This word could also be considered a corruption of the Italian phrase "nostro uomo", meaning "our man".

Several years ago I’ve heard about this renewed Istrian restaurant NOSTROMO but I did not know the exact meaning of the word this famous Istrian restaurant was named…

I knew that it should be connected with the sea but till I read, a year ago, Oriana Fallaci’s novel “Un cappello pieno di cilliege” I did not understand the real meaning of it...

In that book, the Florentine writer tells the story of her family between 1773 and 1889… and among many fascinating stories Oriana share in that book there is also a fascinating love story of nostromo Francesco and noble lady Montserrat… both characters are her ancestors…

Their story starts with the sea trip from Barcelona to Genova…  and it is a touching love story I advise to read for those who are fluent in Italian and are fascinated by history…

Mr. Valter was my NOSTROMO that day… very direct and straight forward getting to the point… like a real boat commander in his restaurant where he is the NOSTROMO…

In the mid 19th century Rabac was a small fishing settlement… only in the second half of that century was discovered by tourists mostly for its natural beauty and its crystal sea bay…

In 1876, the British explorer, ethnographer, and man of letters Richard Francis Burton visited Rabac and wrote a note on that visit in his book “The Istrian Coast”.

At the time he also visited an old prehistoric settlement and later on Roman town Flanona (Plomin). Plomin was different from Rabac’s natural beauty at the time and Richard Francis Burton used the following words to describe it… “a horrible town, looking like a nest of pirates and smugglers”.

The “nest of pirates” description reminds me stories read about Francesco youth in “Un cappello pieno di cilliege” novel… the story of pirates… and if you decide to visit Plomin today you will be able to imagine yourself going into past times when Richard Francis Burton visited it… Plomin is today an abandoned town and it really looks like the spirits of some pirates are still hanging around…

Rabac is a beautiful place, named also “the pearl of Kvarner” and NOSTROMO family hotel if existed at the time Richard Francis Burton visited Rabac would be closer to a love nest that I’d like to imagine Francesco and Monserrat would have enjoyed if they had an opportunity to spend a night here.

NOSTROMO is mostly known in Istria for its restaurant. In regional publication Istria Gourment NOSTROMO had a top ranking for many years. It was founded in 1993 and today it has also a hosting capacity thus is also a small family hotel open year-round offering half-board, breakfast and dinner.

The hotel is located in the old town centre where the streets are narrow and the parking of the car is not easy thus traditionally during summer time Mr. Valter Karlovic rent parking lots for his hotel guests.

NOSTROMO Restaurant cuisine follows the seasons and you will always find fresh food on your plate, including the fish directly taken in the Rabac Bay.

Most of the top quality wines and top-quality olive oils made by renowned Istrian producers mentioned in Istria from Smrikve will be proposed to you during your visit. Creative, home-made and autochthonous dishes are the words that describe the cuisine you find at NOSTROMO.