when the cruise ship crush is at its peak. However these photos were taken at 10.00 at night!

Photos - Zeljko Tutnjevic