Imperium

Occupying virtually the entire top floor of Split’s passenger ferry terminal, Imperium has been the talk of the town since opening in November 2011, and locals still come here to gawp at the sheer size and ambition of the place. A superb venue for a drink any day of the week, Imperium hosts DJ parties at weekends, and live gigs by pop and pop-folk attractions from all over Croatia and ex-Yugoslavia. A polished black stairway leads to a long, rectangular lounge broken up by partitions perforated with porthole effect circular openings, swanky modern sofas strewn with cushions. At the far end, a balcony looks directly out on the Adriatic Sea. In fact, Imperium offers sweeping views in every direction, and is increasingly popular as a daytime hangout; ferry passengers will stop off here for a pre-boarding coffee, while the restaurant serves up a respectable range of risottos, pastas and steaks.