Banje Beach

By day the beach is laid out with sunbeds, lounge beds and canopied baldachins, and massages are available. The tourist board lists Banje as the city beach beside the old town, and Time Out described the place as a seafood restaurant by day and a cocktail bar by night. A separate water sports company runs catamaran trips and other excursions from the beach.

The kitchen cooks Mediterranean food with a Dalmatian accent. Recent menus include Ston oysters, octopus salad, Adriatic tuna tartare, black risotto, pljukanci pasta with truffles, tagliatelle with lobster and octopus on polenta. The wine list includes local grapes such as Plavac Mali, Pošip and Malvasija Dubrovačka, which suit a long lunch by the sea.

Banje is a few minutes’ walk from the old town, so it fits easily into a day in Dubrovnik. From Gruž harbour or ACI Marina Dubrovnik at Komolac, take a taxi towards the old town and walk from there. We found no current details on landing a tender at the beach, so ask the club before you come by boat.

Dinner can be booked online for times between 18:15 and 21:30, while lunch is walk-in only. Groups of ten or more should contact the restaurant directly, and changes to same-day bookings must be made before 11:00. Beach hours are not published and change through the season, so check ahead, and come early for a lounger in July and August.