Sushi in Pula: Where to Eat It and What to Order

Where to eat sushi in Pula: the short answer

Noy Sushi & Cocktails opened in 2021 on the Giardini as Pula's first dedicated sushi bar, and it is the place to head when sushi is the point of the meal. The Giardini sits in the centre of town, so it slots easily into an evening that starts with a walk through the old streets. A mixed menu is the alternative: Le Canard by Tsuki, out on Šijanska cesta, lists Asian dishes alongside French, Italian and Mediterranean cooking.

The distinction matters more than it sounds. A dedicated sushi bar builds its kitchen around rice, fish and rolling, while a broad restaurant treats sushi as one section of a much longer card. If you are travelling with someone who does not eat raw fish, the second kind of place is the easier booking. Budget-minded eaters will find more consistent value in the city's cheap eats Pula staples, where portions are built for local appetites.

Noy Sushi & Cocktails on the Giardini: Pula's first dedicated sushi bar

Noy opened on a Friday evening in June 2021, according to reporting from the time, and drew a sizeable local crowd on its first night. That history explains its position: it was the first venue in the city built specifically around sushi rather than adding it to a wider menu. Treat the 2021 date as background, not as news; what matters now is whether the format still suits you.

The location on the Giardini is the practical draw. You can eat early and still have the evening free, or book later and walk back through the centre afterwards. Expect the atmosphere of a central city venue rather than a quiet neighbourhood room, and plan around that if you want a long, unhurried meal.

Order in rounds rather than all at once. Start with a couple of rolls and a hot dish, see how the kitchen paces things, then add more. This is standard practice at sushi counters and protects you from over-ordering when the menu is unfamiliar.

What to order at a sushi bar: rolls, ramen, yakisoba and tempura

Sushi rolls are the core order, and at a dedicated bar you can judge the kitchen on the rice alone: it should be seasoned, slightly warm and hold together without being dense. Ramen is the noodle soup in a long-simmered broth, yakisoba are fried wheat noodles with vegetables and meat, and tempura is seafood or vegetables in a light, crisp batter. Ordering one hot dish alongside the rolls gives you contrast and stops the meal becoming monotonous.

If you are new to Japanese menus, the safe sequence is a roll selection, one tempura plate and one noodle dish to share. That covers raw, fried and broth in a single sitting and tells you quickly whether the kitchen is stronger on cold or hot cooking. Vegetarian eaters should ask what is available rather than assume, since fillings change.

Keep an eye on how much you order at a dedicated bar, because small plates add up faster than a single main course. Ask what a dish costs before you commit to a long order if the menu is unfamiliar.

Le Canard by Tsuki on Šijanska cesta: the all-you-can-eat format

Le Canard by Tsuki sits at Šijanska cesta 12a, away from the old centre, and runs an all-you-can-eat offer. Its own site describes the cooking as a mix of Asian, French, Italian and Japanese and Mediterranean influences, with vegan, vegetarian, lactose-free and gluten-free options listed among its specialities. That breadth is the appeal: a table of four with different diets can all eat from the same menu.

The trade-off is straightforward. All-you-can-eat rewards appetite and group dining, but it is not the place for a delicate, single perfect roll. If sushi is what you came to Pula for, book Noy; if you want a filling meal with Asian dishes on the table and no haggling over portions, Le Canard does that job.

The restaurant publishes opening hours of 15:00 to 23:00, seven days a week, and lists air conditioning, takeaway, free WiFi, accessibility and pets allowed among its services. It also offers online ordering for delivery or pickup, which is useful if you are staying outside the centre.

Booking and paying: cards, cash and online reservations

Le Canard by Tsuki takes reservations through an online form on its site and also lists a phone number, and it accepts Mastercard, Visa, Maestro and debit cards as well as cash. Offering both card and cash makes it easy for a group to settle up. It is worth booking ahead in summer, when Pula fills with visitors and central tables go quickly.

For Noy, check directly with the restaurant before a summer evening, when the Giardini area is busiest. Whether you pay by card or cash, carry both so payment is never the reason a meal stalls.

Sushi as a change of pace from Istrian konoba food

Pula's strength is Istrian cooking: pasta with truffles, boškarin beef, pršut cured ham and seafood from the Adriatic. A sushi dinner works best as a break in the middle of that, especially on a longer stay when heavy lunches start to pile up. Two weeks of konoba food is a pleasure; a single light, rice-based evening in the middle keeps it that way.

If you are eating your way around the city, pair a sushi night with the best pizza in Pula for a cheaper evening, and keep the big Istrian lunches for days when you have time to sit. The old-town streets around the Giardini are lined with casual options for exactly that kind of easy, unhurried evening.

Which sushi stop fits your evening?

Choose Noy on the Giardini when sushi is the reason you are going out and you want a central, focused meal. Choose Le Canard by Tsuki when you need a table that works for mixed diets, a bigger appetite or a takeaway order, and you are happy to trade refinement for volume.

Either way, book before a summer weekend where the restaurant takes reservations and keep some cash on you alongside a card. One check of the restaurant's own site or a quick call will confirm the current menu and hours before you set out.