Esplanade Zagreb Hotel

There is no more storied address in Zagreb than the Esplanade. It opened in 1925 to give travellers on the Orient Express a hotel worthy of the journey, right beside the city’s main railway station, and for the rest of the century it hosted kings, film stars, writers and politicians passing between Paris and Istanbul. After a complete renovation it reopened in 2004, and today it combines its Art Deco grandeur, with marble, chandeliers and a sweeping staircase, with the comfort expected of a modern luxury hotel. The 208 rooms and suites are elegant and classic in style. The hotel’s restaurants and bars are an attraction in themselves: Zinfandel’s Restaurant for fine dining, Le Bistro for relaxed Croatian and international dishes, the Esplanade 1925 Lounge and Cocktail Bar, and the Oleander Terrace, with its champagne bar, overlooking the gardens of the Lower Town in the warmer months. A health club with a fitness area and spa therapies, a beauty salon, valet parking and a limousine service complete the picture. The location is as convenient as it is grand: trains to the coast and trams across the city leave from outside, and the green squares of the Lenuci Horseshoe start at the front door.

Location and getting around: the Esplanade is at Mihanovićeva 1, in the Lower Town beside the main railway station and facing the park squares of the Lenuci Horseshoe. Ban Jelačić Square is about fifteen minutes on foot through the gardens, or a few stops by tram from the station. The meeting point for the Plitvice and Slovenia day tours at Zrinjevac is about ten minutes away, and the airport bus terminal is a short taxi ride.

Rooms: rooms are classic rather than contemporary, with rich fabrics and marble bathrooms. Ask for a room facing the park side for the view across the squares, and a higher floor if you want more light.

Who it suits: couples on a special occasion, travellers who love historic hotels, and anyone arriving or leaving by train. It is also the natural base for a festive December break, with the Advent lights of the Lower Town parks on the doorstep from 28 November 2026.

Good to know: parking is by valet service. Breakfast and spa treatments may or may not be included depending on your rate, so compare carefully. Rates rise around Advent weekends and major congresses, while January after the holidays and early spring offer the best value.