The story
Hiša Torkla is a grill restaurant at Korte 44b in Izola, in the village of Korte above the town, and the Michelin Guide listed it as Recommended in 2026. The restaurant opened in 2002 and returned to family hands in 2024, when a young team took over.
The open grill sits on the glassed terrace and burns wood and charcoal. It was built to measure for the restaurant, modelled on Argentine asado grills, with a grate that rises and lowers over the embers to control the heat. Steaks are cooked with very little seasoning. Coarse salt and chimichurri go on only after the meat leaves the fire.
The dry ager is the main attraction in the indoor room, and the kitchen ages some fish as well, which is unusual in this area. Cold plates include raw scampi with aioli and tuna tataki, and fuži pasta comes with scampi or truffle. Fresh fish is grilled with olive oil, salt and pepper, and the Basque cheesecake closes the meal. Gault&Millau scored the kitchen 13.5 in 2026.
Tall windows face the Istrian countryside, so the terrace feels like dining outdoors even out of season. The indoor room is minimalist in an Istrian way and suits winter days. A private dining room with a wood fireplace seats up to 14. The wine list mixes Slovenian and foreign bottles chosen to suit the menu.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
History
At the top of a hill, where the view gently descends toward the blue Adriatic, stands Hiša Torkla. Large glass walls open up panoramic views across endless olive groves, Istrian houses, and the sea. The true culinary highlight is undoubtedly the menu, which celebrates the gifts of the Adriatic. Fresh fish arrives at the table grilled with nothing more than a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper, allowing its natural sweetness and crisp skin to shine in full beauty. The flavour is pure, delicate, and subtly sweet - as though the sea itself had delivered a gift onto the plate. Do not miss the scampi with aioli sauce: juicy and meaty, they melt in the mouth, wrapped in a creamy garlic-rich sauce brightened with lemon and fresh herbs. The sweet finale belongs to the Basque cheesecake with its lightly caramelized crust, melting like a cloud. Without excessive sweetness, yet with an intensely creamy heart, it provides the perfect conclusion to lunch or dinner. The dishes are beautifully supported by a glass of outstanding wine from the thoughtfully curated wine list. Hiša Torkla is not merely a place for a good meal, but an experience of Slovenian Istria in its most authentic form. Every bite carries a story of the sea, olive trees, and tradition, while the views ensure that the visit lingers in memory long after the final plate has been cleared away.
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