The story of

... Zrno Soli

#bedifferent

Zrno Soli

Restaurant ... ZRNO SOLI was opened on March 1, 2011 and proudly presents Croatian gastronomy in a unique way. It's located on the first floor of the ACI marina Split with a million dollar view of Split, a 1700 years old city. It exudes elegance and warmth and stops time with it's tranquility and the simplicity of a well known Dalmatian style of relaxing. Here, you'll enjoy long summer nights and warm winter rhapsodies by the sea, surrounded by sailboats and clear Adriatic sea.

"Zrno Soli" became a well known place in the first year it opened, and for several years now Zrno Soli is a top destination for all who live, come to or just go trough Split. A lot of famous guests came to Split, a lot of them came back and became good friends, and some of them are - the queen of Denmark, the princess of Thailand, Guns N' Roses, FC Barcelona management, various prime ministers, presidents, stars etc. We received a lot of comments on social media regarding the food, staff and an unforgettable experience in the beautiful ambiance of the ACI marina, Split's sea gem.
Michelin Guide Croatia 2018., 2019., 2020., 2021., 2022., 2023.

Gault & Millau Croatia 2018., 2019., 2020., 2021., 2022., 2023.

Since March 1, 2018 we've been included in the Michelin Guide Croatia for 2018., and have received a recommendation from the world-renowned institution. We're delighted that they recognized and included us in the list for Michelin Guide Croatia for five years in a row. It is also worth noting that we are traditionally included in the Gault & Millau gastronomic guide. Certainly, it gives us the wind in our sails and even bigger motivation and desire to work harder to make our restaurant, but also Split, more famous on the world's gastronomic map. It's a big challenge to keep the recommendation, but also to go a step further towards the first Michelin star. We believe in ourselves, as our guests believe in us.
Proud owner

IVO VRDOLJAK

From the idea to the creation of Zrno Soli, owner Ivo Vrdoljak was lead by one thought - to host and please each guest. The name Zrno Soli, besides salt as an ingredient has a deep meaning. Salt is everywhere around us, salt is life, it's mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew, and life connected to the sea is also connected to salt. His persistance, dedication and great will to run a restaurant created a brand recognized in Croatia but also beyond.
kitchen

... ZRNO SOLI

Chef Marko Đurašević (b. 1975) was born in the Mediterranean region (Montenegro) and honed most of his culinary skills in the same area during his 20+ years of life and work in Spain. He worked in Madrid, Alicante, and Barcelona for a full 21 years and boasts experience with some of today's top chefs. His specialty lies in the fusion of Mediterranean and Japanese cuisine, where Japanese precision meets Mediterranean charm. His greatest passion, however, is desserts, with which he effortlessly wins the hearts of his fans. Chef Marko Đurašević was named Chef of the Year 2024 by the Gault&Millau guide.
Branimir Prnjak born on September 18, 2000. in Split. He graduated from the private Wallner High School, became a chef, and joined the kitchen of the Zrno Soli restaurant immediately after graduation. He is resolute in his statement that already in the first weeks of work at ZS he acquired an enviable level of knowledge, especially the practical one, and proudly points out that among his colleagues he had role models who introduced him in a special way to the world of gastronomy, as he says - the realm of taste and art. He very quickly became convinced and confirmed to himself that he was doing what he loved, and that was an additional pleasure for him. Likewise, he quickly became the first among equals, and after that he became the chef of the Zrno Soli restaurant. Every year he raises new limits, and his and our expectations for 2024 are justifiably high, and the wind at his back is certainly represented by a visit to London at the end of 2023 and a diploma from the school of chef Raymond Blanc after visiting a castle in Oxfordshire, Le Manoir hotel and restaurant. His culinary intoxication should be a guide for everyone. He lives cooking, so it is not surprising the amount of his ideas and new knowledge with which he comes to the restaurant every morning. His passion is something that only the best and the greatest have, so we believe that for our Branimir "only the sky is the limit".
family

... ZRNO SOLI

Our "little" family is consisted of young people and some a little older but young at heart, that have been with us since the begining. From the kitchen, our main magicians, to all the rest we can say that every person lives the Zrno Soli life everyday. A big thanks to everyone ...
#vip

VIP ROOM & VIP TERRACE

We offer a special experience to our guests in our "hidden" oasis of peace, V.I.P. room and V.I.P. terrace. We are proud of the fact that we can offer our guests an exclusive in a private room or terrace, which no one has in Split.
We've hosted numerous engagement parties, romantic dinners, business meetings and welcomed a lot of important guests in these rooms. Today, the VIP room is called the VIP gallery, and to better understand why take a look at the image gallery below.
a year in review

2024

To highlight a recent milestone, we concluded 2023 with a prestigious invitation from Oxford, where we had the honor of visiting the enchanting Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons – a Michelin-starred hotel and restaurant led by the legendary chef Raymond Blanc. Recognized as one of the world’s foremost chefs, Raymond Blanc has profoundly influenced global gastronomy. Our participation was made even more special as we contributed to an exclusive dinner showcasing Croatian wines, hosted for a select and distinguished audience in the UK. This unique event was a proud moment for us, strengthening our international connections and showcasing our culinary excellence. Raymond Blanc’s remarkable career, which could easily fill volumes, is characterized by his rapid ascent to earning two Michelin stars. Renowned for his dedication to French gastronomy and his deep respect for family traditions, he continues to inspire chefs around the world. Our chefs, Marko and Branimir, returned to Croatia with immense pride, carrying diplomas from Raymond Blanc’s esteemed chef school. Adding to this unforgettable experience, Zrno Soli received a signed copy of his celebrated cookbook, The Story of Modern Classic, a title that perfectly aligns with our own culinary philosophy.
By staying at the Croatian House and supporting our athletes and Olympians, we became an integral part of the Croatian Olympic Committee (HOO) team, which masterfully organized every detail of the experience. On July 31, when our very own Barbara Matic won Olympic gold, we had the honor of welcoming her and celebrating this incredible achievement together, forging a deep and lasting emotional connection. After returning to Croatia, Barbara Matic became the first official Zrno Soli Ambassador – a title reserved for someone truly extraordinary.
The World’s 50 best restaurants
We are also looking forward to another guest appearance in London soon. A highlight of 2024 was the collaboration between our restaurant and The World's 50 Best organization, which included their visit and the filming of a video about us. This event is certainly one of the many remarkable moments in our journey.
We are extremely honored that, following its introduction to Croatia in locations such as Istria, Dubrovnik, and Zagreb, Michelin chose our restaurant to host its first Exclusive Masterclass in the country. In September 2024, we had the privilege of being both hosts and co-organizers of this prestigious event, led by the renowned chef Heinrich Schneider. Chef Schneider, the co-owner of the two-Michelin-starred and green Michelin-starred Terra restaurant in the Sorrentino mountains, brought his exceptional expertise to this unforgettable experience.
An integral part of the Mediterranean experience at Zrno Soli is our carefully curated wine list, offering guests an authentic journey through the art of pairing local wine varieties with the rich flavors of traditional dishes. Since the restaurant's opening, the finest vintages of Kaštelanski Crljenak have been exclusively reserved for us, aged to perfection in oak barrels. We take great pride in offering these exceptional wines, crafted in the Putalj region, which are available exclusively at Zrno Soli, ensuring a truly unique and memorable experience for our guests.
We have been committed to cherishing local and authentic ingredients for years, and now our menu proudly features dishes that tell a traditional and authentic story, enhanced with a touch of modern flair. Every dish on our new menu highlights the richness of traditional, local ingredients, carefully paired with authentic Dalmatian wine varieties from our curated wine list. A key focus of this menu is the use of premium authentic extra virgin olive oil and flower of salt, which elevate the dining experience to new heights. Our dedication to preserving and celebrating national gastronomic heritage is reflected in our latest venture. To commemorate a significant milestone – the 1,100th anniversary of the coronation of King Tomislav (925–2025) – we are introducing a special modern menu inspired by the year 925. This seven-course menu, regarded as a national gastronomic treasure, will be unveiled to a wider audience in 2025, marking this historic celebration in a truly unique way.