Zagreb is a beautiful city in a country that many westerners are only just discovering, but those who do cannot start in a better way than if they book a stay at the Esplanade Zagreb Hotel. The most famous and smartest hotel in the city, the Esplanade was first opened in 1925, when passengers from the Orient Express stopped in Zagreb and stayed there. Its elegance and charm were apparent then and remain so now, establishing the hotel as an elite venue and a Zagreb icon as it played host to personalities like Josephine Baker and Charles Lindbergh. Of course, there have been some turbulent times since then.
In the Second World War the hotel was used by the Gestapo, while the nation of Croatia re-emerged from the ashes of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. It was then that the hotel was extensively redeveloped, being re-opened with its splendid art nouveau frontage in 2004. The Esplanade today is as opulent and beautiful as it gets, in a magnificent location. Being right in the heart of the city centre means it is perfect for exploring all of Zagreb’s treasures, with some fine panoramas from the bedroom windows of an urban landscape interspersed with fine buildings, attractive squares and trees. As might be expected in a five-star hotel, the services are superb, from the concierge to room service. The rooms are spacious and have a hint of Hollywood style, while the food is sensational. Indeed, the cuisine is a true highlight of the hotel.
For a magnificent restaurant with a delicious Mediterranean menu, choose between Oleander Terrace and Le Bistro, while the Zinfandel is widely regarded as the best restaurant in the country, a place to enjoy some wonderful Croatian cuisine. There is also Esplanade, 1925, which offers a great place to spend an evening with some snacks and superb alcoholic or hot drinks. Put together, this combination of style and class, history, luxury and magnificent food make the Esplanade a truly wonderful place to stay. If you want to experience the very best of Croatia, this is it.
