A creation of the brilliant minds at Pod Zidom, this restaurant between the Zagreb Cathedral and Dolac Market is the city's first to serve only authentic Zagreb fare prepared in traditional ways (think pasta with cabbage, Zagreb-style meat cuts, and soups just like Croatian grandmas make them). The interior design is modern but also features old-school touches like classic masonry heater tiles. If you grab a seat on the outdoor terrace, you'll be treated to views of the Zagreb Cathedral.

Try it for yourself at Gostionica Ficlek, a newly opened, exciting restaurant serving up only the most authentic Zagreb cuisine. Ficlek uses house-cooked ham, bought fresh from the nearby Dolac Marketplace (also known as "the stomach of Zagreb") for their delicious cutlets.

Although the word “ficlek” in Zagreb’s dialect means a small piece of something, we couldn’t say the same for the portions that they serve in this little bistro, close to the central market. On the opposite, they are quite abundant. Here they cook the traditional dishes from Zagreb, which are similar to the Austrian kitchen, as chicken ajngemahtec (traditional chicken soup), tafelspitz, faširanci (traditional patty), sarma, breaded chicken, bean salad, and for dessert the dumplings filled with seasonal fruit, kaiserschmarrn (a lightly sweetened thick pancake torn in pieces), schupfnudel (a type of dumpling or thick noodle) with poppy seeds or walnuts.

Ask anyone in the city to help you find “najbolji restorani u Zagrebu” (or “best restaurants in Zagreb” in Croatian) and Ficlek will be one of the first names they mention. Located right under Zagreb’s oldest farmer’s market, Dolac, Gostionica Ficlek serves up traditional Croatian cuisine “the way Croatian grandmas once did” – which is their motto, and it’s perfectly fitting!. This is one of my favorite places to go when I’m craving something homemade and delicious.

Pootle along Pod Zidom and you’ll find a modern play on an old-school city inn. To step through the door of Ficlek is to enter a cosy world where retro homespun charm meets comfort classics. A tiled green bar and on-trend navy walls juxtapose with hanging charcuterie, gingham tablecloths,a huge dresser lined with crockery and a well-stocked wine fridge.

The week before Christmas, Pod Zidom and Ficlek will offer a special fish menu, and this year Lari and Penati will hold a "little Christmas" on Friday, 22 December. On Christmas Eve, at Sol Tapas and Johann Franck you will be able to enjoy a live concert accompanied with a special offer of tapas.

Located in the city center this small bistro offers authentic Zagreb food. Try fried chicken with rizi-bizi as a side dish (rice with peas) or krpice sa zeljem (a special type of pasta characteristic of northern Croatia served with cabbage). The price of the main meal ranges from €6 to €12.

Located near Dolac Market, at Ficlek, you can also enjoy a good serving of sarma. They serve it with the unavoidable mashed potatoes, and the portion is quite generous.

I ate at Gostionica Ficlek a few times—including my first evening in Zagreb. It’s right next to Pod Zidom. My host had recommended it, and it was open on the holiday.

Finally, at Gostionica Ficlek (5 Pod Zidom St.), you can enjoy traditional dishes with a fresh aesthetic in a modern space.