Welcome to Croatia 2024, where inspectors have become the nightmare of restaurateurs, and the tourist season is turning into a horror show! In Makarska, restaurants and cafes are under siege by harsh inspections that have swept through over 3,000 establishments nationwide from mid-May to the end of June. Fines? They start at 9,000 euros and only go up! One of the most dramatic cases is the Hrpinina restaurant, which after 51 years of operation was shut down — owner Aljoša Špec handed out nine layoffs and locked the doors. Why? Because inspectors spent nine and a half hours in his place, didn’t let staff out for five hours, and fines have already exceeded 80,000 euros! And all because of frozen food they doused with Domestos! Yes, you read that right.
But that’s not all. Restaurateurs say working conditions have become unbearable. Inspectors found violations like unhygienic conditions, faulty equipment, unregistered workers, and operating without proper permits. While small restaurants are drowning under pressure, no one asks if hotel restaurants face the same strict controls. Restaurateurs are furious and considering a one-day strike in the middle of the season, wanting tourists to see what working in their establishments really looks like.
And what is the government doing? Instead of helping, it seems to be ramping up the pressure. The season is already bad, and these measures could be the last nail in the coffin for many small businesses. Is this a fight for legality or pure terror against those trying to survive? If you’ve ever been glad you’re not a restaurateur in Croatia, now you know why. And if you are one, it’s time to ask yourself — how much longer can you hold on?
Oh, and if you have any funny or bizarre inspection stories, feel free to share them in the comments. Let’s get the real story of the 2024 season out there!
