Pakomina Restaurant – A Family Fish Restaurant in the Tranquil Cove near Gdinj
Pakomina Restaurant is just a few steps from the sea in Uvala Pakomina, located on the northern coast of eastern Hvar. This small family-run establishment offers a character that is quite different from the restaurants found along the Hvar waterfront: visitors reach it via a local road and a long gravel track, while many guests during the summer arrive by boat.
The cove features only a handful of houses, a pebble beach, and very little other development. As a result, the restaurant is practically part of the beach itself – the terrace overlooks the sea and Biokovo, with vineyards, stone, and Mediterranean vegetation above it.
The cuisine is straightforward and distinctly seafood-focused. The main draw is fresh fish, fish platters, shellfish, octopus, and other seafood dishes, prepared without unnecessary complications.
A Small Family Restaurant, Not a Typical Tourist Complex
Pakomina is not a large restaurant with an extensive menu and dozens of tables.
It is a family-run restaurant connected to the Robinson Marko accommodation and other family facilities in the cove. This limited capacity and secluded location give it a character that is increasingly hard to find on Hvar.
Most of the restaurant's daytime activity is linked to the sea. Guests come from the houses in Pakomina, day swimmers, and boats that stop in the cove for lunch.
The most natural way to visit is to combine a meal at the restaurant with a few hours of swimming at Pakomina beach.
Fresh Fish at the Heart of the Menu
Fish is the main component of the menu.
At Pakomina, it is common to order a mixed fish platter, especially if there are several people at the table. This style of serving suits the restaurant well as it allows for a combination of different types of fish and seafood sides based on what is available that day.
The fish is largely prepared over an open flame and on a grill, without heavy sauces or complex accompaniments.
In a restaurant like this, the best approach is not to decide in advance which specific type of fish to order, but rather 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, prawns, and seafood, depending on the daily offerings.
Octopus appears in various forms – from cold starters and salads to warm preparations.
Seasonally, octopus peka may be available, but it is advisable to arrange this in advance as it requires longer preparation.
Fish Platters for Groups
Pakomina is particularly well-suited for lunch for couples or small groups when a shared fish platter is desired.
This style of dining fits the ambience much better than formally ordering multiple separate courses.
The table is served with fish grilled to perfection, accompanied by simple sides and vegetables, while the rest of the meal consists of the sea, the view, and the tranquillity 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 traditional island cooking: grilled fish, shellfish, octopus, risottos, salads, and simple sides.
Alongside the 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 is travelling several kilometres along a gravel road to reach a small cove on the northern coast of Hvar, the seafood offerings are what make Pakomina most worthwhile.
A Terrace Right by the Sea
The location is almost as important as the food.
The restaurant is just a few metres from the sea and the pebble beach of Pakomina. From the tables, the view stretches across 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 passers-by.
During lunch, the atmosphere is very summery and informal – guests arrive directly from the beach or their boats. 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 a Dalmatian style and serves as an addition to the restaurant and accommodation in Pakomina.
This means that the cove, although very small, allows for a full day’s stay without the need to return to Gdinj for every drink or meal.
For this reason, Pakomina represents a good compromise between a completely deserted Robinson Crusoe cove and a developed tourist beach.
Arriving by Boat
Pakomina Restaurant is particularly appealing to sailors and guests arriving on 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 popular among boat excursions that come from the Makarska Riviera across the Hvar Channel.
For anyone sailing along the northern coast of Hvar, Pakomina is a very natural stop: swimming, lunch, and then continuing the journey to Pokrivenik, Pobije, or other nearby coves.
However, private and pre-arranged moorings should not be considered a typical 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 along a gravel road approximately 5 kilometres long.
The road is passable by car, but not for fast driving. Expect dust, stones, uneven surfaces, and a slower pace.
Extra caution is needed with very low vehicles, while driving is more comfortable with a slightly higher vehicle.
Thus, Pakomina is not a restaurant one stops at 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 car park like those found near city restaurants.
The space is adapted to a small cove and a relatively limited number of guests.
If visiting the restaurant by car during the peak season, especially with a larger group, it is practical to arrange your arrival in advance.
Reservations Are a Good Idea
Pakomina is a small family restaurant with a limited number of tables.
For this reason, making a reservation is advisable, especially during July and August, for larger groups or if travelling specifically to the restaurant from another part of Hvar.
For dishes that require longer preparation, such as octopus peka, prior arrangement is even more important.
A reservation is also practical due to the access – after several kilometres of gravel, 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, have a 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 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, connected to 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 gravel 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 have.
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-run restaurants, tranquil coves, and do not mind a slightly challenging journey.
It is particularly interesting to sailors, couples, families, and guests exploring the lesser-known eastern Hvar.
It may be less suitable for those seeking a modern restaurant along the main road, ample parking, or an extensive menu.
The greatest value of Pakomina lies in the simple whole that is hard to separate into individual parts: a small pebble beach, a family restaurant, grilled fish, boats along the shore, and a view across the sea towards Biokovo.
Useful Information
Location: Uvala Pakomina, 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 beach bar
Access by car: yes
Gravel: approximately the last 5 km
Parking: available in the restaurant and accommodation area
Arriving by boat: yes
Moorings: available along the coast, but no typical marina
Reservation: recommended, especially in peak season and for special dishes
Best for: fish lunch after swimming, families, couples, sailors, and guests seeking a peaceful cove
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