Looking for a reasonably priced drink in Dubrovnik Old Town? The Observer ventures into some local haunts.
The majesty of Dubrovnik fills thousands of column inches internationally each year. Known as the Pearl of the Adriatic and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, it is one of Croatia’s must-see tourist attractions, as well as one of the most stunning cities in Europe. Such a star billing is often reflected in the price of services in the city, perhaps the most expensive in all Croatia, especially in the peak tourist season.
Which makes the mission of Observer journalist David Farley all the more interesting in an article published on December 6, 2015: to find the affordable, local drinking holes in the old city.
An interesting piece, Farley used local contacts to direct him to the places off the tourist radar, despite some being 10m from the famous Stradun. The article highlights the changes which have happened to Dubrovnik in recent years due to tourism. Some 5,000 locals living in the old town 20 years ago, just 1,500 today. Most have moved out to places outside the old town walls to rent their old town properties for lucrative rates.
As for the search, Farley had considerable success, and many locals will even be surprised to find a bar in the old town selling a 0.5 litre beer for just 15 kuna (£1.50).
