Shock as tourist pays £380 for meal in Rovinj restaurant

A holiday stay in the Croatian town of Rovinj turned into an expensive adventure for a tourist from Vienna. The bill for a meal at a local restaurant left her astonished, particularly because of the exorbitant price of a popular summer drink, German media reported. How much did the woman pay?

A holiday in picturesque Rovinj, a city attracting tourists with its landscape, was meant to be a time of relaxation for the Viennese tourist. However, a visit to a local restaurant quickly spoiled the woman’s mood, as she unwittingly did not check the prices of the drinks sold by the establishment. According to German media, the bill amounting to £380 left the tourist in shock.

Particularly upsetting to the tourist was the price for Aperol Spritz—a summer drink immensely popular among vacationers. For three glasses, the woman had to pay £32, which amounts to approximately £11 per drink. This price, the tourist asserts, exceeds even the rates at the most exclusive venues in Munich, considered the most expensive city in Germany.

For comparison, in the luxurious shopping district Maximilianstrasse in Munich, an Aperol Spritz costs "only" £10.50, according to the German portal merkur.de.

The high prices were not limited to alcoholic beverages. The tourist was incredulous to discover that she paid £6 for a basket of bread and £8 for a bottle of mineral water with a capacity of 750 ml. In total, the bill for three bottles of water and bread came to £35. Additionally, three Croatian beers cost another £21.

Interestingly, the restaurant where the tourist had her meal is not among the most exclusive establishments in the city. Nevertheless, the prices of main dishes also contributed to the astronomical final amount. Rare fish or steak cost £45 per serving.

Experts point out that rising prices in restaurants are partly due to inflation, which is affecting the culinary industry across Europe. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to prices before settling into a restaurant.

It is worth noting that similar problems with high restaurant prices also affect other popular holiday destinations—such as Italy, where last year tourists also complained about exorbitant prices.

Tourism experts advise that before travelling, it’s important to familiarise oneself with the prices in the chosen region. It’s also worth seeking out local, less touristy spots that often offer meals of similar quality at much lower prices.