Dolce Vita

Dolce Vita is one of the Old Town's favourite places for something sweet. The small, brightly decorated shop is on Nalješkovićeva, a lane running off Stradun, and it specialises in ice cream, cakes and muffins. City guide In Your Pocket rates its cakes and ice cream among the best in Dubrovnik.

The ice cream counter is the main attraction, and a scoop or two is a welcome reward after a day on the walls. The cakes and muffins are a good alternative if you want to sit down with a coffee, and they also make an easy breakfast or afternoon snack.

The atmosphere is informal and family friendly. Children love the colours and the choice, and it is an easy stop for groups who cannot agree on anything else. Prices are budget-friendly for the Old Town, and ice cream is served in cups or cones to eat on the go, which is how most people enjoy it, strolling along Stradun or sitting on a step in the shade.

Dolce Vita keeps long hours in season, opening in the morning and staying open until around midnight, which makes it handy for dessert after dinner when many other places have closed their kitchens. Outside the summer months, opening times may be shorter, so check its social media for current hours if you visit in winter. Card acceptance can vary at small counters, so having some cash is useful.

Allow 10 to 20 minutes, or longer if you sit with a coffee and cake. To find it, walk along Stradun and turn into Nalješkovićeva. Combine it with an evening walk to Luža Square or a wander through the side streets, which are at their quietest after dark. For a simple plan, have dinner somewhere in the Old Town, then finish with a cone from Dolce Vita and a slow walk along Stradun as the street lamps reflect off the stone. In the morning, a coffee and a slice of cake here is a cheaper alternative to the large terraces on the main street. Because the shop is small, it is best treated as a quick stop rather than a place to linger for long, especially when it is busy in the evenings.