Stari Puntijar

Rating: 13
Author: Gault&Millau

Gračanska cesta 65, 10163 Zagreb, Croatia

13/20
Chef's Restaurant

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8 PHOTOS

Location: Zagreb
Chef: Zlatko Puntijar

Gault&Millau's review 2026

13/20

Chef's Restaurant

There are restaurants where you come for lunch, and there are also those from which you leave with the feeling that you have experienced something much more. This is the case in Stari Puntijar, in Zagreb's Gračani, where history is learned and tasted. The large terrace is especially beautiful, but the real story begins inside the restaurant. It is decorated like a castle, a museum and an old noble house in one. On the walls and in the premises of the restaurant there are family treasures of the Puntijar family, but also numerous objects that testify to history: old photographs, hunting heritage, paintings and various memories from another time. The catering tradition has lasted since 1838, and today it is kept by Zlatko Puntijar, the proud owner of an enviable number of old cookbooks and menus. On the menu, you will find specialties based on old recipes and traditions of Croatian and Zagreb cuisine. We tasted veal in the Bavarian way with vegetable puree according to a recipe from the first cookbook printed in Croatian from 1813. Thin pieces of veal, breaded in egg yolk, beaten blueberries and breadcrumbs, and then grilled, remained juicy but at the same time crispy on the outside. After dining, Zlatko Puntijar writes a kind of diploma for the guest to come and enjoy the history. A small gesture that remains in the memory and makes the visit personal. The staff is friendly, smiling, there is no long wait for food, and the prices are adequate. Old Puntijar is definitely worth a visit. We recommend booking a table, especially on weekends and in the winter months.