by croatiaweek
September 20, 2026
in
Croatia is introducing a new price-display requirement for cafés and restaurants from 1 October, meaning customers will soon see reference prices alongside current prices on menus and price lists.
Under the new rules, which we earlier wrote about, hospitality businesses will have to display the price that applied on 10 September 2026 alongside the current price for products already offered at that time.
The measure is designed to make it easier for consumers to see how prices have changed and track increases.
For example, if a black risotto currently costs €22.50 but was priced at €20.50 on 10 September, both figures would have to be displayed.
The requirement will apply to products and services offered by restaurants, cafés and other hospitality businesses.
There are also more complicated situations where several prices may have to appear.
According to the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts, promotional products could potentially require as many as four different prices to be displayed, depending on their pricing history.
The new information will not only have to appear on menus inside establishments. Reference prices will also have to be shown on outdoor boards where food and drink prices are advertised.
The change is intended to give consumers greater transparency, although hospitality businesses have raised concerns about the additional administrative work.
The Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts has warned that businesses will have to update and reprint menus and price lists, while multiple prices could make them more difficult for customers to read.
The change comes amid continued attention on food and hospitality prices in Croatia, particularly after several years of significant inflation.
For consumers, however, the practical effect will be straightforward: when ordering a coffee, meal or drink, customers will increasingly be able to compare today’s price with the price that applied at the designated reference date.
The new system is expected to become visible across Croatia’s cafés and restaurants from the beginning of October.
The measure therefore creates a new layer of price information at a time when consumers remain particularly sensitive to the cost of eating and drinking out.
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