The story
Monte serves Mediterranean cooking at Montalbano 75 in Rovinj, Croatia, and earned one Michelin star in 2026. The restaurant sits on a stone courtyard at the foot of the Church of St. Euphemia, and the Đekić family runs both the kitchen and the dining room.
Monte began in 1985 as a traditional Istrian tavern run by the parents of chef Danijel Đekić. Today Danijel cooks alongside his son Ilja, whose terroir-based cooking revisits old flavours that often recall childhood. His wife Tjitske is a sommelier, and their younger son Simon manages the front of house as maître d'.
The red tasting menu starts from one seasonal ingredient, prepared three ways and served across six courses. Tuna appears as a sesame version, as carpaccio and as tuna prosciutto, so the same fish reads differently from course to course. Scampi arrives in dumplings or rice paper with a light Asian touch. Dessert includes rose ice cream from the vegetarian menu.
The covered terrace and the small interior feel cosy rather than formal. The wine list pairs a long champagne selection with local Istrian labels, and the non-alcoholic cocktails are made with the same care. For groups of nine to fourteen, the Cave Lab offers a private dining room. Gault&Millau gave Monte 17.5 points in 2026.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
History
High quality cooking
Nestled at the foot of the Church of St. Euphemia in the old cobblestone streets of Rovinj, Monte promises to give you a taste of Istrian gastronomic culture. The outdoor tables are located on a covered terrace in a small space that provides a family atmosphere. The interior is not large either, but it is just as nice. Don’t expect the stiff elegance of a fine-dining restaurant, but a very cosy atmosphere and a warm Mediterranean space with incredible cuisine and excellent staff. Monte is a restaurant of the Đekić family, whose members are present both in the hall and in the kitchen. Chef Danijel was joined by his son Ilja, and the second son Simon helps as a sommelier his mother Tjitske and both are dedicated to the guests. We opted for the red tasting menu, structured around the innovative 1×3×6 concept: one top-quality ingredient, prepared in three ways, through six creative courses. Before you start, you will be served a delicious amuse-bouche that announces the following courses. An incredible variation of tuna with sesame or carpaccio or tuna prosciutto allows you to see the creativity of the chef. With valuable techniques, in every dish you will be surprised how some ingredients go together. Even the very popular scampi can be prepared in dumplings, rice paper, etc. A little Asian touch enhances the taste. You can expect several hours of enjoyment in tastings of beautiful and generous portions. And you will feel very comfortable the whole time. A smile will be brought to your face by the selection of desserts with the incredible rose ice cream in the vegetarian menu. In addition to a nice selection of champagne, there is a big choice of local labels wines. Monte also offers some excellent, creative non-alcoholic cocktails. If you are not sure about the choice, the sommelier is always at your disposal. Monte will provide you with a special experience and you will always be happy to come back.
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