Dubrovnik’s best food & drink

Mali Ston is famed throughout Croatia for its fresh oysters and mussels, served at restaurants overlooking the sheltered bay where the shellfish are grown. The village is made up of traditional Dalmatian stone cottages and makes a great day trip from Dubrovnik.

Above Mali Ston is the sister village of Ston, whose renovated fortified medieval walls, stretch a remarkable 5.5km across the isthmus and link the two villages.

The little-visited peninsula that reaches out from Ston is home to some of Croatia’s finest beaches.

Head for nearby Prapratno Cove or the village of Zuljana at the end of the peninsula, whose stunning beach is great for swimming

Croatia has a long history of winemaking, stretching back some 2,500 years, with many indigenous grape varieties still in use. It’s also home to the oak forests that produce most of the oak casks favoured by wine producers across Europe.

A one-hour drive up the coast from Dubrovnik lies Peljesac, a mountainous peninsula where the velvety red Plavac and award-winning Dingac wines are produced on the sunny sea-facing slopes.

Several vineyards are open for wine tasting during the summer, normally offering three to five different wines to sample, with the producer sometimes present to tell you about the history and process of the craft.

If you are driving, stop at Mali Ston – it’s famed throughout Croatia for succulent oysters and mussels, which are served at several local waterside restaurants.

This small wine shop in the heart of the Old Town sells wines straight from the Peljesac peninsula, plus Croatian deli items including fruit spirits, preserves and sweets.