La Regina del Formaggio

Right opposite the pizzeria Galija is this small venue, something between a delicatessen and exclusive wine and cheese spot, opened in the summer of 2014. Its owner is former handball player Dijana Jelaska, who had a significant career in Italy. There she was imbued with a love of Italian food and wines – for her, La Regina is a dream come true. Pretty much all its products – cheeses, hams, wines, salamis, pastas – come from Italy, the major influence in international trends in Split’s gastronomic scene. There are also selected smoked hams and cheeses from inland Dalmatia, well worth trying and, of course, the finest Croatian wines. What makes La Regina different is that almost all products are available for tasting before purchase, so it’s not unusual to see people sitting in front of it, at the barrels that serve as tables, sipping a glass of wine and nibbling at some cheese and ham.