Image by Milana M.

PMS – Prostor Manufakturne Slobode (the space of manufacturing freedom) has opened just recently and is quickly becoming the new hotspot for all of those looking for a piece of creativity in Zagreb.

This cozy shop in one of Zagreb’s busiest streets offers the widest range of creativity. If you’re looking for a new piece of jewelry, a dress, hat, painting or even a lamp from recycled washing machine parts, look no further. It is very refreshing to have a space in Zagreb which provides artists and artisans with a place where they can exhibit and sell their work on a regular basis, and with no restrictions. The owner is open to anyone who wants to showcase their work and will give everyone a chance in line with the terms of the free market – let the end user decide! 

This philosophy brings about a constant change within PMS, so you can be sure you will not be seeing the same stuff there over and over again. Only change is constant and I am very happy and excited to see how PMS will develop and transform itself on its path. At the moment, it’s quirky, fresh and interesting, hopefully it will stay the same. 

Details about this spot (Show on map)
PMS | Art & culture, Shopping | From Kn 50
Tkalčićeva 61 | Upper town
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 20:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zagreb

Image by Milana M.

Skalinska street is a small street leading up from the well-known and busy Tkalčićeva up to Opatovina and the Zagreb cathedral. Although only approximately 100 meters long, it hosts a couple of interesting spots, rather, a three-in one spot.

It is the “Nokturno” complex, a combination of two restaurants and hotel/hostel. The restaurants “Nokturno” and “Skalinada” offer a varied choice of Italian and Croatian food. Although they would hardly receive a Michelin star, the food is quite tasty and surprisingly cheap for downtown Zagreb.

In case you are in need of good lunch and don’t want to spend too much money on extravaganza, I would definitely recommend it, also because of the view on the cathedral while you’re having lunch.

The “Nokturno” hostel/hotel is small and cozy, most importantly very clean and alongside offering hostel accommodation in 3-6 bed dorms, it also has one apartment style room which could serve well for a romantic couple’s weekend.

Apart for the sleeping/food question, this little street is quite charming as a passage from Tkalčićeva up to Dolac market, Opatovina (another street filled with small cafes) and Kaptol, the religious-part of Zagreb’s two hills history.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Skalinska | Restaurants (Italian/Croatian) | Pizza Kn 30
Skalinska | Upper town | +38514813325
08:00 – 01:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zagreb

Image by Krunoslav Koprivnjak

A great old school bar for grabbing a quick, yet quality, drink. A perfect place for a gloomy rainy day, the interior is in shabby wood, filled with smoke, a waitress wearing borosane, a small TV set flickering and showing whatever and a mandatory resigned drunkard at the bar. Does it not sound like a perfect place to grab “a quick one” to warm up the body and soul and then get lost in a rainy night?

Of course, you can always sit down and take your time sipping and enjoying the wide selection of spirits, most famous of which being flavoured rakija from Istrian town of Višnjan. The offer includes rakija made with honey (medica), fig (smokvovaèa), mistletoe (biska), myrtle (mirta), carob (rogaè) etc.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Buffet MK | Coffee & tea | Rakija Kn 12.00
Pavla Radića 7 | Upper town
08:00 – 01:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zagreb

Image by Krunoslav Koprivnjak

Imagine the following scenario: It’s Wednesday afternoon, the weekend is light years away, your boss is sitting on your neck and you still have tons of stuff to do… What now? A tough question.

Or, rather, it would be tough, were it not for Cica (The Boob). Located in Tkalčićeva street, just around the corner from a great kebab place and Leonardo and Nokturno restaurants, Cica offers mother’s milk for a young working class soul. The place is very small, mostly crowded and a bit chaotic, filled with shouting, laughter and cigarette smoke.

They offer a wide range of home made fruit rakija and two of the best Croatian beer – Velebitsko (light) and Kasačko (semi-dark). The rakija comes from the Istrian peninsula and is kept in various bottles with handwritten labels on them which adds to the atmosphere.

The music ranges from hip-hop, house, alternative rock to whatever the air is in the air that evening. And do not be surprised if you stumble upon an exhibition, movie projection or a poetry evening, there’s something going on all the time. Just order your favourite shot and a beer, mingle and meet new people. Who cares if tomorrow is Thursday!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Cica | Bars | Rakija Kn 13.00
Tkalčićeva 18 | Upper town | +385958609899
10:00 – 01:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zagreb

Image by tituš

So this is the scenario: it’s Monday, one of the usually less interesting days of the week. You’re walking around downtown Zagreb not really looking for a crazy dance-party but not quite ready to go home yet. After all, who said Mondays should be just a dull beginning of the (work) week days.

If this happens, and you’re in the mood for a beer and some live music, not just Mondays, you can stop by this small and cozy bar on Mesnička street and be sure you’ll find what you’re looking for. Because in Tituš, every single day of the week you can be sure there’s gonna be at least someone playing the guitar (or an accordion, a violin or DJ-ing from real old-school vinyl records). Be it either local kids who want to practice their performance skills on thursdays (whoever wants to play at night) or a super professional artist, the atmosphere will always be the same: unpretentious, full of good vibes and music, music, music.

In Tituš, there’s never knowing who can stop by, pick up or bring an instrument and just have fun with it, spreading good energy among the crowd, backed up by the always friendly couple who runs the place (Marija & Davor) who do their job sincerely from the heart and it’s there for everyone to see.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Tituš | Bars, Music | Beer Kn 15
Mesnička 47 | Upper town | +385917226065
Mon – Fri 08:30 – 02:00, Sat – Sun 19:00 – 02:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zagreb

Image by Milana M.

Park, music school, club, cathedral. Take your pick. If you’re into a walk in a park in the very heart of the city, here you go. If you want to learn how to play an instrument or sing, over there you go as well. And if you want to listen to those who have already learned how to play and sing, there you go again. All in the shade of the centuries old walls of the Zagreb cathedral.

Ribnjak is the name of the park where all this takes place. Although in my opinion there are nicer parks in Zagreb (Maksimir, Zrinjevac and its companions along the Lenuci’s Green Horseshoe) one cannot deny that Ribnjak has a special vibe to it, especially during the past couple of years and interesting initiatives such as the Park in Zagreb two-week long music festival at the beginning of every summer.

The name of the club in the middle of the park is “Purgeraj” which could be translated as the meeting point of true Zagreb folk (“purger” being a colloquial word for those whose family has lived in Zagreb for generations).

The music school is called “Rock Akademija” and offers classes of most instruments needed to form a rock-band.

Finally, an interesting and valuable fact is that the gas-station across the street from Ribnjak is open 24-7, if you’re in need of cigarettes or anything else in the center of Zagreb in the middle of the night.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Ribnjak | Music, Relaxing | Free
Ribnjak | Upper town
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zagreb

Image by Milana M.

When a place has been going on since 1968 with more or less the same good vibe then there must be something to it. I must admit I haven’t been a regular visitor of the famous „Apple” until recently, but it’s never too late to join the club of faithful devoted followers – consequently I prefer Saturday nights in Jabuka which are conveniently united under the name of „Night of faith and devotion”.

All lovers of old school electro-pop and rock with a splash of newer artists will definitely enjoy this playlist.

Although some critiques have complained of Jabuka losing its alternative vibe in these modern globalized times I personally can only say that, not knowing what it had been like 20 or 40 years ago, it’s a place I always go to if I want to dance all night to something different than this year’s chart hits.

The program in Jabuka is more or less the same every week, which is also part of its charm – you can be sure that if you’re in a certain mood looking for something specific, it will provide. Fridays are reserved for Luna Park („Amusement park”) with a lighter note, while Saturdays are the notorious Night(s) of Faith and Devotion. Some nights also become theme nights connected to upcoming concerts in the area.

If you decide to go to Jabuka, don’t worry about what to wear – the place is as dark as it gets. So you can dance away without restraints.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Jabuka | Music | Entry Kn 25
Jabukovac 28 | Upper town | +38512441944
Fri – Sat 22:00 – 04:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zagreb

Image by Milana M.

In case you are into taking a silent walk around the upper town of Zagreb around midday, don’t be surprised if the silence will suddenly be interrupted at noon. Don’t be scared either, the city is not under siege, it is just the “Grič cannon” marking its usual noon activity.

According to the legend, the king Bela IV, who proclaimed Zagreb as a free royal city in 1094, left one cannon to the city of Zagreb and ordered that cannon to be in use every day so it wouldn’t get rusty. Officially, the cannon started its daily practice on January 1st 1877.

There is much more history to be told about the edifice where the famous cannon resides – the Lotrščak tower. It is one of the oldest standing buildings in Zagreb, the remains of the Romanesque old town walls and fortifications.

One of the interesting facts about the tower is that the city rented it out in times of peace in order to gain money for its maintenance and it was given back its defending purpose in times of peril. There are many stories about this oldest tower in Zagreb, but I will just say you should definitely visit the site to get more information.

In case you’re not so interested in history, visiting is worth it just for the amazing view from the top, which you can climb all the way up to. It’s definitely a special experience to be there right at noon when the cannon strikes.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Lotrščak tower | Art & culture | Entry Kn 10.00
Strossmayerovo šetalište 9 | Upper town | +38514851768
Tue – Sun 10:00 – 19:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zagreb

Image by Milana M.

One of the benefits of living back home is my mother’s cooking – I know it sounds really spoiled, but when you have someone making home-made delicacies every day with the freshest ingredients, you really feel no need for going out to eat. However, there’s one place in Zagreb I will definitely never turn down when it comes to dining out – Prasac.

The name itself can tell you what this restaurant’s philosophy is – it literally means “Pig”. The chef, Dino Galvagno, mixes Mediterranean cuisine with his own inventions, “twists” that he gives to every single dish that carries his signature. He also visits the nearby Dolac market every day in search of the freshest and most interesting ingredients, so the menu is subject to change every day.

But if you stumble upon the tuna steak on beans, be sure not to miss the opportunity and definitely try his homemade bread, which is made with yeast that he had developed and cultivated for months with extra special care. All in all, if you visit “Prasac” during bistro-lunchtime hours or want to enjoy an exquisite dinner, you are sure in for one wonderful gastronomic ride.

Just make sure you’ve made a reservation, because the place is tiny and widely popular. Also, during summer months, be sure to give them a call because it’s vacation season. Buon apetit!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Prasac | Restaurants (Mediterranean) | 4 course meal Kn 250
Vranicanijeva 6 | Upper town | +38514851411
Mon – Fri 19:00 – 00:00, Sat 12:00 – 15:00 & 19:00 – 00:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zagreb

Image by Karla Lončar

Have you ever been to a place where you felt like a millionaire, but in a potentially non-pretentious way? I thought that such place doesn’t exist but clearly it does. It is called Galerija Lav. Hence the name, it is also a gallery.

There are three separate rooms, each of them differently decorated but in an equally stunning decor. The owners, art-lovers themselves, carefully paid attention to every detail of the Caffe. Some of the furnishings are high-class designer products (Philippe Starck Louis Ghost chairs, for example) and the paintings and sculptures are originals, ready for sale.

Coffee is served in porcelain cups, along with a cookie (needless to say) and it tastes like it looks like – really good. Its price isn’t overpriced, which is very important.

The location of the place is also great, for it serves as a stand during a walk through the Upper town, as it is situated right over the Stone Gate (Kamenita vrata), one of the Zagreb sights. Actually, the terrace of the Caffe overlooks it, so if you decide to sip your drink in the outdoors you will also enjoy the view.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Caffe Galerija Lav | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Relaxing | Coffee Kn 9.00
Opatička 2 | Upper town | +38514922108
Mon – Sat 09:00 – 23:00, Sun 10:00 – 15:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Zagreb