a restaurant with a view
Arsenal Taverna
Dubrovnik - Croatia
View of the Arsenal and the old harbor
Gradska Luka
20000 Dubrovnik
Croatia
385 (0) 20-321-065
View from Arsenal Taverna terrace
Review copyright - Ginda Simpson
The old arsenal of the city is now a popular restaurant and wine bar, operated by Mea Culpa, a company that manages five facilities in Dubrovnik, each offering unique dining experiences. Arsenal Taverna’s main entrance is on the harbor, but it can also be reached via Gradskavana from the main square. Its central location on the old harbor of Dubrovnik offers superb views of the historic port, where the trading sailing vessels of bygone days once arrived in the city. St. Ivan’s Fort on the one end and the Lazareti, the old quarantine buildings, on the far opposite end, are positioned like two arms embracing the old port. Indeed, these two arms played a significant role in safeguarding the city - the fort protected the city from pirates and enemy vessels, while the Lazareti quarantined arriving visitors for a period of 40 days, a precaution taken to keep the spread of plague and other incurable diseases from entering the city.
Today, small excursion boats bring day visitors to Dubrovnik who scurry along at a clip to see as much as they can of this beautiful city. We are grateful to have the time to spend on the shaded terrace of the Arsenal, a restaurant that invites casual dining, offering not only a pleasing view, but also an extensive menu of Mediterranean dishes and, of course, Dalmatian classics. Tables of oak wood evoke an atmosphere of taverns of old, both in the large interior dining room and also on the terrace. Needless to say, seafood reigns here on the Adriatic and my husband enjoyed a superior octopus salad, followed by steamed mussels. I chose to veer towards land by selecting the Arsenal steak with mushrooms, vegetables and grilled potatoes. Tender and flavorful, the beefsteak did not disappoint. The Arsenal offers a selection of over forty domestic white and red wines. We had a chilled carafe of local white wine and with each sip, relished the pleasures of dining well in Dubrovnik - made that more special by service, location and view.