Novljanski gušti in Novi Vinodolski: 13 food vendors, over 30 delicacies, local wines and live klapa music

Novljanski gušti on September 20 in Novi Vinodolski: 13 hospitality businesses and more than 30 delicacies

On Sunday, September 20, 2026, Novi Vinodolski once again becomes a meeting place for local gastronomy, wine and music. Starting at 10:00 at Ivan Mažuranić Square, Novljanski gušti will take place, an event that brings together hospitality businesses from the town and surrounding area and allows visitors to taste a large number of different dishes in one place. According to the official announcement by the Novi Vinodolski Tourist Board, this year's edition will bring together 13 hospitality businesses, with more than 30 delicacies on offer. The program combines fish and meat dishes, desserts, vegan options and a selection of wines, while the musical part of the event will be provided by klapa Intriga. The event is organized by the Novi Vinodolski Tourist Board with the support of the City of Novi Vinodolski, female volunteers and local hospitality businesses.

This year's Novljanski gušti continues the concept of presenting a cross-section of local and contemporary gastronomy on the town's main square. The organizers have retained the affordable pricing model, so gastronomic delicacies will be offered for 5.00 euros, sweet dishes for 3.00 euros, and 1 deciliter of wine for 2.00 euros. The Tourist Board states that these prices have remained unchanged compared with the previous edition. This allows visitors to taste several different dishes during the same day instead of having a traditional restaurant meal with a single main course. Such a format is particularly well suited to an event that aims to present a larger number of hospitality businesses and different cooking styles within a relatively short period of time.

Thirteen participants and three new names in this year's program

According to the published program, their specialties will be presented by konobas Navigare, Pod Orajom and Hata, restaurant Admiral, Bistro Tomas, bistro-pizzeria Đir, Aminess Hotel Lišanj, Oris Catering, Ekskluziva d.o.o. and Vinska kuća Pavlomir. This year, Mövenpick Hotel & Residences Kvarner Bay, private chef Damnjan Draganić and the Kolačić craft business are joining them for the first time. The Tourist Board particularly emphasizes that Mövenpick Hotel & Residences Kvarner Bay will also announce the opening of the Affamata restaurant during the event, whose concept will be based on Italian specialties. The inclusion of new participants broadens the range of the offer while at the same time retaining a strong presence of hospitality businesses that have already taken part in previous editions of the event. Visitors will therefore be able to compare different approaches to local ingredients, classic recipes and more modern combinations.

The number of participants also demonstrates the growth of the event compared with previous editions. The official website of the City of Novi Vinodolski states that eleven hospitality establishments participated in Novljanski gušti in 2025, while the official report for the 2024 edition listed ten local hospitality businesses. This year's 13 participants therefore represent a wider selection than in the previous two years. Such a comparison is not only about numbers, but also about the event's ability to retain existing participants while simultaneously attracting new names. For visitors, this means more different cuisines and a greater choice within the single setting of Ivan Mažuranić Square.

Seafood flavors from octopus salad to stuffed squid and black risotto

The fish and seafood section of the menu is one of the most extensive segments of this year's offer. The organizers announce Klenovica-style seafood salad, octopus salad and tuna pâté, along with scampi and mussels prepared buzara-style. The list also includes tuna pašticada, stuffed squid "A la Tomas" with Swiss chard, black risotto and Novljani-style fried seafood. Such a selection connects recognizable preparation techniques of Adriatic cuisine with dishes adapted to the tasting format of an outdoor event. Visitors who want to explore different textures and methods of preparing seafood ingredients will be able to choose between cold appetizers, spoon dishes, risottos, fried bites and more elaborate hot dishes.

Among the dishes that differ from the classic Mediterranean repertoire are paccheri with pistachio cream, burrata and prawns. It is a combination that brings together pasta, the creamy texture of cheese, the nutty notes of pistachio and a seafood ingredient on the same plate, showing how far this year's program moves away from the idea that a local gastronomic event must offer only traditional recipes. The breadth of the offer is precisely one of the main characteristics of the announced program. Traditional elements such as buzara, octopus, tuna, squid and black risotto remain a solid foundation, but alongside them appear more contemporary combinations and international influences. In this way, Novljanski gušti simultaneously presents the local gastronomic identity and current approaches to restaurant cuisine.

Meat dishes, homemade pasta and the special Ružica Vinodola piadina

Meat lovers will not have a limited choice either. The official announcement lists beef cheeks served on parsley-root purée, veal ragù with homemade pljukanci pasta, and chicken roulade stuffed with plums and apricots. Particularly noteworthy is the "Ružica Vinodola" piadina, conceived with a skewer of lardo and beef in grape BBQ sauce and a crunchy salad. The combination of meat, grapes and a name connected with the Vinodol area fits into the concept of an event that seeks to present the local gastronomic story through new dishes as well, rather than merely reproducing familiar recipes. The organizers have also confirmed that special vegan dishes will be available, extending the selection to guests who do not consume ingredients of animal origin.

Homemade pljukanci combined with veal ragù represent another example of connecting pasta characteristic of the broader Adriatic and Istrian gastronomic region with a classic, slowly cooked meat sauce. Beef cheeks, on the other hand, belong to the group of meat cuts that require longer thermal preparation in order to become tender, so their presence at the event demonstrates that the offer is not limited to quick festival dishes. The same applies to the stuffed chicken roulade, in which the sweetness of dried or fresh fruit is used as a contrast to the meat. The diversity of these dishes gives visitors the opportunity, over the course of several tastings, to move from simpler familiar flavors to combinations more commonly encountered in contemporary restaurant offerings. It is precisely this range that is one of the reasons why the organizers are announcing more than 30 different delicacies.

The sweet part of the program ranges from homemade pies to "Škripava smokva"

This year's selection of desserts is particularly varied. Announced items include ricotta cake with figs, tiramisu, panna cotta, fruit choux and choux with Nutella, ledeni vjetar cake, cannoli filled with ricotta and chocolate pieces, pancakes, as well as various homemade pies and strudels. Among them, fig strudel is specifically mentioned, featuring a fruit strongly associated with Mediterranean regions and the end of summer. The organizers emphasize that the sweet selection is richer this year than before, ranging from familiar homemade desserts to Italian classics and more modern desserts. The price of sweet dishes remains 3.00 euros, allowing visitors to try several different desserts after the savory tastings.

One of the most striking announced desserts is called "Škripava smokva". According to the program, it consists of škripavac cheese and fig ice cream, accompanied by fig-leaf crumble and fig sauce. The combination of cheese and fruit in a dessert gives this dish a distinctly local and original character, particularly because of the use of škripavac as an ingredient more commonly associated with savory dishes. At the same time, it demonstrates the direction in which part of the offer is moving: familiar ingredients are being used in different textures and combinations. Visitors who prefer more classic desserts will still have enough choice, from pancakes and strudels to tiramisu and panna cotta.

Wine as an integral part of Novi Vinodolski's gastronomic story

The wine selection remains an important part of Novljanski gušti, and Vinska kuća Pavlomir is among the participants. The organizers have announced a selection of quality wines that will accompany the gastronomic part of the program, while 1 deciliter of wine will be offered at a price of 2.00 euros. Pairing food and wine is a logical part of the identity of an event held in the Vinodol area and bringing together hospitality businesses with different culinary profiles. Pavlomir also participated in the wine offering in previous editions, as confirmed by official city reports for 2024 and 2025. The continuity of such participation gives the event a recognizable oenological segment alongside the main gastronomic program.

For visitors who come to Novi Vinodolski specifically for the event, the central location at Ivan Mažuranić Square allows them to combine the gastronomic program with a walk through the town and time spent by the coast. Those planning to stay longer can check accommodation in Novi Vinodolski in advance and organize their arrival without having to return immediately after the end of the daytime program. Since the program begins as early as 10:00, arriving earlier provides more time to explore the offer and taste dishes before the largest crowds. The organizers have not specified the exact finishing time of the event in the official announcement, so for program details it is advisable to follow their latest announcements. The main confirmed information remains the 10:00 start, the location at Ivan Mažuranić Square and the gastronomic and musical program throughout the day.

Klapa Intriga accompanies the gastronomic program

Alongside food and wine, Novljanski gušti also includes a musical component. Klapa Intriga will take care of the atmosphere, while the host will introduce the participants and their culinary creations during the event. This form of hosting allows visitors to receive additional information about the dishes, their creators and the hospitality businesses preparing them while tasting the food itself. A similar concept was used in previous years, when official reports highlighted the presentation of chefs and dishes as an integral part of the event. In this way, the gastronomic program also gains a presentation dimension instead of being reduced merely to stalls and the sale of portions.

The klapa performance also preserves a musical character associated with the Adriatic area and a relaxed daytime outdoor event. The organizers have not announced a separate concert time, but rather music as an integral part of the overall Novljanski gušti program. The focus therefore remains on food, wine, encounters between hospitality businesses and the public, and the presentation of their dishes. With more than 30 delicacies and 13 participants, the program is designed so that visitors move between different offerings and create their own tasting sequence. The music and hosting component connect the individual exhibitors into a single whole.

An event that expands its offer year after year

Novljanski gušti has been held for several years as part of Novi Vinodolski's events calendar, and official city reports demonstrate the continuity of the event and its role at the end of the summer season. Ten local hospitality businesses participated in the 2024 edition, while the city website recorded eleven establishments in 2025. This year's 13 participants and more than 30 announced delicacies show that the format is expanding without abandoning its basic idea: local hospitality businesses present smaller dishes in one place at uniform, previously announced prices. At the same time, new hotels, private chefs and craft businesses are being introduced into the offer, increasing the diversity of participants. In this way, the event becomes a kind of overview of the current gastronomic scene of the town and its surroundings.

Cooperation between different local stakeholders is also important to the organizers. The Novi Vinodolski Tourist Board is the organizer of the event, the City of Novi Vinodolski provides support, and female volunteers and local hospitality businesses participate in its implementation. Such a model allows the event to be held in a public space and the offer to remain accessible to a broad range of visitors. At the same time, the joint presentation promotes restaurants, konobas, hotels, catering businesses, a winery, a private chef and a small craft business, in other words, different parts of the local hospitality scene. For the town, this is an opportunity to retain events and visitors in September after the peak of the summer season, when temperatures are usually more pleasant for spending the entire day outdoors.

What you need to know before arriving on September 20

Novljanski gušti will take place on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at Ivan Mažuranić Square in Novi Vinodolski, with the start announced for 10:00. Gastronomic delicacies will be sold for 5.00 euros, desserts for 3.00 euros, and 1 deciliter of wine for 2.00 euros. Thirteen hospitality businesses are participating in the program, and visitors will be offered more than 30 different dishes, including fish, meat, sweet and vegan options. Klapa Intriga is responsible for the musical part, while the host will introduce the participants and their creations. The organizer is the Novi Vinodolski Tourist Board, with the support of the City of Novi Vinodolski, female volunteers and local hospitality businesses.

Given the large number of dishes, the best way to explore the event will be to gradually taste smaller portions from different cuisines. Visitors can start with cold seafood appetizers, continue with grilled dishes, pasta, fish or meat, and finish with desserts and wine. Those who want to try a particular delicacy should bear in mind that the organizers have not published information about the quantities of individual dishes or any guarantee that every item will be available throughout the entire day. Current information about possible program changes, weather conditions or organizational details should be checked in the Tourist Board's official announcements immediately before arrival. According to the currently published program, however, the center of Novi Vinodolski on September 20 will be dedicated to local flavors, new culinary combinations, wine and music.

Sources:
- Novi Vinodolski Tourist Board - official announcement of Novljanski gušti 2026, date, location, prices, participants, dishes, musical program and organizers (link)
- City of Novi Vinodolski - official report on the 2025 edition of Novljanski gušti and the list of participants at the time (link)
- City of Novi Vinodolski - official report on the 2024 edition of Novljanski gušti, its organization and the participation of local hospitality businesses (link)