Croatian restaurants around the world: St Blaise Bistro in Australia

by croatiaweek
October 4, 2024
in Food & Wine

(Photo: St Blaise)

In the new series ‘Croatian restaurants around the world’ we showcase places where you can enjoy Croatian cuisine abroad.

Our first stop is Sydney, Australia, where St Blaise Bistro brings flavours of the Adriatic down under.

Despite Sydney’s large Croatian community, St Blaise Bistro proudly stands as the only Croatian restaurant in the city’s Eastern Suburbs.

We chatted with owner Vedran Perojević, who shared his journey from Dubrovnik to Sydney and the inspiration behind his culinary venture.

“I was born and raised in Dubrovnik, a city rich in tradition and local flavours. After studying hospitality, I took my love for Dalmatian cuisine to Zhuhai, China, where I opened my first restaurant, Azur. This success naturally led to opening a sister restaurant in Dubrovnik with my brother, where we created not just dining spots but true community gathering places.

St. Blaise: The only Croatian restaurant in Sydney’s eastern suburbs

(Photo: St Blaise)

When I moved to Sydney with my wife and son, I felt the pull to bring a taste of my hometown to Australia, which is how St Blaise Bistro came to life,” Vedran said, sharing his passion for traditional Croatian cuisine.

St Blaise, named after Dubrovnik’s patron saint, has special meaning for Vedran. “As a chef, opening restaurants is my calling. The name St Blaise honours a centuries-old tradition we’ve celebrated in Dubrovnik for over 900 years. It felt like the perfect connection to my roots.”

(Photo: St Blaise)

While the bistro attracts a few Croatian customers, its appeal reaches far beyond the community. Guests from all backgrounds come to experience the rich flavours of Croatian cuisine, or to relive memories of their travels to the Adriatic coast.

(Photo: St Blaise)

“Many of our customers have visited Croatia and come back to St Blaise for a taste of what they experienced there. We love introducing people to our slow-paced dining, where they can truly savour each bite in a cosy, unhurried atmosphere,” Vedran adds.

(Photo: St Blaise)

As St Blaise recently celebrated its first anniversary, Vedran is already looking ahead to future growth. “Our first year has been a success, becoming part of the Matraville community. Now, we’re dreaming bigger – we’d love to move to a larger, waterfront venue, capturing more of Dubrovnik’s charm. We also plan to add a wine bar with exquisite European wines to pair with our Dalmatian dishes.”