Image by Milana M.

ZPC – the Zagreb Dance Centre opened its doors in October 2009, much to pleasure of all of us who are dancers, professional of recreational or simply in love with the art of dance. After a long period of waiting (somehow it seems that in Croatia the proverb “Good things come to those who wait” is beyond truth, it’s an universal fact) dancers, choreographers and common folk who wanted to inform themselves about anything connected to dance have gotten their spot.

ZPC is envisaged as a place where choreographers and dancers can perform, take classes and practice, with open doors for everyone who wants to learn. Apart for physical acts of dancing, film projections connected to dance take place here (after all, this used to be a cinema, one of the oldest in Zagreb which had to close its doors after the birth of big corporations called multiplex cinemas), discussions and seminars – in other words, anything and everything connected to dance.

Choreographers from most dance studios in Zagreb and beyond hold open classes in the Dance Centre to which you can simply walk in and test your strength, endurance and knowledge.

The building itself was voted one of the best architectural solutions lately in Zagreb, designed by the Zagreb based studio 3LHD. Therefore, ZPC is truly a place to visit, either to dance or simply look around and have a coffee on its terrace which provides a peaceful, artistic vibe in the very centre of Zagreb.

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Zagrebački Plesni Centar – ZPC | Art & culture, Coffee & tea | Dance workshops Kn 30
Ilica 10 | Lower town | +38514621967
09:00 – 22:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zagreb

Image by Milana M.

When I heard that there’s a new cookie place in town, the chocolate sugar addict in me was jumping from joy. Yes, I frequently complain about the lack of quality snacks in Zagreb to have along with your coffee, so this seemed to be the perfect place to enjoy a chat with a friend, a good cup of coffee and an amazing sugar rush along with it.

Having explored a bit more and finding out that the place was inspired by the original U.S. chocolate chip cookies (the owner spent his student years across the Atlantic indulging in cookies and becoming an expert in baking them) I decided even before trying any of the sweets that this place is sure to become one of my favorites.

My high expectations did come true in most aspects – the place is really cute, with a homey feel  to it, real great to chill out by yourself or in good company sharing a cookie, brownie, hot brownie with ice-cream, pumpkin pie, you name it. All of the ingredients are there. Though, one downside to it is that their coffee is not the best out there, but I am hoping that’s due to the fact they’re still new to the art of making coffee (after all, they have Lavazza and a good coffee machine) so I’ll definitely be coming back for some more sugar-indulging in the following cold winter months.

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The Cookie Factory | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Cookies Kn 10
Skalinska 3 | Lower town | +38514813901
Mon – Sat 09:00 – 22:00, Sun 13:00 – 21:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zagreb

Image by Krunoslav Koprivnjak

Situated next to the Student’s Centre, this café is very popular amongst younger population. In line with its name, everything about it has a slightly artistic, yet tasteful, air. The chairs on the terrace are some old wooden chairs, usually no two of the same design, and the interior is filled with retro billboards and posters. The lights inside are dim, the music is blended in the background chitchatting noise, which combines into a very pleasant and cosy atmosphere.

Once there, it is advisable to enjoy a cup of great coffee, a pint of excellent beer or just some plain old cider (rare to be found in Zagreb). If you’re wondering whether you’ve come to the right place, you’ll know by the time it takes for the waiter (they’re called WAITers for a reason) to take and bring your order. Then again, in a place called “Godot”, that’s probably the point.

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Café Godot | Coffee & tea | Cider Kn 18.00
Savska 23 a | Lower town
07:00 – 00:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zagreb

Image by Milana M.

OK, so if you’ve done any research on Croatia so far, especially through some of the articles on Spotted by Locals, you could have noticed that we are a nation that takes its coffee seriously. No wonder that during sunny days it’s difficult to find a spot on a terrace downtown, of that sometimes it seems that nobody in this country is working, rather having coffee.

However, business meetings are conducted also over coffees, interviews, hanging out with friends, going out on dates etc. Our lives just have a whole lot do do with coffee. Still, there is one place in town where I prefer having my coffee by myself – because I don’t want anything taking my attention away from the glorious aromas you can find in 1st Coffee.

The choice ranges from the best South American, African and Asian grinds, even the notorious Kopi Luwak – whose beans are first eaten by Meerkats and then collected after the little animals have digested them. Personally, I have no wish to try it since an espresso is 150 Kn, but also since I don’t like the notion of drinking coffee which has been already digested by someone else.

However, to each his own, my suggestion is the Haiti espresso with just two drops of cold milk and if you really really need, just a bit of sugar. Enjoy your coffee!

p.s. smoking allowed

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1st Coffee | Coffee & tea | Haiti espresso Kn 12
Preradovićeva 12 | Lower town | +38514854780
Mon – Sat 07:00 – 02:00, Sun 09:00 – 02:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zagreb

Image by Karla Lončar

Although somewhat secluded, Cyber Funk Café is very well known among fruit and vegetable lovers. Simply decorated, this courtyard/garden place offers another kind of riches – it serves around 40 different varieties of freshly made juices and smoothies, sandwiches, coffee and tea, as well as excellent daily soup (all of which you can order to-go).

Everything Cyber Funk Café serves is delightful and tasty, not to mention healthy, so if you are in desperate need for your daily dose of vitamins, Cyber Funk Café is the obvious answer.

Also, as its name suggests, the spot provides internet access (0,25 Kn/min) and similar kinds of service (document copying, scanning and faxing). Of course, what definitely stands out about it are its smoothies and juices, which will fill your batteries and light up your day with some Endorphin fueled optimism.

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Cyber Funk Café | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Juice (Fresh) 0.2 L Kn 14.00
Masarykova 26 | Lower town | +38516399070
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 22:00, Sat 09:00 – 22:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zagreb

Image by Karla Lončar

Kino Europa is the most beautiful cinema in Zagreb, made in post-secession classicistic style in 1924. It is situated in Varšavska street – street that has recently been a scene of a civil initiative and protests due to city government’s nontransparent politics related to an engineering project placed just a few meters away from the cinema.

Actually, from its beginnings, this cinema has been a bystander of political turmoil. It survived several political regimes, changed its initial name from „Balkan kino” to more eligible „Kino Europa” during the War of Independence, but in spite of all those changes, it has kept its doors open for every film buff in the city.

In 2008, after the civil initiative for preservation of this opulent cinema, city government entrusted its management to Zagreb Film Festival organization. Thanks to them, the citizens of Zagreb have one more place where they’re able to watch latest independent films, national and international festival laureates, and all those movies they won’t easily find in some Movieplex. Kino Europa has also become a national movie center that is a host to many film festivals and art related promotions as well.

Besides, it’s a place in which you can drink excellent coffee, wine and grappa at the Kino Europa café, use free wireless internet connection, check some new art-exhibition and dance on club nights every Friday and Saturday. All of that combined definitely makes Kino Europa Zagreb’s perfect hotspot.

For the exact movie program and event information, click here.

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Kino Europa | Art & culture, Bars, Cinemas, Coffee & tea, Music, Festivals & events
Varšavska 3 | Lower town | +38514872888
Mon – Wed 09:00 – 01:00, Thu – Sat 09:00 – 02:00, Sun 11:00 – 00:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zagreb

Image by Karla Lončar

One of my favorite places in Zagreb is definitely Booksa. Booksa is a book club, but you don’t have to be a member to enjoy everything this place offers (only, if you come there more than once, it’s advisable to sign up for their membership card). The catchy name comes from a slang – in Croatian “buksa” means prison. So, if you are “prisoner” of your love for literature you will feel like home here.

The atmosphere is very “homely” indeed – ordering drinks is a sort of self-service thing and after you sit back and relax on one of the cozy sofas you can feel free to take a look at various newspapers and literature magazines, even in foreign languages. This tobacco-free place delights all your senses because, once you enter, you are immediately surrounded by pictures or photos from local artists, good music and, of course, books.

You can run into a live concert, book presentation, some literature festival or one of many literature workshops held for its members. However, Booksa isn’t a standard bar – they serve alcohol only when mentioned manifestations are being held. “Soft” drinks, like coffee or tea are always attainable.

Booksa also offers lots of brochures and information about Zagreb cultural happenings. In that way, this book club is a perfect starting point for exploring the city.

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Booksa | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Shopping | Caffe Latte Kn 9.00
Martićeva 14d | Lower town | +38514616124
Tue – Sun 11:00 – 20:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zagreb

Image by Milana M.

Coming from the German word “shpitze” meaning “tip”, the Zagreb “špica” is a peculiar social phenomenon that doesn’t happen that often in other European cities, at least based on the feedback from my international friends.

It happens on Saturday mornings, more precisely between 10:00 a.m. and 14:00. It makes sense to get around to doing everything you didn’t have time throughout the week on Saturday morning – going to the market, doing some shopping around town, meeting friends for a coffee and catching up etc. But what is specific about “špica” is that everyone tends to do that in the range of a couple of streets downtown, looking their best.

So, if you take a walk around Bogovićeva, “Cvjetni trg” area, Tkalčićeva and the main square, you’ll see women in their fur coats looking as if they just came out of the hairdressers, pushing their strollers around in the highest imaginable heels just being their everyday fabulous selves. And the men don’t lack behind much.

Although for this one Saturday mornings are reserved for sleeping; sunny weather, a friend or some choir may get me up and about downtown where I end up amazed once again by the ingenuity and pure energy put into getting your amazing self there to the “tip”. So, if you want to see the best of the best in Zagreb, meet celebrities and celebrity wannabes, witness the latest trends, or bump into almost everyone you know in Zagreb, špica is the place to go.

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Špica | Coffee & tea, Shopping | Free
Mirka Bogovića | Lower town
Sat 10:00 – 14:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zagreb