Pakomina Restaurant – Family Fish Restaurant in a Tranquil Cove near Gdinj

Pakomina Restaurant is located just a few steps from the sea in Pakomina Cove, on the northern coast of eastern Hvar. It is a small family-run restaurant that offers a completely different character compared to restaurants on the Hvar waterfront: it is accessed via a local road from Gdinj, followed by a long unpaved stretch, while many guests arrive by boat during the summer.

The cove has only a few houses, a pebble beach, and very little other construction. As a result, the restaurant is practically part of the beach itself – the terrace faces the sea and Biokovo, with vineyards, stone, and Mediterranean vegetation above it.

The cuisine is simple and distinctly seafood-oriented. The main reason to visit is the fresh fish, fish platters, shellfish, octopus, and other seafood dishes, prepared without unnecessary complications.

A Small Family Restaurant, Not a Classic Tourist Complex

Pakomina is not a large restaurant with an extensive menu and dozens of tables.

It is a family restaurant associated with Robinson Marko accommodation and other family facilities in the cove. This small capacity and secluded location give it a character that is increasingly hard to find on Hvar.

Most of the restaurant's activity during the day is connected to the sea. Guests come from houses in Pakomina, day swimmers, and boats that stop in the cove for lunch.

The most natural way to visit is to combine the restaurant with a few hours of swimming at Pakomina beach.

Fresh Fish at the Center of the Offer

Fish is the main part of the menu.

In Pakomina, a mixed fish platter is often ordered, especially if there are several people at the table. This serving style suits the restaurant well as it allows for a combination of various types of fish and seafood sides based on what is available that day.

Fish is largely prepared over an open flame and on a grill, without heavy sauces or complex additions.

At such a restaurant, the best approach is not to decide in advance which specific type of fish to order, but to ask upon arrival what is fresh that day and choose accordingly.

Octopus, Shellfish, and Black Risotto

Alongside fish, other classic seafood dishes are also available.

These include octopus, mussels and other shellfish, black risotto, shrimp, and seafood, depending on the daily offer.

Octopus appears in various forms – from cold appetizers and salads to warm preparations.

Seasonally, octopus peka may be available, but it is advisable to arrange this dish in advance as it requires longer preparation.

Fish Platter for Groups

Pakomina is particularly suitable for lunch for couples or small groups when a shared fish platter is desired.

This way of dining fits the ambiance much better than formally ordering multiple separate courses.

The table is served with fish prepared on the grill, accompanied by simple sides and vegetables, while the rest of the meal consists of the sea, the view, and the tranquility of the cove.

This simplicity is a significant part of the restaurant's identity.

Homemade Dalmatian Cuisine Without Excess

Pakomina does not attempt to present itself as a modern fine dining restaurant.

The cuisine remains close to the traditional way of preparing food on the island: grilled fish, shellfish, octopus, risottos, salads, and simple sides.

Alongside seafood offerings, there are also some grilled meat options, making the restaurant a suitable choice for groups where not everyone wants fish.

However, if one travels several kilometers on unpaved roads to a small cove on the northern coast of Hvar, the seafood offerings are what make Pakomina most worthwhile.

Terrace Right by the Sea

The location is almost as important as the food.

The restaurant is just a few meters from the sea and the Pakomina pebble beach. From the tables, the view opens over the Hvar Channel towards the Makarska Riviera and Biokovo.

There are no city streets between the restaurant and the sea, nor a large promenade filled with passersby.

During lunch, the atmosphere is very summery and informal – guests come directly from the beach or by boat. Later in the day, the cove becomes quieter, especially when day-trippers leave.

A Small Beach Bar

Connected to the same family story is a small bar right by the beach.

It is simply decorated in Dalmatian style and serves as an addition to the restaurant and accommodation in Pakomina.

This means that the cove, although very small, still allows for a full day stay without needing to return to Gdinj for every drink or meal.

Pakomina thus represents a good compromise between a completely deserted Robinson Crusoe cove and a developed tourist beach.

Arrival by Boat

Pakomina Restaurant is particularly interesting to sailors and guests arriving by smaller excursion boats.

There are small docks and moorings along the coast, and arriving by boat is a common way to visit.

The restaurant is also known among boat excursions that come from the Makarska Riviera across the Hvar Channel.

For someone sailing along the northern coast of Hvar, Pakomina is a very natural stop: swimming, lunch, and continuing sailing towards Pokrivenik, Pobij, or other nearby coves.

However, private and pre-arranged moorings should not be considered a classic public docking area or marina.

How to Get There by Car

To reach Pakomina by car, one must come from the area of Gdinj, descending towards the northern coast.

The final approach requires driving on an unpaved road approximately 5 kilometers long.

The road is passable by a regular car, but it is not suitable for fast driving. One should expect dust, stones, unevenness, and a slower pace.

Extra caution is needed with very low vehicles, while driving is more comfortable with slightly higher ones.

Pakomina is therefore not a restaurant where one stops by for just fifteen minutes. It makes much more sense to plan to spend part of the day in the cove.

Parking

There are parking spaces near the facilities in Pakomina, and the accommodation in the cove has its own parking.

However, do not expect a large paved public parking lot like those near city restaurants.

The area is adapted to a small cove and a relatively limited number of guests.

If visiting the restaurant by car during the peak season, especially in larger groups, it is practical to arrange arrival in advance.

Reservation is a Good Idea

Pakomina is a small family restaurant with a limited number of tables.

Therefore, making a reservation makes sense, especially during July and August, for larger groups or if traveling to the restaurant from another part of Hvar.

For dishes that require longer preparation, such as octopus under peka, prior arrangement is even more important.

A reservation is also practical due to access – after several kilometers of unpaved road, it is much more pleasant to know that a table is secured.

Swimming Before or After Lunch

Right next to the restaurant is the Pakomina beach, a small pebble shore with a gradual entry into the sea.

Therefore, the best plan is to arrive a few hours before lunch, swim, and then sit on the terrace.

After lunch, there is no need to head straight back to the main road. The beach and small bar allow for the day to continue by the sea.

This is why Pakomina functions as a full-day destination, not just a place for a meal.

Pakomina or Preza?

On the northern side of the Gdinj area, there are two very different seaside restaurants.

Restaurant Preza in Pokrivenik is larger and more refined, associated with Hotel Timun, with a broader menu and simpler asphalt access.

Pakomina Restaurant is much smaller, family-run, and more rustic, focusing on fish and simple seafood cuisine. It is accessed via a long unpaved road, and the entire cove has a more pronounced Robinson Crusoe character.

The choice therefore does not depend so much on which restaurant is "better," but on what kind of day one wishes to spend.

Pakomina is the right choice when looking for a small cove, swimming, grilled fish, and lunch just steps from the sea.

Who Will Enjoy Pakomina Restaurant the Most?

Pakomina is best suited for guests who appreciate fish and seafood, small family restaurants, tranquil coves, and do not mind a more challenging approach.

It is particularly interesting to sailors, couples, families, and guests exploring the lesser-known eastern Hvar.

It may be less suitable for someone looking for a modern restaurant along the main road, ample parking, or a very extensive menu.

The greatest value of Pakomina is precisely the simple whole that is hard to separate into individual parts: a small pebble beach, a family restaurant, grilling, boats along the shore, and a view over the sea towards Biokovo.

Useful Information

Location: Pakomina Cove, northern coast of Hvar, Gdinj area

Type of establishment: family fish and Mediterranean restaurant

Cuisine: Dalmatian, Mediterranean, fish and seafood

Specialties: fresh fish, fish platters, octopus, shellfish, and black risotto

Peka: may be available; best arranged in advance

Meat: some grilled options are available

Terrace by the sea: yes

Beach: right next to the restaurant

Bar: small bar by the beach

Access by car: yes

Unpaved road: approximately the last 5 km

Parking: available in the restaurant and accommodation area

Arrival by boat: yes

Moorings: available along the coast, but no classic marina

Reservation: recommended, especially in peak season and for special dishes

Best for: fish lunch after swimming, families, couples, sailors, and guests seeking a tranquil cove