Croatia: Esplanade Zagreb

Art Deco Glamour Born From the Orient Express

Esplanade Zagreb Hotel opened in 1925, built by architect Dionis Sunko as a refuge for passengers stepping off the Orient Express. It quickly became the center of Zagreb's social life through the interwar years, hosting a guest list that ran from Josephine Baker and Charles Lindbergh to visiting royalty and heads of state. That fairytale-era glamour still defines the building today, all art deco lines and unmistakable old-world polish.

Rooms and suites carry the same spirit forward, finished with art deco details and marble-clad bathrooms. Dining ranges from Zinfandel's Restaurant, where seasonal ingredients meet a creative take on traditional Croatian cooking, to Le Bistro, best known locally for its Istrian pasta and the hotel's signature štrukli. The Health Club handles the slower moments with facials and massages, and Esplanade 1925 keeps the evening going with cocktails in a room that channels the hotel's original heyday.

Life at Esplanade Zagreb Hotel

• Rooms and suites finished with art deco details and marble-clad bathrooms

• Zinfandel's Restaurant, serving a seasonal, creative take on traditional Croatian cuisine

• Le Bistro, known locally for Istrian pasta and the hotel's signature štrukli

• Esplanade 1925, a lounge and cocktail bar rooted in the hotel's interwar heyday

• A Health Club offering facials and massages

• A location moments from Zagreb's main train station and the city's green squares

Why Esplanade Hotel, Why Zagreb

• A genuine piece of Orient Express history, opened in 1925 to host its passengers

• A guest list that has included Josephine Baker, Charles Lindbergh, and European royalty

• Art deco architecture that still defines Zagreb's skyline of grand hotels

• A dining scene locals recommend as much as visiting guests do

Ideal For: History and design lovers drawn to genuine art deco glamour, food-focused travelers who want to eat well without leaving the hotel, and anyone visiting Zagreb who wants a landmark address in the heart of the city.

Gold Coast Travel Perks

Unlock Virtuoso amenities when you book with Gold Coast Travel:

• Complimentary breakfast for two

• $100 dollar starting resort credit

• Early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability

• Upgrade upon arrival, subject to availability

Other hotels to explore

The Lounge