Within the historic walled city, we explored the mix of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture, and stopped at the Jesuit Stairs where the unforgettable Game of Thrones “Walk of Shame” scene was filmed. I spotted a good amount of bars and restaurants, but none as famous as Restaurant 360—one of only 11 Michelin-starred venues in the country. If you’re not indulging in a meal there, nearby Gianni offers homemade ice cream and pastries by the restaurant’s former pastry chef.
SEAS THE DAY
The culinary tour began in earnest the next morning when we took an hour-long drive to Ston, an area revered for its salt production. We headed to the village of Hodilje to a local oyster farm, and I was puzzled as to where it would be until we turned into a path that revealed a serene bay.
I met owner Dubravko Drazeta, who warmly welcomed me, my husband and our toddler onto his small boat. Off we went until we reached the middle of the bay with large drums bobbing above water where he stopped and set anchor. Then, he slowly raised a rope and gently harvested oysters, shucking them and placing them right into our hands. Savouring oysters straight from the sea is such a rare experience, but even more so knowing that you can only taste them here. These oysters take two and a half years to mature, and the painstaking hand production means they can only supply to local consumers.
The aroma of sauteed garlic from Buzara Mussels, a well-loved Croatian dish, began wafting into the air. From the olive oil to the onions, every ingredient was sourced from Dubravko’s family farm, and I could definitely taste the freshness. I had everything I needed on board—food, wine, peace and sunshine—and felt like I could stay here forever, but our next stop, Saints Hills Winery, was 30 minutes away.
