Best Cafes in Split 2025: Where the City’s Coffee Scene Is Quietly Exploding

Best Cafes in Split 2025: Where the City’s Coffee Scene Is Quietly Exploding

Split’s cafe culture has always been strong, but the current wave of specialty coffee, creative brunch and design driven spaces is on another level. This guide focuses on the places that are trending now based on ratings, review buzz and local word of mouth, so you can grab a table before they are fully booked every weekend.

Jo & The Sisters - Neighborhood favorite with serious coffee

Jo & The Sisters is the kind of cafe you wish you had on your own corner. Tucked on a quieter street just outside the busiest tourist drag, it pulls in a loyal crowd of locals, remote workers and in the know visitors.

With a standout 4.9 rating from hundreds of reviews, it is trending because people keep coming back for the combination of specialty level coffee and a relaxed, living room vibe. Think soft playlists, plants, good lighting and staff who remember your order by day three.

The espresso is dialed in, filter options rotate, and there is usually something interesting on the menu for non dairy drinkers. Light brunch plates and cakes make it an easy late morning base before exploring Diocletian’s Palace.

Best for: Slow mornings, laptop sessions, and anyone who cares more about extraction than sea views.

Shakerato - Tiny espresso bar with big energy

Shakerato is small, sharp and laser focused on coffee. With a perfect 5 star rating and growing review buzz, this spot is trending among coffee purists and hospitality workers finishing or starting shifts.

The name hints at their signature drink, but the appeal goes deeper. You get properly pulled espresso, quick service and a bar style layout that makes it easy to chat with the barista about beans, roasts and what is tasting best that week.

It is a natural stop if you are cafe hopping through the center and want a short, high quality caffeine hit rather than a long sit down. The steady trickle of glowing reviews shows that word is spreading beyond locals to visiting coffee nerds.

Best for: Espresso lovers, quick caffeine stops between sightseeing, pre dinner pick me ups.

Cafe Kala - Old town charm with modern cafe culture

Cafe Kala sits in one of Split’s atmospheric stone lined streets, balancing historic surroundings with a modern cafe feel. A 4.7 rating and consistent review growth keep it on every short list of places to start your day near the old town.

What makes it trending now is the mix of reliable coffee, friendly service and a cozy interior that feels like an escape from the cruise ship crowds. You can slip in for a cappuccino and pastry, then linger without pressure.

There is usually a mix of locals, digital nomads and curious visitors, which gives the room a low key buzz. It is the kind of place you discover on day one and then use as your anchor point for the rest of your stay.

Best for: First timers in Split who want an easy, central cafe that still feels local.

Stow Coffee Roasters Split — Specialty Coffee Shop - Serious beans for coffee geeks

Stow Coffee Roasters Split — Specialty Coffee Shop is one of the city’s anchors for third wave coffee. With hundreds of reviews and a strong 4.7 rating, it helped kick off Split’s specialty scene and still sets a high bar.

Even without a recent spike in reviews, Stow remains trending because it is a reference point for anyone serious about beans. In house roasting, carefully designed drinks and knowledgeable staff make it feel like a mini coffee lab hidden inside a relaxed cafe.

Expect pour overs, seasonal single origins and baristas who are happy to talk grind size or recommend beans to take home. It is a must stop for travelers who choose destinations based on coffee maps.

Best for: Specialty coffee fans, travelers collecting roaster stamps, and anyone wanting to bring Croatian coffee home.

Kat's Kitchen Brunch Club - Brunch destination with a loyal following

Kat's Kitchen Brunch Club is less about quick espresso and more about all out brunch. With a huge volume of reviews, a 4.8 rating and almost constant word of mouth, it is one of Split’s most in demand daytime spots.

What keeps it trending is the way it nails modern, health leaning brunch without feeling restrictive. Expect colorful plates, good vegetarian and vegan options, solid coffee and a bright, social atmosphere that feels like a weekend even on a Tuesday.

Lines can form at peak times, which is exactly why it is on every trend radar. Locals treat it as a treat yourself breakfast, while visitors plan their sightseeing around getting a table here.

Best for: Brunch dates, groups, and anyone who wants Instagram ready plates that still taste like real food.

How to cafe hop Split like a local

• Start early to beat the heat and crowds, especially in high season.
• Mix specialty coffee bars like Shakerato and Stow with slower, food focused stops like Jo & The Sisters and Kat's Kitchen Brunch Club.
• Use backstreets just outside the palace walls to find calmer terraces and better prices.
• Remember that many spots get busiest late morning to early afternoon, so early birds get the quiet corners.

The MapsBuddy edge

Split’s cafe scene is moving fast, with small places gaining momentum long before they show up in generic guides. MapsBuddy tracks ratings, review growth and local chatter so you can find the cafes that are trending now, not last season. Open this guide on your phone, pick a neighborhood, and let the map lead you to your next favorite cup.