Rovinj excels in fish restaurants. The pricier ones on the harbourfront offer waveside seats, but if the food on the plate takes priority over a sea view, there are plenty of classy maritime and Italian options in the narrow streets of the Old Town. Giannino and the restaurant at the Hotel Villa Angelo d'Oro (see p88) would be the stand-outs.


Amorfa
The Amorfa, on the harbourside, is one of the pricier places in town. The slick service and the decor, which includes an indoor goldfish pond and a nicely appointed ter­race decked in white tablecloths, help make your meal more of an event. The dishes include hearty portions of excellently pre­pared seafood standards, along with a few special items, like salted sea bass. There is an impressive list of top local and foreign wines. It's undeniably a good restaurant in a great location, but you can probably find the same quality food for less than the aver­age 120kn a main dish elsewhere in town.
Obala Alda Rismondo 23 (052 816 663). Open llam-midnight daily. Credit AmEx, DC, MC, V.


Calisona
A little beyond the Balbi Arch is a small square where a large awning covers a relax­ing terrace serving sophisticated seafood. Along with Istrian standards like fetuccine with truffle, lobster with tagliatelle and suc­culent fresh grilled fish, there are creative offerings such as squid stuffed with scampi, Dalmatian-style octopus salad, and sole in chardonnay. Meat includes steak, a grilled platter for two and raznjici, a spiced Balkan-style kebab.
Trg na mostu 4 (052 815 313). Open 8am-midnight daily. Credit AmEx, MC, V.


Casa Mia
Near the big outdoor market, on the bustling seaside square of Valdibora, this terrace offers a place to relax and watch the waves roll by while enjoying fine food at reasonable prices. With seafood such as sea bass, dentex, grouper, lobster and several types of shellfish, coming fresh from the market next door, it's not hard to make a good meal, and the kitchen is up to the task. It also serves pizzas in 17 varieties, plus assorted steak and pork dishes.
Driovier 24 (052 830 069). Open 10am-11pm daily. Credit AmEx, DC, MC, V.


Giannino
Augusta Fern 38 (052 813 402). Open llam-3pm, 6-llpm daily. Credit AmEx, DC, MC, V.
Popular restaurant by the Old Town draws repeat customers with its Italian cuisine. The menu is dominated by fresh catches from Rovinj's fishermen, but the sauces, and the pastas, have an Italian influence. Seafood and pasta meet in great dishes like noodles mare e monti or rigatoni with lob­ster, a very Istrian recipe. Local ingredients get shown off in tempting offerings like sole with truffles.


Monte
The evening-only, upscale Monte is the place to go for classy, creative cuisine - gilt-head sea bream filled with smoked salmon in black cuttlefish sauce, that kind of thing. Wonderfully situated right underneath the Cathedral of St Euphemia, it attracts a stylish, moneyed clientele although the overall feel is quite informal. You and your dining partner can share an Adriatic grilled platter (300kn) or wrestle with a langouste lobster (225kn). Superb selection of wines, making the Monte ideal for a birthday or anniversary celebration.
Montalbano 75 (052 830 203). Open mid Oct-mid Apr 6.30-11.30pm daily. Credit AmEx, DC, MC, V.


Neptun
In a narrow thoroughfare, a street away from the harbour, this friendly restaurant has a comfortable, rustic interior and a few pavement tables. The food tastes better than the pictures first look on the photo-illustrated menu. As well as the usual fish offerings, there is stand-out pasta with truffles, meaty cevapc'ici and vjesalicia, puffy-crusted pizza from a brick oven. Neptun also offers peka meats, the closed pan covered with coals and cooked for 90 minutes. If you fancy lamb or veal this way, make sure you order in advance.
Joakima Rakovca 10 (052 816 086). Open Summer 8am-lam daily. Winter llam-llpm daily. No credit cards.


La Puntulina
Perched on a straight drop above the sea, this family-run establishment puts a gourmet Italian touch into local cuisine. La Puntulina starts with the same fresh ingredients sold around town, but here dishes stand out through creative sauces and a careful mix of flavours. The fish fillet Puntulina, with a delicately spiced tomato sauce, the scallops in brandy, the local squid in polenta, as well as the fish carpaccio, all provide exciting ways to enjoy fresh seafood. The local mushroom is treated well in truffled fish fillet, ravioli with truffles and beef fillet in truffle sauce. Italian-style desserts include panna cotta and crema Catalans. The wine bar serves local, French and Italian wines by the glass or bottle and staff will recommend the right vintage for your meal. Get the table nearest the window for a sea view and afterwards go downstairs to the cocktail bar, with a stunning secluded terrace on the sea.
Sv Kriza 38 (052 813 186). Open noon-3pm, 6pm-midnight daily. Cocktail bar 6pm-2am daily. No credit cards.


Toni
Simple, well-respected eaterie in a compact dining room filled with green-and-white checked tablecloths. With mid-range prices, the standard fish and pasta dishes are well prepared and equally well presented. Plenty of local Istrian wines too.
Driomer 3 (052 815 303). Open noon-3pm, 6-llpm Mon, Tue, Thur-Sun. Credit AmEx, MC.


Veli Joze
 Istrian-style dishes flavour the menu of this quaint spot near the harbour with a high-ceilinged interior crammed with antiques and seagoing kitsch. There is seating for 50 on a pavement terrace. Specialities include shellfish lasagne, crab with truffles, cod in white wine and baked lamb with potatoes.
Sv Kriza 1 (052 816 337). Open 10am-10pm daily. Credit AmEx, DC, MC, V.