Image by Milana M.

Of course there are many other Archaeological museums that host by far larger and more important collections than the one in Zagreb. Still, there are at least two spectacular things to be found inside in case you’re at least a little bit interested in history and archaeology.

One of them is the longest script in the world in the Etruscan scribe, which is part of the Mummy of Zagreb, belonging also to the Etruscan tribe (a nation living in the north of the Apennines in the 8th and 7th century B.C. that is said to have influenced Romans quite a bit while others say of this mysterious nation that they are the natives of the peninsula residing there before the Latins), which is part of the Egyptian collection of the museum.

The second interesting collection that found its home in the Archaeological Museum is the coin and monetary collection – one of the biggest in this part of Europe. So in case you’re into money, it’s worth checking out .

Last but not least, the museum resides in a beautiful building in the very heart of Zagreb with one of the nicest gardens in town. Where, could you ever have guessed, there’s a cafe. So if you’re not even that interested in history and old exhibits, you can always chill in the shade of antique statues while having your coffee.

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Archaeological museum | Art & culture | Entry adults Kn 20
Trg Nikole Šubića Zrinskog 19 | Lower town | +38514873102
Tue – Wed & Fri 10:00 – 17:00, Thu 10:00 – 10:00, Sat – Sun 10:00 – 13:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zagreb

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 Milana M.

Music. Rock, blues, jazz, pop, funky, ethno, r’n'b, chanson … Most of it live. And mostly every day. Do you need more reasons to visit Sax? Well, if you do, here’s a brief history overview.

Sax was established 13 years ago as a place where all Croatian musicians or all genres can perform their work in front of an audience that knows how to appreciate what they have to offer. Prominent names of the Croatian music scene have performed here alongside less prominent ones. Anonymous performers became stars. Stars didn’t live up to their star status. All in all, it was rarely boring in Sax. True, sometimes the repertoire of some bands can be more or less repetitive but the upside of this club is that it offers live music almost every day of the week, which is very rare in Zagreb.

And now some guidelines for surviving Sax – first, dress in layers. Even if it’s freezing outside, it will be tropic inside so you better have some short sleeves on (I once fainted because of my sweater). Second, yes, it can get a bit stinky – especially now with the smoking ban which is a paradox – you no longer smell of cigarettes but you can smell everyone else. Finally, use the small bar on the left rather than the main one on the right and get acquainted with Roman, the bartender. You’ll never have to wait for your drink for too long.

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Sax | Bars, Music | Entry Kn 20
Palmotićeva 22 | Lower town | +38514872836
18:00 – 02:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zagreb

Image by Milana M.

When Pepermint club opened at the end of 2010, it was an instant success. Such a success that to this day it’s pretty difficult to get into the club on weekends. Since there’s this mindset in Zagreb that when a new hip club opens everyone HAS to be there to see and be seen, it mostly becomes a pain in the ass, because of the crowds, the overflow of „must seen” pretentious people and such.

However, I would like to tell you about Pepermint during the week. One of the best nights out that I’ve had during the week in the last year. Completely opposite from the weekend preppy crown, weekdays are much more relaxing and in my opinion much more interesting. Less crowded, meaning it gives you more space to dance, the party starts going around 21:00. meaning you can still make it home at a „proper” time to wake up tomorrow for work and most probably an interesting mixed crowd of people.

Be it a presentation of an album featuring croatian poets, the weekly Wednesday Rockabily sessions, a Valentine party organized by a theatre-producer’s duo or a concert of one of my favorite emerging young artists on the Croatian scene, Luka Belani, it never failed to provide quality fun. Recommended for all those looking for something “different”, just keep yourself informed through the Pepermint facebook page.

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Pepermint | Bars, Music | Small beer Kn 15
Ilica 24 | Lower town
10:00 – 05:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zagreb

Image by Krunoslav Koprivnjak

After being bought by Varta in the 90′s, this factory has expanded in the recent years and broadened their palette of products. Unfortunately, as the business got going, they closed the discount shop that was previously in the factory yard.

However, you can still go to the factory’s workshop (first building on the left once you enter the yard) and buy some freshly assembled batteries for almost half the price they’re sold in the stores. If you need to replace the old batteries from a device (such as wristwatch), they will do it free of charge, i.e. they will charge you only new batteries.

So, if you use a lot of gadgets, or like to do some photography – you’ll appreciate a backup set of (re)charged batteries. This is the place to get the stuff when in Zagreb.

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Croatia baterije | Shopping | 2500 mAh AA NiMH rechargeable Kn 30.00
Koturaška 69 | Lower town | +38516171211
Mon – Fri 07:00 – 15:00

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 Krunoslav Koprivnjak

All jazz lovers coming by train won’t see much of Zagreb if they enter Bacchus. Situated less than 100m from the central train station, this bar offers food and drink for both body and soul, serving as a perfect welcome, farewell or just a quick resting place for an inquisitive wanderer.

A bar with history, a former legendary notorious hot spot and gay meeting point, reopened its doors in 2008. with a new concept, slowly regaining it’s undeservedly lost cult status. The first thing that one notices upon entering is the details.

Everything here is about details. Every time you look around you will notice something new, from numerous antique writing machines, gramophones, radios, television sets, car models and wardrobes to a trapped baby doll, yellow rubber duck and a shark gnawing on a disco ball, to name just a few. The counter itself is made of an old bookshelf filled with books, and you get the check in one of them.

Jazz is played Wed-Sat, and the programme can be checked on their web page. If the weather is nice, you can sit in the garden up front, which reminds of a grandma’s back garden, extremely pleasant and relaxing.

The wine list is rather short but carefully selected, featuring wines from Argentina, Chile, California, Republic of South Africa as well as Croatian pride and glory. Besides wines, they offer a great list of cocktails and rakija made with herbs, berries, sour cherries, honey, pear, myrtle, and even nettle.

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Bacchus Jazz Bar | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Relaxing | Wine bottle from Kn 110
Trg Kralja Tomislava 16 | Lower town | +38514922218
10:00 – 00:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zagreb

Image by Krunoslav Koprivnjak

In the first years of the 3rd millennium, prof. Carole Meredith discovered that grapes Zinfandel and Crljenak Kaštelanski have the identical genetic profile, therefore are the same sort. After a couple hundred more hours in the lab (i.e. wine cellar) she also discovered that the aforementioned Mr. Zinfandel had an affair with Mrs. Dobričić from the island of Šolta which gave birth to the little and much beloved Plavac Mali.

P.Z. Podšpilje (a farming cooperative) from the island of Vis produces excellent Plavac Mali, a quality dry red wine, which can be bought for ridiculously cheap prices in the centre of Zagreb. Although it seems very light and it slides down smoothly, do not be tricked by its apparent playfulness, this wine has 12.5% alcohol. Goes well with red meat, cheeses and oily fish. And Coke.

As its faithful companion, also from the wine growing hills of Vis, comes Vugava – a quality dry white wine. Vugava is made by grapes cultivated in Dalmacija since the Ancient times, when Vis was called Issa and when the Greek historian Agatharchides claimed that Vugava “is superior to every other wine whatever“. Today’s Vugava is a rather sweetish and fruitish wine, which lacks a bit of acidity. Nevertheless, beware of Vugava because it reaches up to 14% alc. content. Goes well with all fish and white meat.

Besides those two wines, available from huge barrels or bottled, one can also find some great grape rakija with herbs and vinegar, all from the island of Vis.

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P.Z. Podšpilje | Shopping, Snacks | Plavac mali Kn 15.00
Kralja Držislava 10 | Lower town | +3853776735
Mon – Fri 09:00 – 15:30, Sat 09:00 – 14:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zagreb

Image by Dokukino Croatia

After the invasion of big corporations into the cinema industry Croatian old cinemas followed the route of I believe many old cinemas, at least in European tradition, that have reinvented themselves as specialized in certain “alternative” genres. One such story is the famous Kino Europa (check the Kino Europa article) in Zagreb.

Another one, not as famous but nonetheless equally interesting, is the creation of Dokukino Croatia – a cinema with only 37 seats. Ah, but beware dear film-lover, these seats are not your ordinary movie seats, rather comfortable sofas from which you can enjoy the best of the best documentaries.

Yes, Dokukino, as its name tells us specializes in documentary films and doesn’t screen any other genre, making it unique in itself. The cinema was reopened in 2009 by the initiative of Restart association and Croatia film company. Its purpose is to become the focal point of documentary-lovers’ gatherings, which is why the cinema organizes not only movie projections (both recent production and archive footage) but also talks with directors and various film workshops.

And yes, it does encompass a café in itself, where you can chill and talk movies. And documentaries.

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Dokukino Croatia | Art & culture, Cinemas | Entry Kn 20
Katančićeva 3 | Lower town | +38514813711
11:00 – 22:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zagreb