Esplanade Zagreb Hotel
by the TopOfHotel team
The Esplanade Zagreb is a 1925 Art Deco legend built to receive Orient Express passengers — the Emerald ballroom stops you mid-step, and plenty of people call Zinfandel's the best meal in Zagreb.
The Esplanade Zagreb is a 1925 Art Deco legend built to receive Orient Express passengers — the Emerald ballroom stops you mid-step, and plenty of people call Zinfandel's the best meal in Zagreb.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
There are 208 rooms and suites spread across a 7-storey building, each blending classic Art Deco charm with modern comforts. Ceilings run close to 3.5 metres, big windows pour in natural light, the old parquet is polished to a shine, and the cream-gold-and-emerald furniture nods to the 1920s. Deluxe rooms run roughly 25-30 square metres, with a soft king bed in Egyptian cotton and a marble bathroom with a separate tub and shower, stocked with Bvlgari. Several upper-floor suites have a small balcony looking onto Strossmayer park and its ring of 1800s scholar statues. Shared spaces include the Esplanade 1925 bar, its walls hung with golden-age celebrities, a 24-hour fitness room, and a spa using Aromatherapy Associates products. A lot of reviews say you get a genuine classic-luxury feel you won't find elsewhere in Zagreb.
Food and amenities
The hotel's other heart is Zinfandel's, in the Michelin Guide for several years running under chef Ana Grgic. The food is contemporary Croatian, pulling from local farmers and the Adriatic catch and folding in French technique, and plenty of reviews rate it the best dinner in Zagreb — good value next to a Michelin spot in Western Europe. The ground floor holds Le Bistro, open all day, serving strukli, the national baked cheese-pastry that locals keep dropping in for, with a street terrace made for nursing a coffee while the trams roll past. The opening of the Emerald ballroom shows the same care: emerald mosaic on the walls and floor, the one room where the architect used Bohemian crystal throughout, kept original enough to be listed as Croatian cultural heritage.
Location and getting there
Location is the other ace. The hotel sits in the middle of Donji Grad (Lower Town), directly across from Strossmayer park, one block (about a 3-minute walk) from the Glavni Kolodvor central station — very handy if you arrive by train from Ljubljana, Vienna or Belgrade. The main square, Ban Jelacic, the hub of any Zagreb visit, is about 8 minutes on foot, and tram 6 from the door drops you in the Upper Town and at Dolac market within a few stops. From Franjo Tudman airport it's roughly 25-30 minutes by bus or taxi.
Things to know before booking
Straight talk before you book. The first thing reviews flag most is price — this is the most expensive hotel in Zagreb by the standards of a city where the cost of living isn't high. Set it against a 5-star in Prague or Budapest and it can feel fair; set it against Zagreb's own 4-stars at half the rate and budget travelers will need to weigh it. Second is the standard view — some Classic rooms are smaller than expected (around 22 square metres) and may face a side wall or the car park, which feels a little bleak. Ask for a Strossmayer-park view at booking or upgrade to Deluxe and up. Third is the classic-formal style some find stiff — the high ceilings, velvet sofas and suited staff don't add up to the casual boutique mood some people want. And the noise: trains from the central station and trams on the street out front mean lower street-side rooms can catch some sound at times, so ask for a higher floor or the park side for more quiet.
Our take
After reading hundreds of real guest reviews, the Esplanade Zagreb Hotel sells its 100-year Orient Express story with full confidence — an Art Deco building kept original, an Emerald ballroom that stops you mid-step, a Michelin Guide restaurant, a few steps to the central station, and staff so warm the reviews agree almost unanimously. If your trip in your head is a couple celebrating an anniversary, dinner at Zinfandel's followed by a cocktail in that celebrity-walled bar, then a balcony over Strossmayer park, or a train traveler who wants a classic stopover through Central Europe, this is Zagreb's number-one pick without overthinking it. If you're after a sharp modern hotel, better value, or a budget solo trip, the city has options that fit better. Overall we give it 9.0/10, best for couples, classic-luxury travelers, and anyone who likes a hotel with a story.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- The original Art Deco building dates to 1925 — from the lobby and staircase to the Emerald ballroom, every corner looks like a living museum.
- Central Donji Grad location — one block from the Glavni Kolodvor central station, handy if you're connecting by train to Ljubljana, Vienna or Belgrade.
- Zinfandel's runs at Michelin Guide level — chef Ana Grgic serves contemporary Croatian food that many reviews call the best meal in Zagreb.
- Le Bistro on the ground floor serves strukli, the national baked cheese-pastry, good enough that locals drop in for it, plus a street terrace for coffee.
- Staff that reviews agree is warm and genuine — they remember faces and go further than you'd expect from a classic 5-star.
- Highest nightly rate in the city by Zagreb standards — some feel it's steep for a city where the cost of living isn't high. It reads better against 5-star hotels in Prague or Budapest than against Zagreb's own 4-stars at half the price.
- Some standard Classic rooms are smaller than expected (around 22 sqm) and face a neighbouring wall or the car park, which feels a bit bleak. Ask for a Strossmayer-park view at booking or upgrade to Deluxe.
- The look leans classic and formal — high ceilings, velvet sofas, staff in suits. If you prefer modern minimalist or a casual boutique feel, the mood here can read stiff.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Zagreb
Day tours, attraction tickets and experiences around Zagreb — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
See activities in ZagrebAffiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Insider Tips
- Ask for a room facing Strossmayer park at booking — you get the trees and the 1800s statues instead of a side wall, and the difference is night and day.
- Le Bistro downstairs has the best strukli (national baked cheese-pastry) in town — drop in for an easy lunch, no advance booking needed the way Zinfandel's is.
- Ask the concierge for the free building tour — they have Orient Express-era stories and the celebrities who stayed (Josephine Baker, Orson Welles, Louis Armstrong), more fun than it sounds.