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Esplanade Zagreb Hotel - The Historical Landmark Of Zagreb
THE PERFECT BLEND OF HISTORY AND TRADITION, EXCEPTIONAL ART DECO STYLE, TOP-NOTCH SERVICE AND OLD-WORLD GLAMOUR
The Esplanade Hotel is by far the best known and most luxurious hotel in Zagreb and the region. Recently hotel marked its 97th year since it first opened its doors. Its timeless elegance, sophistication and charm, which back in 1925 attracted passengers of the famous Orient Express, today is considered an elite venue and cultural historic icon of Zagreb. Known as the temple of comfort and cuisine, during the nineties it positively kept up with contemporary trends, while equally fostering the harmony of tradition and the past.
BUILT FOR THE PASSENGERS OF THE ORIENT EXPRESS
In the early 20th century two of the most well-known hotels of the time became far too small for the increasing number of passengers who arrived in Zagreb stepping off the famous Orient Express. In order to meet the changing needs of the city, the construction development of a new luxurious hotel imposed itself as a priority. The hotel was to be built on a vast open field (Spanish: Esplanade) close to the railway station - once, the only link with Europe and the rest of the world - which was one of the stops of the prestigious Orient Express enroute between Paris-Venice-Istanbul.
In 1917 an international tender was announced which attracted numerous excellent architects of the time. The success came to a German, Otto Rehnig, whose original plans were reworked by Dionis Sunko, who today is considered the architect of this masterpiece of architecture of the “Belle Époque”. The construction of the largest hotel in Zagreb took place over a mere 26 months. The opening ceremony, on 22 April 1925, drew over 200 distinguished guests, including Mayor Heinzel of Zagreb. Journalists wrote words predicting a bright future on an international level, and among the first guests of the hotel was a Mr. Glück (German for happiness), which was an indication that this prediction was to become true. And so it was!
CENTRE OF ZAGREB'S SOCIAL LIFE
The hotel was luxurious, sophisticated, and extremely comfortable, equipped with the latest advances of modern science. There were two hundred rooms available with running hot and cold water, one hundred bathrooms, a phone in every room, numerous apartments, salons, and restaurants with excellent cuisine and a magnificent ballroom decorated with iconic columns and sculptures. The impact that the Esplanade had back then upon the social life of the city is best evidenced by recent common opinion that “once you step inside, the experience is worth mentioning to your grandchildren”. It is not surprising that many generations have spoken in awe of the elegant and magical areas of the hotel. Famous sentence of the writer Miroslav Krleža who once said that the ‘Oleander terrace is the border between Balkans and Europe’ best describes the perception of the Esplanade Hotel as one of the most prestigious places in Zagreb and region.
GOLDEN GUEST BOOK
This “most fashionably appointed hotel of Central Europe” attracted many famous personalities. Various diplomats and world statesmen have stepped through the doors of the Esplanade such as Queen Elizabeth II, Nikita Khrushchev, Leonid Brezhnev, Richard Nixon, Josephine Baker, Charles Lindbergh and Orson Welles. Recent names include Depeche Mode, Simple Minds, U2, R.E.M, Robbie Williams, Joe Cocker, Sting, Lenny Kravitz, José Carreras, Chris Rea, Sade, Shakira and Maestro Ennio Morricone, not to mention stars of film and TV including Courtney Thorne-Smith, Orlando Bloom, Armand Assante, Hugh Laurie, Rami Malek and a host of others. The hotel has often been home to many athletes and sports personalities who have stayed in Zagreb: from David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Pep Guardiola to endless famous basketball, handball and football teams. Politicians, diplomats and royalty are frequent hotel guests. First Lady of the United States and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Princess Anne, Emir of Qatar, Japanese Prince and Princess Akishino, Swedish King Carl Gustaf XVI and Queen Silvia, the Danish Queen Margareta II and Prince Henrik, Prince Charles and many others. The hotel has also hosted famous Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho, renowned photographer Peter Lindbergh, violinist Julian Rachlin, British artists Gilbert & George, designer Karim Rashid, DJ David Guetta, music producer Dave Clark, musician Maksim Mrvica and many others. These are just some of the distinguished guests who signed the Esplanade guestbook and of course, certain celebrities, statesmen, and politicians chose to pass through the hotel incognito.
INDULGENT AND INSPIRATIONAL
The elegantly modern interiors and enchanting combination of Art Nouveau architecture, highly personalized service, and state-of-theart trends in technology afford each guest an unforgettable stay in this historic hotel, located near all the city's notable landmarks. Each of the thoughtfully designed and spacious rooms and suites offers not only traditional Hollywood glamour and a true sense of 'home', but also free superfast Wi-Fi, access to the hotel's Health Club, and many other innovative services. Any of the hotel’s numerous flexible spaces, including the magnificent Emerald Ballroom, can serve as an ideal backdrop for a conference, celebration, magical wedding reception, open-air party or other unforgettable glamorous event in this ‘city of a million hearts’, as its charmingly dubbed.
SOPHISTICATED CULINARY CONCEPTS
The accommodation is supplemented by the exceptional culinary experiences made possible through Executive Chef Ana Grgić Tomić's uniquely modern interpretation of traditional Croatian cuisine. The sophisticated ambience and elegance of the Zinfandel's Restaurant, with its wellknown Oleander terrace and view of the park and fountain, offer an unforgettable fine dining experience. A creative combination of modern Mediterranean cuisine, cosmopolitan trends, and an innovative culinary approach mixed with fresh ingredients from local suppliers transforms each plate into a work of art. The selection of top-quality wines and champagnes in Zinfandel’s wine list, compiled by hotel’s sommelier, serve to further refine the culinary experience. The lively Le Bistro provides a pleasant Parisian chic atmosphere and is as such the perfect choice for hosting dynamic business lunches, dinner with that special someone, or just enjoying the city’s finest cup of coffee with delicious cake. Inspired by the ambience of the 1920s, the cosmopolitan Esplanade 1925 Lounge Bar offers a creative selection of cocktails, delicious bites and finest Afternoon tea, while a DJ takes care of the music. In the summer months, you can kick back and relax on iconic Oleandar terrace with a glass of bubbly. Keeping step with global culinary trends, the hotel has recognized certain guests’ special needs with regard to dietary restrictions, as such introducing kosher, halal, and gluten-free standards to make the experience carefree for everyone.
INNOVATVE GUEST SERVICES
For years, the Esplanade has found itself at the forefront of hotel trends, and is the first hotel in Croatia and this part of Europe to have become a Tesla and Porsche Destination Charging point, which enables its guests, owners of these electric cars, the opportunity to charge their vehicles for free. The increased demand for quick and accessible internet motivated the Esplanade to offer its guests yet another novel and practical service - Wifi2Go for those wishing to surf the web wherever they are. Hotel developed specially designed App where you can find out more about the latest promotions, browse the attractive menu and wine list, order room service with just a few clicks and connect to your in-room smart TV with integrated remote control to easily choose channels and other hotel content. For those who wish to relax and unwind in the comfort of their own room, the Esplanade has created a selection of bath products inspired by the natural Esplanade SPA Ritual by L'Occitane.
ONE OF A KIND
The Esplanade Hotel, continues to follow its well-known tradition of discreet and elegant service at a high level, which guests always appreciate. A symbol of the city itself and a synonym for top-quality service and elegance, the Esplanade has succeeded in earning true regional star status, underlined by the numerous impeccable service awards it has been presented with. New trends within the hotel industry, the perfect blend of timeless elegance and tradition of a hotel with modern, dynamic, contemporary design and functionality has launched the Esplanade to the top of the list of most luxurious hotels in the region and equally, across the globe.
The melding of tradition, refined taste, sophistication, extraordinary service and a unique, sincere tie to the city of Zagreb, its residents, and each and every guest all render the Esplanade one of the world's mustvisit unique hotels.
W: esplanade.hr
T: +385 1 4566 666
A: Mihanoviceva 1, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
