An Art Deco landmark opened in 1925 to receive passengers stepping off the Orient Express between Paris and Istanbul.
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Overview
Nineteen Twenty-Five
Two hundred and eight rooms in the most prestigious address in the Croatian capital.
The Esplanade opened in 1925 for one specific reason: the Orient Express stopped in Zagreb, and its passengers needed somewhere worthy of the journey. Designed in Art Deco by the architect Dionis Sunko, it became the symbol of luxury in the city almost immediately and has been a haven for film stars, politicians, singers and artists ever since. The 208 rooms and suites carry Art Deco detailing and marble-clad bathrooms, with lavish fabrics, original furniture, historic photographs and a palette of beige, cream and violet.
A Michelin-starred kitchen. Zinfandel’s, the hotel’s principal restaurant, holds Michelin recognition — and its lineage runs straight back to the Orient Express dining car.
1925
Year It Opened
208
Rooms & Suites
2
Restaurants
1
Orient Express Connection
Rooms
Art Deco, Impeccably Kept
Classic interiors with original furniture, lavish fabrics and marble-clad bathrooms.
Deluxe Room — Esplanade Zagreb
01
Art Deco DetailingOriginal 1925 design language kept throughout rather than modernised away.
02
Marble-Clad BathroomsFull marble bathrooms in every category, in keeping with the building’s period.
03
Historic PhotographsRooms carry historic images of the hotel and the city, floral wallpaper and carpeted floors.
04
A Considered PaletteSoothing beige, cream and violet run through the guest rooms and the public spaces.
Experiences
The Capital, On Foot
The cathedral, the market and the Upper Town are all within an easy walk.
City
Ban Jelačić Square
The central gathering point of Zagreb, named for the 19th-century ban who led the fight for independence.
Heritage
Zagreb Cathedral
Neo-Gothic spires that dominate the city skyline, a short walk from the hotel.
Local Life
Dolac Market
The city’s open-air farmers’ market, where the day’s produce arrives each morning.
Upper Town
St Mark’s Church
Its tiled roof carries the coats of arms of Croatia, Dalmatia and Slavonia.
Streets
Tkalčićeva Street
The pedestrian thoroughfare lined with cafés and restaurants, best at early evening.
Onward
Plitvice Lakes
Two hours south by road to the UNESCO-listed lakes, and the start of the Dalmatian coast.
Dining
Zinfandel's, and Le Bistro
A fine-dining room with an Orient Express lineage, and a grand ballroom beside it.
01Zinfandel's, the hotel’s Michelin-recognised principal restaurant
02Le Bistro, for lighter and more informal dining
03The Esplanade 1925 lounge and cocktail bar
04The grand ballroom, epitomising the European grand hotel
The Grand Ballroom — Esplanade Zagreb
Location
Central Zagreb
In the heart of the Croatian capital, beside the railway station it was built to serve.
Set in central Zagreb, within easy reach of the Cathedral and the Art Pavilion.
Built in 1925 specifically to accommodate Orient Express passengers.
A short walk from Ban Jelačić Square, Dolac Market and the Upper Town.
Roughly 20 minutes from Zagreb International Airport.
Fly
Arrive at Zagreb International Airport.
Drive
Roughly 20 minutes by private chauffeur into the city centre.
Arrive
Check in, then walk to Ban Jelačić Square before dinner.
Zagreb
Where the Orient Express Stopped
A 1925 Art Deco landmark, and still the most prestigious address in the capital.