Where to eat on Pag is a question best answered slowly, through repetition rather than spectacle.

Pag is not an island that reveals itself immediately.
It can feel raw at first, stone, wind, salt, light, but if you stay long enough, it starts speaking in quieter ways. Through its landscapes, its pace, and most of all, through its food.

At Plant Villas, eating well on Pag isn’t about chasing trends or ticking lists. It’s about understanding the island through places that respect where they are, what they grow, and what they serve. These are the restaurants we return to, recommend to our guests, and trust year after year.

If there’s one table you book in advance, it’s this one. It is Boškinac.
Set among vineyards just outside Novalja, this Michelin-starred restaurant changes its menu every year, drawing inspiration from Pag and nearby Rab. Pag salt, Pag cheese, island herbs and seasonal produce shape dishes that are precise, restrained and deeply connected to place. Dinner here is unhurried and intentional, something you plan your evening around rather than fit into it.

Just next door, Konoba Boškinac offers a more relaxed rhythm. This is where we often start the evening, a glass of wine, a few small plates, conversation that stretches naturally. They also prepare fresh brunches, which can be enjoyed on site or delivered to the villas. Sometimes it leads to fine dining, sometimes it’s enough on its own.

Some of the most memorable meals on Pag happen by the sea.
On the road toward Lun, Bravarica sits quietly at the water’s edge. Family-run and proudly limited in its offering, the restaurant serves only what they grow, raise or catch themselves. Fresh fish, simple preparation and a setting that feels timeless, especially in the early evening, when the light softens and the sea settles.

Back in Novalja, Starac i More pairs wide beach views with a substantial wine list and well-prepared steaks. Arriving just before sunset isn’t a recommendation as much as it is the natural way to experience the place.

Pag also enjoys playing with tradition.
In Šimuni, Didova Kuća is a small, locally owned restaurant with a strong sense of character. The atmosphere is intimate, the dishes are inventive, and local flavours are treated with curiosity rather than nostalgia.

A short drive inland brings you to Konoba Prtorić, where the journey through vineyards becomes part of the experience. Known for traditional island dishes, Porat is especially loved for its “pod peka” lamb, one of Pag’s most recognisable preparations, and its gratinated pancakes, which many of us return for again and again.

Even Zrće Beach, known globally for its nightlife, has its quieter moments.
Tattva is a beach lounge with Moroccan-inspired design, a short but thoughtful menu with subtle Asian influences, and consistently well-executed cocktails. It works equally well for a late afternoon drink or a light pre-party dinner. Those who stay late can continue next door at Kalypso.

For something completely uncomplicated, Novalja offers its own local rhythm.
Plasica is known for live music on weekends, good burgers, pub food and a steady local crowd. A place you drop into rather than plan around.

A short walk away, Galeb lines the waterfront riva, serving some of the best cocktails in town with views of the sea and the evening promenade. It’s often where the night naturally winds down.

And then there is morning again.

At Plant Villas, guests wake to silence rather than schedules. Breakfast can be taken slowly on a private terrace, either from our Plant Villas breakfast basket, filled with local ingredients, or as a Michelin-star breakfast delivered directly to the villa by Boškinac.

Coffee tastes better when there is nowhere to be.
This, too, is Pag.

Where to eat on Pag is rarely about distance or reputation. It is about timing, familiarity, and knowing when to let the island lead. Most of these places do not ask for explanation. They simply reward those who arrive without rushing.

For guests staying at Plant Villas, our concierge team is available to arrange reservations, brunch deliveries, and recommendations tailored to your stay, quietly and without complication. If you would like guidance, all you need to do is ask. 

Written by: Maša K. Blunt, PLANT VILLAS concierge