The Zagreb eatery turning quality local Croatian ingredients into dining joy

by croatiaweek
March 18, 2025
in Food & Wine

Health ’n’ Joy bistro in Zagreb isn’t your average eatery—it’s a passion project built on the idea that food should leave you feeling energised, not sluggish.

Behind Health ’n’ Joy is a tight-knit family team where they all pitch in with ideas, hard work, and love. After imagining a place where quality food could fuel busy days without that weighed-down feeling—Health ’n’ Joy was born.

At Health ’n’ Joy, their philosophy is caring for every ingredient and knowing exactly where it comes from.

The team sources everything from small, local suppliers who prioritise quality over mass production. Eggs come from OPG Horvat, cheese from the Miklečić dairy in Križevci, and organic coffee from Cogito.

You’ll also find award-winning olive oil from OPG Ivić, rakija from OPG Barbarić in Ilok, and craft beer from Zagreb’s Primarius brewery. They also partner with Tvornica Zdrave Hrane for other products like flour (spelt, buckwheat), cereals, and unprocessed sugars.

(Photo: Health ’n’ Joy)

“We want to offer what we’d give our own children,” the owner tells us. That means no artificial additives, just fresh, wholesome, quality ingredients you can taste in every bite.

And with regulars coming back day after day, it’s working.

There are a number of soups on the menu (Photo: Health ’n’ Joy)

Everything at Health ’n’ Joy is made in-house, from start to finish. Each morning, the team kneads spelt bread by hand using 100% spelt flour—no yeast, no shortcuts.

They craft their own pasta, like the tricolour tagliatelle coloured naturally with beetroot, spinach, and turmeric. Even the sauces and dressings are whipped up fresh daily.

Tricolour tagliatelle (Photo: Health ’n’ Joy)

The menu boasts signature dishes that blend flavour and nutrition. Take the tasty “Hot Chick”—a mix of bulgur, local chicken, and a homemade chilli sauce.

Hot Chick (Photo: Health ’n’ Joy)

Or the popular “Letter from Canada,” with its moorish honey, garlic, and coconut sugar marinade, paired with a dressing of premium maple syrup and olive oil, this dish is a standout.

Letter from Canada (Photo: Health ’n’ Joy)

For dessert, try the Mađarica—a Croatian classic reimagined with spelt flour and coconut sugar—or the banana bread, sweetened only by bananas and packed with coconut flour and almond butter.

Mađerica and other treats (Photo: Health ’n’ Joy)

Breakfast is a treat here too. Options range from shakshuka with local eggs to omelettes with spelt bread, or a protein-packed oatmeal.

Shakshuka (Photo: Health ’n’ Joy)

The smoothie bowls, bursting with fresh fruit and superfoods, are a colourful way to kick off the day.

Smoothie bowl (Photo: Health ’n’ Joy)

Make sure to save room for the pancakes. Made from oatmeal, domestic eggs, and bananas (with no sugar added), and topped with homemade “nutella,” whipped up from organic raw cocoa powder, organic hazelnuts, and coconut oil.