Gradska Kavana Arsenal

The name comes from the Arsenal, the city shipyard that stood here from at least the 13th century and built the ships of Dubrovnik’s merchant fleet. Today the indoor café runs through into a restaurant, and there are two terraces. From the east side you look across the Old Port, with St John’s Fortress to the right and the Lazareti, the old quarantine buildings, to the left. Sponza Palace and the Rector’s Palace are a few steps away. It is run by the Nautika Collection, a small group of Dubrovnik restaurants.

Come in the morning for coffee and breakfast, served from 08:00 to 12:00, with eggs Benedict, an omelette or a basket of pastries. The desserts are local: Dubrovnik crème caramel, an almond cream cake and a daily choice of cakes. For a fuller meal the menu adds Ston oysters, black risotto and fish stew with polenta.

From Gruž harbour or ACI Marina Dubrovnik at Komolac, take a taxi to the Pile Gate and walk the length of the Stradun, the old town’s main street, to Luža; the walk takes five to ten minutes. Banje beach, just outside the eastern walls, is about 450 metres away, so the two combine easily in one day ashore.

The café is open every day from 08:00 to 23:00. Breakfast runs until midday and a light-lunch menu from 11:30 to 18:00. Book a terrace table for dinner through the Nautika Collection’s online booking page, or by phone; for a coffee, just walk in.